Location: Hingham, MA, USA This newly constructed home in Hingham, MA was designed to openly embrace the seashore landscape surrounding it. The front entrance has a relaxed elegance with a classic plant theme of boxwood, hydrangea and grasses. The back opens to beautiful views of the harbor, with a terraced patio running the length of the house. The infinity pool blends seamlessly with the water landscape and splashes over the wall into the weir below. Planting beds break up the expanse of paving and soften the outdoor living spaces. The sculpture, made by a personal friend of the family, creates a stunning focal point with the open sky and sea behind. One side of the property was densely planted with large Spruce, Juniper and Birch on top of a 7' berm to provide instant privacy. Hokonechloa grass weaves its way around Annabelle Hydrangeas and Flower Carpet Roses. The other side had an existing stone stairway which was enhanced with a grove of Birch, hydrangea and Hakone grass. The Limelight Tree Hydrangeas and Boxwood offer a fresh welcome, while the Miscanthus grasses add a casual touch. The Stone wall and patio create a resting spot between rounds of tennis. The granite steps in the lawn allow for a comfortable transition up a steeper slope.

Contemporary Masterpiece

Noel Cross+Architects

Interior Designer Jacques Saint Dizier Landscape Architect Dustin Moore of Strata while with Suzman Cole Design Associates Frank Paul Perez, Red Lily Studios

Desert Mountain Gambel Area

User

Swimming Pool

Home Exterior Systems, LLC

Kenny Manchester

Pinnacle Peak Modern | Pool

Greey Pickett

Nestled perfectly along a mountainside in the North Scottsdale Estancia Community, with views of Pinnacle Peak, and the Valley below, this landscape design honors the surrounding desert and the contemporary architecture of the home. A meandering driveway ascends the hillside to an auto court area where we placed mature cactus and yucca specimens. In the back, terracing was used to create interest and support from the intense hillside. We brought in mass boulders to retain the slope, while adding to the existing terrain. A succulent garden was placed in the terraced hillside using unique and rare species to enhance the surrounding native desert. A vertical fence of well casing rods was installed to preserve the view, while still securing the property. An infinity edge, glass tile pool is the perfect extension of the contemporary home. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Drewett Works Contractor: Manship Builders Interior Designer: David Michael Miller Associates Photography: Dino Tonn

North County Projects

Backyard Vacations

Evergreen Acres

Carleen Gosney

Caleb Melvin

California Beach House Remodel

Builder Boy

This backyard features a jacuzzi, grilling station and fire pit for outdoor entertaining that's sure to impress. We partnered with Jennifer Allison Design on this project. Her design firm contacted us to paint the entire house - inside and out. Images are used with permission. You can contact her at (310) 488-0331 for more information.

The Great Outdoors

Jonathan Miller Architects

Traditional Style Beachfront Custom Home. Seaside Park, NJ

Monetti Custom Homes

Custom 10,000 square foot beach house built immediately following Superstorm Sandy. Outdoor living area. Pool, Cabana, pergola, outdoor living.

Custom Home Danville, CA

SDG Architects

Pool, Spa, Outdoor Living

Hobert Pools and Spas

Beautiful Hobert pool and raised spa with outdoor fire pit and arbor, sheer descent water features, and LED lights. An outdoor oasis!!

Contemporary Pool

Straight Line Pool in Boerne Texas

Keith Zars Pools

This night time pool photo shows the two fire bowls which are on either side of the large pool waterfall, and the square spa with all-glass tile. Photographer: Siggi Ragnar

Deerhaven Residence

Gary Haygood Solutions

Pool was designed for a volleyball net to be put up in sleeves within the landscape pockets next to the coping. The volleyball area is 15' square on each side of the net and both sides are the same depth. The right lobe of the pool is the deep end with a diving rock.

Retrospect Vineyards Residence

Swatt | Miers Architects

Russell Abraham Photography

Bali-Inspired Modern

Western Window Systems

Praised for its visually appealing, modern yet comfortable design, this Scottsdale residence took home the gold in the 2014 Design Awards from Professional Builder magazine. Built by Calvis Wyant Luxury Homes, the 5,877-square-foot residence features an open floor plan that includes Western Window Systems’ multi-slide pocket doors to allow for optimal inside-to-outside flow. Tropical influences such as covered patios, a pool, and reflecting ponds give the home a lush, resort-style feel.

Floating Stainless Steel Sculpture

Terry Design, Inc.

Commissioned uplit sculpture appears to float above its iridescent glass tiled perimeter overflow base. Photographer: Christian Terry

Lambeth Road

Frameless Impressions

Frameless Pool fence and glass doors designed and installed by Frameless Impressions

Backyard Pool Patio with Concrete Slabs

Techo-Bloc

Audacious in its massive size, the look of this bold beauty is polished yet casual. With its elegant veining, Aberdeen makes a statement at once luxuriant and eminently livable.

Blue Backyard Pool Design Ideas

Swimming pools are heavenly during hot Australian and New Zealand summers and are the perfect way to cool down, relax, entertain friends and even get fit. A pool can also create visual interest, especially when you consider features like coloured pool tiles, lighting and landscaping. If you are short on space, you might still fit a lap pool, plunge pool or swim spa, all of which could be focal points in your small garden. As you plan your pool design, map out your space and determine what size, shape and style works best for you. Browse the photos on Houzz for design ideas for above ground pools, inground pools, as well as pool landscaping and novelty features like pool slides or water features. Then, save your favourite photos to an ideabook, and get in touch with the experts behind your favourite picks.

What type of pool should I install?

The dimensions of your backyard will determine the type of inground pools you can install. Take into account boundary restrictions and pool fencing compliance. Fibreglass versions are cheaper, and quicker to install; whereas concrete constructions are better suited to tricky sites and give you more freedom in design. If you’re on a tight budget or don’t want to commit to an inground pool, above ground pools are a more affordable alternative. If you only have a small backyard, a plunge pool is a great solution, and can easily run along a boundary wall or down the side of a house. This option is also low maintenance, can be heated for use in winter, and can do double duty as a swim spa. A long, narrow space, on the other hand, could fit a lap pool, whereas a water feature could fill an awkward space. If your backyard features a stunning vista, consider an infinity pool to accentuate the view.

What pool fencing options are available?

While the specifics vary from state to state, fencing is required of most pool designs. However, pool fencing doesn’t have to obscure your pool design. Glass fencing is increasingly popular for this reason exactly, and is available framed, frameless, semi-frameless and even in-ground. A cheaper alternative is aluminium or steel fencing, which, again, are available in a variety of styles: flat top, loop-top, double-top and wire-based.

What pool landscaping features should I consider?

To get the most out of your pool, design an area that offers multiple hangouts. Include a nearby barbecue, dining area, seating for lounging and outdoor shower. Having shaded areas will give you more reason to stay poolside longer, too. Timber decking and stone paving are popular choices for pool surrounds, and are also helpful in creating zones. Just imagine a raised timber platform with a daybed – a luxurious, resort-style addition to any pool design. Leafy trees and rocks will create a more natural-looking oasis, and will help provide more privacy for swimmers. Where you want your landscape to be the main focus, keep pool equipment and furnishings to a minimum.