HGTV & DIY network's "POOL KINGS" - Pirate Pool

Distressed door inside the grotto leads to the restroom and suspension bridge Design and Construction by Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Photography by KO Rinearson PhotoArt Studios

Aloha Place, Vacation Rental, Keauhou

Alex Navarro

Old Station Outdoor & Landscape Supply, Inc.

Great Outdoor Spaces & Pools

BCB Homes, Inc.

Custom Residence Naples, Florida Lori Hamilton Photography

Extraordinary Flooring Concrete Pavers

Extraordinary Flooring

ALTA Palm Springs Model C Courtyard Home

Bauer Design Group

This is another view of the Alta Palm Springs Model C Courtyard Home. This home also won a Gold Nugget award at the PCBC in 2006 and was featured in Palm Springs Life and Rob Report.

Out Door Fire Place, spa and pool

LUXURY BUILDERS, INC.

Tony Giese

This simply elegant custom rectangular pool is the focal piece in a large outdoor environment built for enjoyment and entertainment. Jumping deck and its custom fountain allows kids and the kids-at-heart to run and jump through the spray, a more elegant solution than a diving board. Removable sport feature increases the family fun. Soft, natural toned custom finish and iridescent tile complements the sunken, nature-filled environment. Evening brings the accent lighting in the landscape and the pool alive, creating a romantic mood. Photo by Tim Schoon

Cohasset retreat

Easton Pool & Spa - Where great backyards begin!

Brian Doherty Photography

Trex Transcends Tropics Tiki Torch with Trex Black Glass Railing

Stellar Decks

Inground Fiberglass Swimming Pool Project 2

Sonco Pools & Spas

Jim Spelman

Beaumaris

Intrinsic Landscapes

The entire rear area is paved in gorgeous blond travertine in a brick bond pattern. The boundary walls have been rendered and a stone water feature and iron decorative piece have been installed above the pool. Merbau has been used for the pool decking, bench seat and flower boxes. All the colours and textures have been chosen to complement one another. The pebble sideway with travertine steppers and exotic grasses has been designed so the utilities and pool equipment are easily accessible, whilst still looking stylish. The fences have been painted a dark grey and a decorative screen hides away the boring ugly stuff like bins and air-conditioning units. The electric blue pool, the vibrant green Ficus ‘Hillii’ manicured trees and brightly coloured coverage plants all work so well to pop against the pale palette of the walls and paving. A strategically placed garden lighting system makes everything come life at night, making it absurd not to take full advantage of having your own private villa landscape right outside your back door!

Custom Home in The Pecans

Halo Development, Inc.

Staten Island Pool Patio

Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec

This beautiful Staten Island Pool Patio was created by Ibros Brick Work using the following Cambridge Pavingstones with ArmorTec products: Pool Patio: The Sherwood Collection XL 3 Pc. Design Kit in Sahara/Chestnut with Cumberland Brown

Hallbrook Flip

Nature's Touch

Aqua blue lighting installed in the Hallbrook Flip luxury pool along with a series of water spouts give the environment a resort style quality. The spouts shoot water high from the travertine pool deck into the water. There is a step-in reef on one end of the pool; the other features a balanced circle infinity edge hot tub where water flows over the top into the pool for 360 degrees. Built in seat benches were built around the interior of the pool for relaxing. Both the pool deck and coping installed are travertine. The coping was fabricated and finished on site.

Pool, Spa and Pond

Crystal Clear Signature Pools LLC

Tustin, Ca

Matrix Concrete Artisans Inc.

Matrix Concrete Artisans

Mallard Lakes

Angelo's Landscape Group

Tobi Gomez (LensArt Photography)

Brown Pool Design Ideas with a Water Feature

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.