View across the pool to the circular kitchen. A large overhang protects the living room doors while skylights provide light along the face of the doors. A travertine island "floats" in the center of the circular pool. Hal Lum

Leasure Residence

User

Photography by Whit Preston

Lake Travis Retreat

Dick Clark + Associates

A + D Residence

The Dept of Design

H Creations

Modern Pool

Cannon Hill - Plunge Pool

Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Andrew Jakovac

Naples Modern

Rob Bramhall Architects

Rob Bramhall

Custom Home: Private Rd. FAR I Fair Oaks, Texas

MSA ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS

Modern Chic Custom Home

BeeTree Homes

Private Courtyard Plunge Pool in New England

Soake Pools

This photo was taken by the homeowner about a year after the pool was installed. They did the plantings themselves. The combination of the whimsical gardens with the beautiful pool and stonework is a truly charming look.

West Juniper Modern

Treeline Homes, Inc.

Restored Historic Beach Cottage on Isle of Palms - Bea's Nest

Kelly Builders Carolina, LLC

We designed this beautiful cedar shake home with a metal roof and oyster shell embedded tabby fireplace. The pool is the heart of this home! The glass roll up garage door brings the outside in, and allows for entertaining to flow freely. Lots of outdoor space for lounging and soaking up the sun. An extra living space above the 3 car garage, including a kitchen area, enables guests to visit while providing access to some of the creature comforts of home. The crowning touch is the cupolas that allows for a 360 degree view, including spectacular views of the ocean.

Orange County Projects

Alderete Pools & Solar

Andy Albreck Photography

Pools, swimming pools, pool coping, pool deck, pool fountain

Ancient Surfaces

Product: Authentic Thick Limestone Pool Coping elements for pool edge Ancient Surfaces Contacts: (212) 461-0245 Email: Sales@ancientsurfaces.com Website: www.AncientSurfaces.com The design of external living spaces is known as the 'Al Fresco' space design as it is called in Italian. 'Al Fresco' translates in 'the open' or 'the cool/fresh exterior'. Customizing a contemporary swimming pool or spa into a traditional Italian Mediterranean pool can be easily achieved by selecting one of our most prized surfaces, 'The Foundation Slabs' pool coping Oolitic planks. The ease and cosines of this outdoor Mediterranean pool and spa experience will evoke in most a feeling of euphoria and exultation that on only gets while being surrounded with the pristine beauty of nature. This powerful feeling of unison with all has been known in our early recorded human history thought many primitive civilizations as a way to get people closer to the ultimate truth. A very basic but undisputed truth and that's that we are all connected to the great mother earth and to it's powerful life force that we are all a part of...

Las Olas Isles Private Residence

Equilibrium Interior Design Inc

Interior Design, Decorating & Project Management by Equilibrium Interior Design Inc Photography by Craig Denis

The Picture Frame House

DSDG Architects

The concept began with creating an international style modern residence taking full advantage of the 360 degree views of Sarasota downtown, the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay and New Pass. A court yard is surrounded by the home which integrates outdoor and indoor living. This 6,400 square foot residence is designed around a central courtyard which connects the garage and guest house in the front, to the main house in the rear via fire bowl and lap pool lined walkway on the first level and bridge on the second level. The architecture is ridged yet fluid with the use of teak stained cypress and shade sails that create fluidity and movement in the architecture. The courtyard becomes a private day and night-time oasis with fire, water and cantilevered stair case leading to the front door which seconds as bleacher style seating for watching swimmers in the 60 foot long wet edge lap pool. A royal palm tree orchard frame the courtyard for a true tropical experience. The façade of the residence is made up of a series of picture frames that frame the architecture and the floor to ceiling glass throughout. The rear covered balcony takes advantage of maximizing the views with glass railings and free spanned structure. The bow of the balcony juts out like a ship breaking free from the rear frame to become the second level scenic overlook. This overlook is rivaled by the full roof top terrace that is made up of wood decking and grass putting green which has a 360 degree panorama of the surroundings. The floor plan is a reverse style plan with the secondary bedrooms and rooms on the first floor and the great room, kitchen and master bedroom on the second floor to maximize the views in the most used rooms of the house. The residence accomplishes the goals in which were set forth by creating modern design in scale, warmth, form and function.

Blue Haven Pools

Jim Schmid Photography

Jim Schmid

Courtyard 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.