Custom built negative edge pool, granite pavers with custom granite coping complete with outdoor kitchen, red cedar pergola, custom stonework

Pinnacle Peak Peaceful Retreat

Supreme Pools

Glass Tile interior and walls Negative edges and zero edges Photo by Mark Boisclair

Bedford home

J. Brandon Jones

Bill Black

La Quinta,Ca

Matrix Concrete Artisans Inc.

Matrix

Victorian Pool

Blu 60 mm

Techo-Bloc

You can hear the echo of the craftsman’s tools in Blu. The same honest lines and rugged texture as our larger, 80mm version, the same opulent colors and modern yet eternal look, Blu 60mm is lighter in weight and has a smaller height, making it a better choice for pedestrian and light-traffic-only areas such as on walkways and patios.

Lakewood Luxury

AquaTerra Outdoors

Daniel Driensky

Urban Landscape Design & Construction

Urban Landscape

The 20 acre Resort in High Meadow Ranch

Marquise Pools

The bar has keg-orators, snow cone machines, fridges, sinks, and ice makers, and of course flat screen TV for the football games Photography by Paul Ladd

Backyard Swimming Pool

Forte Building Group, LLC

New Braunfels Pool and Cabana

Infinity Pools of Texas

Welcome to this beautiful New Braunfels backyard! The cabana is perfect for outdoor living. The spa has a beautiful spillway that is extended and looks like a river. In the pool the sun shelf has a bubbler for extra relaxing sounds of water. This whole pool is wrapped in beautiful flagstone.

Covered Patio Living Space

Laura Lee Home

Located off the great room, we repeated the client's indoor color palette of navy, aqua, and yellow. A large all weather wicker sectional and a pair of spring chairs provide ample seating in the patio area. This seating area opens to a dining space all of which spill onto the pool deck.

Redbud Renovation

Blue Horse Building & Design

Kroon Backyard

Carnahan Landscaping & Pools

Pool Pavilion

Gregory Thomas, Architect, AKBD, CG&S Design-Build

Pavilion at night. I designed this outdoor living project when at CG&S, and it was beautifully built by their team. Photo: Paul Finkel 2012

Tioga Pool

Caprock Hardscape Supply

Ultimate Trophy Club Pool Transformation

Mike Farley Pool Designer, SWD, ASLA

This beautiful geometric project designed by Mike Farley has a lot of elevation changes with a stunning view of the golfcourse. The flush spa was kept near the house for easy access and blended with the contemporary style of the home. Both the outdoor kitchen and fire pit area are used as retaining walls with the elevation change. It also gives lots of seating along with the bar stools - inside and outside the pool. The water feature is a sheer rain fall that is kept low so that the golf course view isn't blocked. There is a nice sized tanning ledge to hang out on. The outdoor kitchen has a grill, trash can, drop in cooler and lots of seating. The cabana has cam lights for evening fun. We used ceramic on the patio that looks like wood and has greys and browns in it. The concrete is grey with a heavy texture. The channels have Mexican Pebble to blend with the grey tones.

Backyard Pools and Patios

Harpeth Valley Hardscapes, LLC

Markwell Pool

Artistic Landscapes

A great outdoor living space with a pool and pavilion with a great outdoor kitchen. The stonework is Tennessee medium stack stone. There are three sheer descent waterfalls. The pavers are Pavestone Venetian with a Belgard paver border.

"Big Time"

Ryan Hughes Design

No area within this Ryan Hughes designed outdoor space is without elements of interest including the walkway to the spa. In this space, water and fire, tile and stone, light and sound come together and create a haven for relaxation; all before one enters the spa! Along the architectural wall, three Grand Effect fire Candeliers and three stainless steel scuppers are placed within tiled niches featuring 4” precast concrete molding. Each one is a work of art. Photography by Joe Traina

Custom-shaped 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.