A Memorial area family commissioned us to create a natural swimming pool in their back yard. The family already had a standard pool on premises, but it was isolated in an area of the yard not particularly suited to seating guests or hosting get-togethers. What they wanted was a second, natural swimming pool built that would serve as the hub of a new home outdoor entertainment area consisting of a new stone patio, comfortable outdoor seating, and a fire pit. They wanted to create something unique that would preserve as much of the natural features of the landscape as possible, but that would also be completely safe and fully functional as a swimming pool. We decided to design this new landscaping plan around a pre-existent waterfall that was already on the property. This feature was too attractive to ignore, and provided the ideal anchor point for a new gathering area. The fountain had been designed to mimic a natural waterfall, with stones laid on top of one another in such a way as to look like a mountain cliff where water spontaneously springs from the top and cascades down the rocks. At first glance, many would miss the opportunity that such a structure provides; assuming that a fountain designed like a cliff would have to be completely replaced to install a natural swimming pool. Our landscaping designers, however, came up with a landscape plan to transform one archetypal form into the other by simply adding to what was already there. At the base of the rocks we dug a basin. This basin was oblong in shape and varied in degrees of depth ranging from a few inches on the end to five feet in the middle. We directed the flow of the water toward one end of the basin, so that it flowed into the depression and created a swimming pool at the base of the rocks. This was easy to accomplish because the fountain lay parallel to the top of a natural ravine located toward the back of the property, so water flow was maintained by gravity. This had the secondary effect of creating a new natural aesthetic. The addition of the basin transformed the fountain’s appearance to look more like a cliff you would see in a river, where the elevation suddenly drops, and water rushes over a series of rocks into a deeper pool below. Children and guests swimming in this new structure could actually imagine themselves in a Rocky Mountain River. We then heated the swimming pool so it could be enjoyed in the winter as well as the summer, and we also lit the pool using two types of luminaries for complimentary effects. For vegetation, we used mercury vapor down lights to backlight surrounding trees and to bring out the green color of foliage in and around the top of the rocks. For the brown color of the rocks themselves, and to create a sparkling luminance rising up and out of the water, we installed incandescent, underwater up lights. The lights were GFIC protected to make the natural swimming pool shock proof and safe for human use.

We had an open canvas for our ideas, we visioned a custom open porch and composite deck with a 35’ custom outdoor kitchen, overlooking a natural freeform custom pool, large tanning shelf, 25’ waterslide for the kids and adults, and the raised stone veneered oversized spa, all framed with a simple low maintenance landscape pallet. For the cool evenings, we pictured a two-tier gas fire table outside of the spa where the family and friends could sit and enjoy a panoramic view of their entire future backyard.

Plain Jane Photography

http://www.kristininteriors.com/

Complete Home Automation & AV which started as a "Dive-In Theater” concept. Essentially floating in a pool on mattresses and “floaties” while watching movies on a super wide screen. Almost everything disappears in the 5000 square foot pool and games room addition until you hit “Watch” and that’s when all the action begins! 180” diagonal motorized / recessed projection screen lowers from the ceiling inside a custom wood pocket, (from Screen Innovations) followed by the Epsom 4K – 6000 lumen projector lowering down approx 1 meter from a fully recessed motorized lift (from within a custom made birds nest) for high def projection in even the most highly lit spaces. Theater surround sound comes on to complete the performance which is achieved by using including 12 – 150 watt - in-wall “Nakymatone Invisible Wall speakers” and 1000 watts of sub woofers. The rest of the addition and the existing custom home will be updated to include a complete home automation package including distributed audio & video throughout, security cameras and recording equipment, networking equipment, some lighting dimmers and keypads as well as a new Control4 touch panel for visual control of the property. Gate controllers and other devices were also added to the project.

Photos by Eric Delaforce

Studio West Photography

Sergey Kuzmin

A naturalistic waterfall cascading into the curvilinear pool makes a tranquil background noise while enjoying the outdoor living space. Boulder dive rock and sheer descent spa water falls into pool.

A view of the swim up bar from inside the grotto Design and Construction by Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Photography by KO Rinearson PhotoArt Studios

Lavish egyptian themed swimming pool, elaborate features including imported egyptian statues, overflow structures, fire bowls, fog system and towering palm trees.

We had an open canvas for our ideas, we visioned a custom open porch and composite deck with a 35’ custom outdoor kitchen, overlooking a natural freeform custom pool, large tanning shelf, 25’ waterslide for the kids and adults, and the raised stone veneered oversized spa, all framed with a simple low maintenance landscape pallet. For the cool evenings, we pictured a two-tier gas fire table outside of the spa where the family and friends could sit and enjoy a panoramic view of their entire future backyard.

Close-up of this rich and artfully integrated colorful iridescent glass tile. Subtle and also eye-catching and light-catching, a stunning edging for the sun shelf and steps. Set into the custom black ceramic chip finish and echoing the curved design of the landscaping, this is a true beauty. Photo by Tim Schoon

Qualified Remodeler Room Remodel of the Year & Outdoor Living 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Best in Region -Middle Atlantic 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Platinum Winner Residential Addition over $100,000 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Platinum Winner Outdoor Living

Custom pool and spa with infinity edge and landscape.

Kurt Lischka