Lansdowne Modern Swimming Pool + Outdoor Living

Photography by Jimi Smith / "Jimi Smith Photography"

Infinity Edge Pool with Stand Alone Spa

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

New Spool - Pensacola

Blue Haven Pools On The Gulf

Modern pool with light colored stone look porcelain tile

Simple Steps

This modern pool has a light colored stone look porcelain tile called Sands White. Great for indoor and outdoor use. There are different colors, styles and sizes available.

Shain Development Inc

Jardin belvédère

Agence MORVANT & MOINGEON Paysagistes Concepteurs

Gabrielle VOINOT

Roseville - Plunge Pool

Crystal Pools

This gorgeous Roseville Plunge Pool combo is nestled into an Asian-inspired corner of a small backyard in Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Multi-purpose Plunge and Spa pools are a perfect solution in Sydney when you have a smaller backyard. They provide a refreshing break in the height of summer and warm comfort in winter. Fully tiled with Ela Fiji files and surrounded with natural, grey Granite, we’re not surprised this plunge pool won the MBA award for Best Spa in 2017.

Small Backyard Transformation

Mediterranean Outdoor Living

JRP Design & Remodel

Every day is a vacation in this Thousand Oaks Mediterranean-style outdoor living paradise. This transitional space is anchored by a serene pool framed by flagstone and elegant landscaping. The outdoor living space emphasizes the natural beauty of the surrounding area while offering all the advantages and comfort of indoor amenities, including stainless-steel appliances, custom beverage fridge, and a wood-burning fireplace. The dark stain and raised panel detail of the cabinets pair perfectly with the El Dorado stone pulled throughout this design; and the airy combination of chandeliers and natural lighting produce a charming, relaxed environment. Flooring: Kitchen and Pool Areas: Concrete Pool Surround: Flagstone Deck: Fiberon deck material Light Fixtures: Chandelier Stone/Masonry: El Dorado Photographer: Tom Clary

New Straightline Pool with Custom Spa and Custom Landscaping in Miami, Florida

Van Kirk & Sons Pools and Spas

This beautiful pool in Miami Florida features one of a kind landscaping with spa and wet edge! The tile for the pool and spa are beautiful teal colors and the LED lights add extra flavor at night!

Avondale Riverside, FL

Starr Sanford Design

Nate Ebert & Wally Sears

Safety Harbor Oasis

Hyde Park Renovations

On this project, we were hired to build this home and outdoor space on the beautiful piece of property the home owners had previously purchased. To do this, we transformed the rugged lake view property into the Safety Harbor Oasis it is now. A few interesting components of this is having covered and uncovered outdoor lounging areas and a pool for further relaxation. Now our clients have a home, outdoor living spaces, and outdoor kitchen which fits their lifestyle perfectly and are proud to show off when hosting. Photographer: Johan Roetz

North Dallas Modern Backyard

Randy Angell Designs

SwimEx Pools: Outdoor Swim Spa

SwimEx Incorporated

What could be better than enjoying a beautiful night in this stunning outdoor living space? It features a stone fireplace, kitchen, several cozy seating areas with a fireplace, and a swim spa with adjacent fire pit. You'll never leave home with a backyard like this. The particular swim spa is a SwimEx pool, model 500 OS. It is a fiberglass pool that can be installed outside or inside. The solid fiberglass shell of this swimming pool, built like a high performance yacht, is impervious to sun, easy to clean, and has an insulated wood core for superior temperature retention.

Colleyville HGTV Cool Pools/ Ultimate Pools Residential Lazy River

Mike Farley Pool Designer, SWD, ASLA

Texas swimming pool designer Mike Farley takes you to the design of a Colleyville residential Lazy River project that has already won multiple awards and was featured on HGTV "Cool Pools". This pool has it all - outdoor kitchen, multiple waterfalls, rain falls, bridges, an elevated spa on an island surrounded by the river, basketball, luxury cave, underwater speakers, and they converted a stall of the garage to make a bathroom with a dry sauna & walkin dual shower. Project is designed by Mike Farley and constructed by Claffey Pools. Check out Mike's Pool Tour Video series at FarleyPoolDesigns.com. Photo by Laura Farley

Wellesley - Contemporary Farm House

Structure Home

Set upon an oversized and highly sought-after creekside lot in Brentwood, this two story home and full guest home exude a casual, contemporary farmhouse style and vibe. The main residence boasts 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, each ensuite with thoughtful touches that accentuate the home’s overall classic finishes. The master retreat opens to a large balcony overlooking the yard accented by mature bamboo and palms. Other features of the main house include European white oak floors, recessed lighting, built in speaker system, attached 2-car garage and a laundry room with 2 sets of state-of-the-art Samsung washers and dryers. The bedroom suite on the first floor enjoys its own entrance, making it ideal for guests. The open concept kitchen features Calacatta marble countertops, Wolf appliances, wine storage, dual sinks and dishwashers and a walk-in butler’s pantry. The loggia is accessed via La Cantina bi-fold doors that fully open for year-round alfresco dining on the terrace, complete with an outdoor fireplace. The wonderfully imagined yard contains a sparkling pool and spa and a crisp green lawn and lovely deck and patio areas. Step down further to find the detached guest home, which was recognized with a Decade Honor Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA in 2006, and, in fact, was a frequent haunt of Frank Gehry who inspired its cubist design. The guest house has a bedroom and bathroom, living area, a newly updated kitchen and is surrounded by lush landscaping that maximizes its creekside setting, creating a truly serene oasis.

Green 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.