Photographer: Chris Bucher

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: Kennerknecht Design Group Builder: JJ Delaney, Inc. Landscape Architect: Horiuchi Solien Landscape Architects Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography

Our client was building a new house on 2.5 acres in Northern Montgomery County, Maryland and contacted our company to design an overall master plan for the entire property. Their design requests included a custom naturalistic swimming pool with spa and significant boulder water feature. Extensive pool patio for entertaining 50-60 people comfortably, a custom storage area for pool accessories to be an extension of their new home. Elevated composite deck with curved rails, wide stairs, outdoor lighting, raised fire pit, new Techobloc paver entrance walkway. And to complete the master plan, a full landscape planting.

A family in West University contacted us to design a contemporary Houston landscape for them. They live on a double lot, which is large for that neighborhood. They had built a custom home on the property, and they wanted a unique indoor-outdoor living experience that integrated a modern pool into the aesthetic of their home interior. This was made possible by the design of the home itself. The living room can be fully opened to the yard by sliding glass doors. The pool we built is actually a lap swimming pool that measures a full 65 feet in length. Not only is this pool unique in size and design, but it is also unique in how it ties into the home. The patio literally connects the living room to the edge of the water. There is no coping, so you can literally walk across the patio into the water and start your swim in the heated, lighted interior of the pool. Even for guests who do not swim, the proximity of the water to the living room makes the entire pool-patio layout part of the exterior design. This is a common theme in modern pool design. The patio is also notable because it is constructed from stones that fit so tightly together the joints seem to disappear. Although the linear edges of the stones are faintly visible, the surface is one contiguous whole whose linear seamlessness supports both the linearity of the home and the lengthwise expanse of the pool. While the patio design is strictly linear to tie the form of the home to that of the pool, our modern pool is decorated with a running bond pattern of tile work. Running bond is a design pattern that uses staggered stone, brick, or tile layouts to create something of a linear puzzle board effect that captures the eye. We created this pattern to compliment the brick work of the home exterior wall, thus aesthetically tying fine details of the pool to home architecture. At the opposite end of the pool, we built a fountain into the side of the home's perimeter wall. The fountain head is actually square, mirroring the bricks in the wall. Unlike a typical fountain, the water here pours out in a horizontal plane which even more reinforces the theme of the quadrilateral geometry and linear movement of the modern pool. We decorated the front of the home with a custom garden consisting of small ground cover plant species. We had to be very cautious around the trees due to West U’s strict tree preservation policies. In order to avoid damaging tree roots, we had to avoid digging too deep into the earth. The species used in this garden—Japanese Ardesia, foxtail ferns, and dwarf mondo not only avoid disturbing tree roots, but they are low-growth by nature and highly shade resistant. We also built a gravel driveway that provides natural water drainage and preserves the root zone for trees. Concrete pads cross the driveway to give the homeowners a sure-footing for walking to and from their vehicles.

The pool construction was part of a major renovation of the property. The core of the home was designed as one seamless indoor-outdoor pavilion with a northerly wall of glass sliding back to the pool and adjacent decking area. The glassed hallway leading to the master bedroom directly abuts a section of the swimming pool – as such, the pool shell was specially engineered and constructed to provide load bearing support for the house.

12x12-inch pavers on solid concrete base. Pavers can be installed over existing pool decking, or on newly poured concrete slab. Color is enhanced by using a mild acid wash. Surface is clear-sealed to protect it from food stains. Ribbon lighting comes in 4-colors with 5 variations of white. Lights have their own transformer and timer.

Pool & Pool House Stowe, Vermont This mountain top residential site offers spectacular 180 degree views towards adjacent hillsides. The client desired to replace an existing pond with a pool and pool house to be used for both entertaining and family use. The open site is adjacent to the driveway to the north but offered spectacular mountain views to the south. The challenge was to provide privacy at the pool without obstructing the beautiful vista from the entry drive. Working closely with the architect we designed the pool and pool house as one modern element closely linked by proximity, detailing & geometry. In so doing, we used precise placement, careful choice of building & site materials, and minimalist planting. Existing trees were edited to open up selected views to the south. Rows of ornamental grasses provide architectural delineation of outdoor space. Understated stone steps in the lawn loosely connect the pool to the main house. Architect: Michael Minadeo + Partners Image Credit: Westphalen Photography

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

This is the Kitchen for a residence built on a vineyard in Los Alamos. Architect: Rudolph Ortega & Associates Contractor: Drammer Construction, Inc Photographer: Gaszton Photography

ARNOLD Masonry and Landscape

Deck level perimeter overflow pool with a shallow lounging area, bluestone border and Ipѐ wood deck. Separate but hydraulically linked hydro-therapy spa. Pool features an Aquamatic Hydralux floating trackless pool cover. Photographer: Brian Van Bower. Bob Hinchcliffe Pool Builder

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...

Request Free Quote This lovely swimming pool measures 20'0" x 44'0", and is crowned on one end by a raised hot tub measuring 8'0" x 8'0". The hot tub has a sheer waterfall feature that spills onto a sunshelf equipped with bollard bubbler jets. The opposite end has a deep end and diving board. Both the swimming pool and hot tub have automatic pool safety covers with custom stone lid systems. The coping on the pool and hot tub is Indiana Limestone, and the pool decking is Bluestone. Photos by Outvision Photography.

60' contemporary lap pool set in woodland setting with ledge outcrops and ornamental bamboo plantings. Cascading stairs lead to a lower fire pit area and continue into the pool below. Stainless steel fountains and ornamental grasses frame the pool edge. Photography: Michael Lee

Infinity Pool With A View. The perfect blue infinity pool creates an illusion of the sky and pool meshing as one. The storybook location for an afternoon BBQ pool party.

ARNOLD Masonry and Landscape

This property, originally with two residences and an existing pool, was transformed into the ultimate family center of activity. Collaboration was essential to accommodate architectural renovations. The property includes pool with dramatic waterfall, spa, outdoor fireplace, sportcourt, outdoor kitchen, lush plantings, and plenty of play lawn for an active family. Photography: Richard Mandelkorn Photography