Photo courtesy of Joe Purvis Photos

This is a wonderful lap pool that has a taste of modern with the clean lines and cement cabana that also has a flair of the rustic with wood beams and a hill country stone bench. It also has a simple grass lawn that has very large planters as signature statements to once again give it a modern feel. Photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery

Spicewood

Strobel & Associates LLC

North Rim with mountain views

Norman Building & Design

On the lower floor of this two story home the swim against current pool looks out towards the mountains and the hot tub just outside

Tanglewood Modern House

Flavin Architects

This new modern house is located in a meadow in Lenox MA. The house is designed as a series of linked pavilions to connect the house to the nature and to provide the maximum daylight in each room. The center focus of the home is the largest pavilion containing the living/dining/kitchen, with the guest pavilion to the south and the master bedroom and screen porch pavilions to the west. While the roof line appears flat from the exterior, the roofs of each pavilion have a pronounced slope inward and to the north, a sort of funnel shape. This design allows rain water to channel via a scupper to cisterns located on the north side of the house. Steel beams, Douglas fir rafters and purlins are exposed in the living/dining/kitchen pavilion. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Fountain Hills Contemporary

Artful Design Interiors

New contemporary pool and patio space now blend with the remodeled house. A sun shelf offers a way for sunbathers to stay cool while catching rays. Sandler Photographic

Lawrence Park Hot Tub

BonaVista LeisureScapes

Farmhouse Style Pool House in Chapel Hill, NC

Bold Construction

Mediterranean Elegance by Custom Design Pools

Ledge Lounger

This project, by Houston based pool builder and authorized Ledge Lounger Dealer, Custom Design Pools, features multiple seating areas, both in pool and out of pool, making it ideal for entertaining and socializing.

Pool Patio & Formal English Gardens

Creative Design Landscaping

Central Austin Residence

Clark Richardson Architects

Photo: Paul Finkel

Hyde Park Residence

Mezger Homes

Pleasanton Foothills

Vision Scapes & Associates

Victor J Ruesga

Greenville Modern Residence

Goggans Residential Architecture

Photography by Rebecca Lehde

Baker Street

ramsay photography

modern open air kitchen and landscape design by merge studio © ramsay photography

Large Contemporary Pool & Spacious Cabana with Fireplace

Thrasher Pool and Spa

Palm Springs Wexler Redesign

Make It-Home

The original pool had a small spa inside the main pool footprint. We moved the spa outside and to the east end of the rectangular pool, making it larger and surrounded by a tanning shelf. Entire yard was ripped out and redesigned with new cement, turf and a living/dining pavilion. Photo Credit: Henry Connell

Water in the Garden

Allen Land Design

Kathy Piziali

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.

Modern Hot Tub & Cabana Space

Arbordale Landscaping

Our client wanted to add a hot tub and new cabana to their poolscape. The cabana was designed with a bar in the front and pool equipment and storage in the back. The bar has a roll up door for winterising. A lounge area in front allows the home owners to enjoy a drink while watching the kids play in the pool. Flagstone patios, steps, and hot tub surround give this backyard a luxurious feel. The fence is built from custom milled Cedar horizontal boards. The fence is backed with black painted plywood for full privacy. A custom hot tub pit was built in order to use what is normally an above ground hot tub. The hot tub was supplied by Bonavista Pools. Composite lumber was used to build an access hatch for hot tub controls. Boxwood hedging frame the garden spaces. There are two Hydrangea Standard trees which are underplanted with begonias for a pop of colour. The existing Cedar hedge created a great backdrop and contrast for our Japanese Maple hedge. The existing Beech tree was stunning! Lawn area was necessary for the family pets.

Large 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.