Organic-shaped pool with a beach entry and in-pool granite table & bench! Bluestone coping and quartzite pool patio.

This pool project in Titusville, NJ features a Natural boulder waterfall with other boulders built into the coping and a diving stone. These natural boulders blend in nicely with the natural surrounding forest. To contrast the natural boulders, there is a paver sitting wall and paver fire pit alongside the pool. The pool also features a cozy corner and blue tiling to accent the natural boulders and surrounding forest.

This modern landscape features a minimal planting schematic featuring Agave Americana and Dwarf Sabal Palmetto. The plantings, while simple, are refined and sophisticated, echoing the architecture of this classic modern home. The backyard features a large covered terrace, outdoor kitchen, and negative edge swimming pool.

Cody Pools - Card

Years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft. They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s. This style had been very popular at that time, and it is still a favored by some of the world’s more lavish resorts. However, ever since the day they had purchased their home, the Ashcroft’s had always been agitated by the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, and had finally decided to have it redesigned as a natural swimming pool. They wanted their back yard to retain the feeling of a tropical locale, but lose the touristic element in favor of that of a cozier, more private corner of paradise. We agreed with their sentiments wholeheartedly. Just a cursory glance at the property confirmed that a natural swimming pool design was a much better fit for the grade of the landscape and the surrounding opportunities for vegetation and lighting. The Ashcroft residence was located on the side of a hill that sloped down toward a ravine, and the house itself house was built 40 feet back from the road. The steep grade of the land posed construction challenges to any type of water feature, but there was a way to build a natural swimming pool here that would achieve the aesthetic the Ashcroft’s were seeking and create a lasting element that required only limited and very intermittent periods of maintenance. We began by stripping the pool down to its shell and building a retaining wall that offset the grade of the land. We shaped the surrounding earth around it into a much deeper basin that would allow water to collect naturally like it does at the base of a cliff. A series of interlocking pavers was laid around the perimeter to create a flat surface that extended from the back of the home to the retaining wall. This is a standard aesthetic used in most natural swimming pools, but it also served a special, practical purpose in this instance. Since this area was subject to heavy land erosion from runoff rainwater, pavers provided a very efficient way of reconstructing key elements of the structure every 5-10 years. The natural swimming pool now appeared as an inviting portal into a remote hill country getaway, just a stone’s throw away from the back of the house. We made it easier to reach by building two series of stone steps that led down to either side of the water’s edge. We were careful to avoid making them look too much like stairs. Instead, we designed them to closely mimic the layers of rock that often jut from the sides of mountains and dormant volcanoes on islands all over the Pacific. To further develop this theme, we placed a large flat stone to serve as a diving area, and we created a waterfall on either side of it by laying down stones in a manner that created varying speeds of water. Our construction methods here were very unique in comparison to those of our competitors. We took almost a month to consciously and deliberately lay each stone by hand. While this may seem painstakingly detailed to some, the rewards were astonishing, because our natural swimming pool mimicked Nature in such a way that it lacked almost all evidence of human engineering, and looked virtually identical to something you would stumble upon in the jungle of a tropical paradise. If you are interested in any high-quality landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas including memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255 For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

Custom black granite box fountain with internal bubblers & lighting with radiating bands of gray beach pebbles, bluestone & brick borders with planting. The fountain is set in a blackstar gravel courtyard. The pool & pool pavilion are visible beyond.

Luxury custom swimming pool with arbor and lush landscaping with rain descents and vanishing edge spa and Ledge Loungers

This is a clean, tailored pool project with a Spanish flair that is all about the focal point from the house and privacy from neighbors. Designed by Mike Farley it has water spouts flowing into copper water bowls sitting on a stair stepped spillway that sits on a privacy wall. The spa sits 5 and has a rolled edge with bull nosed Silver Travertine with glass tile. The porch has a retractible screen and don't forget the fire pit. Photo by Mike Farley. FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Kirk Bianchi created this resort like setting for a couple from Mexico City. They were looking for a contemporary twist on traditional themes, and Luis Barragán was the inspiration. The outer walls were painted a darker color to recede, while floating panels of color and varying heights provided sculptural interest and opportunities for lighting and shadow.

This pool project has some cool elements all combined together to create an outdoor playground. The main focal point from the house is the raised wall that contains a fire bar with stainless steel spill edges and flower pots. The spa seats 8 people comfortably, is raised 18" and has rolled glass tile with spill edges that match the pool spill edges. There is a nice cozy seating area around the sunken fireplace made for cushions and comfort. Right next to it is space for a table and chairs. Artificial grass was used to give a really lush feel to the project along with low maintence. The PebbleSheen color is Aqua Blue. We used Austin stone and Leuder's limestone (bullnozed on the chair backings and spa). The bar area has a overhang for the barstools. The large tanning ledge centers on the main door. On the far side away from the fireplace is a really cool bed swing area inspired by the owners' trip to the Carribean. It's a queen size mattress hanging from the cedar arbor that has an acrylic panel to keep the rain out. Curtains are for privacy & to help keep the sun out when wanted. Project designed by Mike Farley - FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Parks Creative Inc.

Swimming Pool is on a slope with drainage issues from all sides, Crystal Pools LLC designed to incorporate and resolve all the drainage issues and transform the yard into a luxurious backyard experience. Crystal pools patented Cleaning system, glass tile, Ozone system make this pool enjoyed everyday! with use of very little chlorine/salt.

Timmerman Photography - Bill Timmerman