Landscaping

Richard Cohen Landscape

Cushman project

Guiton's Pool Center

Sacramento River waterfront property. Freestanding pool wall with stone veneer. Dedicated planting spaces and area lighting. LED lit bubbling water features at the "Sun shelf" area in the pool.

Modern Pool House

Laidlaw Schultz architects

Pool with beamed ceiling: Set in a remote district just outside Halfway, Oregon, this working ranch required a water reserve for fire fighting for the newly constructed ranch house. This pragmatic requirement was the catalyst for the unique design approach — having the water reserve serve a dual purpose: fitness and firefighting. Borrowing from the surrounding landscape, two masses — one gabled mass and one shed form — are skewed to each other, recalling the layered hills that surround the home. Internally, the two masses give way to an open, unencumbered space. The use of wood timbers, so fitting for this setting, forms the rhythm to the design, with glass infill opening the space to the surrounding landscape. The calm blue pool brings all of these elements together, serving as a complement to the green prairie in summer and the snow-covered hills in winter.

2015 Midwest Home Luxury Home #12 - Divine Custom Homes

Spacecrafting / Architectural Photography

Builder: Divine Custom Homes - Photo: Spacecrafting Photography

Western Exposure

TLC Gardens

Winger Photography

Mulberry Residence

Hollenbeck Architects

Mike Ortega

Naples Waterfront Modern Custom Home

BUILD

Beautiful backyard living.

The 20 acre Resort in High Meadow Ranch

Marquise Pools

The bar has keg-orators, snow cone machines, fridges, sinks, and ice makers, and of course flat screen TV for the football games Photography by Paul Ladd

Monkton, MD

Lothorian Pools

Photos: Dimitri Ganas

sally's

J&A Stone Work

J & A Stone works were great to work with, Arthur transformed our back yard and pool area with beautiful slate patios and a fire pit area. The team was professional and meticulous, the work was done efficiently and the work area kept clean during the project. we are very happy with the results and would hire J & A Stone work again! please feel free to keep me on your reference list. Thanks a bunch! Sally

Hancock Park Private Residence

Studio1Plaster

16x16 Sand Blast Pearl Marble Pavers

USA Marble LLC

Transform your backyard into a fabulous outdoor retreat that will provide years of happiness! Pool: 16x16 Sand Blast Pearl Tumbled Marble Pavers

Natural Private Residence

Randy Angell Designs

The somewhat modest size of this beautiful back garden does not keep it from fulfilling numerous duties for this active family. Closest to the house itself are a screened sitting porch and a large outdoor dining area. One passes through antique wrought-iron gates to transition from the upper patios to the lawn area, separating the house from the pool. Slabs of Pennsylvania flagstone create a walkway through the lawn and around the swimming pool. Synthetic turf was selected for this project, in order to minimize maintenance issues and to ensure perfect grass at all times. The covered, open-air pavilion directly adjacent the pool is constructed with hand-carved posts and beams. The concrete floor of the pavilion is stained to coordinate with the Pennsylvania flagstone decks. Housing the outdoor kitchen and bar area, as well as a TV sitting area, this poolside pavilion has become the favorite hang-out for the client's teenagers and their friends. Although our client wanted a curved line, natural pool, they wanted a bit of a modernized version, and something a bit more refined. One way we achieved this was by using long, sweeping curves around the perimeter of the pool, with hand-cut, and slightly chiseled, Oklahoma flagstone coping. Next, rather than using the typical boulders for the retaining wall, we set Oklahoma stone in an irregular flagstone pattern with butt-joints so that no mortar shows. The walls are capped with the same Oklahoma flagstone as is used on the coping. The spa is tucked in the back corner of the garden, and raised 20" above the pool. The spillway from the spa is created using a combination of long slab boulders along with smaller boulders, to create a gentle, natural waterfall to the pool. Further refinement is shown in neatly trimmed appearance of the synthetic turf between the large slabs of Pennsylvania stone that create the pool deck.

Casa Sardinera

Ramón Esteve Estudio

Mariela Apollonio

Custom Design - Outdoor Living - New American Home 2013

Blue Heron

Photography by Trent Bell

Pools

Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA

Photo Credit: Larry Lambrecht

California Rancher with Pool House

LMB Interiors

Polished concrete flooring carries out to the pool deck connecting the spaces, including a cozy sitting area flanked by a board form concrete fireplace, and appointed with comfortable couches for relaxation long after dark. Poolside chaises provide multiple options for lounging and sunbathing, and expansive Nano doors poolside open the entire structure to complete the indoor/outdoor objective. Photo credit: Ramona d'Viola

West Los Angeles Mansion (Traditional-Style)

MSH Design, Inc.

Hunters Creek

Brad Sharpe Pools

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.