A Palm Springs inspired, arid garden provides a beautiful backdrop to this stunning modern home by Latitude 37 Homes. The courtyard swimming pool is wrapped on all sides by the home with large window walls providing views at every angle. Succulents provide accent against the pavement and boundary walls.

E.S. Templeton Signature Landscapes

Jeremy Flowers Photography

This pool and spa is built in an affluent neighborhood with many new homes that are traditional in design but have modern, clean details. Similar to the homes, this pool takes a traditional pool and gives it a clean, modern twist. The site proved to be perfect for a long lap pool that the client desired with plenty of room for a separate spa. The two bodies of water, though separate, are visually linked together by a custom limestone raised water feature wall with 10 custom Bobe water scuppers. Quality workmanship as required throughout the entire build to ensure the automatic pool cover would remain square the entire 50 foot length of the pool. Features of this pool and environment that enhance the aesthetic appeal of this project include: -Glass waterline tile -Glass seat and bench tile -Glass tile swim lane marking on pool floor -Custom limestone coping and deck -PebbleTec pool finish -Synthetic Turf Lawn This outdoor environment cohesively brings the clean & modern finishes of the home seamlessly to the outdoors to a pool and spa for play, exercise and relaxation. Photography: Daniel Driensky

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

Large Remodel to an Existing single Family Home

The top of the hill shows how dramatic the surrounding landform is while looking through the plantings on the hillside down to the pool and bluestone pool paving. A key feature of the design is the stone coping that merges seamlessly into the stone paving without a definitive edge. This required the gunite shell to be accurately formed to support the jogs in the coping stones. Photo: Paul Maue

This project feaures a 18’0” x 35’0”, 4’0” to 5’0” deep swimming pool and a 7’0” x 9’0” hot tub. Both the pool and hot tub feature color-changing LED lights. The pool also features a set of full-end steps. Both the pool and hot tub coping are Valders Wisconsin Limestone. Both the pool and the hot tub are outfitted with automatic pool safety covers with custom stone lid systems. The pool and hot tub finish is Wet Edge Primera Stone Midnight Breeze.. The pool deck is mortar set Valders Wisconsin Limestone, and the pool deck retaining wall is a stone veneer with Valders Wisconsin coping. The masonry planters are also veneered in stone with Valders Wisconsin Limestone caps. Photos by e3 Photography.This project feaures a 18’0” x 35’0”, 4’0” to 5’0” deep swimming pool and a 7’0” x 9’0” hot tub. Both the pool and hot tub feature color-changing LED lights. The pool also features a set of full-end steps. Both the pool and hot tub coping are Valders Wisconsin Limestone. Both the pool and the hot tub are outfitted with automatic pool safety covers with custom stone lid systems. The pool and hot tub finish is Wet Edge Primera Stone. The pool deck is mortar set Valders Wisconsin Limestone, and the pool deck retaining wall is a stone veneer with Valders Wisconsin coping. The masonry planters are also veneered in stone with Valders Wisconsin Limestone caps. Photos by e3 Photography.

Poolside at backyard Landscape design by Meg Rushing Coffee Photo by Dan Arnold

This North Richland Hills, TX pool designed by Mike Farley is a geometric with clean lines. The PebbleSheen is Aqua Blue and the coping is Oklahoma flagstone. It was designed for privacy in a small yard. The elevation change allows more privacy and the stone pedestals with flowerpots and stone scuppers provide a soothing environment while masking the street traffic. Pool constructed by Claffey Pools and landscaping done by Brad Land of Allscapes, Inc. To see videos and more information check out Mike's Reference Site at FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Photography: Ryan Garvin

Appearing to float within the pool, the 8 foot circular lowered fire lounge and patio area provides a prime vantage point for embracing the total outdoor experience. Photography by Joe Traina

www.DanielKellyPhotography.com

The planning phase of this modern retreat was an intense collaboration that took place over the course of more than two years. While the initial design concept exceeded the clients' expectations, it also exceeded their budget beyond the point of comfort. The next several months were spent modifying the design, in attempts to lower the budget. Ultimately, the decision was made that they would hold off on the project until they could budget for the original design, rather than compromising the vision. About a year later, we repeated that same process, which resulted in the same outcome. After another year-long hiatus, we met once again. We revisited design thoughts, each of us bringing to the table new ideas and options. Each thought simply solidified the fact that the initial vision was absolutely what we all wanted to see come to fruition, and the decision was finally made to move forward. The main challenge of the site was elevation. The Southeast corner of the lot stands 5'6" above the threshold of the rear door, while the Northeast corner dropped a full 2' below the threshold of the door. The backyard was also long and narrow, sloping side-to-side and toward the house. The key to the design concept was to deftly place the project into the slope and utilize the elevation changes, without allowing them to dominate the yard, or overwhelm the senses. The unseen challenge on this project came in the form of hitting every underground issue possible. We had to relocate the sewer main, the gas line, and the electrical service; and since rock was sitting about 6" below the surface, all of these had to be chiseled through many feet of dense rock, adding to our projected timeline and budget. As you enter the space, your first stop is an outdoor living area. Smooth finished concrete, colored to match the 'Leuder' limestone coping, has a subtle saw-cut pattern aligned with the edges of the recessed fire pit. In small spaces, it is important to consider a multi-purpose approach. So, the recessed fire pit has been fitted with an aluminum cover that allows our client to set up tables and chairs for entertaining, right over the top of the fire pit. From here, it;s two steps up to the pool elevation, and the floating 'Leuder' limestone stepper pads that lead across the pool and hide the dam wall of the flush spa. The main retaining wall to the Southeast is a poured concrete wall with an integrated sheer descent waterfall into the spa. To bring in some depth and texture, a 'Brownstone' ledgestone was used to face both the dropped beam on the pool, and the raised beam of the water feature wall. The main water feature is comprised of five custom made stainless steel scuppers, supplied by a dedicated booster pump. Colored concrete stepper pads lead to the 'Ipe' wood deck at the far end of the pool. The placement of this wood deck allowed us to minimize our use of retaining walls on the Northeast end of the yard, since it drops off over three feet below the elevation of the pool beam. One of the most unique features on this project has to be the structure over the dining area. With a unique combination of steel and wood, the clean modern aesthetic of this structure creates a visual stamp in the space that standard structure could not accomplish. 4" steel posts, painted charcoal grey, are set on an angle, 4' into the bedrock, to anchor the structure. Steel I-beams painted in green-yellow color--aptly called "frolic"--act as the base to the hefty cedar rafters of the roof structure, which has a slight pitch toward the rear. A hidden gutter on the back of the roof sends water down a copper rain chain, and into the drainage system. The backdrop for both this dining area , as well as the living area, is the horizontal screen panel, created with alternating sizes of cedar planks, stained to a calm hue of dove grey.