Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design, & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Raquel Langworthy Shop the East Hampton New Traditional accessories at the Chango Shop!

James Queen

Tropical islands are the focal point for the design build of the acreage behind this stunning, Mediterranean-style home. The hardscape features a three level pool, including a toddler pool and a wading pool. Starting at the reef, there are three leaf petal loungers which allow you to recline in four to six inches of water at your feet. Limestone holy boulders are placed strategically along the edge for a natural element. A beautiful blend of earthy colors within the flagstone create a natural and rustic pool deck. All of the steps and bench seating inside the pool are also made of flagstone (custom fabricated flagstone coping for this project was completed on site). The toddler pool features fiber optic lighting which was installed at the bottom of the pool in the gunnite shell to create the reflection of a starry, celestial sky (fiber optic lighting can be used to create any number of shapes or constellations). An infinity edge crashes over beautiful stone and tile work, falling into a wading pool below. Another special feature is a water feature of riverstone cobbles sitting below dancing flames. Large stepping stones alongside this feature lead you to a lounge pool deck creating the feeling of an island retreat. Limestone slabs were used for a path of steps that take you through the landscaping back to the main house. A gazebo was added to hold an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor shower and a pool house with restrooms. All of the outdoor features are automated, allowing you to operate water temperature, fire features, water features, even the music and lighting from your smartphone.

Photo Credit: Rixon Photography

Outdoor bar with palapa, fire pit, and swimming pool

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.

Key Features of this Backyard Include: - 84 perimeter pool &spa combo - Stunning turf inlay with travertine pavers in the color "Cesar's Palace" - Tanning ledge - Porcelain waterline tile -Surrounding pool comfort decking in the color "Oyster White" -Plaster color "Marquis Bluestone"

optimal entertaining. Without a doubt, this is one of those projects that has a bit of everything! In addition to the sun-shelf and lumbar jets in the pool, guests can enjoy a full outdoor shower and locker room connected to the outdoor kitchen. Modeled after the homeowner's favorite vacation spot in Cabo, the cabana-styled covered structure and kitchen with custom tiling offer plenty of bar seating and space for barbecuing year-round. A custom-fabricated water feature offers a soft background noise. The sunken fire pit with a gorgeous view of the valley sits just below the pool. It is surrounded by boulders for plenty of seating options. One dual-purpose retaining wall is a basalt slab staircase leading to our client's garden. Custom-designed for both form and function, this area of raised beds is nestled under glistening lights for a warm welcome. Each piece of this resort, crafted with precision, comes together to create a stunning outdoor paradise! From the paver patio pool deck to the custom fire pit, this landscape will be a restful retreat for our client for years to come!

Children swimming in a natural swimming pool with waterfalls. Opt for natural healthy water instead of harsh chemicals.

Challenge: Maximize impact and usability in a compact space Solved: Whether it’s the custom Cerulean-, Prussian- and Cobalt-blue tile feature or the pool’s unique 4-inch-thick acrylic end-wall that provides a full underwater panorama of the pool for those sitting in the fire pit—every detail is meticulously orchestrated, every functional element masterfully arranged. The smartphone-controlled pergola louvers, accent lighting, and spare, strategic plantings make this backyard magazine photo-feature worthy. The whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

This residential Lazy River is all about activity! It has a big swimming/play area (30' accross & 40'+ length) plus the lazy river. It has a basketball goal, fire pit, and if you go down the Dolphin slide, one of the lazy river pumps sends you accross the pool to the river entrance! The bridge has a tropical feel and takes you to the island where a secret path leads to the dive rock. Designed by Mike Farley - FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Interior Design & Furniture Design by Chango & Co. Photography by Raquel Langworthy See the story in My Domaine

Indoor pool with retracting skylight and blue agate panels. Open to four seasons room. Norman Sizemore-photographer

The space at the location for the pool was very limited and flat, so creating a design that was grandiose for our client without overwhelming the area required creativity. The all-tile pool utilizes elevations highlighted by multiple negative edges to draw the eye and create aesthetic impact and dimension to the property. The multiple fire bowls, LED laminar jets, and nicheless LED lights create a spectacle for evening entertaining throughout the year. This project won a 2016 GOLD International Design Award.