Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel

Cliffs at Keowee

Aaron Fine Architectural Photographer

Natural Swimming Pool in Alamo, Ca

Creative Environments

This back yard is full of micro environments for every type of entertainment, Pool/Spa/Waterfall, BBQ, Bar, Fireplace and outdoor TV

Tropical Oasis on Interocastal: Delray Beach, FL

Botanical Visions

Neighboring homes fade away with nightfall

plan + design inc.

Gary Feinberg, Photographer

Deer Creek Estate

Elite Landscaping Omaha

In the back of this estate just outside of Omaha, Nebraska, Elite Landscaping designed a custom concrete swimming pool with a covered pool house and 360-degree, negative-edge spa. The pool house features an outdoor kitchen and bar area, which rests on posts that adjoin the raised pool wall. The pool house was built as an exact architectural match to the house, from the stucco, to the cedar decking beams, down to the paint color. This covered outdoor entertaining area provides a shady spot in the afternoons, where guests can lounge on four in-pool, swim up bar stools. The rest of the pool remains in full sun. The sunken swim-up bar is adorned with glass tile accents, and the pool wall features natural stone. Oversized, UniLock bluestone pavers comprise the pool deck and patio. The unique negative-edge spa sits above the pool, and was designed so one half of the spa flows into the pool while the other half flows back into the landscaping. The entire poolscape is automated by a Pentair IntelliTouch system that runs off of a smartphone or other device. With the touch of a button, the homeowners can adjust pool and spa temperatures, change water flow speed, program the FX color-changing LED lights, and even test the pool chemistry.

Tradition Golf Club

Engstrom Construction

GRAY SLATE

Elite Pool Design

Gorgeous indoor fiberglass pool water curtain and lighting provides year round fun! Designed and built exclusively by Elite Pool Design.

Woodward Park Retreat

Tanner Consulting LLC- Landscape Architecture

Leslie Gregory

Wet Bar, Kitty Hawk

Griggs & Co. Homes Inc.

In-house built custom, mahogany cabinetry with quartz counter-top. Wet bar overlooks indoor swimming pool.

Outdoor kitchen, jacuzzi and woodland garden

Hawthorne Garden Design

A custom-made jacuzzi deck with wide stairs for entry and a sun deck for relaxing. Cable rails and a fence panel add more privacy to the space. Photos: June Stanich

Fall City Addition

Rainier Custom Homes

Indoor lap pool and hot tub spa room. with cedar, pine and open wood beams plus paneling.

Pool Deck

Creative Masonry & Landscape of Cape Cod

Glenview, IL Rectangle Swimming Pool and Hot Tub

Platinum Poolcare

Request Free Quote This 18’0” x 36’0” indoor swimming pool features an 8’0” x 8’0” deck-level hot tub. Both pool and spa have Valders Wisconsin Limestone coping and colored lighting throughout. The room is finished with a beautiful wood ceiling and paneling, and deck drains along with de-humidification systems keep the pool at the perfect temperature and humidity. This pool and hot tub is the perfect antidote to the frigid Midwest winters!

The color of our pebble Midnight Blue was chosen as the best match for the bay in the distance Photo Credit-Darren Edwards

Pools and Spas

Dunson Pool & Spa

Little Blue

Kala Performance Homes

A sauna was custom-built within the pool house. Cedar was used for the walls, ceiling, and benches. The variation in the shades of the cedar lumber contrasts with the uniform 3x36” black tile floor. Small LED lights provide just enough illumination to be able to see inside the sauna while still being able to relax. LED lighting was used throughout this entire project, as it is not only energy-efficient, but provides more lumens per wattage and a longer lifetime.

Project Outdoor Sauna

Ambient Elements

Ambient Elements creates conscious designs for innovative spaces by combining superior craftsmanship, advanced engineering and unique concepts while providing the ultimate wellness experience. We design and build saunas, infrared saunas, steam rooms, hammams, cryo chambers, salt rooms, snow rooms and many other hyperthermic conditioning modalities.

Bakery Village Single Family Residence

Adamick Architecture

Pool Design Ideas with Natural Stone Pavers

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.