Exterior shot of the backyard with beautiful pool and patio.

Dunthorpe Pool House

Cella Architecture

Kauna'oa Traditional Hawaiian Residence

Stephen Green Architecture, Inc.

Pool & Spa photo by Ian Lindsey

Great Wall of Fire

Presidential Pools, Spas & Patio

A description of the homeowners and space from Linnzy, the Presidential Pools, Spas & Patio designer who worked on this project: "The homeowners can be described as an active family of three boys. They tend to host family and friends and wanted a space that could fill their large backyard and yet be functional for the kids and adults. The contemporary straight lines of the pool match the interior of the house giving them a resort feel in the very own backyard! The large pergola is a perfect area to cool off in the shade while enjoying a large outdoor kitchen as well as an oversized fire pit for the cooler nights and roasting marshmallows. They wanted a wow factor as the pool is the main focal point from the living room, and the oversized wall and rain sheer did the trick!"

New Home in Water Mill NY

Heartwood Corp

Urban Oasis

Scott Christopher Homes

Located in the heart of a 1920’s urban neighborhood, this classically designed home went through a dramatic transformation. Several updates over the years had rendered the space dated and feeling disjointed. The main level received cosmetic updates to the kitchen, dining, formal living and family room to bring the decor out of the 90’s and into the 21st century. Space from a coat closet and laundry room was reallocated to the transformation of a storage closet into a stylish powder room. Upstairs, custom cabinetry, built-ins, along with fixture and material updates revamped the look and feel of the bedrooms and bathrooms. But the most striking alterations occurred on the home’s exterior, with the addition of a 24′ x 52′ pool complete with built-in tanning shelf, programmable LED lights and bubblers as well as an elevated spa with waterfall feature. A custom pool house was added to compliment the original architecture of the main home while adding a kitchenette, changing facilities and storage space to enhance the functionality of the pool area. The landscaping received a complete overhaul and Oaks Rialto pavers were added surrounding the pool, along with a lounge space shaded by a custom-built pergola. These renovations and additions converted this residence from well-worn to a stunning, urban oasis.

HAUS5

K2 Signature Homes

White interior, steel pavilion with thermally modified ash ceiling, exposed aggregate hardscape. Custom linear fireplace.

Shady Canyon

Altera Landscape

Photography: Jeri Koegel

PCH Modern

Burdge & Associates Architects

PCH Modern Mediterranean Home by Burdge Architects Malibu, CA

Bridgehampton Modern Estate

Kevin O'Sullivan + Associates

Sunset view of rear yard with hot tub, swimming pool, and lovely contemporary home beyond.

Bryn Mawr house and pool stonework

Heritage Stone & Marble, Inc.

Basement Pool Hall - Spa and steps detail

Janes Architectural

Pool & Spa Service 1

Dove Canyon Pool & Spa

Beautiful pool remodel in Dove Canyon, CA. New Grranite and tile and plaster. New pool pump and filter system. Weekly pool service and maintenance.

Residential Indoor Pool Project

Darklight Design Ltd

The lighting solution for the stunning indoor pool utilised plaster-in ceiling lighting set at random positions and angles to create a funky, edgy look.

Hillside House

Don Stuart Architect Inc

The entire rear area is paved in gorgeous blond travertine in a brick bond pattern. The boundary walls have been rendered and a stone water feature and iron decorative piece have been installed above the pool. Merbau has been used for the pool decking, bench seat and flower boxes. All the colours and textures have been chosen to complement one another. The pebble sideway with travertine steppers and exotic grasses has been designed so the utilities and pool equipment are easily accessible, whilst still looking stylish. The fences have been painted a dark grey and a decorative screen hides away the boring ugly stuff like bins and air-conditioning units. The electric blue pool, the vibrant green Ficus ‘Hillii’ manicured trees and brightly coloured coverage plants all work so well to pop against the pale palette of the walls and paving. A strategically placed garden lighting system makes everything come life at night, making it absurd not to take full advantage of having your own private villa landscape right outside your back door!

Tomball Elegance

Heavenly Outdoor

Whitewing Exterior, Landscape and Additional Photos

AFT Construction

Backyard landscape

Modern Design Brightens Small Backyard

Betz Pools Limited

As the light begins to fall on warm summer evenings it’s great to open the roof on the pergola and enjoy the slowly unfolding labyrinth of twinkling stars. Being located near the edge of the city allows the star watching to be even better.

Purple Rectangular 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.