Skye in Palm Springs, California

Woodbridge Pacific Group

Residence Two Pool at Skye in Palm Springs, California

Ridgehaven Transitional

Shaddock Custom Builders and Developers

Custom small urban pool, dolphin gray marbelite. Toronto, ON.

Exteriors

Hadley-Irvine General Contracting LTD

Custom Pools

McKinney Custom Pools

Southside Village Masterpiece - Sarasota

The Vision Group

ryan@ryangammaphotography.com

Relaxing Swimming Pool & Patio Retreat in Hicksville, NY

Above All Masonry Design, Inc

This swimming pool and patio includes all the luxuries of a relaxing retreat but with minimum maintenance. Starting with the entrance into the backyard, artificial turf provides the necessary touch of maintenance-free grass. Making your way into the middle of the space, visitors are immediately captivated by the water and fire feature as the focal point. Enjoying meals at the table or lounging on one of the three sides of the patio, these homeowners find a peaceful escape everyday.

Soake Plunge Pool

Soake Pools

This concrete plunge pool installation and finish work involved a collaboration between Soake Pools and Woodburn and Company. Photo credit Vicky Martel, Woodburn and Company

Casey Dunn

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.

Mediterranean Elegance by Custom Design Pools

Ledge Lounger

This project, by Houston based pool builder and authorized Ledge Lounger Dealer, Custom Design Pools, features multiple seating areas, both in pool and out of pool, making it ideal for entertaining and socializing.

Park Lane

SDG Architecture, Inc.

Bernard Andre'

Euclid Residence

AquaTerra Outdoors

This infinity edge spa with water feature is designed to be a visual work of art. The wall has custom Bobe water scuppers, is veneered with ledgestone and a lueders limestone cap and ends.

Pusch Ridge View

Prideaux Design

Matt Vacca

Sonoma Residence

Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

Matthew Millman

Modern New Home Build

Grove Custom Homes

Villanova Project 2

Leslie Hayes Interiors

Rectangular and L-shaped 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.