A plunge pool gives you the best of both and allows you to maximise the space and your budget. Adding gas heating and spa jets and even a swim spa jet to a plunge pool would really complete this goal.

Hi Suzanne, Think of it in the context of smaller pools/plunge pools are just slightly shrunken down full pools but they take just as much work (sometimes more depending upon site access, site conditions, set up requirements etc) as bigger pools - they also usually require just as much planning, engineering and site prep as bigger pools and it's not unusual for clients to have a bigger expectation of finish because of the smaller size. The only things that is less are the quantities of the various materials and less water - everything else is on par or more than bigger pools.

Depends upon setup and surround of the pool area. Is the pool built yet or is this a retrofit? The most expensive options are the automated hard covers that are streamlined but require an extra section/length of pool to accomodate them. You can get recessed roller setups that are like a long trapdoor that conceal a blanket roller say in the deck or paving when it is not in use. You can build a hard cover say in the same decking material to conceal a blanket roller that doubles as a bench seat. Plenty of options but like all (design) solutions the most appropriate will come from analysing & understanding the context and budget we're working with

I was going to suggest that the shower and hanging for togs and towels be placed in the red zone using the pool house plumbing. It looks great where you have it but it should have somewhere for the togs and towels as kids will use them several times a day in hot weather. If the Pool House was a POOL house and open to the pool would that mean you could just fence it and the pool together, but I guess by being multi function that changes the rules