Contemporary Family Garden, Witham Essex

As featured on ITV's "Love your garden" with Alan Titchmarsh. This garden was designed around the existing swimming pool, dividing the garden into different social areas. A third dimension was added into the garden by incorporating a sunken courtyard. This has a dining area and a relaxing lounge area. It's a real sun trap down there in mid-summer all the surrounding plants hide it from the remaining garden and it becomes a peaceful sanctuary. A rainwater harvesting tank was incorporated under the courtyard which is then fed into a fully automated irrigation system ensuring that this family maximise a natural water source...very environmental friendly. As you exit the sunken courtyard you are led to a hardwood Iroko deck area, which follows the kidney shape pool. Fibre optic lighting is set into the deck with each of the families star signs. The lawn expands around the whole garden unifying the space with spectacular borders giving an all year round display. Special bespoke features include a curved Iroko clad steel framed wall with a cantilevered seat. This has been designed to capture the sun and reflect into the hotbed planting. This allows rare plants to be grown in this bed due to the increased temperature provided by the wall. It's a perfect spot for a late Autumn glass of wine or an early Spring morning coffee. Bespoke A-frames have been designed to soften the 4m high hedges. Other bespoke features include Gabion cages that have been filled with rainbow cobbles for a unique abstract sculpture, placed on opposite sides of the garden to create balance. Additional bespoke steel features designed to look like free flowing flower stems flank the left and right hand side of the garden. The three by the pool are free standing and add another focal point. On the opposite side of the garden taller steel gabions have been designed in the same style with climbing plants such as Roses and Clematis for added height. The Breeze hut with a Cedar shingle roof dominates the space at the end of the pool giving a subtropical feel. Ideal for entertaining on cool Summer nights.

Contemporary pool house amongst a traditional setting.

Stephen Graver

Our existing clients asked if we could look at renovating their existing pool area. Within six months we had refurbished the pool, relayed the patio, designed and built a new pool house and even added an outdoor shower. Come grey skies or blue, this space is now able to be enjoyed all year around!

Residential Pool Remodel / Resurface

Clear Tech, Inc

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped pool in Tampa with brick pavers and a hot tub.

Our Work

Livolsi Hardscaping, LLC.

This is an example of a large contemporary backyard kidney-shaped lap pool in New York with concrete pavers.

Freeform Simplicity

Pool Tech

Overhead view of this custom concrete freeform pool. Elegant design echos the curvilinear shapes in the pool, deck, benches, poorhouse, furniture. Photo by Dan Kempf

Mission Valley -NB

Bradley Signature Pools

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Austin with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

2016 Michalek Pool

Landmark Pools, Inc.

Expansive contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Tampa with a hot tub and tile.

NESPA Award-Winning Vinyl Pool & Gunite Spa

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

This NESPA award-winning vinyl pool also features a gunite spa — the two are attached by a cascading waterfall. Curved natural bluestone coping and engineered pavers connect the multiple levels of this outdoor living space, which includes natural stone retaining walls, brightly colored patio furniture, a beautiful pergola and a bevy of perennials and annual plantings. (This makes for a beautiful backyard view from the screened-in porch on the back of our client's home!)

Open and Outdoor Living

Presidential Pools, Spas & Patio

Mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped infinity pool in Phoenix with a hot tub and tile.

Contemporary Backyard with Pool

Suncrest Gardens

In-ground lights occur around pool within the Techo-bloc Antika pavers flowing river pattern. Aesthetically pleasing, they also function as safety beacons for the pool edge at night.

Custom Pool, Spa and Pavers: Residence M

Apex Pavers & Pools

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped pool in Miami with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Lakefront Private Estate

Brian Ross Luxury Real Estate Broker Associate

Architectural photography by ibi designs
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Miami with stamped concrete.

Outdoor Living Projects by Turf Tamer, Inc.

Turf Tamer, Inc.

Having a great deal of space for outdoor living is wonderful. Your landscape, however compact or vast, can be transformed into a beautiful outdoor room that’s perfect for enjoying our mild southeastern weather. Perfect for entertaining and relaxing, outdoor living areas become an extension of your indoor living space. Outdoor living spaces offer comfort and increase property value with the development of quality outdoor components, furnishings and finishes. Our full-time, professional designers love the challenge of creating unique outdoor living areas that reflect the vision of the client. We specialize in combining privacy and intimacy in each outdoor room, while ensuring that the design offers architectural integrity and complements the main structures. A Simple Patio and Fire Pit, or an Outdoor Kitchen and Outdoor Fireplace? No matter the size of your dream outdoor room, Turf Tamer, Inc. delivers creative living spaces using the finest materials and the latest advancements in outdoor construction.

Aquaduct Street Custom Pool House

Alair Homes Mount Pleasant

This contemporary traditional custom pool and guesthouse features an outdoor wet bar, sizeable pool, and orange accents.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped lap pool in Charleston with a pool house.

Frostleaf

Morgan Howarth Photography

Pool hardscape
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in DC Metro with a water slide and natural stone pavers.

Broken Sound Residence

Treasurescapes

Audrey Foley
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard kidney-shaped lap pool in Miami with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Pelican Waters

Civic Steel Homes

Integration of pool area, outdoor dining area and outdoor lounge area. High vaulted ceiling to the north to capture the beautiful sun on the Sunshine Coast.

Custom Pool, Spa and Pavers: Residence M

Apex Pavers & Pools

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped pool in Miami with a hot tub and concrete pavers.

Z Pools

Z Pool Designs

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Sacramento with a water feature.

View from Beach

Natural Stonescapes Inc.

Robert Burcher
Photo of a large contemporary backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Toronto with concrete slab.

Contemporary Kidney-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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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.