Infinity Pool with Knife Edge Spa & Pool House Addition

Situated on a private cove of Lake Lanier this stunning project is the essence of Indoor-outdoor living and embraces all the best elements of its natural surroundings. The pool house features an open floor plan with a kitchen, bar and great room combination and panoramic doors that lead to an eye-catching infinity edge pool and negative knife edge spa. The covered pool patio offers a relaxing and intimate setting for a quiet evening or watching sunsets over the lake. The adjacent flagstone patio, grill area and unobstructed water views create the ideal combination for entertaining family and friends while adding a touch of luxury to lakeside living.

Olivo. Las Colinas. Marjal

Gestec

Inspiration for a large contemporary front yard custom-shaped lap pool in Other with a pool house.

Private Residence

AVI Windows & Doors

Photo of a large country indoor custom-shaped lap pool in Nashville with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Comal County Ranch House

Dibello Architects, PLLC

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

Modern poolhouse

Jablonski Associates

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard custom-shaped pool in New York with a pool house.

Silver Hill

Jobe Corral Architects

Casey Woods
Design ideas for a large modern backyard custom-shaped pool in Austin with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Texas Hill Country Residence

User

The 5,000 square foot private residence is located in the community of Horseshoe Bay, above the shores of Lake LBJ, and responds to the Texas Hill Country vernacular prescribed by the community: shallow metal roofs, regional materials, sensitive scale massing and water-wise landscaping. The house opens to the scenic north and north-west views and fractures and shifts in order to keep significant oak, mesquite, elm, cedar and persimmon trees, in the process creating lush private patios and limestone terraces. The Owners desired an accessible residence built for flexibility as they age. This led to a single level home, and the challenge to nestle the step-less house into the sloping landscape. Full height glazing opens the house to the very beautiful arid landscape, while porches and overhangs protect interior spaces from the harsh Texas sun. Expansive walls of industrial insulated glazing panels allow soft modulated light to penetrate the interior while providing visual privacy. An integral lap pool with adjacent low fenestration reflects dappled light deep into the house. Chaste stained concrete floors and blackened steel focal elements contrast with islands of mesquite flooring, cherry casework and fir ceilings. Selective areas of exposed limestone walls, some incorporating salvaged timber lintels, and cor-ten steel components further the contrast within the uncomplicated framework. The Owner’s object and art collection is incorporated into the residence’s sequence of connecting galleries creating a choreography of passage that alternates between the lucid expression of simple ranch house architecture and the rich accumulation of their heritage. The general contractor for the project is local custom homebuilder Dauphine Homes. Structural Engineering is provided by Structures Inc. of Austin, Texas, and Landscape Architecture is provided by Prado Design LLC in conjunction with Jill Nokes, also of Austin. Paul Bardagjy Photography

"Big Time"

Ryan Hughes Design

Appearing to float within the pool, the 8 foot circular lowered fire lounge and patio area provides a prime vantage point for embracing the total outdoor experience. Photography by Joe Traina

Backyard Luxury

FHP Builders LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized backyard custom-shaped aboveground pool in Phoenix with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Krishnan Residence and Pool House

Stephen Chung, Architect

Greg Saunders
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard custom-shaped pool in Boston with a pool house and tile.

Spaceship Villa

K-2 Design, Inc.

Sergey Kuzmin
Inspiration for a large eclectic indoor custom-shaped pool in Moscow with a pool house and tile.

WAYCOOL Modern & Contemporary EXteriors

20-20 Custom Homes, by Pinnacle Builders of Texas

Large modern backyard custom-shaped pool in Houston with a pool house and concrete slab.

Kaihani Residence

Urbanleaf Landscapes

Kaihani wanted to create a space that reminded her of Hawaii. A vacation getaway in her own backyard. We revamped the pool, adding a flowing water feature and glowing stones. We resurfaced the deck with hardy Ipe wood and travertine. And we created a cozy seating area next to an elegant fire pit. To get to Hawaii, Kaihani only has to step out her back door. It's breath taking...it's like being back home in Hawaii. Melissa Wright

Belleair Whole-House Remodel and Addition

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc.

Located in one of Belleair's most exclusive gated neighborhoods, this spectacular sprawling estate was completely renovated and remodeled from top to bottom with no detail overlooked. With over 6000 feet the home still needed an addition to accommodate an exercise room and pool bath. The large patio with the pool and spa was also added to make the home inviting and deluxe.

Kennett Square Pool House

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

E.S. Templeton Signature Landscapes
Design ideas for a large country backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Philadelphia with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Arizona Lifestyle Resort Style Pool

Tribal Waters Custom Pools

Amazing backyard resort style pool for the Arizona Lifestyle Tribal Waters Custom Pools
Photo of a large modern backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Phoenix with a pool house and brick pavers.

Tudor Noir

Colossus Mfg.

Sliding doors lead into the office/pool house, perfect for a guest room or focusing on work next to the water.
This is an example of a small backyard custom-shaped pool in Sacramento with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Reforma de vivienda y piscina en San Javier

LeuKos Architecture. Estudio de Arquitectura

Piscina de obra en fase de construcción, ampliación y apertura de patio.
Small modern side yard custom-shaped natural pool in Alicante-Costa Blanca with a pool house and tile.

Pool Pavilion

Gregory Thomas, Architect, AKBD, CG&S Design-Build

Pavilion at night. I designed this outdoor living project when at CG&S, and it was beautifully built by their team. Photo: Paul Finkel 2012
Photo of an expansive transitional backyard custom-shaped pool in Austin with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Evening Picture of Pavilion

Rhine Landscaping

Design ideas for a mid-sized backyard custom-shaped pool in Baltimore with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Custom-shaped Pool Design Ideas with a Pool House

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.