Mid-sized tropical backyard custom-shaped pool in Orange County with a water slide and concrete slab.

Years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft. They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s. This style had been very popular at that time, and it is still a favored by some of the world’s more lavish resorts. However, ever since the day they had purchased their home, the Ashcroft’s had always been agitated by the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, and had finally decided to have it redesigned as a natural swimming pool. They wanted their back yard to retain the feeling of a tropical locale, but lose the touristic element in favor of that of a cozier, more private corner of paradise. We agreed with their sentiments wholeheartedly. Just a cursory glance at the property confirmed that a natural swimming pool design was a much better fit for the grade of the landscape and the surrounding opportunities for vegetation and lighting. The Ashcroft residence was located on the side of a hill that sloped down toward a ravine, and the house itself house was built 40 feet back from the road. The steep grade of the land posed construction challenges to any type of water feature, but there was a way to build a natural swimming pool here that would achieve the aesthetic the Ashcroft’s were seeking and create a lasting element that required only limited and very intermittent periods of maintenance. We began by stripping the pool down to its shell and building a retaining wall that offset the grade of the land. We shaped the surrounding earth around it into a much deeper basin that would allow water to collect naturally like it does at the base of a cliff. A series of interlocking pavers was laid around the perimeter to create a flat surface that extended from the back of the home to the retaining wall. This is a standard aesthetic used in most natural swimming pools, but it also served a special, practical purpose in this instance. Since this area was subject to heavy land erosion from runoff rainwater, pavers provided a very efficient way of reconstructing key elements of the structure every 5-10 years. The natural swimming pool now appeared as an inviting portal into a remote hill country getaway, just a stone’s throw away from the back of the house. We made it easier to reach by building two series of stone steps that led down to either side of the water’s edge. We were careful to avoid making them look too much like stairs. Instead, we designed them to closely mimic the layers of rock that often jut from the sides of mountains and dormant volcanoes on islands all over the Pacific. To further develop this theme, we placed a large flat stone to serve as a diving area, and we created a waterfall on either side of it by laying down stones in a manner that created varying speeds of water. Our construction methods here were very unique in comparison to those of our competitors. We took almost a month to consciously and deliberately lay each stone by hand. While this may seem painstakingly detailed to some, the rewards were astonishing, because our natural swimming pool mimicked Nature in such a way that it lacked almost all evidence of human engineering, and looked virtually identical to something you would stumble upon in the jungle of a tropical paradise. If you are interested in any high-quality landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas including memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255 For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern indoor custom-shaped infinity pool in Miami with tile.

Mid-sized contemporary backyard pool in San Francisco with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Images by: McNeill Photography Design by: Coivic Landscape http://coivic.com/

Design ideas for a mid-sized country backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Denver with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Frameless Glass Pool Fencing - Aqua Vista Glass
Mid-sized contemporary custom-shaped pool in Brisbane.

In summer when the large sliding glass wall panels are opened to let in fresh air, the covered patio area becomes an extension of the great room/kitchen. This lounge area doubles as a conversation corner and offers a comfortable vantage point to take in the action happening in the pool and spa.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Las Vegas with brick pavers.

Архитектор, автор проекта – Дмитрий Позаренко Проект и реализация ландшафта – Ирина Сергеева, Александр Сергеев | Ландшафтная мастерская Сергеевых Фото – Михаил Поморцев | Pro.Foto

If you are planning to build or renovate a pool house for the upcoming season, be sure to include an ActivWall Gas Strut Window in your design. Contact us for a quote, and our team will help add some #WowFactor to your backyard! This unit, located in central Virginia, measures 96″ wide by 48″ high. The thermally-broken aluminum frame is finished in a white powder coat with a saddle sill. The glass used for this unit is Insulated LowE 366.

IN 2021, PETE AND BECKY MEIER HIRED LANDSCAPE DESIGN WEST, LLC, TO CREATE AN EXTRAORDINARY RENOVATION DESIGN FOR THE CANYON PASS HOUSE LOCATED IN THE GATED COMMUNITY OF CANYON PASS AT THE PINNACLE OF DOVE MOUNTAIN, IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. EXISTING LANDSCAPE DID NOT COMPLIMENT THE OUTSTANDING ADJACENT DESERT NOR THE UNIQUE MARK SOLOWAY ARCHITECTURE. GOAL WAS TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL DIALOGUE WITH THE ADJACENT DESERT AND RESIDENCE. DESIRED OUTCOME: INCREASE VISUAL APPEAL/LOWER WATER USE WITH NUMEROUS SPECIMEN SUCCULENTS AND A PLANTING DESIGN THAT IS INVITING, COLORFUL AND GRACIOUS, INCREASE YEAR AROUND COLOR AND BLOOMS TO ATTRACT NATIVE POLLINATORS SUCH AS BIRDS, BATS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES MITIGATE DAMAGE TO PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY USED AS CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREAS LOWER WATER USAGE REPLACING EXISTING FAULTY IRRIGATION LOWER ENERGY/INCREASED NIGHTTIME LIGHTING AESTHETICS WITH A PROFESSIONAL DESIGN AND USING HUNTER/FX LED LIGHTING CHALLENGES: HILLSIDE/SLOPE WILDLIFE ROCKY SOILS DIFFICULT ACCESS Robin Stancliff Photography

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary courtyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Austin with concrete pavers.

This is an example of a mid-sized asian backyard rectangular pool in Orange County with a hot tub and decking.

Built by Glenn Layton Homes
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Jacksonville with decking.

Andy Hobson
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard kidney-shaped natural pool in Baltimore with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury courtyard rectangular pool in Dallas with concrete slab.

Cedar deck and lattice screen.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard custom-shaped pool in Toronto.

This custom lagoon freeform pool in Fort Lauderdale really is the perfect pool that has all the luxurious features needed to make your backyard the ultimate retreat! The sun shelf allows for optimum tanning and lounging and also has a custom spa and bar area with sunken stools and even a table for hanging out! The spray fountains, bubblers and LED lights cap off this extraordinary project!