Polished concrete flooring carries out to the pool deck connecting the spaces, including a cozy sitting area flanked by a board form concrete fireplace, and appointed with comfortable couches for relaxation long after dark. Poolside chaises provide multiple options for lounging and sunbathing, and expansive Nano doors poolside open the entire structure to complete the indoor/outdoor objective. Photo credit: Ramona d'Viola

West Los Angeles Mansion (Traditional-Style)

MSH Design, Inc.

Photo of an expansive traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Hunters Creek

Brad Sharpe Pools

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Austin with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Meadowood Estates

Brad Sharpe Pools

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular natural pool in Austin with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Our Work

DCD Kitchen & Bath Design Studio

This is an example of a large backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Atlanta with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Desert Retreat at Silverleaf

Drewett Works

The genesis of design for this desert retreat was the informal dining area in which the clients, along with family and friends, would gather. Located in north Scottsdale’s prestigious Silverleaf, this ranch hacienda offers 6,500 square feet of gracious hospitality for family and friends. Focused around the informal dining area, the home’s living spaces, both indoor and outdoor, offer warmth of materials and proximity for expansion of the casual dining space that the owners envisioned for hosting gatherings to include their two grown children, parents, and many friends. The kitchen, adjacent to the informal dining, serves as the functioning heart of the home and is open to the great room, informal dining room, and office, and is mere steps away from the outdoor patio lounge and poolside guest casita. Additionally, the main house master suite enjoys spectacular vistas of the adjacent McDowell mountains and distant Phoenix city lights. The clients, who desired ample guest quarters for their visiting adult children, decided on a detached guest casita featuring two bedroom suites, a living area, and a small kitchen. The guest casita’s spectacular bedroom mountain views are surpassed only by the living area views of distant mountains seen beyond the spectacular pool and outdoor living spaces. Project Details | Desert Retreat, Silverleaf – Scottsdale, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB; Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Sonora West Development, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn Featured in Phoenix Home and Garden, May 2015, “Sporting Style: Golf Enthusiast Christie Austin Earns Top Scores on the Home Front” See more of this project here: http://drewettworks.com/desert-retreat-at-silverleaf/

Caribbean Retreat

521 Atelier Interiors and Lighting Design

Philippe Vermes
This is an example of an expansive tropical side yard custom-shaped infinity pool in New York with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Resort Living

Bahler Brothers

The pool and spa of this expansive project is accented beautifully by the large outdoor cabana boasting an outdoor kitchen and fireplace, natural stone retaining walls, and concrete paver patio.

North Ocean Custom

Marc Julien Homes

Situated on a three-acre Intracoastal lot with 350 feet of seawall, North Ocean Boulevard is a 9,550 square-foot luxury compound with six bedrooms, six full baths, formal living and dining rooms, gourmet kitchen, great room, library, home gym, covered loggia, summer kitchen, 75-foot lap pool, tennis court and a six-car garage. A gabled portico entry leads to the core of the home, which was the only portion of the original home, while the living and private areas were all new construction. Coffered ceilings, Carrera marble and Jerusalem Gold limestone contribute a decided elegance throughout, while sweeping water views are appreciated from virtually all areas of the home. The light-filled living room features one of two original fireplaces in the home which were refurbished and converted to natural gas. The West hallway travels to the dining room, library and home office, opening up to the family room, chef’s kitchen and breakfast area. This great room portrays polished Brazilian cherry hardwood floors and 10-foot French doors. The East wing contains the guest bedrooms and master suite which features a marble spa bathroom with a vast dual-steamer walk-in shower and pedestal tub The estate boasts a 75-foot lap pool which runs parallel to the Intracoastal and a cabana with summer kitchen and fireplace. A covered loggia is an alfresco entertaining space with architectural columns framing the waterfront vistas.

Traditional Pool

Inspiration for a large traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in New York with a pool house.

Stowe, Vermont Pool House

Patterson and Smith Construction, Inc.

Westphalen Photography
Inspiration for a large modern backyard rectangular lap pool in Burlington with natural stone pavers and a pool house.

Leawood Estate

By The Blade Lawn and Landscape

Bob Greenspan
Design ideas for a large traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in Kansas City with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

Cliff Road Area - Nantucket

Jonathan Raith Inc.

Nantucket Architectural Photography
Inspiration for a large beach style backyard rectangular pool in Boston with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Stratford Residence

AquaTerra Outdoors

This pool and spa is built in an affluent neighborhood with many new homes that are traditional in design but have modern, clean details. Similar to the homes, this pool takes a traditional pool and gives it a clean, modern twist. The site proved to be perfect for a long lap pool that the client desired with plenty of room for a separate spa. The two bodies of water, though separate, are visually linked together by a custom limestone raised water feature wall with 10 custom Bobe water scuppers. Quality workmanship as required throughout the entire build to ensure the automatic pool cover would remain square the entire 50 foot length of the pool. Features of this pool and environment that enhance the aesthetic appeal of this project include: -Glass waterline tile -Glass seat and bench tile -Glass tile swim lane marking on pool floor -Custom limestone coping and deck -PebbleTec pool finish -Synthetic Turf Lawn This outdoor environment cohesively brings the clean & modern finishes of the home seamlessly to the outdoors to a pool and spa for play, exercise and relaxation. Photography: Daniel Driensky

Pool House

David Edelman Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary pool in Melbourne.

Connecticut Country House

Wesley Stout Associates

The swimming pool is located at the highest level of the garden and is a simple rectangle framed by a "fence" of espaliered apple trees to the left and the stainless steel railing to the right. Its shallow end defines one side of the outdoor living room. The pool gently spills through a trough to link and enliven the adjoining dining court.

Lake Front Country Estate

Markalunas Architecture Group

Lake Front Country Estate Outdoor Dining, designed by Tom Markalunas, built by Resort Custom Homes. Photography by Rachael Boling
Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in Other with natural stone pavers.

The old silk farm

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

Kitchen Architecture - bulthaup b3 furniture in bronze aluminium and greige laminate with 10 mm stainless steel work surface. Available to rent: www.theoldsilkfarm.com

Hinsdale, IL Freeform Swimming Pool and Hot Tub with Fire and Glass

Platinum Poolcare

Request Free Quote outvision photography

Mosman

Harrison's Landscaping

A truly beautiful garden and pool design to complement an incredible architectural designed harbour view home.
Photo of an expansive contemporary backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Sydney with a water feature.

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.