Southwest Contemporary at Desert Mountain

Southwest contemporary patio with infinity pool, hot tub, and flagstone flooring. Architect: Urban Design Associates Builder: Manship Builders Interior Designer: Bess Jones Interiors Photographer: Thompson Photographic

Détente actuelle

Conception Horticole du Nord

Nichée en plein cœur de la forêt, cette demeure au style contemporain-californien invite à la détente avec son style épuré et ses courbes circonscrites.

Park Lane

SDG Architecture, Inc.

Bernard Andre'
Design ideas for a large modern backyard rectangular lap pool in San Francisco with a pool house and stamped concrete.

Pool house Reno

Maverick LLC

Originally built this in 1997 , Fun to reimagine it in 2016
Photo of a large traditional backyard rectangular natural pool in New York with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

French Country Modern

JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

Photography: Piston Design
Photo of an expansive mediterranean backyard rectangular pool in Austin with a pool house and tile.

University Club - Marino

Ewing Aquatech Pools

Mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in New Orleans with a pool house and concrete pavers.

Lutherville, MD

Lothorian Pools

Inspiration for a large traditional backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Baltimore with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Orlando Pool Lighting

Elegant Custom Images

Mid-sized contemporary backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Orlando with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Freeform Pool and Spa with Pool House

Boyce Design + Build

This gorgeous multi-level pool and flag stone patio houses a spa and water slide on the terrace level with stacked stone steps leading down to the pool house which features an open air cabana, custom pizza oven, dining area, bathroom and storage room. The lower level includes a custom wood burning fire pit and manicured lawn.

Cape Cod Barn and Pool, Orleans, MA

Kimberly Mercurio Landscape Architecture

Pool house Landscape on Cape Cod
Country pool in Boston with a pool house and decking.

Tiki Bar Pool Plus

Blue Haven Pools & Spas By Calvitti

This Doylestown, PA pool has a unique Tiki Bar. In addition it has all the water features an in ground pool can have, a huge paver patio pool deck, a fire feature, and to top it all off a low voltage lighting system that really brings the party to life at night. Lets not forget the pool house, and matching paver stone driveway entrance. This outdoor living space has it all and then some. A very impressive space. The water features include a raised heated spa, a large sun-shelf, a cozy corner, a boulder waterfall, water jet streams, and colored led night lights. The fire feature includes a natural boulder fire pit which is both elemental and essential to make this space a well rounded outdoor experience. A unique feature is the Tiki bar hut which just makes such a cool element for entertaining guests during parties. Lastly, a convenient pool house makes this place stand out as an awesome pool project.

Entertaining at the Pool

Terra Ferma Landscapes

This space is great for parties. Guests are able to utilize the cabana, pool, outdoor seating area, lounge chairs, bar at the outdoor kitchen and outdoor dining.

Shade Structures

Dian Barnes Landscape Design, LLC

Large traditional backyard rectangular pool in Bridgeport with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Poolhouse & Structures in MD, VA & DC

CAHILL LAND DESIGN

This is an example of a traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in DC Metro with a pool house.

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.

Pool House

HOBBS INC

Jane Beiles
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard pool in New York with a pool house.

Fairhope Backyard Oasis

Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects

This aging pool pavilion was given new life and is now the focal point for this traditional Fairhope home.
Design ideas for a traditional backyard pool in Other with a pool house.

Transitional / Contemporary

Nasrallah Architectural Group, Inc.

This is an example of a large transitional backyard rectangular lap pool in Orlando with a pool house.

McLean Infinity Pool, Pavilion, & Terraced Patios

Pristine Acres

This modern/transitional design included a 50' infinity pool and spa, a pavilion with a large outdoor kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace, and other great features like terraced travertine patios, a 10' fire pit behind the infinity edge, cable handrails, LED lighting, landscaping, a paver driveway extension, and an in-ground trampoline!

Pools

Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA

Photo Credit: Larry Lambrecht
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular pool in New York with a pool house and tile.

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.