The perfect pool house. Has everything from storage, full bath with shower, fire place and bar.
Photo of a country backyard rectangular pool in Atlanta with a pool house and concrete slab.

2017 Grand ARDA - Renovations - Dixon Projects (3)

AIBD - American Institute of Building Design

This brownstone had been left vacant long enough that a large family of 40 cats had taken up residence. Designed in 1878 and fully gutted along the way, this diamond in the rough left an open shell with very little original detail. After gently re-homing the kitty interlopers, building up and out was the primary goal of the owner in order to maximize the buildable area of the lot. While many of the home’s historical features had been destroyed, the owner sought to retain these features where possible. Of the original grand staircase, only one piece, the newel post, could be salvaged and restored. A Grand ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Dixon Projects Design: Dixon Projects From: New York, New York

Project Outdoor Sauna

Ambient Elements

Ambient Elements creates conscious designs for innovative spaces by combining superior craftsmanship, advanced engineering and unique concepts while providing the ultimate wellness experience. We design and build saunas, infrared saunas, steam rooms, hammams, cryo chambers, salt rooms, snow rooms and many other hyperthermic conditioning modalities.

Clearview Pavilion

Amantea Architects

Large modern backyard rectangular aboveground pool in Toronto with a pool house and concrete slab.

The Spa Treatment in West Falmouth

Cataldo Custom Builders, Inc.

Dan Cutrona
Photo of an expansive contemporary backyard rectangular pool in Boston with a pool house and decking.

Deer Creek Estate

Elite Landscaping Omaha

In the back of this estate just outside of Omaha, Nebraska, Elite Landscaping designed a custom concrete swimming pool with a covered pool house and 360-degree, negative-edge spa. The pool house features an outdoor kitchen and bar area, which rests on posts that adjoin the raised pool wall. The pool house was built as an exact architectural match to the house, from the stucco, to the cedar decking beams, down to the paint color. This covered outdoor entertaining area provides a shady spot in the afternoons, where guests can lounge on four in-pool, swim up bar stools. The rest of the pool remains in full sun. The sunken swim-up bar is adorned with glass tile accents, and the pool wall features natural stone. Oversized, UniLock bluestone pavers comprise the pool deck and patio. The unique negative-edge spa sits above the pool, and was designed so one half of the spa flows into the pool while the other half flows back into the landscaping. The entire poolscape is automated by a Pentair IntelliTouch system that runs off of a smartphone or other device. With the touch of a button, the homeowners can adjust pool and spa temperatures, change water flow speed, program the FX color-changing LED lights, and even test the pool chemistry.

GRAY SLATE

Elite Pool Design

Gorgeous indoor fiberglass pool water curtain and lighting provides year round fun! Designed and built exclusively by Elite Pool Design.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular pool in Toronto with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

A Multi-season Entertaining Backyard

Betz Pools Limited

When it comes to comfort, the cabana’s three retractable walls provide total flexibility. You can start off the evening with the walls wide open, then close one or more of them if it starts to cool off. The owners claim this is the perfect setup for watching the game with friends.

American Craftsman

Cannarsa Structure and Design

Design ideas for a large traditional backyard rectangular pool in Grand Rapids with a pool house and gravel.

Hot Summer Nights

KDesign LLC

Design ideas for a small mediterranean backyard pool in Other with a pool house.

Little Blue

Kala Performance Homes

A sauna was custom-built within the pool house. Cedar was used for the walls, ceiling, and benches. The variation in the shades of the cedar lumber contrasts with the uniform 3x36” black tile floor. Small LED lights provide just enough illumination to be able to see inside the sauna while still being able to relax. LED lighting was used throughout this entire project, as it is not only energy-efficient, but provides more lumens per wattage and a longer lifetime.

Wainscott Poolhouse

Measuredworks Architecture

This cedar-wrapped poolhouse sits within the zoning footprint of an existing, dilapidated garden shed. It was conceived as an indoor/outdoor room, with three large barn doors sliding open to seamlessly connect the interior to an adjacent cedar deck and elevated 25-meter swimming pool. The space contains open showers, a toilet room and kitchenette and functions equally well as a spa in winter, with a Japanese soaking tub and sauna.

Bakery Village Single Family Residence

Adamick Architecture

Small beach style backyard rectangular pool in New Orleans with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Fall City Addition

Rainier Custom Homes

Indoor lap pool and hot tub spa room. with cedar, pine and open wood beams plus paneling.
This is an example of a large transitional indoor rectangular lap pool in Seattle with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Below Ground Pool with Patio and Pool House Project

ALL Renovation & Design LLC

For this project, we were asked to create an outdoor living area around a newly-constructed pool. We worked with the customer on the design, layout, and material selections. We constructed two decks: one with a vinyl pergola, and the other with a roof and screened-in porch. We installed Cambridge pavers around pool and walkways. We built custom seating walls and fire pit. Our team helped with selecting and installing planting beds and plants. Closer to the pool we constructed a custom 16’x28’ pool house with a storage area, powder room, and finished entertaining area and loft area. The interior of finished area was lined with tongue-and-groove pine boards and custom trim. To complete the project, we installed aluminum fencing and designed and installed an outdoor kitchen. In the end, we helped this Berks County homeowner completely transform their backyard into a stunning outdoor living space.

Pool House

User

This is an example of a contemporary indoor rectangular pool in Other with a pool house.

Natural Pools

Pool n Spa Artistry

Design ideas for a country custom-shaped pool in Houston with a pool house and stamped concrete.

Tropical Oasis on Interocastal: Delray Beach, FL

Botanical Visions

Large tropical backyard rectangular natural pool in Miami with natural stone pavers and a pool house.

Belgravia Swimming Pool

Rachel Niddrie Design

Iznic tiles for this luxury swimming pool in London.
Inspiration for an asian indoor pool in London with a pool house.

Magnolia Pavilion

Miller Architecture

Qualified Remodeler Room Remodel of the Year & Outdoor Living 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Best in Region -Middle Atlantic 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Platinum Winner Residential Addition over $100,000 2015 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Platinum Winner Outdoor Living

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.