Challenge: sometimes second time’s a charm Solved: Most remodels are baby steps. Upgrades. Not, this one. This was clearly a giant step. The deck, made of architectural concrete and Ipe wood—twice as dense as most woods and five times harder—features a cantilevered fire pit and floating barbeque. While these provide ample touches of wow factor, some of the most game-changing and appreciated enhancements are hidden from view: like the re-engineered, energy-efficient power plant and pipes that keep crystal clear water flowing silently and effortlessly space to space. In this case, it would seem, the second time’s a charm.

West Plano Clean Modern Pool + Fire

Randy Angell Designs

Design ideas for a large modern backyard rectangular pool in Dallas with decking.

Tropical Pool

Alan D. Holt, A.S.L.A., Landscape Architect

An amazing space envisioned by the Client and completed by a great team. An Ipe deck flows to the edge of the pool. The reclaimed brick wall and walkway give a sense that the space is much older. Several varieties of palms and flowering shrubs create an oasis with year-round color.

Seacoast Southern Maine Plunge Pool Project

Soake Pools

Soake Pool in a private backyard setting. Interesting and beautiful mix of materials and texture was used on wood deck and stone surround. Customer can swim in place with Swim Tether system.

Jardin Exotique & indus

E/P ESPACE DESIGN

aménagement paysager pour cette maison neuve création du style paysager, sélection des matériaux, végétation, couleurs. Jardin moderne et exotique terracotta, facilité d'entretien, banc jardinière avec rangements.

Stainless Steel Rooftop Swim Spa

Diamond Spas

Custom In Ground Stainless Steel Swim Spas with Auto Cover 136" x 86" X 41" Architect: TBA Architecture & Design Studio Photographer: Copyright Christopher Olstein

Aintree House: Outdoor Area

Atlas Architects

A generous outdoor area with pool. Large glass doors connect living spaces with the exterior. Photo by Peter Bennetts
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Melbourne with decking.

Bennett Valley Pool House

Catch Architecture

Paul Dyer
Photo of a small country backyard rectangular lap pool in San Luis Obispo with a pool house and decking.

Jeu de ligne

Agence MORVANT & MOINGEON Paysagistes Concepteurs

Gabrielle VOINOT
Mediterranean backyard rectangular lap pool in Other with decking.

x house

Arch4

Inspiration for a small traditional indoor rectangular lap pool in San Francisco with decking.

Sustainable Beach Home

Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID

Small beach style custom-shaped aboveground pool in Charleston with decking.

Baker's Bay

Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Michael Stavaridis
Design ideas for an expansive beach style backyard rectangular lap pool in Miami with decking.

contemporary pool, pergola and landscape

User

Contemporary pool and spa with tanning ledge tucked into compact space. To make the best use of space, we added a pergola to provide shade for an outdoor table and finished the project with lush landscaping.

Appleton Residence

MINARC

Art Gray Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool in Los Angeles with decking.

Wilhoite Homestead Renovation

Elizabeth Eason Architecture LLC

Bruce Cole Photography
Small arts and crafts backyard rectangular pool in Other with a water feature and decking.

Spring 2017

Bullfrog Spas Factory Stores:Ogden-Kaysville-Logan

Large traditional backyard rectangular aboveground pool in Salt Lake City with a hot tub and decking.

Outdoor Living

Van Esch Enterprises

Open Photography
Inspiration for a small country backyard round pool in Toronto with a hot tub and decking.

Heavy Metal

Earthscape - Landscape Design & Build

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard pool in Toronto with a hot tub and decking.

Piscine extérieure 3.5 x 9 m

User

Piscine classique 3,5 x 9m liner sable SmartCover Fond incurvé
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard rectangular pool in Nantes with decking.

Kipling Residence

CONTENT Architecture

The Kipling house is a new addition to the Montrose neighborhood. Designed for a family of five, it allows for generous open family zones oriented to large glass walls facing the street and courtyard pool. The courtyard also creates a buffer between the master suite and the children's play and bedroom zones. The master suite echoes the first floor connection to the exterior, with large glass walls facing balconies to the courtyard and street. Fixed wood screens provide privacy on the first floor while a large sliding second floor panel allows the street balcony to exchange privacy control with the study. Material changes on the exterior articulate the zones of the house and negotiate structural loads.

Pool Design Ideas with Decking

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.