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/

Simple, Luxurious Swimming Pool And Fire Pit

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

Another view of our client's rectilinear pool with natural glass pebble tile and bullnose bluestone coping. The attached raised spa with cascading waterfall is a lovely escape.

Simple, Luxurious Swimming Pool And Fire Pit

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

Plenty of room for fun in our client's rectilinear pool with natural glass pebble tile and bullnose bluestone coping. Love the basketball hoop for the kids! For the adults, the attached raised spa with cascading waterfall is a lovely escape, as is the sun shelf.

Indoor Pool

Karp Associates Inc.

Design ideas for a small traditional indoor rectangular aboveground pool in Other with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

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.

Cotabush

Parrot Bay Pools & Spas

Design ideas for a mid-sized country backyard custom-shaped lap pool in Little Rock with a water slide and natural stone pavers.

Cannon Hill - Plunge Pool

Majestic Pools & Landscapes

Andrew Jakovac
Photo of a small modern courtyard custom-shaped lap pool in Brisbane with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

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.

Picturesque Pool

Southview Design

This infinity pool lights up beautifully at night. Add a few firebowls, dramatic garden beds and an outdoor kitchen and the three tiered paver patio comes to life.

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

Two Story Deck with Fireplace, Pool & Spa

Boyce Design + Build

Ideal for parties or simply relaxing with the family, this backyard transformation brings style and functionality to a home. Total Project features pool, patio, spa, two-story outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen, deck, and landscaping. Photo courtesy of Micah Rogers.

Mountain Mine-Themed Pool With Waterfalls, Slide and More

CAVINESS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC.

A home on top of a hill with amazing lake views provide the perfect setting for a beautiful "mountain mine" inspired pool with multiple ways to interact with - this active family will never be bored! There is an antique ore cart and rail system that seems to appear from an old mine and gives the homeowner a unique iced-beverage cart. There are boulder steps that lead up to another "mine" entrance that is actually the entrance to the underground slide. This view shows the flagstone beach entry into the pool and the underground slide exit into the pool. In the background you can see the swim-through grotto and natural boulder waterfall with a 14' diving ledge. Hand cut native stone with boulders integrated into the stone retaining wall provides additional patio space with a fire pit above the pool. Landscape/Pool design and construction by Kelly Caviness and Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Photography by KO Rinearson

Pool Landscape Designs

Spaces Landscape Architecture

Design ideas for a mid-sized asian backyard rectangular pool in New York with natural stone pavers.

Norwell Pool, House & Patio

Cutting Edge Homes Inc.

Photo: Patrick O'Malley
Mid-sized traditional backyard kidney-shaped pool in Boston with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

San Antonio

William W. Stubbs and Associates

Large mediterranean backyard rectangular pool in Houston with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Pool structures

Glen Gate Company

The gorgeous three season pool house is just the right size for an intimate gathering of friends or family.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in New York with natural stone pavers and a pool house.

Ocean Front

TMS Architects

TMS Architects
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style backyard rectangular lap pool in Boston with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Bungalow Pool & Pool House

Shoreline Pools, Inc.

The long, lean swimming pool and raised spa were set perpendicular to the home to take full advantage of the rectangular property. Extra-wide limestone coping provides a stunning frame, hides the skimmers with custom stone lids, and seamlessly blends with the random-rectangular limestone deck running the full width of the home. A custom pool house and mature, layered hedges add complete privacy to this beautiful backyard. Phil Nelson Imaging

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.

Spa, Fountain

Bellinger Design Group

Spa, Fountain
Design ideas for a mediterranean backyard rectangular pool in Dallas with natural stone pavers.

Pool Design Ideas with Natural Stone Pavers

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.