Photo by Travis Peterson
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard pool in Seattle with concrete slab.

The Berry family of Houston, Texas hired us to do swimming pool renovation in their backyard. The pool was badly in need of repair. Its surface, plaster, tile, and coping all needed reworking. The Berry’s had finally decided it was time to do something about this, so they contacted us to inquire about swimming pool restoration. We told them that we could certainly repair the damaged elements. After we took a closer look at the pool, however, we realized that more was required here than a cosmetic solution to wear and tear. Because of some serious design flaws, the aesthetic of the pool worked against surrounding landscape design. The rear portion of the pool was framed by architectural wall, and the water was surrounded by a brick and bluestone patio. The problem lay in the fact that the wall was too tall. It created a sense of separation from the remainder of the yard, and it obscured the view of a beautiful arbor that had been built beneath the trees behind the pool. It also hosted a contemporary-style, sheer-descent waterfall fountain that looked too modern for a traditional lawn and garden design. Restoring this wall to its proper relationship with the landscape would turn out to be one of the key elements to our swimming pool renovations work. We began by lowering the wall the wall so you could see the arbor and trees in the backyard more clearly. We also did away with the sheer-descent waterfall that clashed with surrounding backyard landscape design. We decided that a more traditional fountain would be more appropriate to the setting, and more aesthetically apropos if it complimented the brick and bluestone patio. To create this façade, we had to reconstruct the wall with bluestone columns rising up through the brick. These columns matched the bluestone in the patio, and added a stately form to the otherwise plain brick wall. Each column rose slightly higher than the top of the wall and was capped at the top. Thermal-finish weirs crafted in a flame detail jutted from under the capstones and poured water into the pool below. To draw greater emphasis to the pool itself as a body of water, we continued our swimming pool renovation with an expansion of the brick coping. This drew greater emphasis to the body of water within its form, and helps focus awareness on the tranquility created by the fountain. We also removed the outdated diving board and replaced it with a diving rock. This was safer and more attractive than the board. We also extended the entire pool and patio another 15 feet toward the right. This made the entire area a more relaxed and sweeping expanse of hardscape. While doing so, we expanded the brick coping around the pool from 8 inches to 12 inches. Because the spa had a rather unique shape, we decided to replace the coping here with custom brink interlace style that would fit its irregular design. Now that the swimming pool renovation itself was complete, we sought to extend the new sense of expansiveness into the rest of the yard. To accomplish this, we built a walkway out of bluestone stepping pads that ran across the surface of the water to the arbor on the other side of the fountain wall. This unique pathway created invitation to the world of the trees beyond the water’s edge, and counterbalanced the focal point of the pool area with the arbor as a secondary point of interest. We built a terrace and a dining area here so people could remain here in comfort for as long as they liked without having to run back to the patio or dash inside the kitchen for food and drinks.

Expansive tropical backyard custom-shaped natural pool in San Diego with natural stone pavers and a pool house.

Photo of a transitional pool.

Design ideas for a contemporary pool in Other.

Photo by Concept Curious | www.conceptcurious.com
Inspiration for a contemporary pool in Chicago.

This is an example of a pool in Oklahoma City.

Photo Credit: Richard Riley
Design ideas for a small modern backyard rectangular lap pool in Tampa with tile and a hot tub.

Large contemporary backyard custom-shaped natural pool in San Diego with a hot tub and natural stone pavers.

View of the swim up bar with Color Kinetics lighting. A massive faux rock grotto with multiple waterfalls that lead you into a swim-up bar inside the grotto. A dry entrance on the side of the grotto leads to the kitchen and restroom area, as well as to a private outdoor shower on the other side, accessible from the pool by swimming under a hidden entrance. The grotto kitchen includes a wine refrigerator, outdoor refrigerator, outdoor dishwasher, a farmhouse apron sink and custom distressed doors for the entry. The grotto restroom includes a custom faux rock sink base with copper bowl and faucet. Design and Installation by Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Photo credit: Cameron Caviness

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard aboveground pool in Houston with a hot tub and decking.

Photo of a contemporary pool in Mexico City.

Design ideas for a traditional pool in Nashville.

Boasting amazing city views, this secluded gem of a property was waiting for an exterior space of equal quality and imagination to accompany its prized outlook. Without a doubt, the crowning achievement of this spectacular renovation is the 10 foot by 12 foot stainless steel pool and hot tub situated on the roof. To fully maximize this new outdoor space, the pool was completely surrounded by a deck and a new penthouse entertainment area with kitchenette and bathroom, including a full shower. An ARDA for outdoor living design goes to Dixon Projects Designer: Dixon Projects From: New York, New York

SDH Studio - Architecture and Design Location: Golden Beach, Florida, USA Set on a narrow radial lot in Golden Beach, the architectural intent of this home was to maximize outdoor living areas while respecting a detailed program for the interior of the home. Overlapping volumes cantilever over the landscape to create opportunities for outdoor entertaining. Project in collaboration with Oona Architecture. Argentina.

Design ideas for a contemporary pool in Rome.

This is an example of a tropical pool in Perth.

Inspiration for a pool in Chicago.

Design ideas for a mid-sized rooftop rectangular aboveground pool in Montreal with a water feature and decking.