T&T Photos
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in Atlanta with a water feature.

Designed by Pinnacle Architectural Studio
Design ideas for an expansive traditional front yard round lap pool in Las Vegas with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

This is an example of a traditional backyard rectangular pool in Richmond with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Jason Warren
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Organic-shaped pool with a beach entry and in-pool granite table & bench! Bluestone coping and quartzite pool patio.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in New York with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

This Flemington, NJ landscape and free-form pool was carefully designed on a property with a rolling hill to extend as much usable outdoor living space as possible while simultaneously adding privacy from the neighbors, and the side street. Key to this space is the large retaining wall built at the back end of the yard after the hill was excavated out and the land leveled. The pool deck extends far to the one side to provide sun bathing chairs and furniture; also to tie in the views from the deck and back of the house to the pool lounging area. The planting scheme also was designed to keep the pool open to the house and privacy kept from the neighbors and other surroundings. The pool features a sitting bench or cozy corner for kids to take a rest on while playing in the pool. Overall the design of this space really transformed a hilly tight backyard with not much usable space into the perfect scene for entertaining with friends or family.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in New Orleans with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

A complete landscape installation and renovation that Ledden Palimeno completed in 2015. We created a backyard that our clients can entertain their friends and family in, for a lifetime. There is a built in grill station, with plenty of counter space to prep at. Two dinning areas, one for an intimate gathering and one for a larger party. The stepping stones through the lawn take you to the fenced-in custom pool by our team as well. The custom pool is for children of all ages, and the sun shelf is large enough for the whole family to enjoy together. We heavily planted the back property line with tall evergreens and blooming shrubs for privacy and a beautiful backdrop to this backyard oasis.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular natural pool in Austin with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Jonathan Beckerman
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard rectangular pool in New York with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

French Inspired Pool and Landscape. Designed and Photographed by Marco Romani, RLA - Landscape Architect. Arrow
Photo of a traditional backyard rectangular pool in Chicago with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Our client requested Land & Water Design to design a unique backyard, utilizing every bit of open area. Within the requests were a 12'x22' swimming pool with swim jet system to accommodate the competitive swimmers in their family. The items on their "wish list" were enough hardscape areas to accommodate at least 20 guests, a beautiful low maintenance landscape, custom storage area, outdoor lighting, water jets, retaining wall, seat walls and finally a small area for outdoor grilling. Photo Credit: Jim Folliard

After photo of client's backyard featuring custom swimming pool with dive rock and natural stone waterfall.
Design ideas for a traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in New York with a water feature.

Design Works
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard pool in Other with a water feature and brick pavers.

Landscape Architect: Chad Talton
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular lap pool in DC Metro with a water feature.

It started with vision. Then arrived fresh sight, seeing what was absent, seeing what was possible. Followed quickly by desire and creativity and know-how and communication and collaboration. When the Ramsowers first called Exterior Worlds, all they had in mind was an outdoor fountain. About working with the Ramsowers, Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds says, “The Ramsowers had great vision. While they didn’t know exactly what they wanted, they did push us to create something special for them. I get inspired by my clients who are engaged and focused on design like they were. When you get that kind of inspiration and dialogue, you end up with a project like this one.” For Exterior Worlds, our design process addressed two main features of the original space—the blank surface of the yard surrounded by looming architecture and plain fencing. With the yard, we dug out the center of it to create a one-foot drop in elevation in which to build a sunken pool. At one end, we installed a spa, lining it with a contrasting darker blue glass tile. Pedestals topped with urns anchor the pool and provide a place for spot color. Jets of water emerge from these pedestals. This moving water becomes a shield to block out urban noises and makes the scene lively. (And the children think it’s great fun to play in them.) On the side of the pool, another fountain, an illuminated basin built of limestone, brick and stainless steel, feeds the pool through three slots. The pool is counterbalanced by a large plot of grass. What is inventive about this grassy area is its sub-structure. Before putting down the grass, we installed a French drain using grid pavers that pulls water away, an action that keeps the soil from compacting and the grass from suffocating. The entire sunken area is finished off with a border of ground cover that transitions the eye to the limestone walkway and the retaining wall, where we used the same reclaimed bricks found in architectural features of the house. In the outer border along the fence line, we planted small trees that give the space scale and also hide some unsightly utility infrastructure. Boxwood and limestone gravel were embroidered into a parterre design to underscore the formal shape of the pool. Additionally, we planted a rose garden around the illuminated basin and a color garden for seasonal color at the far end of the yard across from the covered terrace. To address the issue of the house’s prominence, we added a pergola to the main wing of the house. The pergola is made of solid aluminum, chosen for its durability, and painted black. The Ramsowers had used reclaimed ornamental iron around their front yard and so we replicated its pattern in the pergola’s design. “In making this design choice and also by using the reclaimed brick in the pool area, we wanted to honor the architecture of the house,” says Halper. We continued the ornamental pattern by building an aluminum arbor and pool security fence along the covered terrace. The arbor’s supports gently curve out and away from the house. It, plus the pergola, extends the structural aspect of the house into the landscape. At the same time, it softens the hard edges of the house and unifies it with the yard. The softening effect is further enhanced by the wisteria vine that will eventually cover both the arbor and the pergola. From a practical standpoint, the pergola and arbor provide shade, especially when the vine becomes mature, a definite plus for the west-facing main house. This newly-created space is an updated vision for a traditional garden that combines classic lines with the modern sensibility of innovative materials. The family is able to sit in the house or on the covered terrace and look out over the landscaping. To enjoy its pleasing form and practical function. To appreciate its cool, soothing palette, the blues of the water flowing into the greens of the garden with a judicious use of color. And accept its invitation to step out, step down, jump in, enjoy.

Custom small urban pool, Endless Pool, star-light floor lights, shared system with spillover spa, custom spout water features, automatic cover, custom integrated fire feature. Richmond Hill, ON.

Large traditional backyard rectangular pool in New York with a water feature and concrete slab.

The brick decking is in a herringbone pattern that creates dynamic interest. The grass strips break up the large expanse. We made sure to include traditional planters to inject some color to the scene.