POOLS
At one end sits a shallow shelf, where the homeowners can relax in their lounge chairs, partially submerged in the water, in the shade of a patio umbrella that can pop into a built-in hole in the shelf. The pool wall is raised 18 inches above the surrounding ground, providing additional seating for guests, helping to keep leaf litter out and also giving the yard some height. “
Garden living room. With striped bunting, comfy furnishings, twinkle lights and pots of flowers out front, this garden room in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, could hardly look more festive. Although designed more as a summer house, the garden room could easily become an inviting cool-weather destination with a small space heater and perhaps an electric kettle for tea on hand. Often just adding more light and warmth is enough to make a space more inviting, even in winter.
In the evening, lights illuminate the pool and cast a glow on the bordering meadow planting of North American native ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, zones 4 to 9) to the right and a softer glow on the ‘Hameln’ dwarf fountain grass to the left. On the whole, landscape lighting was kept minimal, with stair and pathway lights but few others. Schafer shared two design tips for creating a similar landscape. 1. Limit the plant and material palettes. Reducing the number of plants and materials used for a project simplifies the design and gives it a more modern look. For example, massing a single variety of plants yields a more minimalist (and often more calming) result than planting a bed with many varieties and colors. 2. Think out of the box when it comes to using plants. “Use plants to contrast nature, rather than try to mimic it,” Schafer says. For example, he uses grasses in distinct planting blocks — hornbeam trained into a wall or blocks of grasses as landscape carpets — to become architectural elements of the design.
Walking down toward the pool, one passes between meadow-like plantings of dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, zones 4 to 11). A European hornbeam hedge (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’, zones 4 to 8) hides a modern pergola and seating area from view. Instead of being distracted by man-made elements of the landscape, one’s eye is drawn along the sweeping grasses — perhaps watching as the plumes move in the wind — to linger on the view of the valley and mountain range.
Telescoping glass walls create a seamless transition from indoors to out. The pool angles toward the great room and reflects light on the overhangs. The fireplace at the end of the pool also opens to the master bedroom. The pool placement, Meek says, has unexpected benefits too. “When the glass walls are open, the breeze across the water actually cools the interior.”
A freeform swimming pool tucked away in a wooded area that offers plenty of privacy. Natural materials were used to complement it's environment. Portofino coping mimics natural stone, without the side effects of minerals getting in the pool. Bora Bora Pool Quartz Plaster was used to give it this rich blue color. Plenty of comfortable seating surrounds the pool.
small rustic backyard custom-shaped pool
Studies have shown that a large majority of time is spent in and around the step area. By enlarging either the second or third step and putting in an umbrella for shade gives a generous area for seating, a gathering area, and a spot for those swimmers that are not quite yet experts.
mountain style pool design
Steps
This Dallas freeform pool & spa was built on a lot with a 20' drop. The clients were told repeatedly that they could not build a pool on their site. Three terrace railroad tied walls were removed and the pool was carved into the hillside.
Example of a mountain style rectangular pool design in Jackson with a hot tub and tile — Houzz Is that a hard cover for the spa? Nice.
nice size
lap pool
lap pool
landscaping
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