A Memorial area family commissioned us to create a natural swimming pool in their back yard. The family already had a standard pool on premises, but it was isolated in an area of the yard not particularly suited to seating guests or hosting get-togethers. What they wanted was a second, natural swimming pool built that would serve as the hub of a new home outdoor entertainment area consisting of a new stone patio, comfortable outdoor seating, and a fire pit. They wanted to create something unique that would preserve as much of the natural features of the landscape as possible, but that would also be completely safe and fully functional as a swimming pool. We decided to design this new landscaping plan around a pre-existent waterfall that was already on the property. This feature was too attractive to ignore, and provided the ideal anchor point for a new gathering area. The fountain had been designed to mimic a natural waterfall, with stones laid on top of one another in such a way as to look like a mountain cliff where water spontaneously springs from the top and cascades down the rocks. At first glance, many would miss the opportunity that such a structure provides; assuming that a fountain designed like a cliff would have to be completely replaced to install a natural swimming pool. Our landscaping designers, however, came up with a landscape plan to transform one archetypal form into the other by simply adding to what was already there. At the base of the rocks we dug a basin. This basin was oblong in shape and varied in degrees of depth ranging from a few inches on the end to five feet in the middle. We directed the flow of the water toward one end of the basin, so that it flowed into the depression and created a swimming pool at the base of the rocks. This was easy to accomplish because the fountain lay parallel to the top of a natural ravine located toward the back of the property, so water flow was maintained by gravity. This had the secondary effect of creating a new natural aesthetic. The addition of the basin transformed the fountain’s appearance to look more like a cliff you would see in a river, where the elevation suddenly drops, and water rushes over a series of rocks into a deeper pool below. Children and guests swimming in this new structure could actually imagine themselves in a Rocky Mountain River. We then heated the swimming pool so it could be enjoyed in the winter as well as the summer, and we also lit the pool using two types of luminaries for complimentary effects. For vegetation, we used mercury vapor down lights to backlight surrounding trees and to bring out the green color of foliage in and around the top of the rocks. For the brown color of the rocks themselves, and to create a sparkling luminance rising up and out of the water, we installed incandescent, underwater up lights. The lights were GFIC protected to make the natural swimming pool shock proof and safe for human use.

The sweeping arc of this pool was set to celebrate the aged charisma of this 90 year old Chinaberry tree. Three still, gently bubbling low profile wok pots barely float above the water, barely casting their ripple across the surface. michaelwoodall.com

Marbella 1208: Elevation “T”, open Model for Viewing at The Vineyards in the Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch, Fl. Visit www.ArthurRutenbergHomes.com to view other Models. 3 Bedrooms / 3.5 Baths / Den / Great Room / Club Room / 3,839 square feet Plan Features: Living Area: 3839 Total Area: 5437 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Stories: 1 Den: Standard Bonus Room: Standard

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.

Modern swimming pool and spa design. Contemporary landscape and pool lighting surround this unique pool. Luxury swimming pool landscaping ideas by Cipriano- 2013 “Top 50 Pool Builder” with 14 International Design Awards. Bergen County-Northern NJ

This Eclectic inspired home centers around the courtyard water feature. This feature was not designed to be subtle. Low profile focal points were required from views coming in all directions. The primary view from the entry provides a view down the center of Cannon jets and fire bowls over the vanishing edge. The reflective vanishing edge spa and led lights added to the visual accents. Floating steps connect the pool deck to the spa as well as floating pads cross the infinity two tiered basin. This allows minimal steps from cabana to porch terraces. The lower terrace captures the view as the water cascades down the copper spill edges. Pool barstools provide additional seating in the water adjacent to the cabana. Access was so difficult the pool shell was completed before the house foundation was started, The home changed owners at the framing stage and the selling point of this home was the courtyard water feature. Project designed by Mike Farley. Check out Mike's Reference Site at FarleyPoolDesigns.com

Tre Dunham

Manufacturer of custom recycled glass counter tops and landscape glass aggregate. The countertops are individually handcrafted and customized, using 100% recycled glass and diverting tons of glass from our landfills. The epoxy used is Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and emits no off gassing. The newest product base is a high density, UV protected concrete. We now have indoor and outdoor options. As with the resin, the concrete offer the same creative aspects through glass choices. Pool house blues set in Mt Pleasant SC

Dennis Mayer Photography