While not hurricane "proof" a wood frame around this will probably be easier to live with than a block wall. Looking at the vertical tank, you'll have a problem if you try to make it a long continuous counter from leftmost corner to the edge of the potting bench. My suggestion would be a wooden frame made from treated 2x's (or 4x's) attached solidly to the walls and patio.

Create your counter as possible and desired, but the kicker is to make it hinged at the back so it opens upward like a chest. Use L brackets along the front side to secure it to the frame and if possible, use through bolts rather than screws to attach it so you can easily 'unhook' the lid to open and service your pool equipment.

I'd also make the front face as a large single panel in a style that matches your potting stand and the deck railing in the reflection, possibly horizontal decking with 1/2" gaps stained to complement the house. I'd make the entire front face a single panel rather than a series of cabinet doors so that it is easy to remove (use nutted stainless steel bolts to attach it to the wooden frame) for access to the pool equipment.

In the left corner past the vertical tank, you could integrate a taller counter-depth cabinet to give you storage for your pool toys, hoses, and conceal the vertical pipes. If you want to complicate your design, you could make the area in front of those control boxes more like a counter without the front wall, but build a face-matched rolling box that you could put your cocktail cabinet on and possibly an icemaker or 'fridge. Making it rolling leaves you easier access to the pool panels.

my 2 cents ;-)

A board formed concrete planter similar to this inspiration photo might be an attractive way to obscure your pool equipment.

The pool equipment might be too high for a counter top to be placed. I would do a mix of seating and taller storage unit where needed.

Where did you get the potting bench?

I ordered it from Crate n Barrel.com

I was unable to put the pool equipment anywhere else. It was a challenging job getting my pool built!
Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

I was unable to put the pool equipment anywhere else. It was a challenging job getting my pool built!
Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

Love the view and cabana!

love the little dog dog

Thank you. Love the pool & view!

Wow, your backyard and pool are so lovely :) I can see why it's quite a dilemma to cover up the eyesore of pool equipment. Since you seem to enjoy gardening, I was thinking maybe some sort of brick/cement planter wall.

Here's some ideas from around the web: (I especially like the 2nd photo with the cement planter and built in storage benches.)

I also like your bar idea. Some other ideas to consider would be a short waterfall wall or even just one of those fake rock covers.

I hope you update us when you've completed the project. Covering up equipment takes some creativity to do well and seeing how beautiful the rest of the yard is, I'm excited to see how it ends up looking! I really have to mention how cool your deck area over the river is. :) (and how cute your dog is!)

Thanks PSW! I like the bench pic. But I seem to keep going back to the bar idea. Just don't know where to begin! Oh ....and there are 2 cute dogs. One is in each pic.

haha, I actually was thinking that those were two different dogs. But since they were so similar in size, I guessed that the second one might have been a slightly wet version (because of the pool). :) They are both very adorable!!

It's hard to tell from the photo to see the rest of the house, but just some thoughts.

Material transition is important, meaning, you don't want to have an excessive amount of varying materials. You could do a few things. One, put a knee wall, of sorts, that matches the exterior, what appears to possibly be stucco, or you could use a CMU wall that is veneered in the same color travertine you have on the deck. Both would be dependent on what type of sub-deck your installer used for the travertine. If it's dry set, you may need to excavate and put a "continuous" footing for the wall in.

Or, you could put in a louvered wood wall that would only require spot footings, similar to fencing. You could take a sample of the exterior of the house color and have the paint store match it for painting the wood. By louvered, I mean matching the top portion of the shelving structure pictured.

Something else to note, I don't know what your view is from the window pictured, but I wouldn't build the wall any taller than the window so as not to obstruct your view. I also wouldn't cover the filter over, because there is an operating clearance necessary for removing the filter cartridge. Just thoughts for maintenance.