It's beautiful! My pool will be small as well. I am on a cul-de-sac and have a pie shaped lot so my pool is going to be more in the "side" of my backyard...not directly behind the house.

mine is 15 x 32. Close enough

Here's some pictures of ours. It measures 15' wide x 21' long with the elevated spa being a 7' teardrop design. Good luck with your project!

Regards,

Mike

Wow...all of these pools are gorgeous!!! I wish I would have found this site before!
mkfmedic: I love the landscaping, what a beautiful pool and patio you have.

madelineg_2007....love the pepple work around your pool walls....you truly created an oasis back there!

busyredhead: great size pool, your family seems to really enjoy it.

I will definitely post more pictures as the progress develops. I'd love to have input from you fellow "small pool" owners!

Thanks

To mkfmedic...I love your pool and the water color is exactly what we're looking for. What did you use on the bottom? We're thinking of Carribean Blue Colorquartz with either medium or dark gray plaster...any suggestions?

Here's ours a 14x25 fiberglass. We had to go small to squeeze in the only area available. It's may be small, but it does the trick.

Love2weed, my pool will be 12 x26, so I feel ya. Thanks for showing us possibilities. Your yard is beautiful!

love2weed: Great landscaping. The pool fits perfectly in your yard. It looks like you have a nice area to entertain also. We just had the gunite in today, I will post pictues later.... Thanks for sharing your pics :)

Jescat! How exciting! Gunite today! I am supposed to be having three large trees cut today....and the guy (who was supposed to be here "first thing Tuesday morning" is not here yet...it is after noon. he is not affiliated with my PB, but I hope this is no indication of how my build is going to go.

readyami: I know that feeling...we've redone the kitchen and one of the bathrooms here and that is exactly how it went for us. It just seems it's part of the process. I must say that in regards to the pool build, it has been different. My PB has been on time with appt's and with work schedule (so far). He told me yesterday that I could expect to be swimming in 2.5 to 3 weeks!!! So excited, I've never owned a pool before....

Wow!
Just heard from tree guy, he had an unexpected death in the family (motorcycle accident), so I guess we forgive him (feel bad now). He will be here Thursday or Friday.

That is terrible! What part of the country are you in?

Deep, deep south. Mississippi.

Oh Ok. I was asking bcuz my one of my fiancee's friends also passed from a motorcycle accident over the weekend. How terrible......

Waynespool,

Thanks for the compliment. The pool finish is Stonescapes MiniPebble, Midnight Blue. We really like it the minipebble which is similar to the pebble sheen product. Our rock is boquet canyon stone and the coping is concrete with a top beveled edge. We really enjoy the color combinations and it changes throughout the day as the sun shifts throughout the sky.

Good luck with your project!

Regards,

Mike

Have gunite already, the process is flowing...PB says we should be swimming in about 2.5 to 3 weeks!

Oh, Jescat, I know you are excited! We talked to someone today who has had a fiberglass pool by our same pool manufacturer, put in by the same PB we are using, for three years and they love it. It is a bit bigger than ours (ok, a lot bigger) at 14"8" x32. I am a little jealous of the size. I hope we are going to be happy with the smaller pool....but I know the yard is more than "just the pool." We actually have a great design for an outdoor fireplace that we have found, and the person to build it. Actually, this whole process started with me "just" wanting a fire pit and a patio. So, I guess 12x26 is better than nothing.

Here is my 14 x 23 gunite pool. I don't have landscaping yet. Both are night shots, one from inside the pool.

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Very pretty! I like your decking, what is it? The tile work is beautiful.

Thanks. The tile work was pretty stressful. There is so much of it and I was never really sure how it would look. I held off tiling the raised bed walls until the spa was done because I thought it might be too much tile, but I really do like how it turned out. The coping is Oklahoma flag. The decking is stamped concrete. Here is a closeup.

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What color additive is in the concrete? I REALLY like the color, that's what I'm looking for.

stephcrow: Beautiful pool... Im going with brick pavers for decking and coping. Would love to do tile or fla, but the budget just doesn't allow for it. There are so many nice choices, but all these upgrades really add up! Do you have any more pics?

readyami: Just the fact of having a pool in the backyard will turn it into a retreat! The fireplace sounds wonderful. I too am looking into buying one of those fire pits, like at home depot. Since we live in Miami, it really will only be used minimally.

I don't have any idea on the coloring used in my deck, my PB had done this deck before and just had me go look at it in person. If you want some more detailed pictures to show your PB let me know.

Here are a few more pictures of my pool. Since the yard is so small, it is hard to get a good shot of the entire pool all at once. Plus, without landscaping it is pretty dull. I am having trouble deciding how to fill the rather small beds. My favorite thing overall is my 10' hot tub and my little crawfish glass mosiac.
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I really like the mosaic tile you chose! We are doing something similar for waterline. The beds do look tight...have you considered contacting a landscaper for ideas and then just doing it your self? Some colorful plants might just do the trick. Our PB told me that this Monday plumbing will happen and then electrical, tile and coping. Hope that means we are closer to swimming time!!Thanks for sharing your photos, the pool is wonderful!

readyami, we also live in Mississippi, on the Coast. If you are on the Coast, do you mind me asking who is your PB?

We were interested in adding a small pool and/or water feature to our narrow backyard. After a few quotes we received in the spring, we were disheartened and gave up. Maybe in the fall, we'll start thinking about it again. It may be impossible or we may have to settle on a fountain. Plus side is we have a great outdoor fireplace/cooking area and back porch, so it's not all bad.

Here's the tiny area, in the corner by the fireplace, that we have to work with......not much to play with, is it? Y'all just THOUGHT your pool areas were small - ha!

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Wodka...I live in Brandon, near Jackson. I have close relatives on the coast, and my parents just moved up here after Katrina.

Wodka: looks like you could do a long slender lap type pool. Just a thought! Beautiful yard....

jescat - thank you. We've thought about a small lap type pool (or a "spool?") Also, this pic caught my eye when we first started building the house, and I thought something similar would look nice, but just haven't found the right person to work with us yet. We could extend the stamped concrete patio and do a small waterfall.....maybe in the fall, we'll have better luck in finding someone.

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Wodka, That is a beautiful pic, I love the stones and the patio, the colors look great. Keep looking...you'll find someone to build it. I think spools are a great option for narrow areas. Can you post a pic of your fireplace area?

I can't believe it! DH had a major change of heart over the last few days/weekend. He is calling the PB in the morning to see if we can change to the 15x32 pool instead of the 12x26. I am VERY excited at the prospect! We are still 3 weeks before starting, so this could actually work! By eliminating the slide we were planning, the bigger pool will be less than $3K more. I really hope it is not too late to go with the bigger pool -- certainly they don't build these things that far in advance, or can't sell the other one. It is a common size and color from what PB had told us. We had our arbor guy here this afternoon to help us plan the patio/arbor/fireplace area, and I feel a lot better that his ideas were close to what I had been thinking. I will let y'all know what the PB says tomorrow morning!!! We found a really neat design for a combo firepit/fireplace that can be enjoyed from all 4 sides....we are considering this one.
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readyami, here's a picture of our fireplace, etc. Small world. My brother-in-law and his family live in Brandon; my mother lives in Flowood. Brother-in-law just added an infinity pool to his existing pool (he lives in Buckingham Estates, in the reservoir area.) If I could figure out how to post pics of his new pool addition, I will.

Meanwhile, here's our humble abode. Congratulations on your pool plans - I know you are excited! Keep us posted!

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OOh, I love it! The pergola with the iron posts is great (I am a big wrought iron fan), and I love the black countertops. What size is your patio area?
I was in Buckingham very recently, and I think I may know the exact pool you are talking about, though of course I've only admired it in "drive by" fashion. It is a beautiful setup. There were actually people in it when we've been by. Their next-door neighbors have a pool as well, yes?

Readyami, the bigger size you're considering is about the size of our pool. It's a great size, not too big, not too small :-) Here's a pic:

If you can fit the slide but just cut it due to budget, consider having the PB install a water stub for a future slide. That's what we did, it cost 150 bucks extra. We bought a slide off the internet later and installed it ourselves.

thanks, that's a good idea. DH actually mentioned that.

readyami: WOW! How exciting the idea of the bigger pool..I agree about foregoing the slide in order to get more pool sq ftg. Let us know what happens...:)

Still waiting on PB. DH talked to him yesterday morning, but figures were not what we expected when his secretary called back with the new proposed figures. The good news is we DO have a little wiggle room and aren't locked in on the model yet. We are awaiting a call back from him to see why the numbers were so different than what we had figured.. My tree guy is supposed to be here TOMORROW to cut the three large trees (yes, again, another promise to show up). I hate to lose one of them (a white oak), but the other two I won't miss (pine and sweetgum). I have plenty of trees left, so I am okay with cutting some. I moved some landscape shrubs today from the corner of the house where the new patio will be. My problem is not that my yard is small -- it's just a wierd shape LOL. I never realized how big it was until I made a scale drawing of it. We have a huge area of the yard that is "au naturel" with cedars, oaks, dogwoods, etc. That will stay as is.

readyami, yes, that's probably my brother-in-law's house/pool, and that was probably them and/or their daughter and her friends in it. It's a beautiful area.

Here is the landscaper's sketch that he, (the landscaper), my husband, and the builder came up with for our fireplace/cooking area. I don't know if it's any help or not, but there are some dimensions, if that gives you an idea....

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Jescat, I am sorry we have hijacked your thread! Is anything new going on with your pool? It's been almost a week since your last pics..

Wodka, yours is one of my favorite fireplace/kitchen areas I have seen, right up there with Sharla, and they are night and day from each other. Again, I really like the iron and the black accents. You added the pergola after this drawing...I wish I were a better artist!

I am really getting excited, DH just talked to PB. Bigger pool is a go (different model than we had proposed, but upgrade price was what we had settled on)! Works out to about 195.7 sf more inside area.

Also, my apologies for sidetracking....

readyami, again, congrats on your larger pool. I'll check back when y'all are done. Meanwhile, I'll still dream about my mini-pool, if there is such a thing!

There is no such thing as "sidetracking" or "hijacking". I am just excited that we've all enjoyed this thread to discuss our plans and progress!!!!!! Let's keep it going...

readyami, though I am not sure if you'll still be allowed to participate in the "smaller pools" thread with that whopper of a new size pool!! Ha....just KIDDING.

wodka: love the outdoor entertainment area. That will be my next project after the pool is done and I recover.....
(finacially).

We just got plumbing installed today and coping is sitting in the front lawn. So, nothing really exciting to post. PB said electrical, tile and coping were going in before weeks end....we'll see and I'll definitely post pics.

Cheers! :)

Jescat, what are you doing for coping? I forgot. Plumbing is a big deal, you are getting closer!
I know, the pool is good bit bigger. I can't believe it! But, according to tresw, his pool is small, so that will qualify me! Mine is still smaller than his 16x32.
Wodka...there are plenty of smaller pools out there. Don't give up. You can make it work. I have seen some great pictures of spools on here!

hey readyami...doing just regular brick paver coping, the bullnose style. Would have like to do something fancier, but budget contraints you know..... :)

We are getting closer, can't wait to swim though!

We now have Waterline Tile and coping!! It's getting closer! Here are some pics....

OOOHHHHH I am really liking that combo. The tiles and beautiful...I like your coping, too.

I hired a landscape company to create a plan for me. I ended up spending $300 for a plan that I am not too happy with. Not crazy about the plants and it is too crowded. I also think I am just burned out on contractors, decisions, delays, writing checks, etc. I am going to decide on a couple of trees for the corners and then just do the rest as I get inspired. Maybe by spring time I will be done. I am eventually going to install some really large pots with trees along the fence line behind the patio to cut down the vast expanse of concrete back there. Of course then I am going to have to deal with some type of drip irrigation. Wondering if I will ever finish.

readyami: Thanks! We too are pleased with the way it turned out.

stephcrow: I agree with doing yourself, it might take a bit longer, but the savings are worth it. Are we ever really done with home projects? :)

Hello: Happy to report we have pavers installed! Still need sand and sealer...but you can see we are almost there...

yes, it is coming along! Our dig date has been pushed back from Oct 6 to Oct 13....but that is okay. I am excited. How much longer on yours, jescat?

Hi readyami: I hope that by this coming weekend we will be swimming. We have had several days of nonstop rain, so a small delay in progress. Was your pushback due to rain? Do you have plans we can see yet?

Jescat: The delay is most probably from Gustav's heavy rains back in September pushing their schedules off. We haven't had any rain here for about 3 weeks. It is supposed to rain later this week (figures, closer it gets to my dig!) It is a fiberglass pool, so there are no real "pool plans" to show off! It is a roughly 14.5 x 32.6 rectangle that bows out in the middle of each side which keeps it from being perfectly rectangular. It has a bench all the way across at the deep end, and steps all the way across in the shallow end. Depth roughly 3.5' to 6'. We are still undecided on the coping, but DH is now leaning toward stone. We've picked out a gray flagstone we both like. All depends on PB's quote tomorrow (he has been out of town for a week, probably hunting!)