Normally you would have a child safety fence that runs on the house side of the pool parallel to the outside fence. Plus an alarm on the doors opening onto the pool area. Here, in S Fl, it is an insurance requirement and code too. IIRC at least 2 barriers to the pool. The child safety fence is removable.

You can also fence in the entire pool with the child safety fence, in addition to the fence you show, not as a replacement. Here is an example of one:

Look up the building codes and the homeowners insurance requirements for your area so you know what to include.

I have a similar issue with the dogs and it being so important to have the pool relate correctly to the house. A safety / automated cover is my answer.

In my area it also eliminates the crazy loud door alarms that are required by code if you have the safety cover.

Just_janni, we have talked about an automated pool cover! Have you already done this? Is it a big ordeal to cover/uncover with every use? Since we plan a rectangular pool it would definitely be feasible!

Denita, I have never seen a child safety fence so that's definitely a consideration as well. Our neighbors built a pool last year and their fenced in pool area opens off their covered porch. Regulations required them to have the area fenced with a self closing gate to the yard, but did not require them to block the opening from the porch at all.

@angelazuill, that is pretty scary about your neighbor's pool. They are a requirement here in S Fl where we have swimming pools all over the place. I'm pretty sure the pool code here is at least 2 barriers from the house to the pool water and has been that was since 2000. Research 'pool safety fence' and research your pool code requirements by your county/municipality.

I live in Australia, where pools must be fully fenced. My stepson's pool has glass panelling on all sides, so random kids and dogs can't get in, but the look remains "open." Here, pool covers would not be an alternative, since small kids have been known to slip underneath them.

Good point jmm, we too have to have it fully fenced or a screen enclosure + the two barriers from the house to the pool water. I re-read my post and see I failed to mention that aspect. I don't see a lot of pool covers here at all so I don't know anything at all about them.

I would just move the pool farther back so it can be fully enclosed. Even if you feel your kids are old enough to be trusted at some point, imagine having friends over with toddlers, or crawling babies. Just way too stressful having it there as a constant temptation and worry.

p.s. Your house is going to be beautiful, light filled, and airy.

@Denita - step son had to have a pool-cover installed to meet local environmental planning regulations. They greatly reduce evaporation and therefore the need for adding water to the pool (much of Australia is essentially a drought zone, so water preservation is critical). They also keep the water warm in summer, reducing heating requirements.

@jmm1837: That makes a lot of sense. I'm in S Florida where it is tropical, that is code word for very rainy at least 6 months a year and just a little bit of rain the rest of the year. Don't get me wrong, we have plenty of sunshine. But from April through November we get anywhere from 3.5 to 8 inches of rain, on average, per month.

The pool cover I am talking about can be walked on, and is sealed around the edges. there's no way to get under it / drown. That would kinda negate the "safety" part of "safety cover".

I had twin toddlers when we built our last house. I had a four sided fence with a locking gate and an automatic cover. Two layers of safety. The thought of one of one of my boys getting out and drowning really scared me. I probably would have skipped the pool altogether but was overruled by the rest of the family.

even with the automatic cover water can collect on the top of the cover without your pump running. Certainly enough to drown a child.

We're going through the same process right now. We just started building a pool in our backyard. The requirement here in California is also 2 safety barriers, doesn't have to be a fence. Our pool contractor suggested the door alarms that go off if any exterior door opens, and the pool sensor that alarms if anything enters the pool. We are going with those,but I'm still not comfortable enough with two small kids. So we're also going to either have a safety cover (not a regular cover that someone could actually get stuck in) or a safety fence. Haven't decided which yet.

I appreciate all the feedback so much!! I have a feeling we will end up just pushing the pool back more from the house and having it fully fenced. I love the look of having it more "married" to the outdoor living space, but I just can't imagine leaving any chance that the kids could get out there unattended. Terrifying.

Denita, I agree, it is scary. The neighbors do have a railing all around the porch leading to the pool and they have a toddler, so they added a gate to the opening from the porch to the pool area, at the top of the steps, but it was not a requirement here in Tennessee (I just checked the codes).

Katie S, thank you!! We have actually been in the house nearly 4 years and it is very light filled! It's raining here today and we still don't have any lamps/lights on at all- our architect did such a great job designing our home!

ILoveRed, I'm being overruled on the pool as well, ha. I've dragged my feet for the last two years with safety and maintenance in mind, but the rest of the family is so gung-ho it looks like we are headed that direction. And honestly, the neighbor's pool keeps their kids (and sometimes mine) so entertained and subsequently ready for bed at the end of the day it's getting harder and harder to argue, ha! But safety is a huge concern.