Do you have a red tile roof as is the case with many spanish revival homes. I think if there is a red roof I would leave the coping alone. You need to add furniture and color and plants that will make the pool look much nicer.

Hi Patricia. Yes, I have a red roof. This is the main house..

@Patricia Colwell Consulting Where would you put plants in this situation? Is there a rule of thumb for placing container plants near a kidney shaped pool? I'm struggling that with my own pool. Do they go right next to the coping or do you maintain a path around the entire perimeter of the pool?

I actually think the curves are pleasing against the hard angles of the back of the house. Lots of potted plants and comfy furniture will transform this space. Very pretty.

I like the brick coping around the pool and patio edge. It works with the house. Has a nice peyote shape. What I don't like is the brick spa. That looks like a well.

Demo the spa to the extent needed for upgrade or to replace the brick coating with stucco or better yet a historically accurate tile design. That can be a design motif you carry through with the furnishings.

And I'm sorry the white shed needs to go away or be hidden. Is that also a big stump in front of it? That has to go away too. It would be nice if the backdrop of the spa was some lush foliage. If the shed is a keeper, think about a screen or fence to use as the spa backdrop. You may need a room divider there.

The shed has to stay. That’s where all the pool equipment is. But we will add some terracotta tile to the roof to make it nicer.
If I did the spa in stucco and Spanish tile wouldn’t it look “disconnected” from the pool with brick copping? I need to somehow tie those 2 together..

The reddish square is tile. Not very pretty tile.. I could replace that for Spanish tile.. and yes there is a huge tree stump there that I was planning to remove to maybe use that space tu put an outdoor ping pong table for my kids..
maybe with a nice resistant ground cover. Like Kurapia.

The spa looks disconnected from the pool now with the brick steps, sides and the I'm not sure if that is tile or stucco on the pool side. The half and half look is off. If the spa was redone with a tile decorative accent in stucco that matches the house, you could then add more of that tile to the wall fountain, even to the shed as a decorative accent to get the entire scene to blend.

I could live with the brick top of the spa. It's the steps and sides that need to blend with the house and/or pool deck.

I like the brick, too. And I don't mind it on the spa, either. If your budget's unlimited, I guess you can do what you want. People rip out their coping and update the look all the time. You can get a couple bids from pool builders (who are veeeery busy right now).

I completely agree that even if/when you do this makeover, you will still need landscaping. I'm not a pro, but I think you can set planters just outside the coping, or I would consider carving out beds around the pool(right next to the coping). It cuts down the amount of concrete that takes up a lot of the yard. Just plant things that don't drop things in the water.

I can't attach photos any more for some dumb reason, but you can google images of planters around pool; landscaping around pool, and the like.

Thanks!!! You have all been super helpful. I think that the idea of covering the stairs and body of the spa with stucco and adding a decorative tile to the front of the spa could work. In another area of the yard I have these 2 tiles on the stair risers. Maybe I could try to use one of the patterns for the edge of the pool under the brick coping or for the belly of the spa. Just need to make sure it wont look too busy and dizzying.. Now I am on a quest to find a nice tile design for the spa..

By the way I also think I should remove the horrible aluminum spa railing... All the pictures of raised spas I see have no railing.

Great space. Add only what you "need" in the way of patio furnishings -- don't crowd it -- and do avoid "clutter". Only after you add what furnishings your family will need regularly should you add items for decoration.

My personal favorite patio/deck furniture is a pair of 5' wide sturdy swings in a free-standing swing frame and/or a pair of 5' wide benches.

Choose some you could comfortably sit in with or without cushions for a while.

You can bag and store removable cushions when they're not going to be used for an extended time but you still want to be able to sit and relax for a few minutes if the sun comes out on an other wise bad weather day in the middle of a row of bad weather days .

Might get three tables so you can have one square table in the corner where you place the two seats at right angles to each other and then put another table at the other end of each seat. DO sit in the seats available so you can choose the most comfortable and be sure water can drain through the seat slats if they're wood.

Shaped seats are often more comfortable than totally flat ones.

The black metal ones can be easily repainted with RustOleum spray paint.

Would keep the wood "natural' wood finish -- had a bad experience trying to paint one:

Would not get fabric seats that absorb water and beware any bar across the front of any kind of seat that is uncomfortable for the back of your legs behind your knees (too often found on fabric seats).

Keeping folding camping chairs available for when you have guests means you don't need to clutter up your space with items you're not usually using but can still entertain outdoors when you want.

Seats with arms are much more comfortable than seats without them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=folding+camping+chair+with+arms+and+can+rest&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03zuw4tIyZE_UkYryehvYQ_Xlyr7w:1614050934254&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8itekiP_uAhWsMlkFHcV7A4cQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1342&bih=620

I have a Spanish style house but I did modern update. pool tiles are just dark navy tile with dark pool color. I’m about to add terracotta containers with cactus.

Hi ortochini,

You have a beautiful home and pool. I think I would start with hiring a cement/pool surround company to come power-wash the cement and pool brick surrounds, then they may be able to recommend a clear treatment to restore its beauty and even the surface tones to give it a little pick-me-up. There are also options for color stains for cement and pebbles set in clear resin if it needs something more. If budget allows you might consider resurfacing the pool and jacuzzi in black that would make the red brick pop and give it an updated look, and encourage the sun to warm the water. It has beautiful curves that give it a uniqueness. Hope this helps you to love your pool and makes it your favorite area to enjoy.

The tiles from your stair risers would look great on the spa if you are still able to get them! I would put giant bird of paradise between the pool and the guest house to soften the view. Also big ceramic pots along the house wall in cool tones of turquoise, royal blue, green, etc. You could put cactus, yucca, or bougainvillea in them if you live in a dry climate. The curves of the pool would look nice with wide, low, round ceramic planters nestled in them and filled with low-growing bromeliads. I would suggest wrought iron-look furniture and mosaic-topped tables, but only what you really need, as someone suggested, to avoid a cluttered look. You have the makings of a Spanish-style tropical paradise with just a few judicious additions!

All the advice has been great thanks!! My only concern at the moment is wether using my tile over and over to cover the “belly” of the spa will make it look to heavy.. “dizzying”. In the border of the pool I am sure it would look great but the aide of the spa is a big are... what do you guys think?

I see nothing wrong with the brick edging. But I do dislike the fake medieval wall fountain. It just doesn’t go with anything else in the scene.

Too busy, I agree, I would cover the walls of the spa in stucco to match the house, and use the tiles for a smaller area, like the stair risers or the spa coping. Stucco would also blend in with the white tile on the pool side of the spa. The little wall fountain doesn't really add anything, so perhaps it could be relocated to a smaller space elsewhere. Copper accents, such as a rain chain or a clock, would go well in this space and would weather to a blue-green that would tie in with your color scheme.

To complement the red brick and tile, add outdoor furniture with shades of navy and aqua cushions to tie the outdoor oasis together. Add a few dark blue ceramic pots around your spa for interest.

I think covering the spa with stucco as suggested would tie it to the house. You could leave the terracotta top ledge so it connects to the pool and just treat the belly like the pool and do just a top rim of tile rather than the entire interior, which I agree would be too busy. A vine treatment, similar to the front of your home would also make the shed more attractive. It is a beautiful home and I think you are on the right track finding tiles that blend with those that were originally there.

Can the belly be stuccoed? Or will the water damage it?? The spa has a waterfall feature and I don’t know how much the salt water (it’s a salt water pool) ruins the stucco..sorry for so many questions your comments really are helping me and I have no previous experience with pools. I am trying to make sure I do this correctly the first time!

I like the idea of tiling the blank side of the spa, and perhaps also tiling the risers on the spa steps to match. If you decide to stucco the body of the spa, I'd leave the terracotta on the stair treads and the cap around the spa. That would soften up the big red monolith and make it feel like it belongs with your house. The round shape is actually a nice way to transition from the very straight lines of the house to the curvy pool - dressed up a bit, the spa would become a beautiful feature in your yard. If you're happy with the turquoise color of your house trim, I'm sure you could find a beautiful Spanish-style tile with some of the same color. I'd also consider adding a terracotta cap to the top of the low wall near your back door. It would play nicely with both the pool and the roof.

I don’t believe you can stucco the interior of the spa since it will not hold up to water submersion. Maybe you can line the interior with the same finish as pools if you want to lighten up the look and make it durable.

Sorry I just realized when you refer to belly you meant the outside of the spa! Duh! What was I thinking. I think you would have to consult the experts on that one. Maybe they have waterproofing options..

Get some professional pool refinishers/contractors out to take look and give estimates. They can provide you with information on the best materials to use so you don't end up with water damage.

I have found pictures of possible solutions based an all of your advice. I will leave the brick coping, cover the spa brick in white stucco and add tiles. Here are some inspiration pictures I’ve pound.

Is there a way you can stain the concrete to freshen it up?

Yes, cement can be stained, some more successfully than others. In my area ( So California) there are tons of companies that specialize in cement (concrete ) resurfacing in a myriad of styles, colors, etc. I’ve seen the results, amazing change

I am also in southern CA. Now that I have a better idea of what to do I’ll need to find some one that can help us with the pool and with the cement deck to make them look nicer.

I think the bones of this pool area are nice. I like your idea of tile accents and toning down the brick spa with stucco. As many have said, the stump has got to go, and I agree that the small fountain (?) isn't right there. Also the door portico doesn't look right to me. I would cover the small pool enclosure building with a vine - ivy, or in So Cal Lilac Vine "Happy Wanderer" has worked well for me. Beyond that I would extend out your landscaping, and if you are attached to it, put the small fountain amongst some plantings in front or to the side of the pool enclosure.

I don't know if you already have a outdoor dining area but that area in front of the pool enclosure might be a good spot, maybe with a wrought iron pergola?

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Ortochini, I especially like your first picture of the spa treatment. Just enough tile to make a statement and not overly busy.