Landscape Design
20 Dreamy Poolscapes Filled With Fresh Ideas
Soak up design inspiration while flipping through this geographically and stylistically diverse album of pool photos
Outdoor pools come in all shapes and sizes. But whether it’s a postage-stamp plunge in an urban yard or an infinity-edged oasis by the sea, a pool is a feature that can add function and beauty to a property — and can spell relief on a sweltering summer day. Whether you’re planning a pool project of your own or are just looking for some virtual refreshment, flip through this diverse collection of photos uploaded to the Houzz site over the past year.
2. Edgartown, Massachusetts
On Martha’s Vineyard, this beach-meets-country carriage house and adjacent residence by Stefan Castellucci Design open to a 30-by-12½-foot saltwater pool and sprawling lawn.
(Click the main photo to see more of each project.)
On Martha’s Vineyard, this beach-meets-country carriage house and adjacent residence by Stefan Castellucci Design open to a 30-by-12½-foot saltwater pool and sprawling lawn.
(Click the main photo to see more of each project.)
3. Truckee, California
This pool resembles a swimming hole in a mountain stream thanks to its sloped and forested setting. The pool house and main residence just out of view have complementary bold and earthy interiors by KTG Design.
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This pool resembles a swimming hole in a mountain stream thanks to its sloped and forested setting. The pool house and main residence just out of view have complementary bold and earthy interiors by KTG Design.
Shop for outdoor furniture
4. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
On the western coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, this pool is beside a luxury residence built by GM Construction. When sitting in the chaise lounges — or in the spa just barely visible between them — both the pool edge and time must seem to magically disappear.
30 Stunning New Pools and Poolscapes
On the western coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, this pool is beside a luxury residence built by GM Construction. When sitting in the chaise lounges — or in the spa just barely visible between them — both the pool edge and time must seem to magically disappear.
30 Stunning New Pools and Poolscapes
5. Austin, Texas
Developed by architectural firm co(X)ist Studio, this modern house and its backyard pool look like the neighborhood summertime hangout. Features to note include the wood pool deck that flows right up to the house and a decorative scalloped accent around the pool’s waterline.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Developed by architectural firm co(X)ist Studio, this modern house and its backyard pool look like the neighborhood summertime hangout. Features to note include the wood pool deck that flows right up to the house and a decorative scalloped accent around the pool’s waterline.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
6. Palm Springs, California
A bold terra-cotta-colored wall creates a drama-filled backdrop for the deep turquoise pool in this photo uploaded by general contractors Shields Residential. The pool is just one highlight of the fabulous midcentury modern property, which is in Palm Springs’ storied Vista Las Palmas neighborhood.
A bold terra-cotta-colored wall creates a drama-filled backdrop for the deep turquoise pool in this photo uploaded by general contractors Shields Residential. The pool is just one highlight of the fabulous midcentury modern property, which is in Palm Springs’ storied Vista Las Palmas neighborhood.
7. Leesburg, Virginia
Landscape architects and designers Pristine Acres turned the backyard of a traditional-style suburban home into a Mediterranean-style oasis. Scroll through the project’s other photos to get a closer look at the free-form infinity pool; swim-up bar with underwater stools, TV and beverage tap; water slide; fire pit; and complete outdoor kitchen.
Landscape architects and designers Pristine Acres turned the backyard of a traditional-style suburban home into a Mediterranean-style oasis. Scroll through the project’s other photos to get a closer look at the free-form infinity pool; swim-up bar with underwater stools, TV and beverage tap; water slide; fire pit; and complete outdoor kitchen.
8. Brookline, Massachusetts
This shady backyard designed by landscape architect Michael D’Angelo has a dramatic fire table built from a 7-by-4-foot stone slab and an infinity pool with a bluestone deck. Behind the pool is an ipe shower and sauna building designed by David Sharff Architect.
This shady backyard designed by landscape architect Michael D’Angelo has a dramatic fire table built from a 7-by-4-foot stone slab and an infinity pool with a bluestone deck. Behind the pool is an ipe shower and sauna building designed by David Sharff Architect.
9. Los Angeles
Designers Hive Home helped this 1970s home in Pacific Palisades get a contemporary-meets-mid-mod makeover with an exterior painted in Benjamin Moore’s edgy Iron Ore and a new plunge pool surrounded by limestone pavers. White Panton-style dining chairs and a dark tulip table complement the pool’s streamlined style.
Enjoy a Refreshing Dip With a Plunge Pool
Designers Hive Home helped this 1970s home in Pacific Palisades get a contemporary-meets-mid-mod makeover with an exterior painted in Benjamin Moore’s edgy Iron Ore and a new plunge pool surrounded by limestone pavers. White Panton-style dining chairs and a dark tulip table complement the pool’s streamlined style.
Enjoy a Refreshing Dip With a Plunge Pool
10. Fort Myers, Florida
In a lakefront golf and beach community in southwestern Florida, this newly built project by Gulfshore Homes has a lot of features to absorb. Among them are a sunken circular fire pit with seating, an umbrella-shaded baja ledge with loungers, an indoor-outdoor fireplace separating the pool area from a covered lounge area and small fountain-and-fire features at the pool’s corners.
In a lakefront golf and beach community in southwestern Florida, this newly built project by Gulfshore Homes has a lot of features to absorb. Among them are a sunken circular fire pit with seating, an umbrella-shaded baja ledge with loungers, an indoor-outdoor fireplace separating the pool area from a covered lounge area and small fountain-and-fire features at the pool’s corners.
11. Atlanta
The main living space of a new midcentury-modern-style residence by Svendesign Studio opens to this pool area, which has a separate spa, a fire table and a covered outdoor kitchen with a flat roof. The surrounding greenery softens all the right angles in the architecture and furnishings.
The main living space of a new midcentury-modern-style residence by Svendesign Studio opens to this pool area, which has a separate spa, a fire table and a covered outdoor kitchen with a flat roof. The surrounding greenery softens all the right angles in the architecture and furnishings.
12. Water Mill, New York
Architect Jason Thomas designed this modern Hamptons pool house, which has a rooftop deck and doors that open wide to expose a home bar and lounge area. The pool itself, which is built into the hillside so partially above ground, is surrounded by a generous pool deck and a large expanse of rolling lawn.
Architect Jason Thomas designed this modern Hamptons pool house, which has a rooftop deck and doors that open wide to expose a home bar and lounge area. The pool itself, which is built into the hillside so partially above ground, is surrounded by a generous pool deck and a large expanse of rolling lawn.
13. Nashville, Tennessee
A keyhole-shaped swimming pool and spa beside a tennis court and carriage house add to the formal air of this estate in Belle Meade, which got an update with the help of Brad Ramsey Interiors. The bluestone patio surrounding the pool meets reclaimed brick at the spa and the low perimeter wall.
Before and After: 3 Reimagined Landscapes Transform Plain Pools
A keyhole-shaped swimming pool and spa beside a tennis court and carriage house add to the formal air of this estate in Belle Meade, which got an update with the help of Brad Ramsey Interiors. The bluestone patio surrounding the pool meets reclaimed brick at the spa and the low perimeter wall.
Before and After: 3 Reimagined Landscapes Transform Plain Pools
14. Flinders, Australia
On the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Abe McCarthy Architects and Barber landscape architects collaborated on a project that included three interconnected, barn-like modern structures and this simple but stunning elevated pool. The uninterrupted view looks out toward the water and a nature preserve.
On the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Abe McCarthy Architects and Barber landscape architects collaborated on a project that included three interconnected, barn-like modern structures and this simple but stunning elevated pool. The uninterrupted view looks out toward the water and a nature preserve.
15. Dover, Massachusetts
Interior designers Nest + Company complemented the New England farmhouse elements of this Patrick Ahearn Architect-designed pool and pool house with traditional-style outdoor furnishings. A pergola shades the alfresco dining area on the bluestone terrace, which extends around the pool’s perimeter.
Interior designers Nest + Company complemented the New England farmhouse elements of this Patrick Ahearn Architect-designed pool and pool house with traditional-style outdoor furnishings. A pergola shades the alfresco dining area on the bluestone terrace, which extends around the pool’s perimeter.
16. Malibu, California
This fun poolscape uploaded by builders Racing Green sits on a hillside overlooking Zuma Beach. An outdoor kitchen built against a bubblegum-pink wall and several sunbathing platforms surround a 48-by-22-foot pool and a spa. And for an extra dose of whimsy, the “pool house” is an Airstream trailer with two queen beds, a kitchenette and an ipe deck.
This fun poolscape uploaded by builders Racing Green sits on a hillside overlooking Zuma Beach. An outdoor kitchen built against a bubblegum-pink wall and several sunbathing platforms surround a 48-by-22-foot pool and a spa. And for an extra dose of whimsy, the “pool house” is an Airstream trailer with two queen beds, a kitchenette and an ipe deck.
17. Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Working on a difficult slope in the Costa Rican jungle, Sarco Architects installed a swimming pool that connects two levels of a contemporary home. The poolside chaises and hammock behind them are the perfect vantage points for taking in the ocean view beyond the pool’s infinity edge.
Working on a difficult slope in the Costa Rican jungle, Sarco Architects installed a swimming pool that connects two levels of a contemporary home. The poolside chaises and hammock behind them are the perfect vantage points for taking in the ocean view beyond the pool’s infinity edge.
18. Tucson, Arizona
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects was inspired by local ranching sheds and hunting blinds when designing this organic-modern residence for a wildlife photographer. The simple, partially above-ground pool, which is surrounded by rugged stone and wood, is like a watering hole in the desert, drawing animals including bobcats and mountain lions.
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects was inspired by local ranching sheds and hunting blinds when designing this organic-modern residence for a wildlife photographer. The simple, partially above-ground pool, which is surrounded by rugged stone and wood, is like a watering hole in the desert, drawing animals including bobcats and mountain lions.
19. Orono, Minnesota
A screened porch with retractable screens opens to this inviting pool on the shore of Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka. Those not lazing on the baja ledge loungers or chaise lounges can play a round on the Streeter Custom Builder home’s outdoor putting green.
A screened porch with retractable screens opens to this inviting pool on the shore of Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka. Those not lazing on the baja ledge loungers or chaise lounges can play a round on the Streeter Custom Builder home’s outdoor putting green.
20. Bonifacio, France
This piscine, or swimming pool, is part of a JPDA-designed villa on the island of Corsica that overlooks the Mediterranean. Idyllic, n’est-ce pas?
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This piscine, or swimming pool, is part of a JPDA-designed villa on the island of Corsica that overlooks the Mediterranean. Idyllic, n’est-ce pas?
More on Houzz
Read more stories about outbuildings
Browse thousands of pool photos
Work with a landscape designer
Shop for your outdoor spaces
When it’s sunny, take cover under the roof-topped open lounge area of this contemporary home by architects Rains Design. In the evening, relax in the raised spa or in the pool’s baja ledge loungers while admiring the sunset over the saguaros in the Sonoran Desert.
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