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25 Dreamy Pools to Inspire Summer Lounging

Take in the stellar views and creative design features in these outdoor retreats

Annie Thornton July 4, 2021

Houzz Editorial Staff

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When the temperatures rise, being poolside sounds pretty good. Whether you envision relaxing in a cabana on a tropical island or enjoying leafy views from a secluded plunge pool, take a look at the following 25 pool scenes. Each one provides plenty of design ideas and lots of alluring armchair travel appeal. Then let us know in the Comments which pool you’d like to lounge by this summer.

Christophe Abbes

1. Sprawling vineyards, billowy trees and crunchy gravel surround this dreamy pool in Marseille, France. The cushioned chaise lounges create a perfect perch for taking in the view, with the umbrellas able to open up and offer shade on especially sunny afternoons.

Ashley Burnette Designs, LLC

2. It’s hard to beat the backdrop to this waterfront property in Destin, Florida, from interior designer Ashley Burnette Designs. But the pool itself measures up nicely, with a generous sun shelf for lounging, a natural stone surround and an array of inviting lounge furniture.

THE BLUE PEARL. Home Remodeling & Construction.

3. The organic, freeform shape of this pool in Ibiza, Spain, hugs the perimeter wall of an idyllic seaside home. The sand-colored mosaic tile elevates the pool, matching the flagstone paving surround and the boulders incorporated into the design. Design-build firm The Blue Pearl remodeled the property.

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Burdge & Associates Architects

4. This home in Malibu, California, feels like its own tropical hideaway, with lush hedges and palm trees surrounding it. The Mediterranean-style home by Burdge & Associates Architects features a classic rectangular-shaped pool surrounded by wood decking. The elegant, understated lounging and dining furniture encourages hours of outdoor lingering.

Elizabeth Stuart Design

5. Set on a hill overlooking Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, this historic property updated by Elizabeth Stuart Design feels tucked away and hidden from the world’s goings-on. Palm trees, wood window shutters and lush, colorful blooms add to the Southern poolside oasis.

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Wendi Young Design

6. The sun shelf of this pool in Hawaii gives poolgoers a prime spot to relax and take in the view — enjoying the shade under the patio umbrellas or reclining on the in-pool chaise lounges. This project is by Wendi Young Design.

Neil Cownie Architect Pty Ltd

7. Everything about this pool by Neil Cownie Architect in Perth, Australia, is fun — from the organic shape that mimics the shade structure above to the playful mosaic tile edge. Pockets of plants and a tiled perimeter wall add even more color and interest to the backyard space.

Biotop P&P International GmbH

8. Natural pools, which forgo chemicals and use plants to clean the water, create the feeling of swimming in a backyard pond — in fact, wildlife are known to visit. This natural pool by Biotop Landschaftsgestaltung GmbH in Austria even features a small reading hut people can visit in the middle of the pool.

Kerry Lewis Landscape Architecture

9. This stunning pool in eastern Massachusetts by Kerry Lewis Landscape Architecture features appealing symmetry, with the diving board perfectly aligned on an axis with the opening of the pool house. The barn-style architecture, sprawling lawn and rough stone walls enhance the feeling that the pool has been plopped down in the middle of a picturesque farm.

Eigelberger Architecture and Design

10. The shallow dipping pool next to this home by Eigelberger Architecture and Design in Aspen, Colorado, could almost blend into the natural surroundings, with its grassy surround and rocky outcropping border. The design offers plenty of opportunities to take in the picturesque view — both day and night.

Arch. Alessandra Cipriani

11. This spectacular pool in Tuscany, Italy, was built by Arch. Alessandra Cipriani on the footprint of an old farmhouse that occupied the property. Teak recliners, masses of` lavender bushes and groves of ancient olive trees surround the tiled infinity pool, with the main house overlooking the space to create a perfect Mediterranean paradise.

lee luxford a+d

12. A midcentury modern home renovated by lee luxford a+d in Palm Springs, California, opens up onto a spectacular desert landscape and new lap pool and spa by Elena Peterson.

Zachary T Clanahan Architect PLLC

13. This pool by Zachary T Clanahan Architect in Southampton, New York,
exudes the classic Hamptons look with a bit of a modern touch. An oversize pergola spans the entire patio and pool area, with a shingle-style pool house and multiple seating areas completing the setup.

GASCAdISeñOs - GD Vallarta Interiors

14. Colorful mosaic tile makes this pool and spa from Gascadlseños in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, all the more appealing. From the row of chaise lounges to the built-in sun shelf, there are plenty of spaces to relax and take in the dreamy view.

15. Many of the pools featured in this roundup inspire poolside lounging, but this one in Scottsdale, Arizona, makes you want to jump up and do a cannonball. Builders added the pool during an overhaul of the midcentury modern home by architecture firm The Ranch Mine, and its edges perfectly align with the home’s roofline.

Sterling Custom Homes

16. Metal lattices for climbing plants surround this charming pool in Detroit, creating a lush, parklike setting. The project is by Sterling Development.

Fi Boyle Garden Design

17. A combined natural swimming pool and pond by Water Artisans and Biotop Landschaftsgestaltung GmbH anchor this countryside garden in the United Kingdom by Fi Boyle Garden Design. The plants naturally clean and filter the water, adding gorgeous year-round interest to the space.

Cornerstone Architects

18. This pool from Cornerstone Architects in Austin, Texas, is more than just a visual treat. It’s a joy for all the senses, with the sound of water cascading from the row of fountains into the pool, the cooling feel of the shade from the mature trees overhead and verdant green views on all sides.

Partridge Fine Landscapes Ltd.

19. This project in Toronto by Partridge Fine Landscapes features gorgeous fountains, waterfalls and a poolside fire feature.

25 Ways to Pump Up Your Pool for Summer Fun

Hodgson Design Associates

20. The house by Hodgson Design Associates frames this pool in Vancouver, Canada, on two sides. Oversize sliding walls create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Mounding hydrangeas and grasses contribute to the pool’s intimate courtyard feel.

GH Building Group

21. In Toronto, this garden pool echoes the elegance of the home from GH Building Group. Set down a few steps from the patio off the back of the house, the pool area feels a bit like a private sanctuary, with climbing plants, potted flowers and cushy lounge chairs surrounding it.

James McNeal Architecture and Design

22. The pool adjoining this mountain home by James McNeal Architecture and Design in Montana beautifully complements the rustic aesthetic. The stained concrete pool deck has a natural rock look to it, tying in with the stone chimneys and wood details around it.

Terrain

23. This pool in Seattle by Terrain, Williamson Landscape Architecture and Coburn Construction connects to a larger landscape that includes a bocce ball court and multiple seating areas. An integrated hot tub and built-in fire pit lounge mean that hangouts can continue when the sun goes down or chilly Pacific Northwest weather arrives.

Mykonos Architects

24. The view from this pool in Mykonos, Greece, by Mykonos Architects may steal the show, but there are plenty of details that help make this space so dreamy. The pool deck almost perfectly matches the surrounding hillside, blurring the line between the built landscape and the natural terrain beyond. The white patio furniture pops against the tan background, with the flowering bougainvillea adding just a taste of color.

AMY D MORRIS INTERIORS

25. With its raised perimeter wall and decorative fountain, this pool in Atlanta from Amy D Morris Interiors has the feel of a traditional reflecting pond. Pavers with planted joints, elegant stone details and formal plantings complete the classic look.

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