Matthew Millman
Small minimalist front yard concrete and rectangular lap pool fountain photo in San Francisco

This late 70's ranch style home was recently renovated with a clean, modern twist on the ranch style architecture of the existing residence. We were hired to create the entire outdoor environemnt including the new pool and spa. Similar to the renovated home, this aquatic environment was designed to take a traditional pool and gives it a clean, modern twist. The site proved to be perfect for a long, sweeping curved water feature that can be seen from all of the outdoor gathering spaces as well as many rooms inside the residence. This design draws people outside and allows them to explore all of the features of the pool and outdoor spaces. Features of this resort like outdoor environment include play pool with two lounge areas with LED lit bubblers, Pebble Tec Pebble Sheen Luminous series pool finish, Lightstreams glass tile, spa with six custom copper Bobe water spillway scuppers, water feature wall with three custom copper Bobe water scuppers, Fully automated with Pentair Equipment, LED lighting throughout the pool and spa, gathering space with automated fire pit, lounge deck area, synthetic turf between step pads and deck and a fully loaded Gourmet outdoor kitchen to meet all the entertaining needs. This outdoor environment cohesively brings the clean & modern finishes of the renovated home seamlessly to the outdoors to a pool and spa for play, exercise and relaxation. Photography: Daniel Driensky

Pool - traditional rectangular pool idea in Cincinnati

Deck level perimeter overflow pool with a shallow lounging area, bluestone border and Ipѐ wood deck. Separate but hydraulically linked hydro-therapy spa. Pool features an Aquamatic Hydralux floating trackless pool cover. Photographer: Brian Van Bower. Bob Hinchcliffe Pool Builder

The sunny pool area has plenty of space for swimming, lounging, and dining. Photo by Peter Vanderwarker Photographer http://www.vanderwarker.com/

Pool oasis in Atlanta with large deck. The pool finish is Pebble Sheen by Pebble Tec, the dimensions are 8' wide x 50' long. The deck is Dasso XTR bamboo decking.

This backyard get-a-way is equal to a luxury resort so you never have to leave home. Plenty of seating and relaxation area around this custom pool allows for a party of any size. Raised edges have water sheers descending down as water features within the pool area. This traditional style pool is surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers that accent the tile colors within the pools walls. The breezeway on the other side allows for additional shade and seating for those large family gatherings.

This site 30’ above the Connecticut River offers 180 degree panoramic views. The client wanted a modern house & landscape that would take advantage of this amazing locale, blurring the lines between inside and outside. The project sites a main house, guest house / boat storage building, multiple terraces, pool, outdoor shower, putting green and fire pit. A long concrete seat wall guides visitors to the front entry accentuated by a tall ornamental grass backdrop. Local boulders, rivers stone and River Birch where also incorporated into the entry landscape, borrowing from the materiality of the Connecticut River below. The concrete facades of the house transition into concrete site walls extending the architecture into the landscape. A flush Ipe Wood deck surrounds 2 sides of the pool opposite an architectural water fall. Concrete paving slabs disperse into lawn as it extends towards the river. A series of free-standing concrete screen walls further extends the architecture out while screening the pool area from the neighboring property. Planting was selected based upon the architectural qualities of the plants and the desire for it to be low-maintenance. A fire pit extends the pool season well into the shoulder seasons and provides a good viewing point for the river. Photo Credit: Westphalen Photography

A family retreat for lounging and quiet time by the pool. Original 150 year old barn on family estate was redesigned by EPiC, built by Ludwig Builders and using timber frame construction by New England Barn. Photography by local New Canaanite, Mike Tauber

Luxurious Poolside Retreat with Colombian Flair Indulge in the ultimate relaxation at this luxurious poolside retreat, showcasing Colombian Flair with its elegant stonework, comfortable lounge chairs, and shaded sitting areas. Designed and installed by our expert team, this outdoor oasis is perfect for enjoying sunny days and cozy evenings in style.

photo credit: David Gilbert
Example of a classic pool design in New York

Heather Fritz
Inspiration for a huge rustic backyard stamped concrete and custom-shaped natural water slide remodel in Atlanta

Elegant brick and rectangular pool photo in San Francisco

The great room flows onto the large lanai through pocketing glass doors creating a seamless indoor outdoor experience. On the lanai teak daybeds imported from Bali face each other with custom blue covers and throw pillows in blue with coral motifs, the rectangular pool is complete with an aqua lounge, built-in spa, and a swim up bar at the outdoor BBQ. The flooring is a gray ceramic tile, the pool coping is natural puka pavers, The house a combination of traditional plantation style seen in the white board and batten walls, with a modern twist seen in the wood framed glass doors, thick square exposed tails and ebony stained square posts supporting the overhangs.

Kalinosky Landscaping, Inc. http://www.kalinoskylandscapinginc.com/ Project Entry: The Mountaintop Pool Project 2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $60,000 & Over Award Level: Bronze Project Description: On their mountain top farm in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the clients desired a pool area that felt disjoint from their home, its own space. It had to feel calm. We feel we absolutely accomplished this as guests to the site frequently use the words ‘zen-like' to describe the experience. Your journey begins through a groomed forest on a meandering mulch path 400' in length. This acts as a compression to exaggerate the release you experience when encountering the pool floating in a field at the edge of the forest. There is no formal paving, just five flagstone slabs (4'x12') floating with simple chaises on them. There is a strong orthogonal grain to the architectural elements on the site with the pool, pool house, and stone walls all being parallel to each other. This countered by the soft, organic plantings and ribbons of field grass and mowed lawns all positioned on a playful diagonal bias. The plantings for the most part are native to the mid-atlantic region with some hybrids to softly add summer color and texture. We designed a functional pool house, both cairn and rustic in nature. There are hinged storm shutters for all the screened openings to protect the interior from the strong storms often experienced on this mountain. We chose 1/2" mild steel plates as the material to construct the fireplace with. The steel was allowed to oxidize to a beautiful rust-orange patina. The fireplace is modern and dynamic in form, a wonderful juxtaposition to the stone walls and soft field grass. We designed the fence to be a non-fence. The posts are arranged in a whimsical, playful pattern, not straight like a fence should be. With this playful post arrangement and its transparent wire mesh, the fence becomes innocuous, receding into the background. Where the fence interfaces with the walls it never does so at the ends. The walls always pass beyond the fence creating a dynamic, not static position. We designed and built aluminum and concrete vaults to accommodate the auto cover on the pool, which retracts underground to leave the surface of the pool uncluttered. Complete irrigation and lighting systems were also installed. The pool site is located 425' from the residence. We trenched and installed the utilities the entire length through the forest by hand. The hand trenching ensured minimal insult to the forest tree root systems. The mature pines in the field near the pool were protected by fencing during construction. And where root systems had to be traversed , we protected them from compaction with plywood, mulch, and geotextile roads. We also installed a dedicated septic system for the pool house. It should be noted the clients don't worship the sun. In response we planted large caliber shade trees on the south and west sides of the pool to provide shade by extending the forest to the waters' edge. Care was taken not to create a vignette in the field, but a landscape that has no visual boundaries. Through the use of native plants, natural architectural materials and the preservation of existing forest and field conditions, we have produced a calm, natural recreational environment. Photo Credit: Kalinosky Landscaping, Inc.

Inspiration for a contemporary infinity pool remodel in DC Metro

View of the house, main patio, pool and spa area, lawn and seat wall with trellis. Throughout the landscape, we mixed formality with touches of whimsy -- spiral topiary boxwood, bright dashes of colorful flowers, contrasting textures. Poolside trellises frame the greenery and visually link the surrounding area back to the trellised main patio. A set of striped chaise lounges provide outdoor relaxation and a view of the lawn.

Completed in 2012, this property features an entirely renovated garden and pool area that includes a custom designed guilt iron pavilion. This pavilion features exquisite detailing in the columns and the roof. The pavilion features gas lanterns and subtle landscape lighting to make it come alive in the evenings. The pavilion sits above a completely renovated swimming pool with all new travertine decking and coping. New LED lighting has been added to the pool along with illuminated bubbler jets in the tanning ledge. The gardens along side the pool area are lined with a boxwood parterre and lush landscaping. An upper courtyard terrace features an outdoor cooking area and fireplace with seating area. A wonderful renovation project.

This pool and spa combination has an Infinity Edge. The spa is raised slightly with a Negative Edge that overflows into the infinity gutter system. Both inside coping and tile are Black Absolute Granite with a honed finish. Outside coping is 2’ x2’ Bluestone pavers and both pool and spa are finished with a Black Galaxy Pebblefina.