Before and After: 3 Backyards Gain Stylish Swimming Pools
These makeovers maximize design and function with pools perfectly sized for the space
Marianne Lipanovich
July 18, 2021
Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most of my projects are garden-based, you might also find me writing about home projects and classical music. Away from the computer, I'm found in the garden (naturally), on my bike, or ice-skating outdoors (yes, that is possible in California). I'm also willing to taste-test anything that's chocolate.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most of my projects... More
Now that summer has arrived, are you thinking longingly about swimming pools? The possibility could be more readily available than you might think. Take a look at how these designers found ways to add a spot for swimming — or at least plunging — as part of the following three backyard transformations.
1. Midcentury-Inspired Relaxation
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); 60 by 25 feet
Designers: José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher of Austin Outdoor Design
Before: After moving from the Pacific Northwest to Austin, Texas, a young couple wanted to take advantage of their new region’s weather. Their goal was to create a year-round outdoor extension of their home, and high on their list of must-haves was adding a pool. The homeowners worked with Austin Outdoor Design to turn their uninviting backyard into an alfresco living space — complete with a plunge pool for hot Texas summers.
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); 60 by 25 feet
Designers: José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher of Austin Outdoor Design
Before: After moving from the Pacific Northwest to Austin, Texas, a young couple wanted to take advantage of their new region’s weather. Their goal was to create a year-round outdoor extension of their home, and high on their list of must-haves was adding a pool. The homeowners worked with Austin Outdoor Design to turn their uninviting backyard into an alfresco living space — complete with a plunge pool for hot Texas summers.
After: The custom pool sits on one side of the yard, conveniently located for cooling off on a scorching-hot summer day. The pool is 9 by 17½ feet and maxes out at around 4½ feet deep, perfect for cooling off while still engaging with others in the yard.
Designers José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher added an L-shaped deck made from garapa wood, a Brazilian hardwood that they used in other areas of the yard. The decking does double duty by concealing the pool equipment underneath.
Find a pool contractor near you
Designers José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher added an L-shaped deck made from garapa wood, a Brazilian hardwood that they used in other areas of the yard. The decking does double duty by concealing the pool equipment underneath.
Find a pool contractor near you
Low-maintenance plants with a tropical vibe line the opposite side of the pool, providing a backdrop and added privacy. A planter filled with dwarf palmettos (Sabal minor) creates a soft barrier between the pool and the dining area. String lights over the dining area create an inviting glow at night.
See more of this outdoor transformation
See more of this outdoor transformation
2. Petite Urban Plunge Pool
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two school-age sons and a dog
Location: Toronto
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters); 58 by 25 feet
Designer and builder: SK Design; Feasby & Bleeks Design selected the furnishings
Before: These Toronto homeowners wanted an inviting outdoor living space for their family of four. Instead, their 1,450-square-foot backyard was little more than overgrown shrubs, a decrepit lawn and a small patio. There was no good place to play, dine or entertain. They also dreamed of adding a pool, but a full-size one would take up too much space.
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two school-age sons and a dog
Location: Toronto
Size: 1,450 square feet (135 square meters); 58 by 25 feet
Designer and builder: SK Design; Feasby & Bleeks Design selected the furnishings
Before: These Toronto homeowners wanted an inviting outdoor living space for their family of four. Instead, their 1,450-square-foot backyard was little more than overgrown shrubs, a decrepit lawn and a small patio. There was no good place to play, dine or entertain. They also dreamed of adding a pool, but a full-size one would take up too much space.
After: A new 9-by-9-foot pool that is 3 feet deep now anchors the backyard. This petite fiberglass pool gives the homeowners the feature they wanted while still leaving room for dining and relaxing. The design-build team sunk most of the pool into the ground, keeping just 15 inches above grade. They also added locally quarried Eramosa limestone to the edge so it can double as seating.
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Shop for patio furniture on Houzz
The owners heat the pool during Toronto’s cold winters so they can use it as a hot tub. They place temporary heating pads on the ground between the pool and the house for winter access. The operating equipment is located in another part of the yard, freeing up the room around the pool for plantings and other landscape elements. (The pool is covered when not in use.)
See more of this outdoor transformation
See more of this outdoor transformation
3. Family Fun
Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenage daughters
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Designer: Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
Before: This Cedarburg, Wisconsin, backyard was a blank slate, with only a fenced-in lawn and a small patio. The underused space was the perfect opportunity for the homeowners to add the pool they always wanted and an entertainment space for both the parents and their teenage daughters.
Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenage daughters
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Designer: Jim Drzewiecki of Ginkgo Leaf Studio
Before: This Cedarburg, Wisconsin, backyard was a blank slate, with only a fenced-in lawn and a small patio. The underused space was the perfect opportunity for the homeowners to add the pool they always wanted and an entertainment space for both the parents and their teenage daughters.
After: The large pool is a centerpiece of the redesigned space. It’s positioned so there’s a clear view of it from both the living room and the expanded patio and new pergola. Square limestone pavers set into the lawn on either end of the pool provide easy access and help tie the different areas together.
Drzewiecki extended the concrete paving around the pool into the adjoining fire pit niche that sits off one end of the pool. An array of perennials surrounds three sides of the space, adding a mix of colors from spring to fall.
See more of this outdoor transformation
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Thank you for showing examples of above ground, semi in-ground, and in-ground — all lovely!
Great article and examples!
these pools are all lovely,however,do you have suggestions for us who live in coommunties with bylaws that require double fencing,a fence aroung the pool with selflatching gate and one around the property,all to prevent toddlers from drowing?