OUR LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROJECTS often begin with a homeowner’s wish for a swimming pool. The reason they call Surrounds instead of a pool installation contractor is because they want more. They want an entire pool environment custom designed to fit their site. They challenge our landscape architects to create outdoor living spaces that offer a variety of functional and aesthetic pleasures—the pool being one component in the mix.
A fully integrated outdoor pool environment may include
- playspace (pool or spa)
- entertainment areas (outdoor kitchen)
- gathering places (outdoor living room shaded by a pergola)
- secluded spots for quiet conversation or solitude
THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AT SURROUNDS will help you develop a pool design and landscaping plan that combines just the right elements to produce an exceptional outdoor living space. Click here to see some of our swimming pool designs.
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The Most Popular Swimming Pool Designs
To start a conversation about pool design with one of our landscape architects you will need to consider these two questions:
- Do you want a rectangular pool with a motorized pool cover?
- Or would you like a swimming pool of any other shape or style we can imagine together?
It turns out that the classic rectangular shape is most popular because of its many benefits, which are:
- When traveling, you can close the cover and lock it–so nobody can get in the pool while you are away.
- If there are trees nearby, the cover keeps the leaves out.
- If you want to open the pool early in the season, the cover helps it heat up faster.
- If you want to continue using the pool later in the season, the cover helps maintain the water temperature.
The pool and pool house are a huge draw for us and a great way to spend quality time with the family.”
The Pleasures of Moving Water & Falling Water
Most of our projects incorporate moving or falling water features in the design program. Waterfalls are especially popular. They add pleasing sound to the pool environment. A waterfall can introduce an element of fun, too. Swimmers can enjoy dunking underneath the falling water, letting it gently pummel them.
The swimming pool pictured here has an organic looking rock garden and retaining walls with a waterfall tumbling through it and into the pool. This naturalistic element softens the hard lines of the pool and makes a refreshing visual anchor for the scene.
This pool design employs the same technique, but takes a more formal approach. A massive, clean lined stone retaining wall defines the far side of the pool. Water plunges into the pool through wall-mounted spouts. Grasses and tall flowering plants begin a soft transition at the top edge of the wall, giving way to trees in the background.
View images of this pool and wall mounted water feature here
Lagoon Style Pools
A swimming pool can be designed to resemble a natural pond or lagoon with irregular curvy borders.
We carry the naturalistic theme further by introducing overhanging rock, falling water and even a submerged rock ledge (sun shelf) for wet sun bathing.
View images of this pool with submerged ledge here
By introducing curving lines, natural stone materials and split boulders we can soften the edges, giving this pool and spa the feeling of a secluded swimming hole.
View images of this pool, spa & pool house here
Naturalistic Swimming Pools & Patio Designs
ARTFULLY COMBINING ORGANIC AND MANUFACTURED MATERIALS can produce a pleasing, naturalistic effect in spa and pool design regardless of the shape of the pool. Repeating visual themes and varying materials brings balance and integrity to all the elements that make up the surrounding pool deck, patios and landscaping. That’s what you can expect when you design your landscape and pool environment with a Surrounds landscape architect: beauty with integrity. What would you like to do with your back yard? Tells us.