At the tail end of 2009, Jason from Pool Craft came to me with this project. The customer had a small list of things they wanted in the yard (pool, patio and hot tub). Jason was asking me to do my best to lay out everything within the given backyard area. The end result was as follows in the pictures below....
As Spring of 2010 approached, a couple more things were added to the list of what to fit into the backyard space. There was an idea for a pergola sitting over a bar area and a lounge area with a gas fireplace feature...
Granted that the yard was not very big to begin with... I wrestled with the spacial limits in my head...then plugged away at the plan on my computer... I like a challenge where the design restraints must conform to what the customer wants... Sometimes the answer absolutely has to be "No" but in most cases I try to find a way around the "No" and look for alternatives that will make my client happy...
The end result was a yard without grass... (which conforms to my dream to not push a lawnmower around!) ... the end result is a yard that is now part of the home... a backyard living space that can be enjoyed for many months of the year. The addition of the fire pit can take the chill out of a cool September evening... the hot tub can be used year round due to it's proximity to the back door of the home.
The Pergola Bar... a place for the "adults" of the pool party to sit while enjoying drinks, conversation and shade! On a hot summer afternoon, while the kids are playing in the pool, this sort of space allows you to be out in the backyard and keep dry from both the pool splashing and summer heat...
Lastly, the most important part of the backyard, the pool! When you are considering a pool, most often the ideal design includes an entertainment space. Having a small strip of concrete around a pool with grass clippings and grass areas is not always fun when you come out of a pool soaking wet. You want a good sized patio to place chairs and allow time to dry off before going in the home... if the yard is large enough and budget is big enough... a Cabana house is always a welcome sight!
But as in most cases, the pool itself is a big investment for most families. So budgets are taken into very strict consideration as to what can be done with a backyard space. My advice to the potential pool owner... when getting estimates and quotes for a backyard pool installation, have someone plan it out for you first!
A proper pool company (like Jason's company) will do this for you... understanding that there is a budget for the project and leaving room for expansion in the future is the key to a successful backyard living space. I often make sure that my plans take into consideration the patio space and structures that may come into play... be it a tool shed, cabana, or even an addition put on a home. If it is a phased project over a set number of years, the plan is a key factor to the backyard success.
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All photos used in this blog post are the sole property of Pool Craft. Pool Craft can be reached at:
Telephone: 905 884 2720
Toll free: 1-877-469-6649
14 comments:
Great design Paul and it is nice to see Jason's forethought in getting a complete design before the pool. As a fellow designer I am often called on to work with the space leftover 'after' the pool is installed. It is often challenging to accomplish the homeowners needs (shade, privacy etc) after the hardscaping work has been done. I also like the raised garden wall that can be used as extra seating
during a party with the cedar hedge softening the fence!
Awesome pool and landscape design. It's amazing how unaware some people are with the cost of landscape design especially pools and the ongoing maintenance of pools.
Sterling
www.turflandscapes.com
Thanks Joanne and Sterling, the project was a bit of a collaboration between myself, the pool company and the landscape contractor.
My Pergola concept is there... but the details were slightly altered from my original design to that of a more modern look. My curved rafter tails and fancy knee braces would have cost more money to build!...
As Sterling hit it on the nose... when the overall cost of the project came about, cost cutting measures were looked at in order to tame the budget and not sacrifice the construction quality..
We houston landscapers also do pergolas. And it's a double thumbs up for your "Pergola Bar"--great highlight and point of interest.
Yes, Outdoor living is in. People are moving outside and taking their desire for comfortable and stylish décor with them. There are several ways to design a backyard living space that meets our needs and increases our living space. Awesome pool and landscape design. Thanks for useful suggestions.
garden design sydney
The end result is too good, even i can say that fine piece of work, pool and other area of that house looking very beautiful.
I love the design of your landscaping blog. Is this a custom blogspot template, did you make yourself? Great post too, just want to mention that my first visit to your blog really made an impression.
Thanks for the comments...
The Blog is a Google template for blogger.com ...
The template allows you to post pictures in the background and edit colours and so on, so you can customize it to your liking...
These are some great ideas. More good landscape design ideas, especially in the summer, are water features like waterfalls and ponds. They are fantastic for any backyard, whether you entertain often or just want to create a peaceful environment for enjoying a good book!
Awesome landscaping. I would definitely visit your blog more often.
Great Design Paul Corsetti! I really like this pool design. this design inspire me to redesign our family's pool.
great look to the pool area..I never got the idea of a pergola, though..it offers no shade so whats the point of installing one?
If a Pergola is designed properly, it will offer you a lot of shade...that is the whole purpose of this structure... what it won't do is keep rain off your head because it is not a solid roof... and as a structure without a solid roof, it can skirt around most bylaws in terms of having an accessory building in your yard...
Wow, nice sharing idea , great post. Plants protect water and air quality. Appropriate Landscaping reduces nitrite leaching from the soil into the water supply. Landscape plants, such as shrubs and turf, remove smug, dust and other air pollutants. Hope this might help too.
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