Custom Inground Pools & Spas: Custom Built Swimming Pools (Add Fire for Flair - Drab to Fab Backyard Transformations)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Custom Built Swimming Pools (Add Fire for Flair - Drab to Fab Backyard Transformations)


Few things in life beat a refreshing dip in a custom built swimming pool on a hot day and with the onset of summer, when the heat sets in,  most people will agree that– finances permitting –swimming pools are as necessary as oxygen in the air that we breathe.

However if you want to stand out from the crowd and insure that your backyard radiates glamor with a capital ‘G’, consider a custom built pool – it's the only kind of swimming pool to build if you also want to improve the value of your property. With a custom pool, you are given carte blanche meaning you can kiss goodbye to boring, standard square shapes, regular rectangular ones and other cookie cutter pools and say hello to something altogether more special. Being designed to your taste, custom pools can be as artistically designed, technologically advanced and luxurious as your heart desires. Maintenance free swimming pools with all the features are popular with custom built pools. As Brian Van Bowyer of Aquatic Consultants – one of the industry’s most coveted consultants – puts it: “they should look as good as they work. A custom built pool is an object of art as opposed to a hole in the ground where the kids get wet.” Perhaps you fancy a freeform pool? Alternatively how about a kidney shaped one or even a ‘spool’ (a combination of a spa and pool)? Would you like your pool to be long enough for lengths or just big enough for a quick dip? As for features, the possibilities are endless; take your pick from waterfalls and fountains to luxurious lighting, underwater music systems (seen at The Hillside Su hotel in Antalya, Turkey), artificial seashores, stylish ‘Baja’ steps, swim up bars and sunken bar stools – ideal for creating a mini resort – bridges and barbecue islands… Chances are if you can dream it, your vision can be incorporated in the design. But before you get carried away creating your backyard oasis, there are a few practicalities to keep in mind and here are ideas of what to consider when planning your piece of personal paradise.


WHY AND WHAT
First you need to think about the purpose of the pool – is it intended solely as an object of art or is it for recreation as well? If it needs to be functional as well as fashionable, consider who will be using the pool. Tweens and teenagers will no doubt appreciate fun elements such as slides whereas small children and non-swimmers will want a shallow area for splashing and wading. Meanwhile serious swimmers – Michael Phelps or Ian Thorpes in training – need a larger pool for lengths and laps, and if your daughter is a diver she will require a pool with a depth of at least nine feet. Planning on entertaining? “Try mixing up features like tables and chairs in the pool” recommends Ron Shaw of RA Shaw Designs – whose home designs over the last 10 years have all included pools. Given the ferocity of the sun, Shaw also suggests factoring in “a pool sitting area that is covered – swim up bars and outdoor kitchens make it easy to accomplish this.”
REALISM RULES
For all that, it is important to remain realistic. You might desire an Olympic sized pool and a patio but if you have a ‘boutique’ backyard and as such are short on space, installing a 50×25 yard pool is akin to creating a glass carriage out a pumpkin. Likewise the idea of a clump of trees clustering your pool may sound appealing but if the maintenance and mess (think loose leaves) is going to drive you mad, forget about it. Similarly if you’re a sensitive sort, think about filling your pool with artificial saltwater which is gentler on the eyes and hair than chlorinated fresh water.
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL
“A well thought out pool should pop visually as well as functionally. People often spend more time looking at their pools than swimming in them, so you want something that is really pleasing to the eye,” reveals Brian Van Bowyer – a man who has been designing pools (or “water shapes” as he calls them) since 1989. Subsequently if you want your pool to have pizzazz, you’ll need to add a feature or three – which should encompass the latest innovation, technology and design.
Glass tiles are one trend making waves amongst upscale pool owners owing to their elegance – something David Tisherman of David Tisherman’s Visuals (a company heralded as a leader in pool design and construction) acknowledges: “For those who want something truly spectacular, glass tile is often a big part of the equation. From a design standpoint, there’s nothing else like it.” Part of the appeal can be attributed to the magical way in which glass changes in appearance according to the angle of the sun and the level of the lighting.

Elsewhere, those wanting to get in touch with their inner techie should think about installing lighting, which can be functional as well as adding aesthetic appeal; as a rule of thumb, soft light evokes a romantic mood whereas brighter light creates excitement.
Water features are also highly sought after and for good reason: “Water is such a fabulous medium to work with,” says Van Bowyer. The watershaping guru continues: “It can act as a calm, reflective, mirror-like surface, repeating natural beauty as well as architecturally significant elements. Water can transcend elevations, fill spaces and lift spirits”. Aquatic options range from waterfalls and fountains to infinity pools – something Shaw incorporates “wherever possible [as] it creates an incredible boundless feeling.” However, arguably the hottest tend right now is for pools with a perimeter overflow – whereby the water level in the pool is the same as the top of the decking. “Perimeter overflow pools are one of my biggest requests,” confirms Van Bowyer. “The pool looks like a sheet of glass – it’s a drop dead gorgeous look.”
Yet for the ultimate ‘wow’ factor, fire features are arguably where it’s at. Whether it is a solitary flame sitting on top of the water or a traditional fire pit, the mesmerising flare from a fire element is sure to add spark to your setting.
HAVE A THEME
A good custom built pool should blend seamlessly into the surroundings or as Tisherman terms it: “The pool itself is not the most important element of the design. A pool is nothing more than an odorless, colorless, highly reflective body that mimics the environment in which it is placed.”
In addition to complementing the landscape, your pool should also work in harmony with your home and flow with the interior design. For instance, if your house has a natural environment, you might want to create caves, grottos and waterfalls to rival Mother Nature using man made rock systems for as Terre Higgs, president of Urdl’s Waterfall Creations, explains: “Today most custom waterfalls are made of man made rock systems. Believe it or not you can make rock outcroppings more realistic looking using man made formations than trying to stack real rocks together. Perhaps you would like a cave or grotto around the pool with a spa inside of it. You could look forever and not find a natural setting to allow that. But with man made rocks, it’s just a matter of design and installation to get whatever your imagination and wallet can afford.” Alternatively if your home is a shrine to all things Asian, plump for plants and flowers like bamboo, Weigela, Japanese Irises and moss that are typical in oriental gardens. For a more modern and understated abode, something simple yet chic – read angular walls and sleek pavement lines – would work well. Essentially the idea is to build a pool that becomes an extension of your house.
LOOK TO THE LONG TERM
Custom built pools can undoubtedly add value to your property – providing the design is universally attractive. Outrageously over-the-top pools might be fun – not to mention the talk of the town – but conversely could make your home harder to sell. The message? If you want to put your property on the market in the future, it’s best to exercise some restraint and stick to a “classic, clean design” says Van Bowyer. However if you are not worried about future buyers, by all means go ahead and get creative – arguably the only limit is your imagination…




CONSULT A POOL CONSTRUCTION EXPERT
Assimilated all of the above? Next up you need to consult a custom pool builder who will assist you in turning your vision into reality. The importance of experience should not be underestimated; a seasoned company will know what does and does not work which means they will be well placed to give guidance on yours.

The bottom line
Creating a custom built pool requires careful planning but the end result is well worth it. A custom built pool is so much more than a place for recreational activity; it’s an extraordinary showpiece that multiplies the value of your home and magnifies the beauty. Time then, to take the plunge…


If you need to be working with a Southern California pool company then you can get started here by getting some ideas about swimming pool design and pool planning tips. You might also like to have a look at costs for inground pools and spas from an experienced Southern California Pool Company for Orange County CA and surrounding areas.

Outside of California Pool Companies are ready to help you to get a new swimming pool. 
You can request best pool prices from quality pool companies



filed under....custom built pool,  custom built swimming pools, custom pool builder,custom built swimming pool, custom pool spa, custom pools, custom inground pools,  infinity pool

Looking for something else??.....more family swimming pool fun stuff.....

Swimming pool floats, swimming pool games, swimming pool toys for babies and kids add great fun to your home swimming pool. Aboveground pools are also great famly pools. Swimming is great a great way to enjoy water fitness and have fun with family and friends so buy a new swimming pool and have some fun!


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