SWIMMING POOL DESIGN
Swimming pools are the outdoor hearth upon which we gather, thus a swimming pool design should be a reflection of the environment and users to which it serves. Swimming pools are a place to cool off in the summer months, and an area for the kids to play while you work on your tan. Swimming pools provide an area to entertain guests and create lasting memories with family. They are also a sanctuary to quietly reflect, meditate, and relax. All of these things are all made possible through efficient swimming pool design. A well-planned swimming pool design enhances the surrounding environment, creates a connection between your home and nature, while also providing a unified theme.
The first thing that you should ask yourself when considering a swimming pool design is how the pool is going to be used. This will greatly effect how your swimming pool is designed. Are children going to be using the pool? Kids love playing on stairs and in shallow areas. Do you enjoy lying in the sun? Perhaps a sun shelf is an attractive feature for your swimming pool design. Do you plan on swimming laps or do you just want a place to sit and feel the water on your skin? If you're not a big swimmer, a smaller swimming pool is easy to heat and maintain, and by including therapeutic jets you can create the luxurious feel of a spa right at home. Whatever your needs are, a custom swimming pool design can be made to accommodate them.
It's also very important to consider your real estate. A well-designed swimming pool should reflect the style of your home and relate to the surrounding landscape. This is something that just can't be achieved by picking a pool from a catalogue. Perhaps your home has an already established theme that you want to incorporate into your swimming pool design. What kind of landscape do you have? A swimming pool design without landscape will look stark and cold. This may be an acceptable look for some contemporary homes; however, a well-designed pool with a landscape plan can really make your project shine and tie everything together nicely.
There have been many advances in pool systems, giving you more options for maintaining and purifying your water. Your swimming pool design may include a chlorine system or a salt-chlorinated system. Chlorine systems are usually considered standard. Chlorine systems are reliable, but require a lot maintenance (checking pH levels regularly, adding chlorine, acid and other chemicals as needed). The amount of maintenance causes many swimming pool owners hire a pool service, which can become costly. Although salt-chlorinated systems are generally more expensive, their benefits usually outweigh the cost. A swimming pool designed with a salt-chlorinated system requires less maintenance. The fact that they use a salt controller to disperse chlorine means you don't have to constantly transport heavy containers of chlorine. They also allow better chlorine control and promote healthier skin. It's no wonder why many swimming pool designs are using salt-chlorinated system.
Other considerations include access to pool equipment and storage for that equipment. Many people don't think about this until well after their swimming pool design. They are left with vacuums, skimmers, and other equipment sitting out with no place to go. It doesn't seem like it's that important at first, but eventually you will be asking yourself, "What do I do with all this stuff?" Concealing all of those items is something that your swimming pool designer should include in their swimming pool design.
Many times we are asked when doing a swimming pool design, "How do you feel about pool enclosures?" If we had it our way, we would never have to look at another pool cage again. You'll never hear someone say, "Oh, what a lovely pool cage!" It's just not going to happen! In almost every case there is a solution to remedy the need for a screened enclosure. It helps if the swimming pool design works with the surrounding landscape. Trees that don't shed their leaves in the fall will help keep the pool clean, while other plantings can provide screening for privacy. If you're worried about the mosquitoes, often times they can be stopped with the use of a simple misting system. So why conceal your beautiful pool under an ugly cage?
The design of your swimming pool should be undertaken by a professional architect or landscape architect. All architects are in a sense artists, who have spent years training and educating themselves how to create designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Many pool builders and contractors will claim that they can save you money by designing a pool for you. Don't believe the hype! Pool builders and contractors specialize in building… not design! We have seen many times where builders will promise to design a pool that saves you money with the same quality, and can't deliver. Always seek a licensed professional. It may cost more upfront, but you will save in the long run.
Swimming Pool Design
Licensed Landscape Architect / Florida License No. 0001760