NHOME Texas March/April 2013

Page 46

Your landscape is an extension of your home, and it should reflect a similar style and appearance. in general have evolved dramatically over the past decade. The standard pool design of a rectangle outlined with some tiles or bricks in standard colors used to be the most common in homes and businesses, but it is actually no longer the norm. Now people want pool designs that reflect their personal lifestyle, with custom and innovative features such as vanishing edges, elaborate waterfalls, grottos, accent lighting and lush landscaping. Pool designs can reflect the personality of the home or business owner and truly transform the entire dynamic of a space. One of the simplest and most noticeable beginning features in a pool’s design is the shape itself. While rectangular will always be the shape of choice for lap pools and a more modern appeal, some people may prefer something more traditional that inhabits more of an aquatic inspiration – for example, something with soft, rounded shapes that reflect a more organic body of water. The architectural style of the house can be another way to conceptualize one’s pool design. In addition to shape, incorporating

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the same colors or shades from the house in a pool’s design can be a great way to add a cohesive bond between the two elements. The most important thing to remember when having a pool designed is its ability to enhance the lifestyle of the homeowner and everyone who uses the pool. After all, isn’t that the entire reason you’re considering a new swimming pool? Always discuss your wants and needs with a designer during initial consultations and remember to think about factoring features like a spa, a children’s pool, a cabana bar, an outdoor kitchen, beached entrances, custom fountains, slides, dive platforms and/ or lounge areas. A designer can only be as good as the information he or she is given by a client. Modern pools and their features are changing dramatically with new technology each day, particularly when it comes to lighting. Lighting can be almost an art form in any type of architecture; it can be used cleverly to enrich the custom elements that are clearly noticeable during daylight hours, but disappear at dawn. Think of a vanishing pool edge that appears to be rolling off into the horizon during the day; when adding the element of fiber optic lighting, you can highlight that same edge for the more nocturnal crowd, which is otherwise lost at night. The pool’s lighting design isn’t the only thing changing these


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