Latest Looks and Features for Cool Pools

Like today’s innovative custom homes, swimming pools & spas are overflowing with inspired style and cutting-edge design features. To maximize the artistry of your new backyard resort, it is critical to work closely with your swimming pool designer.

“Communication is paramount,” says R’nelle Lazlo, national spokesperson for Blue Haven Pools & Spas. “Be as detailed as possible when explaining your preferences for everything—from colors to the outdoor atmosphere you want to create.”

A key way to get a leg up, she says, is to be generally familiar with some of the popular design options before you meet with potential pool builders. “The more you know in advance, the better,” she says, “but after you share your ideas, be sure to listen to recommendations from your designer. They have the expertise and may let you know why a certain approach may or may not be wise based on a variety of factors in your backyard, ranging from elevations to the architectural style of your home.

With offices in 75 markets throughout the country, Blue Haven Pools has a broad perspective of the most popular pool design trends across the nation and has compiled the list below to help you start dreaming about your new backyard resort:

• Elevated spas with spillways that flow to the pool surface below
• Raised bond beam—raised wall—and multilevel decks that create added visual interest
• Free-form, lagoon-style pools in tropical settings
• Rock pools with affordable faux rock waterfalls and grottos, as well as custom rock water features
• Accent boulders along pool perimeter
• Inlaid tile mosaics in shapes ranging from sea creatures to sports team logos
• LED and fiber-optic pool lighting that change colors with a handheld remote control
• Quartz and pebble finishes for interiors with distinctive, chip- and stain-resistant color
• Infinity pools—also known as negative or vanishing edges—in which water appears to vanish on the horizon
• Laminar jets, sheer cascading waterfalls, and bubbling fountains
• Dark-bottom pools finished in deep blue or dark grey
• Natural stone coping and decking
• Pool shapes that integrate built-in planters or existing trees
• Tanning ledges, loveseats, and beach-style entries
• Built-in island barbeques and fire pits
• Diving rocks and pool slides integrated into rockwork