Perfectly Planned Pools and Spas
by Marla J. Ottenstein

   Designing living spaces for the outdoors is no longer just about a pool in the backyard. “People want an attractive setting that is virtually an extension of their homes. They want a backyard environment,” says Mike Kiebler, vice president of AquaScapes Pools & Spas in Sarasota.
   Driving the trend to create aesthetically pleasing pool environments, rather than strictly functional pools, is the fact that the number of lap pools being built is on the decline because there’s no room to build them. Even those clients who dream of having a lap pool often change their minds when they realize that the space and project feasibility is limited by property size, perimeter space, furniture placement and county permitting restrictions.
   The hottest trend is to use natural resources, such as mined rocks, as finishing materials in pool projects. Setting the tone for the indoors to outdoors transition, the selection of decking materials is an essential part of creating an outdoor setting that is truly an extension of the home.
   Decking options are more diverse than ever, including: interlocking pavers in a variety of patterns and colors, “flat” pre-cast keystone tiling, stamped concrete decking or natural flagstone and tumbled marble. Another emerging trend is acid and dye concrete staining to enhance the natural nuances of cured concrete surfaces.
   The key to creating the ultimate pool environment is to listen to what the client wants and to turn their visions into reality. “Pool designers bring experience to the table,” says Bill Cassels, owner of Freestyle Pool & Spa in Sarasota. “It’s up to the designer, who knows what will work and what won’t, to guide the clients and advise them as to the feasibility and execution of the project; but at the same time, if it’s possible, they know how to make it happen.”
   In addition to the central design issues – layout, decking, elevations, water features, integrated planting and lighting, planning space for outdoor entertaining and furniture placement, cabana placement, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, screen enclosures, exterior landscaping and irrigation – a professional pool designer needs to evaluate the physical size and location of the area and the natural surroundings. The ultimate goal is an effective space allocation that will maximize the client’s needs and desires. When designing a tropical paradise, there are a plethora of decisions to make. The careful selection of material finishes literally adds the finishing touch to any outdoor pool environment. Each facet should be carefully planned, both separately, as well as an integrated and essential element of the overall design concept.
   Pool designers and savvy homeowners are driving the trends in pool interior finishing. While standard quartz and pebble aggregate finishes are still prevalent, luxury pool design demands upgraded materials to set the tone. PEBBLE TEC® brand pool finishes offer sophisticated mixtures of tiny stones and dyes in various, random color ratios that can produce a natural, lagoon-like effect similar to the ebb tides in a grotto. PEBBLE SHEEN® brand pool finishes can produce a natural beautiful pool interior more formal and geometric in appeal.
   Interior finishes with inlaid glass mosaic tile designs turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Taking it up a notch and facing the entire pool with glass mosaic tiles creates an exquisite and durable finish, especially when lit with a multitude of tiny fiber-optic lights to transform the pool into a shimmering oasis at night.
   Water-line tile selection is an important element in linear architectural pool design. The choices are endless. Individualizing pools with naturally hued tumbled marble, relief tiles, flagstone and decorative fire-kilned tiles is a favorite pool enhancer.
   Pool coping options go beyond the generic bullnose brick or 2 by 6 tiles of the past and are leaning toward ornate pre-cast keystone and natural stone, tumbled marble, lava stone, flagstone and other mined rocks to add interest. With modern technology, almost all types of mined rocks can be milled to create a bull-nose radius to add interest to any pool edge.
   And don’t forget the actual pool shape! Depending upon the client’s needs and end-use goals, it’s a question of linear versus organic, or architectural design versus a more natural lagoon-type design. Most designers agree that it’s important for the pool to match the theme of the home, as well as the natural environment.
   Drawing the pool’s design and then portraying it to the client can be done several ways, including loose hand sketching the initial drawings or computer drawing from the start.There are even computer programs available that have a 3-dimensional capability to create a complete sound and visual experience for the client.
   “Planning and building a private pool setting takes a lot of planning and knowledge,” says Cassels. “Building a pool goes way beyond picking a shape and style; the day-to-day decisions and materials selection are all important components to creating a peaceful and private outdoors environment.”
   Vanishing-edge pools will always be a popular option when installed in the right situation. An experienced pool designer knows how to take advantage of the topography of the lot to achieve the effect of the pool water “vanishing” into the body of water visible beyond the pool itself.
   Integrated pool and spa combinations are popular because the spa can be isolated from the pool when the goal is to only heat the spa. “A minimum of 75 percent of our projects are pool/spa combinations with an added water feature,” says Cassels. “Automation systems that control the heat, timer, spa, lighting and more are in high demand and are more complex and innovative than ever before. We recently installed a system that enables the client to call into the control panel from another location so that the spa is heated and the jets are on when he returns home.
   “We’re also designing a lot of ‘spools,’ or ‘cocktail pools’ in small areas. In a situation where people don’t have a lot of room but still want a paradise-like setting, we design intimate (150 square feet or less) pools with a small, jetted bench. It may take a little longer to heat since the spa isn’t isolated, but the client has the opportunity to relax in a 4-foot-deep natural pond or lagoon-type pool that is very private.”
   Speaking of heating systems, while electric heat pumps are efficient and economical to operate, more and more people are turning to gas heaters as a more rapid heat recovery system. Solar energy, although environmentally correct, is a good heat source for pools but not for pool/spa configurations and is only warranted to heat the pool 15 degrees above the Gulf ’s temperature.
   In the realm of pool/spa combinations, one popular and practical trend stands out amongst the rest and that is the need for an in-floor cleaning and circulation return system. These systems eliminate the need for pool vacuuming systems, increase the heat source efficiency rate, increase the overall effectiveness of pool cleaning chemicals and, most importantly, because of the way the floor returns are situated and operate, they clean the flooring surface more efficiently with less deterioration to the interior finish.
   The list of structural options available to individualize the pool area are infinite; whatever the client’s whimsy or desire, a professional pool designer will find a way to make it happen. Sun shelves are the current craze, as well as, elevated walls and integrated planters, benches in varying lengths and heights, strategically placed water therapy jets and built-in fountains and other water features that create visual and audible enhancements as a part of creating a memorable setting and experience.
   Landscaping and irrigating the pool area, as well as the perimeter areas, is an extremely vital component to the overall design plan. Planning for low-maintenance indigenous plants and shrubs that naturally thrive in the tropical climate and enhance the atmosphere of the setting is as important as the pool itself when creating your Southwest Florida enclave.
   “Proper landscaping can make or break a lagoon-setting pool and needs to be budgeted from the start,” says Kiebler. “Just like the coping, decking, pool interior finishing and lighting, landscaping and irrigation are an intrinsic part of the entire project and need to be part of the initial planning and budget to create thisspecialized pool environment.
   “Surprisingly, 80 percent of our inquiries are to renovate older pools and to create lagoon-style situations with natural rocks and pebble products. These projects take a lot of thought, planning and innovation, but they are very challenging and exciting to build.”
   Lighting is definitely the icing on the cake. Anything goes from dedicated landscape lighting, spotlighting and accentuating perimeter or interior landscaping, to colorful spectrum pool lighting systems and fiber optics pool lighting – professionally planned lighting is what ties it all together.
   The jury’s out on how to effectively and aesthetically enclose these enhanced pool environments, but designers and homeowners alike are taking a more serious look at alternative ways to enclose pool areas, especially when the ultimate goal is a natural setting.
   “Customer input is key to creating the ultimate pool experience. To ensure complete customer satisfaction, it’s important that the client be involved throughout the process, especially with renovation projects where we’re working with a shell built by another contractor,” says Kiebler. “The overall success of any pool project depends upon communication between the designer, contractor and client.”