If these sultry days of summer have you dreaming about a pool in your backyard, here’s a look at some of the top trends for 2014.
The Baja shelf is a large shallow shelf about 6 to 18 inches deep, originally designed for younger kids to splash around in, but found another big fan base among adults who discovered they also make great lounging spots.
A Baja can come equipped with bubblers, fountains, built-in umbrella holders and specially-made wet deck chaise lounges. Dogs love them too—my golden takes a walk around the Baja whenever he wants to cool off without going for a swim.
A beach entry is a slope from the edge of the pool that gradually gets deeper, mimicking the gentle slope of a sandy beach. It’s good for small children and toddlers who aren’t yet strong swimmers because it gives them a place for supervised play without the sudden drop-off of a Baja shelf. Beach entries also offer easy access for people with physical limitations and can accommodate wheelchair users.
As pools become just one part of an integrated outdoor environment, homeowners are incorporating fire features into pool design.
Waterfalls topped with fiery torches, fire bowls surrounded by moats and other mash-ups of the primal elements of fire and water create a dramatic look. Built-in fire pits and fireplaces echoing the pool design make outdoor spaces feel more cohesive.
Lighting up the pool
Pool lighting has gone way beyond one old school light in the deep end. Today’s newest pools use LED lighting effects to create “aquatic atmospheres.”
Colored LED lights can turn the pool a vivid fuchsia for a teen sleepover, a cool blue for evening cocktails or a blood red for Halloween.
Computerized light settings can take the pool through an array of looks throughout the night or turn water jets into a colorful water show. The newest lighting is energy-efficient and can be controlled remotely via mobile device.
Negative edge pools are an offshoot of infinity pools but carry the “infinity” look around the perimeter of the pool. In negative edge pools, the waterline is even with the surface around the pool, creating a sleek and modern look.
Get exercise
Home owners are also installing pools specifically designed for exercising.
Lap pools, the long narrow pools the width of a lap lane, are not only good for convenient workouts, but work well in a small space and give a yard the refreshing cerulean glow of a pool.
Exercise pools with a built-in resistance jet at one end of the pool allow swimmers to swim against a current.
Natural pools are a good choice for ecofriendly outdoor living.
They are designed to fit in visually with the natural environment, are heated by the sun and use a natural filtering system to clean the water.
Salt-water pools use salt to purify the water instead of chlorine, need less maintenance than chlorine pools and are gentler on skin, eyes and hair.
— Adriana Donofrio Podley Properties Glendora 626 914-2904 adrianad@podley.com
