When it comes to pool design, the sort of look you go for depends very much on your own personal preferences. The question of what makes a pool luxurious is a tricky one, as after all, whether a piece of artwork is good or not lies in who is looking at it. Few people would have exactly the same music taste as you for example, and the same applies to personal preference when it comes to pools.
It can be difficult to decide a pool design from scratch, so you may need to take inspiration from other pools, such as when you go on vacation, especially as these designs will evoke some wonderful memories of time spent with family and friends abroad. Essentially, what separates a standard pool from an average one is the emotions that are experienced with it, plus, has that added wow factor. It also goes without saying that the quality and craftsmanship of an upscale inground pool is outstanding. You should be able to feel a sense of luxury just by being in the presence of the pool, with the pool’s surroundings helping to add to the overall feel
A luxury pool, according to a collection of pool designers, requires a good design, congruence with the surrounding environment, quality materials and fitting colors and textures. Only when all these elements come together will the pool be truly luxurious. You don’t need to know a lot about pools to know what it is you want, and what will make the pool feel special to you. However, there are some factors which you should consider when designing your backyard pool to ensure the end result matches your vision.
Communication
Without good communication, the ideas and preferences of a client may get lost when relaying them to a designer. It is very important that the designer sits down with the client at the start of the project. This interview should also investigate the emotional aspects of the project. Every member of the team involved in the designing and building project needs to be on the same page, with clear communication throughout the whole process.
Experience
Talent and experience play a big part in the pool building process, and a combination of both will help the project end with a luxurious finish. Some designers are born with talent, whiles others will need training to hone their skills. Without these skills, a designer may try to create a look that is a little too much, taking the project from luxurious to ‘too much’ very easily.
Choosing the Extras
Having the pool in place is one thing, but the luxury also comes with the accessories you chose. Even the biggest pool cannot really be considered luxurious if its surroundings fail to match up with the grandeur of the pool. Every element needs to fit in with the other, such as the use of similar materials, and the style needs to fit in with the style of your home. It is also essential that the surrounding landscape simply complements the pool, rather than distract the eye from it.
There are a range of different materials that can be used to create a luxurious poolscape, such as finishes that seem to make the pool’s interior shimmer and shine, to decking and exotic stone for the pool’s surroundings. Although these extras are important, it is important not to go too far, as essentially the pool should remain the focus.
Many popular pool amenities may seem luxurious, but sometimes are a bit too much for the setting, for example, expansive glass times and vanishing edges are very popular and can really make a statement, but only if they are used correctly. A vanishing edge will only work if the view is incredible, not just as a stand-alone feature, and glass, sparkling tiles will only work if it fits in with the contemporary style of the home.
Building the Pool
In order to build a premium pool, you will need to ensure that the builder and designer are totally committed to the project. This is why most builders will only take on a few clients at a time and will leave nothing to chance, ensuring that every ‘t’ is crossed and every ‘I’ is dotted. The designer will know everything there is to know about each individual material, from equipment needed to build it, to the plumbing and the materials, as well as all of the finishings. High-end pool builders are used to catering to clients who always demand and expect the best.
The client should get everything they dreamed their pool should be. So much so, that even those that know nothing about the pool and have no pre-established connection will feel a positive rush of emotion when standing before the finished project.
Luxury depends very much on the individual, but in all cases should be used to describe a total vision, not just one element of that vision.
About the Author
Scott Bland has been in the leisure industry for nearly 20 years. As a sales manager in the leisure industry, he knows hot tubs inside and out. Right now, he works sales while writing about hot tubs, pools and spas on his blog, www.scottbland.ca
