If you’re planning to change the shell of your pool from, say, vinyl to gunite, or from gunite to vinyl, this is the perfect time to add other wonderful outdoor features.
When an Oyster Bay family wanted to change their existing vinyl-lined pool to gunite, they knew there would be so much tearing up going on anyway in their yard, why not upgrade the area.
In discussions with Deck and Patio, it became clear they also wanted to change the shape/design of their pool to better match the architecture of their home.
“We were able to create a more unified look for them by upgrading their existing pool into a geometric shape,” says our own Dave Stockwell.
This required expanding the size of their pool, which meant extending it very close to their property’s sharp hillside.
“For the pool’s retaining walls, we tracked down the same brick used on their home’s exterior. We also had to shore up the slope with boulders, creating various small retaining walls to hold back the grade,” adds Dave. “The trick was to bring in machinery and put the boulders in place before we dug the pool and area out.”
To give the clients the natural look they wanted, we surrounded the pool with beautiful bluestone. “The shape of these stones also mimic the overall geometric design we were going for.”
Other design elements:
— steps at the base of the retaining wall lead to a peaceful woodland path — at the end of which we hid all the pool equipment,
— sheer descent waterfalls along the inside of the pool add extra contemporary elegance,
—and landscape lighting created a beautiful romantic scene at night.
When the whole transformation was complete, not only was the family ecstatic, but their pet turtles seemed to love the transformation as well. With more room to swim in, they took to the new pool like, well, turtles.
Geometric Gunite Pool (Oyster Bay Cove/NY):
Deck and Patio remodeled an existing vinyl pool into a larger, geometric gunite, with elegant sheet falling waterfalls. The new design handsomely complements the home’s architecture.
Steps to Woodland Path (Oyster Bay Cove/NY):
Steps faced with the same brick as used around the pool’s retaining wall, lead to a peaceful woodland path where the pool equipment has been hidden out of sight.
Bluestone Patio (Oyster Bay Cove/NY):
The pavers of the previous patio/pool surround had not been compacted properly and were separating. The family also wanted a more natural product. Bluestone was chosen and its hues blended nicely with that of the brick-faced retaining walls; in addition, the rectangular shapes of the stones echo the shape of the pool and house windows.
Sheet Falling Water Feature (Oyster Bay Cove/NY):
Beautiful sheet falling waterfalls (often called ‘sheer descents’) perfectly harmonize with the overall more contemporary feel to their upgraded pool area.
Pool Lighting (Oyster Bay Cove/NY):
It’s hard to decide which time of day presents the most beautiful picture; but nighttime has to be near the top!
