HOMEOWNERS WANT THE FEEL OF A RESORT IN THEIR BACKYARDS
It's no secret what today's homeowners are looking for in a pool.
"They want the look and feel of a resort," said Vince Davenport, vice president of Swim Things in Blue Springs.
Among the materials and features in demand: flagstone decks and water features that create constant sound.
Reed Dillon, owner of Reed Dillon & Associates in Lawrence, says his Kansas City area pool customers are looking for
ever-more-elaborate tile work.
"We're getting away from the brightly colored patterned tile and heading toward more custom projects," Dillon said. One pool features a 30-inch wall covered in three-dimensional tropical fish in a rich bluegreen. "Three limestone weirs spill water out over the fish."
Dillon is also building more contemporary pools with simple geometric shapes. "More and more customers are opting for
contemporary houses, and they want the pool to match," he said.
Pool furniture is getting sleeker as well, he says.
When the setting allows, homeowners are putting the pool farther away from the house, Dillon says, treating it as a destination rather than an extension of the house.
"The pool is designed as a spa retreat, with a more serene atmosphere than would be possible next to the noise," Dillon said.
Beyond aesthetics, some new technologies are becoming de rigueur. "A lot of people like more automation. They can be inside the house and call the spa from their cell phone to get the temperature up," Davenport
said.
Pool owners are also enamored of handheld remotes that control lighting and water features. "You can hit the fountain button and the lights button without having to go over to the tech area," Davenport said.
"People want more than just something to swim in from noon to 4 in the afternoon," he said. "They want to take advantage of the outdoor environment offered by lights and water features and also enjoy them
from inside the home."
Custom Tile Work: Custom tile is becoming much more popular in modern pools - from rustic hand-tooled tiles to slick, contemporary glass mosaics. Blues and green are still the most popular colors, but bolder hues are starting to show up, particularly in tropical climates. Cleaner looks are very important - no more wild patterns in tile. Stone tiles are hot right now, ranging from tiny half inch mosaics to fields of rounded river pebbles. This pool in Lawrence, designed by Reed Dillon & Associates, has three waterfalls spilling down 4-1/2 feet to the pool below. The owner's love of tropical fish were incorporated into a were manufactured by Pratt & Larson out of Oregon and were carried by International Materials of Design in Overland Park.
Destination pools: One of the new trends in backyard pools is the destination pool. The idea of a journey out to the pool seems to give it more significance than having one right outside the back door. This Mission Hills pool, designed by Reed Dillon & Associates in Lawrence, was placed at the rear of the property - 18 steps from the back patio. It makes the property seem larger, and the feeling of getting away from it all is enhanced. The homeowners love the view from their master bedroom and can now enjoy the view of their home from the pool, as well. By placing the pool at a distance, it becomes a getaway in the backyard.
Backyard resort: No need to travel to a resort for this family. The outdoor oasis in Lee's Summit illustrates several popular trends in pool design. The saltwater pool with lagoon effect (onyx finish) creates a lake effect - without the slimy bottom. According to Vince Davenport, vice president of Swim Things in Blue Springs, it's so popular that more than half of his customers are requesting the dark bottom feature. The flagstone grotto has an inset bench with a waterfall feature over the top. In addition, this backyard rendezvous features a waterslide, basketball hoop, freestanding kitchen area, fire pit and nearly 10 outdoor seating areas.