This pool was a challenge: big and dated. My client had been told that the original owner had to have the largest pool in the neighborhood. And did I mention the deck was gunited to the pool?

After my clients requested "tropical, spa, and a slide" in their back yard, I went to work on a design. The pool takes up the entire back yard. My plan was to design a pool that would blend into the enviroment and not be so overwhelming. Placing large rocks from the yard around the pool and adding quartzite below them, we were able to create the illuison that they were jutting from the pool. Artificial rock was intergrated and colored to match the native stone. With this creative use of the rock, I was able to create a cove effect to the pool to isolate the large body of water from the deck. A large Baja step with two sets of steps was added. One leads to the deep end and one to the shallow end. Artificial rock forms over the edge in the center, outlining the step and shadowing one of the lights added to the pool.

We were able to form our rock for the slide and waterfall over an existing retaining wall and retain the wall's integrity. A small waterfall flows from the top and creates a larger pool at the bottom that gently falls into the pool. A large L-shaped bench under the spa serves as access to the spa and slide. We added a small bench near the center of the pool to house one of the two lights that were built into the pool.

The slide is just what every kid wants. (Or should I say the kid in all of us?) Our slides are built to blend into the landscape. The plumbing is hidden out of sight so that when activated, the water seems to flow from the rock. The slide surface is coated with a thick sheen which, along with the water, creates a slippery, fun, and safe surface.

When remodeling a pool, I like to incorporate the skimmer lid and surrounding area with the same material as the coping. This presents a finished look. With a remodel of this extent, the pool plumbing is upgraded and includes a new colored skimmer, a dedicated vacuum line, and three pool returns. The gas and electric were also replaced from the meter to the equipment. This pool and spa uses a 3 pump system that includes a filter pump, jet pump and a waterfall /slide pump. We also installed a Jandy PDA computer with Jandy salt system, heater, and filter.