Designing Around Pools

Summertime is here, bringing heat, longer days, BBQs, and pool parties. What could be a more iconic part of the Southern California landscape than the pool? Landscape design needs to ensure that they are inviting and comfortable spaces. Here are a few we’ve worked on lately.

(1) To give this area height, rhythm and depth, we installed twelve concrete bases topped by large urns — six on either side of the pool — each with ‘Tiny Towers’ cypress trees and surrounded by two different liquorice plants: Helichrysum petiolare and Helichrysum ‘Limelight.’

(2) The lines of the pool lead the eye to the pool house, whose striped awning was custom-replicated from photos found in a 1931 article in Architectural Record about this same property. Water jets play against the handmade tile mural, providing visual interest and soothing sounds as well.

(3) The color red unifies the garden and links it to the interiors and the clients’ personal history. They love the color red, and previously lived in Austria, so the red and white of the Austrian flag became key in plant and fabric selection. The climbing rose ‘Don Juan’ plays up the garden’s passionate themes. This is one example of how a monochromatic color scheme can be successfully employed in garden design.

(4) Round terracotta pots holding orange trees overflow with blue flowering variegated vinca, white jasmine, and Mandevilla ‘Crimson.’ The fragrant plants soften the view to the cabana and sweeten the air. Existing blue furniture was dressed in red and white cushions and grouped with pots planted to match.

(5) In this virtually maintenance free xeriscape, pool, jacuzzi and firepit are embraced by a tumble of local river boulders dotted with succulents. To conserve water, lawn area was reduced, drip irrigation installed and decomposed granite paths introduced, through which irrigation water and site drainage easily filter back into the groundwater table.

(6) Grass in between pavers ties the lawn to the pool and also keeps the concrete cooler on hot summer days. Notice the blues of the pool tile echoed in the bench pillow and adjoining planter.