Quench Your Desires
Creating the Ultimate Poolscape

by Melanie Miller

It’s all about lifestyle. The canvas of an Arizona back yard begins with a swimming pool and spa, wrapped in beautiful landscaping. Cascading water flowing over natural boulders add tranquility and beauty to any back yard. Colorful lighting and special effects set the scene for an intimate night around a cozy fire pit or a lively party around an outdoor barbeque, bar and an entertainment area. As the desert heat moves in, the pool caves and grottos come to life with walls of sparkling water splashing into a refreshing pool.

These are just a few of the popular pool and spa trends that help create the ultimate Arizona lifestyle. For families, slides and jump rocks cause a big splash and are a favorite with kids, bringing fun and laughter to summertime. A play pool brings good times for family and friends enjoying a fun game of water volleyball or water basketball.

And for grown-ups, a pool is no longer just a pool. Instead, it has become the focal point of an elaborate outdoor living space that includes bonus features that make the most of outdoor entertaining. Baja steps allow you to keep cool while catching the rays for a perfect summertime tan. Swim-up bars and tables make outdoor entertaining more comfortable during the hot summer days and add a resort-style atmosphere.

Putting in a pool heater will extend your swim season several months, and an automation system can keep things running according to your family’s schedule. You can also set features to turn on and off automatically, setting the right scene at just the right time. Add a wireless remote control and you can change the setting easily without getting out of your favorite lounge chair. To top it all off, energy efficient equipment and an in-floor cleaning system work behind the scenes, maintaining your pool effectively.

And when it comes to design, the sky’s the limit. The days of the cookie cutter swimming pools are over. Whether it’s simple elegance or extravagant luxury, many new techniques allow for trendy design and unique configuration in today’s pool and spa displays. Custom pools and spas are designed to fit every homeowner’s décor, needs and budget, and the options are endless. Fortunately, pool designers and builders continue to address all of these areas, giving future pool buyers more choices than ever when it comes to creating the poolscapes of their dreams.

When designing your pool with a quality pool builder, let your designer create your vision with a colorful design, bringing your backyard dream to life. Go ahead and add in the spa you want, the caves, grottos, water features, jump rock, slide, fire pit and barbeque area. And don’t forget to put in special touches such as stacked stone columns with overflowing wok fountains.

Then, once you have the pool, spa and landscape design according to your dream list, you can begin to look at the pricing. Since you now have a great visual of the design, you will know what you can and can’t do without, allowing you to eliminate some features, if necessary, to better fit your budget.

The most important decision a homeowner must make when deciding to build a swimming pool is choosing the builder. When choosing your pool builder, research the company’s record with the local registrar of contractors. And don’t be afraid to ask for a few referrals. The quality of a pool builder goes beyond the construction of your swimming pool. Taking care of customers throughout the warranty period is just as important.

Once you’ve chosen the right pool builder and the right design, imagine how much you, your family and your friends will enjoy your beautifully appointed Arizona back yard.

Melanie Miller is Office Manager for Tribal Waters Custom Pools and Spas, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Infolink:
www.tribalwaters.us