Pool design…where to start?

[jcabra01]

Thank you in advance for any and all guidance provided. I just purchased my first single family home. It has a nice size bare empty backyard. We are in South Florida.

I want to build a pool along with the surrounding amenities to entertain my family and guests.

So far I have reached out to 3 pool builders and all 3 have sent me estimates (all around 55 to 60k) for a plain jane 15x30 rectangular pool. All asked me what size pool I wanted and I told them I have no idea and sent them the property survey. They all came back with that 15x30 ft quote.

I would like to see other options and different ideas of how to space out the backyard and not necessarily have a simple rectangle pool.

I would like something more resort-like and tropical (not necessarily modern).

Any suggestions of how I can do that without hiring an expensive “designer”?

My real wish is to have a lagoon-like pool but I contacted someone up north in Florida that builds them and he said that with my local building codes (requiring helical piles for hurricanes), there is no way to get a permit for building this sort of pool in Miami-Dade county.

Something like this is what I would love to have…

200K views · 5.1K reactions | 🏝️☀️Si tu devais rester tout un été enfermé dans ce jardin avec quelqu’un , ce serait qui ? 🌻⛱️ . @Bio.Designpools #passion #vacances #piscine #nuancesdo #lagon #transformation #plage #pro #paysagiste #lagonisation #jar

🏝️☀️Si tu devais rester tout un été enfermé dans ce jardin avec quelqu’un , ce serait qui ? 🌻⛱️ . @Bio.Designpools #passion #vacances #piscine #nuancesdo #lagon #transformation #plage #pro...

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Lagoon pool

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP!

First off I will say just about anything can happen with a big enough wallet! It will need to be a fat wallet to get a pool like the one in your link. It is a very pretty pool AND it is a very unique pool. It will take a lot of specialized skills to build. For that you will need someone to draw up the plans with MANY details then find the skilled labor to build it.

Now if you want a lagoon "feel" around the pool we can help you with idea on how to do that around your rectangle pool.

What is your budget?

 

[Newdude]

Hey J and Welcome !!!

I would like something more resort-like and tropical (not necessarily modern).

Did you follow up with the builders about this ?

 

[jcabra01]

Hi and welcome to TFP!

First off I will say just about anything can happen with a big enough wallet! It will need to be a fat wallet to get a pool like the one in your link. It is a very pretty pool AND it is a very unique pool. It will take a lot of specialized skills to build. For that you will need someone to draw up the plans with MANY details then find the skilled labor to build it.

Now if you want a lagoon "feel" around the pool we can help you with idea on how to do that around your rectangle pool.

What is your budget?

I don’t have a specific budget but that doesn’t mean I want to go crazy either. I am doing this along with a bunch of other renovations to the home so I have to watch my spending. Although I will say that for me personally the backyard is most important. Its where I plan to disconnect and find my happy place.

 

[Dirk]

Any suggestions of how I can do that without hiring an expensive “designer”?

The right designer can pay for themselves. The word "right" is doing all the lifting in that sentence, but if you find a good one, they can help you avoid the pitfalls of such a project, which ultimately will translate to cost and/or an unsatisfactory end result.

You'll be able to find a contractor to build whatever you want, but that builder will be focused on his own profit, not necessarily what will be best for you, your family (now and as they grow), your yard, your home's value and your budget. Designers know the answers to questions you don't even know yet to ask. Don't rule them out as an expendable line-item expense. Go shopping for one that fits your sensibilities. You'll know when you have the right one. And then let him/her bring your vision to life (sounds like you don't even have a clear vision defined yet, a designer can help with that, too). You might have a great imagination, but a designer will expand that. And then make sure it can actually be built, and built well.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

A "simple rectangular pool" (even with a level integrated spa) allows easy installation of a motorized auto-cover. I consider that my best pool feature. It is worth more to me than a fancy design.

 

[Newdude]

While I love everyone else's oasis design, we were building a swimming pool and wanted every inch available for swimming. Each inward curve of the lagoons/kidneys is lost real estate IMO.

But again. What did your PBs say about changing the basic plans ?