New Pool + Cabana + Putting Green - Lucas, TX

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Yes, steps out by the cabana is great. I would think about a bench on the left side of the pool about where the jump rock is and move the jump rock toward the house more. The extra bench because kids like to throw stuff across the pool at each other and jump off the benches to catch it. So, having benches on either end and across from each other let's 4 kids throw stuff and swim to other benches, etc. Also, move the jump rock about halfway around that curve so that jumping kids aren't making big splashes into the cabana area where adults are sitting get and might not want to get too wet. I agree with the bench by the planter being bigger, I'd extend it all the way to the planter.
 
Another in favor of extending the bench closest to the house and not adding a third. Between the shelf, two benches and cabana steps you have a lot of great "zones" already and some unobstructed jumping space is valuable.


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Figured it was time for an update. We signed a contract with Riverbend Sandler Pools (aka PB#2) about a week ago. We have enjoyed working with our designer so far (Todd) and have met a bunch of neighbors who have been thrilled will Riverbend Sandler. One of those neighbors is in the process of building their THIRD pool with them! So we are underway and waiting for permits at this point.

Since I last posted there have been a few minor changes to the design.

* Our yard doesn't have as much grade as originally modeled. Therefore, we either had to lose the steps immediately off the house patio or lose the steps going down into the cabana. We decided we couldn't live without having the cabana below the pool because it's how we get that sitting wall in there just behind the 6' wide rain decent. I think that short wall between the pool and shady cabana (i.e. coping on top) is super important. I imagine us old folks will sit there a lot while the kiddos swim. So, this means the pool and the majority of the deck will be level with the back of the house. It also means the putting green and chipping area won't appear elevated relative to the pool and we lost the 12-18" walls that surrounded them. Those walls become planter borders now. Not the end of the world as the cost of this project was starting to concern me. Taking those walls out saved me about $5k.

* One more change related to elevation... the fire pit area needed to be stepped down 6" from the main patio. In order to maintain the back edge of the spa at 18" seating height, we had to make the spa only 12" from the pool (as opposed to the original design of 18"). Not sure how I feel about this.

* We also convinced the designer to widen the cabana by 2 feet. It now measures 16' wide by 12' deep. I never liked how square the 14x12 design looked and I figured it would help block a bit more of the house behind us.

* We removed the pathway to the side yard. We will likely have stepping stones out there instead by the landscaper.

* The plan was updated with the location for the nicheless LED lighting locations. Look closely and you will see eight total lights. Riverbend actually had lighting company (Jandy??) determine the optimal locations and wattage for our pool shape/design.

* Pool bench closest to house enlarged as many of you suggested! Thanks TFP!!

* Flower beds that were cut into the patio have been removed. Wife didn't like those.

Anyways, here is an updated picture and plan.



 
I don't know how I've missed it so far but this pool build looks awesome. We put in Hayward's nicheless lighting and have 9 in the pool and 2 in the spa. Even though they cost more I knew I wouldn't be happy without ambient type lighting over harsh floods.

I'm also a designer (besides my RN title) and a lot of good design is based on unexpected elements. Like that steel fire pit versus the built in one. I'd vote to pick something special. If you're looking for areas to cut cost but not aesthetics may be change the concrete to DG or pea gravel around the fire pit.

Good luck, I look forward to following this build! [emoji1303]


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Design looks really nice. Back when I was looking at pool ideas, I somehow ended up subscribed to Riverbend Sandler on YouTube and frequently get notified of new designs that show up. They look like they know what they are doing!
 
joanniern said:
I don't know how I've missed it so far but this pool build looks awesome. We put in Hayward's nicheless lighting and have 9 in the pool and 2 in the spa. Even though they cost more I knew I wouldn't be happy without ambient type lighting over harsh floods.

I'm also a designer (besides my RN title) and a lot of good design is based on unexpected elements. Like that steel fire pit versus the built in one. I'd vote to pick something special. If you're looking for areas to cut cost but not aesthetics may be change the concrete to DG or pea gravel around the fire pit.

Good luck, I look forward to following this build! [emoji1303]


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Click to expand...

Do you think we have enough lights for this size pool we have? Should we have another in the spa?

Also, with the nicheless lights, do the same placement rules apply? I'm worried about the two that face the house. My pool designer says with nicheless it's hard to avoid that since it takes more lights to cover the entire pool. My pool in particular is relatively wide. At the same time, I don't want to look out at the pool from inside my house and see bright lights shining back at me.
 
IXFE said:
Do you think we have enough lights for this size pool we have? Should we have another in the spa?

Also, with the nicheless lights, do the same placement rules apply? I'm worried about the two that face the house. My pool designer says with nicheless it's hard to avoid that since it takes more lights to cover the entire pool. My pool in particular is relatively wide. At the same time, I don't want to look out at the pool from inside my house and see bright lights shining back at me.
Click to expand...

I think they spec's a bubbler light in one pic so maybe that's the another light? I would have the light in the spa point away from the spa seating at the dam wall. The wall will help reflect the light into the spa and the placement will keep it from shining in people's eyes while in the spa. The dam wall will stop it from being an eye sore to the people in the pool.

We have Hayward's and they come in four different lumens we used three different ones. Around the bar stools we spec'd low lumens but three of them. The spa has half lumens but two of them and the rest of the pool has the highest lumens but they can be switched to half lumens with remote. Not sure if Jandy has the same design. I think their light placement is good. Pay attention to the jumping rock and how you want the water to look there at night your house is far enough away and the direction of placement looks like it shouldn't cause too much issues.


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I like what you have added, deleted, done...........it all makes purrfect sense for what you want out of that wonderful pool! You can NOT lose those steps by the cabana! NOPE, nope, nope! LOL

I am not sure what your mean by this:

"we had to make the spa only 12" from the pool (as opposed to the original design of 18")."

Kim:kim:
 

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Sorry Kim, yeah I meant 12" elevated spa instead of 18".

If we left it at 18" it would have meant 24" above the patio area where the fire pit is since that area has to step down 6" due to the grade. Since we figured people will use spa wall as a bench for the fire pit the PB wanted to keep it to 18" back there since that's a comfortable seat height. That means only 12" everywhere else.

Glad to hear y'all think 12" is okay visually since that's what you'll see from the house.
 
joanniern said:
I think 12" is better - 18" is pretty tall


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Click to expand...

I agree, ours is 18'' and I wish I'd only done 12'' because it looks a little too high to me. But it is good that you have it 18'' in back of spa by fire pit, because the 18" is better for sitting. So you have the best of both worlds with it 12 in front and 18 at back. Love it!!
 
While we wait for permits we went down to Riverbend Sandler's show room to finalize material selection.

First the biggest change... I've been uneasy about the deck for weeks. Today we made a final decision. The coping of course will be Oklahoma flagstone. We've never deviated from this because we LOVE the look of the flagstone on the tanning ledge. But I wasn't loving the salt finish concrete, even with the scoring lines. So today we switched to textured concrete "roughstone pattern" with a "sand" color and NO SEALER. This was a "free" change. Then we spent $1,700 adding Oklahoma flagstone runners all over the place to break up the concrete and tie into the coping.




For the plaster we chose Tahoe Blue smooth pebble. Sorry no pic :-(

For the tile we chose this. It's a standard tile. We didn't want 6x6 tiles, but we were biased from the beginning to stay with some sort of blue. We really like how this one is a small subway tile but also how it has subtle brown tones to tie in the flagstone coping.





For the spa veneer we chose to stick with Oklahoma flagstone. It will look like this only taller (12" raised in the front, 18" raised at the rear by the fire pit).

 
New renderings...

And let me just say, our designer, Todd at Riverbend has been amazing to work with (I think I mentioned this before). My wife and I were there today for several hours waffling back and forth on this or that. Not only was he patient, but he helps us think through these decisions. He's able to do that because he's taken the time to get to know us and by now he understands our tastes and what we value. But he also adds his perspective having designed thousands of pools and we are always amazed by his input. I trust him so much that now I usually just ask him, "Todd, if this were your pool what would you do?"

Finally, he has spent hours on renderings for us because we're visual and want to see all our selections and changes in 3D. I appreciate this very much. I also insist on it for ya'll in the forum!!

Biggest change below is the decking and tile.











 
IXFE said:
New renderings...

And let me just say, our designer, Todd at Riverbend has been amazing to work with (I think I mentioned this before). My wife and I were there today for several hours waffling back and forth on this or that. Not only was he patient, but he helps us think through these decisions. He's able to do that because he's taken the time to get to know us and by now he understands our tastes and what we value. But he also adds his perspective having designed thousands of pools and we are always amazed by his input. I trust him so much that now I usually just ask him, "Todd, if this were your pool what would you do?"

Finally, he has spent hours on renderings for us because we're visual and want to see all our selections and changes in 3D. I appreciate this very much. I also insist on it for ya'll in the forum!!

Biggest change below is the decking and tile.











Click to expand...

Looks great. It looks like you are doing the same water feature we have planned by our swim up bar [emoji1303]


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Please tell Todd I think I love him! That is THE pool for you! WOWER!!!!! He nailed it! I really hope you have a present in mind for him when the pool is finished! Yeah I know he is getting paid but he really seems to be going the extra mile and then some!

The change with the concrete is a good one. I liked the rock but LOVE this! THEN you go and dress it up with the flagstone!!!!!!! Oh yeah! That does it!

Any time line on the permits?

Oh I see MY spot! On that hammock! Under the stars and the water feature going! That will be the life! ahhhhhhhhh

Kim:kim:
 

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