Leo Blogs

The backyard living space

At the tail end of 2009, Jason from Pool Craft came to me with this project. The customer had a small list of things they wanted in the yard (pool, patio and hot tub). Jason was asking me to do my best to lay out everything within the given backyard area. The end result was as follows in the pictures below....

As Spring of 2010 approached, a couple more things were added to the list of what to fit into the backyard space. There was an idea for a pergola sitting over a bar area and a lounge area with a gas fireplace feature...


Granted that the yard was not very big to begin with... I wrestled with the spacial limits in my head...then plugged away at the plan on my computer... I like a challenge where the design restraints must conform to what the customer wants... Sometimes the answer absolutely has to be "No" but in most cases I try to find a way around the "No" and look for alternatives that will make my client happy...


The end result was a yard without grass... (which conforms to my dream to not push a lawnmower around!) ... the end result is a yard that is now part of the home... a backyard living space that can be enjoyed for many months of the year. The addition of the fire pit can take the chill out of a cool September evening... the hot tub can be used year round due to its proximity to the back door of the home.


The Pergola Bar... a place for the "adults" of the pool party to sit while enjoying drinks, conversation and shade! On a hot summer afternoon, while the kids are playing in the pool, this sort of space allows you to be out in the backyard and keep dry from both the pool splashing and summer heat...


Lastly, the most important part of the backyard, the pool! When you are considering a pool, most often the ideal design includes an entertainment space. Having a small strip of concrete around a pool with grass clippings and grass areas is not always fun when you come out of a pool soaking wet. You want a good sized patio to place chairs and allow time to dry off before going in the home... if the yard is large enough and budget is big enough... a Cabana house is always a welcome sight!


But as in most cases, the pool itself is a big investment for most families. So budgets are taken into very strict consideration as to what can be done with a backyard space. My advice to the potential pool owner... when getting estimates and quotes for a backyard pool installation, have someone plan it out for you first!

A proper pool company (like Jasons company) will do this for you... understanding that there is a budget for the project and leaving room for expansion in the future is the key to a successful backyard living space. I often make sure that my plans take into consideration the patio space and structures that may come into play... be it a tool shed, cabana, or even an addition put on a home. If it is a phased project over a set number of years, the plan is a key factor to the backyard success.
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All photos used in this blog post are the sole property of Pool Craft. Pool Craft can be reached at:
Telephone: 905 884 2720
Toll free: 1-877-469-6649