"The process we use to develop a landscape design starts with an in-home consultation. Once we know what the clients' goals are we are able to conceive a landscape plan that will be specifically suited to their site and to their needs."
- Mackia Land Design
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| Phase #2 of this project by Mackia Land Design*, involved enhancing the outdoor entertainment area with a swimming pool and spa. Rather than buying a cottage and taking off every weekend in a mad dash to enjoy it, the clients wanted to put their money and time into their own home and its backyard. They wanted to include cottage-like pleasantries like a place to swim, a fire pit, a barbeque area and various outdoor zones for entertaining. Ric Liesch, the landscape artist for Mackia Land Design, was able to incorporate all of these amenities in a customized master plan. |
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| *The complete design by Mackia Land Design was executed in four phases. This article considers Phase #2. |
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Phase #2 The Swimming Pool and Spa
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Infinity pool
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Concrete Spa
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Flagstone Decking
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| An Infinity edge pool in one of Mackia Land Design's projects. |
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Phase #4 The Final Terraces and Cabana
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| The kind of pool that the homeowners wanted for their property was an infinity pool. This type of pool design is also called a negative edge pool, or an infinity edge pool. These custom built pools require expert pool builders because of the engineering and mechanics that are involved. Mackia hired this portion of the job out to highly specialized pool contractors. |
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The various terraces that surround the pool provide the ample outdoor lounging, dining and entertaining areas that the family wanted. The flagstone for these terraces were wet laid, or installed imbedded in cement. If the flagstone had been dry-laid, in sand as opposed to concrete, it would only track sand into the pool.
A band of stone coping butts up against the flagstone around three sides of the pool. This adds to the pool the element of a naturally existing water feature, giving it the feel of an outdoor pond. |
| Flagstone and coping surround three sides of the infinity pool. |
Nightscape lighting is incorporated into the coping around the pool. Having lighting installed in key areas of this outdoor space not only adds to the safety factor, but it showcases the well designed hardscape and the stunning landscape done by Mackia Land Design.
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The in-ground spa is housed in a covered patio, overlooking the pool. |
| French doors lead out from the home to a covered patio that smartly houses the unobtrusive in-ground spa. The spa's setting was designed to synthesize with the pool and is likewise enclosed with natural rock coping and flagstone. |
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The negative edge of the pool makes the breathtaking view of the lake the main focal point. |
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Infinity pools are designed to create the illusion that the pool's water extends right into the horizon. The placement of this pool takes advantage of the property's spectacular view. When you are sitting in the spa, or are in the pool, the water of the pool's edge visually blends into the lake. |
Get Expert Advice
If you would like to build an infinity pool as part of your backyard landscaping look for an experienced pool contractor that has specific experience in building infinity edge pools. As these pools are becoming more popular across the United States the industry is seeing an increase in experienced contractors that specialize in infinity edge pool construction. Just as with a gemstone, the setting is an important consideration for negative edge pools. Have a professional landscape artist design your whole landscape, including your custom pool and its placement! |
View Phase #1 or Phase #3 of this outdoor landscape project by Mackia Land Design.
Phase #4 will be featured in an upcoming article! Stay tuned! |
