Designer's challenge: 10 tips for enhancing the look of aboveground poolscapes

Pool & Spa News, March 12, 2004 by Margot Carmichael Lester

5 Pick a fresh pattern.

Pool liners are an easy, affordable way to spice up a pool. "The choices in patterns keep expanding," McKibben says. "The most popular liners are the ones that make it look like tile." Murals also are growing in popularity, particularly those featuring whimsical nautical or marine themes.

Liners come in standard sizes and are easily installed by a skilled crew. McKibben suggests that you have your employees confirm the model of the client's pool before ordering a liner, so it's compatible.

6 Emphasize the entry points.

A pool without a deck needs steps or ladders. If your clients are seeking an alternative to the prefabricated ones, consider subcontracting to construct a more customized, decked-out entryway. It's less expensive than a full deck, but provides a visually interesting form as well as the requisite function.

This kind of strategic partnership will enable you to offer custom-designed and built pool entries (with gate) to your clients. It also ensures they are built to code. As a bonus, these structures can be positioned to hide mechanical and storage areas.

7 Provide an artistic touch.

A great way to add oomph to the pool area is with art. Sculptures, birdbaths and feeders enhance the visual appeal and can be custom-made to owner specifications. Kinetic, or movable, sculptures such as mobiles or chimes add energy to the yard, as do the birds feasting at a feeder or bath.

Standard yard art is available at nurseries and home stores. While a potentially pricier option, more creative pieces can be found at galleries, home and garden boutiques, or directly from artisans. You can also check with the artists' guild or ask clients with nice poolside art for their sources.

8 Rock the boat.

Gravel and rock add texture to the pool area--and practicality. The rocks come in a variety of colors and textures, allowing you to coordinate your rockscape with existing landscaping and paint colors.

The rockwork also aids drainage, helping clear pool- and rainwater away from the structure. As an added benefit, rockscapes prevent grass from growing into the pool and liner, and inside the uprights. Grass in those areas makes a great home for wasps, bugs and other unwelcome critters.

The most popular materials include flagstone, slate, pea gravel and river rocks. Specialty landscaping companies can even create faux rocks to order; you give them the specific dimensions and colors, and they'll do the rest. Your crew can crew a simple rock border around pools at installation time by sourcing the stone and other ancillary materials from your landscaper of rock dealer.

If you do decide to take the rock route, says contractor Dennis Gourley, "it is very important to use plastic under the rocks because the water splashing out of the pool will [encourage] grass and weeds to grow near the pool." The co-owner of Desert Dwellers Awning and Shade in Mesa, Ariz., adds that the plastic makes the ground too warm and dark for grass to grow.

If rocks aren't your customer's first choice for a border, a similar effect can be achieved using pine bark, which can be used for a more woodsy feel.