Table of contents for Fall/Winter 2019 in Luxury Pools Magazine (Digital)

Rooftop poolscapes inject a sorely needed dose of nature into urban landscapes. They are the latest must-have luxury in commercial and residential projects. “They are tremendously popular around the country—everyone is jumping on the rooftop bandwagon,” says Shannon Knaub, a sales and design manager for Frederick, Colorado-based Diamond Spas, which specializes in custom pools and spas. “Architects and designers are making rooftop pools part of their plans from the beginning.” With high-end kitchens, fire pits, sun shelves, and water features, these sky-high resorts are every bit as elegant and elaborate as their down-to-earth peers. Designed in custom geometric or free-form shapes and crafted from stainless steel or copper, rooftop creations often feature acrylic panels on the floor and walls. “It’s a view you could never get on the ground,” Knaub…

The creators of luxury pools assess a dizzying array of considerations before any construction begins. The design process is a multi-disciplinary evaluation of the home’s size and architectural style; the property’s grading, topography, and composition; how the pool will look from inside the house and how it will take advantage of views outside; mechanics, materials, features (not too many but not too few); and integrated technologies. It all has to look good, feel good, and function precisely. In short, a lot goes into a successful poolscape. So what happens when designers aren’t limited by a small footprint? When they can go as big and bold as they’d like? The short answer is that design principles don’t change just because there’s more room to work with. “Proportion, scale, rhythm, balance, texture—all…

*Based on an aggregate number; reviews may appear on multiple websites. †Based on most recommended status across 10+ online review sites When it comes to your pool, you deserve a place that lets you escape — and lets you express who you are. A place that refreshes and relaxes you, helps you stay healthy and, most importantly, allows you to spend time and create memories with the ones you love most. Anthony & Sylvan Pools understands. It’s why they have become America’s largest builder of inground swimming pools and an industry leader in quality, customer satisfaction, and service. How did they get there? By putting customers first from start to finish. With Anthony & Sylvan, customers enjoy craftsmanship and expertise honed over more than 70 years in business. They’re served…

Three decades ago, Shelly and Alan Matheny dreamed of doing exactly what they’re doing now—owning and operating a thriving business that creates some of the country’s finest luxury pools Three years ago, the Mathenys purchased and rebranded their former employer’s Little Rock location and Diamond Pools was born. The transformation fulfilled a life-long vision of owning and operating a world-class outdoor oasis and swimming pool company that offers consumers a full range of design, construction, and maintenance services. With the help of two designers on staff, the team at Diamond Pools brings a stunning and creative vision to life in each and every back yard. The nearly 45 poolscapes the company builds each year include swimming pools, spas, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and benches in virtually any native material. “We…

Jim Walsh, Owner of Outdoor Hardscapes, came to California in the 90s from the East Coast. He started his career in the East putting brick faces on custom homes. When he came out West, he noticed a high need for people to capitalize on their yards that were hardly used. Walsh encouraged one owner at a time to hardscape their yards with outdoor living areas includintg pools and spas. Today, Outdoor Hardscapes has become a premier go-to company for luxury homes for their complete design and install of outdoor living areas, pools, and spas. Outdoor Hardscapes carries multiple licenses including a General contractor license which allows them to build the complete package from pool houses, remodels, pools, spas and all building needs. As the company grew, Walsh recognized the need…

Offering a fresh new perspective on outdoor living and the spaces that accommodate it, Ryan Hughes Design/Build is a second-generation company reborn for the 21st century. Ryan Hughes and his team’s work can be found in intimate to over-the-top outdoor living spaces and award-winning swimming pools across the United States and Canada. Among the firm’s specialties is the ability to capture a client’s unique vision. By creating intimate settings that fit beautifully with the surrounding environs, Ryan Hughes has become known for what he terms “artistry of space.” Signature design elements include state-of-the-art water and fire features, custom stonework, and sophisticated landscape plantings—all of which blend together to brilliant effect. With a recent multi-million-dollar outdoor living complex, the term unique is an understatement. Within the 10,000 square feet of outdoor…

This team of talented professionals is excited to take on even the most demanding of pool projects. Our energetic studio in Austin, Texas is home to a creative professional group with a passion for design. Specializing in estate master planning, custom swimming pools, and unique watershapes, Design Ecology / Design Aquatics offers a full range of residential and commercial landscape architectural services. We tailor each project to exceed client goals with a unique, environmentally responsible design solution. Our creative process begins with design. As Partner and Principal Landscape Architect for Design Ecology / Design Aquatics, Scott Cummings takes responsibility for every design produced. He works closely with associate designers and clients to ensure that all plans fully address the unique challenges of each individual project. Scott takes the time to…

Poolscapes, Inc. was established in 1998 in Round Rock, Texas, where Richard Lynch, the company’s president, began building quality custom gunite swimming pools in the Austin and central Texas area. With his expertise in the industry and ability to build quality pools while keeping customers happy, the business grew by word of mouth. Poolscapes takes great pride in their finished product and that has enabled the company to grow and remain in business for over 20 years. “With good communication and a vision and understanding for each design, we are able to ensure that every aspect of the design is well executed, producing a quality finished product,” says Richard, who has worked in the swimming pool industry for over 35 years. He has used his passion and love for pool…

Bryan Arnold has been in the landscape and pool industry for 20 years now. The outdoors has been his lifelong passion. Bryan founded Canadian Waters Construction a little over four years ago with the goal of making elegant spaces come to life with water. The focus on Canadian Waters is full-service outdoor living construction. As the owner and operator, Bryan personally oversees every project. He is involved from start to finish and has been known to operate the heavy equipment from time to time. The design focus at Canadian Waters Construction is to incorporate the features that the clients desire and need in order to achieve a functional and beautiful outdoor space. All facets of the space are taken into consideration from elevations to the surround home and available views…

When done right, a luxury pool adds a splash of drama outdoors, but its visual appeal isn’t relegated solely to the alfresco domain. Thanks to the sliding, pivoting, and folding door-and-window systems available today, dramatic outdoor vistas are now integral to a home’s indoor experience. As leaders in the glass wall industry, the following four firms create unique structures that assure an eye-catching pool is never out of view—and always easy to access. NanaWall Systems creates sliding and folding systems, the latter of which can rotate 180 degrees when folded. The company also manufactures its own sills and utilizes special, hand-built mounting systems. NanaWall’s aluminum-clad offering, for example, includes an evaporation chamber that provides a buffer between the wood and aluminum, allowing the wood to absorb and expel humidity without…

Water is the essential element of a great backyard. Whether a homeowner chooses a swimming pool for family fun and fitness, a spa for relaxation, or simply wants to bring unparalleled beauty to his outdoor space; water is a medium of endless potential. When seeking the benefits and beauty of water features, you need true professionals to create environments that provide years of carefree recreation and pleasure with the assurance of quality composition. GENESIS® imparts the critical knowledge and required skills to its expansive network of student builders, contractors and landscape architects, empowering them to enhance their clients’ lives by fulfilling water’s potential in outdoor living spaces. GENESIS, through our education of Genesis University®, educates, certifies, and connects watershape professionals through coursework, projects and examination using strict guidelines maintained by…

Named bywRobb Report as the most influential pool designer in the world, Skip Phillips, owner of Pool Spa Technologies, lead designer and former owner of Questar Pools and Spas, and consultant for Pure Stainless Steel Pools in Canada and for Latham, the world’s largest pool manufacturer, is said to deliver “a palpable elegance and a sleek aesthetic.” The waterscape artist and industry expert, who is based in San Diego, California and Tyler, Texas, places as much emphasis on structure and hydraulics as he does aesthetics—the latter of which have been attributed to his ability to make water “dance.” Designs by Phillips are marked by a seamless fluidity between the natural environs and the constructed landscape. In fact, he views the pool as an architectural extension of the home. “If someone…

Aquatic Consultants, Inc. is an internationally recognized leader in the design and planning of pools, spas, water features, ponds, and outdoor living areas. They provide complete design services and detailed plans for residential and commercial water environments of all types. Over 10 years ago they stopped building and instead focus all their time and energy on design. As such, Aquatic Consultants is involved in a greater range of projects worldwide, with recent projects in Africa, Sri Lanka, Greece, and Caribbean Islands, as well as local projects near their home base in Miami, Florida. Among recent projects are the new main pool at the Hamilton Princess Hotel and Beach Club in Bermuda; Ani Villas pools and water features in both Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic; and several projects for Sir…

Studying architecture and engineering at the University of Missouri fascinated former competitive swimmer Brad Renken. He was enamored with the complexity of structure, the artistry of design, and the pure of joy of creating. But sitting inside an office building in a cubicle counting doors on someone else’s building plan for 10 hours a day after graduation wasn’t his dream come true. Then, he saw an ad for a pool designer position. Renken immediately applied and found the place where his talents, skills, education, and passion aligned. Since starting in pool design in 2005, Renken has continued to learn the market, taking note of the best qualities he admired in other business professionals. In 2009, he built his own company known now as Hearthstone Luxury Pools + Outdoors. Hearthstone Luxury…

Keith Zars Pools provides a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living with their innovative pool designs. Keith Zars Pools began as a dream back in 1985 and is now recognized as the premier luxury pool builder in San Antonio. The company has designed and constructed over 9,500 pools with an unparalleled reputation for creating timeless outdoor spaces that integrate seamlessly with their natural surroundings. Through breathtaking pool designs and extraordinary craftmanship, Keith Zars Pools excels at blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living to create an oasis of tranquility. The outdoor living and pool design experience begins when a customer’s visions for a design is brought to life by one of Keith Zars Pools’ award-winning, in-house licensed landscaped architects, who brings a wealth of expertise to each custom…

Tipton Spires Design | Build’s quality of construction and design work ensures that their clients get to enjoy their dream pool for years to come. They build pools that are unique, timeless, and designed to accent and compliment the architecture and terrain of the property. The company cares about their products every step of the way, from design to implementation, with the utmost consideration and attention to detail. A fully diverse design and build company, Tipton Spires takes pride in their work. They offer anything and everything outdoor living and are a one-stop-shop for clients. Tipton Spires stands apart from the average pool builder by offering a variety of additional services such as outdoor living design, patios, cabanas, structure work, landscapes, watershapes and hardscapes. “Offering multiple services is more beneficial…

Pristine Acres focuses on designing and building one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces, specifically geared towards property owners who want exceptional quality matched with out-of-the-box design. Pristine Acres is a small business that believes in providing clients a genuine and memorable experience throughout the entire process while delivering a completed project that is left to impress. The company specializes in complete property design where the property, residence, and the outdoor living space is integrated seamlessly through a partnership between Pristine Acres and their clients. Steven Waldron, Jr. and Kevin Kurdziolek have teamed up with the goal to deliver the most interesting and unique projects in Northern Virginia. Waldron has a strong background in the built environment, through being a contractor’s son and building his own company from the ground up, he is inspired…

BEHIND THE DESIGN Owner: Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC. General Contractor: Cottage Builders, Inc. Builder: Presidential Pools, Spas & Patios Designer: C3 Land Planning Division Architect: Dungan & Nequette Architects, Inc.…

For years in the world of pool design, the mantra has been the same: encourage outdoor living by offering all the same beauty and amenities found in homes. In other words, create a space that provides plenty of cushy seating, a dizzying array of entertainment options, gorgeous and thoughtful design elements, and the ability to prepare fabulous food and drink. “The most interesting design trends emphasize the overall focus on outdoor family living and entertainment,” says Ed Gibbs, president of Toronto-based Gib-San Pools. “This has been a constant for many years.” Today, eager homeowners are asking for even more out of their outdoor living spaces. As a result, advancing technology and new techniques—not to mention pool designers and builders—are rising to meet that challenge. RESORT INSPIRATION Inspired by their travels,…

Some project opportunities are just… special, and you know it as soon as you see it. Whether it is a project site with a magnificent view, a home with a unique style, or a homeowner with grand ideas and both the desire and ability to push the limits, these are the opportunities where you stop and think, “I bet I could do something really incredible here!” On these one-of-a-kind projects, Jason Brownlee seeks the opportunity to come along side and partner with both the pool builder and homeowner to create an award-winning team focused on creating something spectacular. “With our shared design vision, backed by the powerful 3D modeling and presentation graphic package we prepare, we assist our partnered project contractor and let his construction expertise shine, create extraordinary projects,…

A unique company that integrates technology into pools and spas to eliminate maintenance for busy clients Each year, Unique Landscapes & Custom Pools designs and builds over 100 one-of-a-kind custom pools across Arizona. Many of these exclusive projects also include completely luxurious outdoor living environments. And while Unique is well known for applying its old-world craftsmanship to modern pool design, it has been equally focused on providing cutting edge technology and added value services to meet the needs of their exclusive clientele. With time being one of their clients’ greatest commodities, including the latest in pool and spa automation, Unique adds a level of convenience that customers truly value and appreciate. After extensive research, Chris Griffin, engineer and owner of Unique Landscapes & Custom Pools, has elected to use the…

San Francisco Bay area-based Creative Environments has been planning, designing, and building outdoor living and entertainment environments since 1979. Specializing in customized swimming pools and water features, the company is renowned for its highly skilled design work and efficiently executed builds—and that stands to reason, given owner Chuck Baumann has been in the swimming pool industry for more than 60 years. His youngest son, Nicco Baumann, a graduate of the University of Colorado, is also helping design and craft swimming pools as the third generation of the family-owned custom pool builders. Nicco graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and yet has found the designing and building of custom swimming pools the most challenging of all his four years at university. Since Nicco joined the family business, he has attended…

GSM Builders is in the business of building dreams. A complete design build firm for all your outdoor and building needs. As the apex of luxury design, Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based GSM Builders has been providing luxury home and pool construction services throughout southern Florida for over a decade. Their team of trained, licensed, and insured contractors and designers are held to the highest standards, giving customers access to the top professionals in the industry. From swimming pool design and construction to custom home construction, GSM Builders’ team of architects, designers, engineers, and experienced contractors can transform both indoor and outdoor living spaces into a personal oasis. GSM Builders is SWD Registered, certified through the Society of Watershape Designers®, a GENESIS® program, delivering some 40-50 of the most beautiful new and…

Certain requested features on a pool can pose great design constraints on a project. Automatic covers can be one of them. A true safety cover requires tracks that run parallel to each other and a square or rectangular form to work with. However, this does not mean that the finished product needs to be unimaginative. There are still numerous design ideas and features that can be accomplished and Lehmann Pools is well adapted to working these ideas and features into any shape or size pool while still remaining serviceable and provide years of trouble-free operation. Lehmann Pools & Spas began as V. Lehmann Construction Co. Inc. in 1918, specializing in the construction of schools and churches. In 1955, the Lehmann family arrived on a new job site, and were asked…

AquaTerra Outdoors is an international award-winning design and build firm passionate about outdoor living. Since 2007, AquaTerra has been building and designing luxury outdoor environments filled with pools, landscaping, outdoor structures, outdoor kitchens, and more. A singular focus on offering uncompromising outdoor environments to discerning clients sets AquaTerra apart. Every environment and project is the result of collaboration with passionate clients. This process allows AquaTerra to craft environments for clients whose desire for excellence extends from their homes into their outdoor play and living spaces. With clients that set a high bar for originality, style, and quality, AquaTerra is constantly challenged and strives to surpass these expectations. AquaTerra’s design solutions emphasize a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor living. Everyone on the design and construction teams share a passion for…

O’Leary Pools & Design is a preeminent pool builder located in West Houston, Texas, known for the personal attention, custom pools, and outdoor spaces and quality people can trust. O’Leary Pools & Design was started in 2011 by Kelly O’Leary. Kelly performs each step in the design process starting with the initial client meeting, property visual survey, 3D design, estimate, and construction management. Prior to starting his company, Kelly spent 15 years managing construction of 50 to 75 pools per year. O’Leary Pools & Design focuses on clients who are looking for a unique and custom backyard transformation. Kelly prides himself on being a smaller volume company, who focuses on custom projects as opposed to higher volume. This select number of projects allows for Kelly to utilize his creativity and…

For 66 years, Dolphin Pools, has prided itself on being Utah’s premier pool builder by constructing the finest, most trouble-free pools possible. A family-owned, three-generation business, Dolphin first emerged in 1953 as Star Pools. The first year, Ted Ludlow and his team constructed 11 pools. In 1957, Star Pools was dissolved and Don Ludlow, Ted’s son, continued to build pools on his own until November 1959, when he was hired by Bettilyon’s Inc. to manage their Esther Williams swimming pool division. His first order of business was to change the name—and Dolphin Pools was born. In 1961, Don purchased Dolphin Pools and continued on with the business until 2008 when he turned the company over to his son, Jeff Ludlow. Today, Jeff oversees the retail, service, parts, spas, and construction…