Just outside Seattle, a family of five kids grew up with a backyard that had all the hallmarks of life in the suburbs, including a pool, play structure, lawn, and sports court. Meanwhile, their parents were dreaming of what the landscape might look like after the children had grown and gone.
When the homeowners hired Seattle design-build firm Collaborative Companies and landscape architect Emily Russell, they said they wanted an edible garden, a grownup space to host parties—and a grownup swimming pool for exercise. The results included a new pool and pool house, a vegetable garden planted in corrugated steel beds, and sliding and pivoting glass doors to connect the house and outbuildings to a meandering concrete patio dotted with freestanding planters.
The project turned out to be a success for the whole family. In the year after its completion, the homeowners hosted seven large parties, including five outdoor weddings for family and friends.
Photography by Tim Bies, courtesy of Collaborative Companies.
N.B.: If you’re dreaming of designing your own swimming pool, get inspiration and tips from our design guide, Swimming Pools 101 and planting tips from Landscape Ideas: Garden Design for a Swimming Pool Area. See more of our favorite ideas for swimming pool design:
- Hardscaping 101: Natural Swimming Pools.
- Browse more Pool of the Week posts, including A Lap Pool Above the Vines at Baker Lane, A Manmade Beach in the Portuguese Countryside, and Claesson Koivisto Rune’s Swedish Parquet Poolhouse.
- 10 Easy Pieces: Underwater Landscape Lights.
Finally, are you planning a Decks & Patios project? Learn everything you need to know on to get started with our Hardscaping 101: Decks & Patios 101 guide.
Get more ideas on how to integrate a swimming pool into your landscape or exterior home project with our Hardscaping 101: Swimming Pools guide.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation