Project at a glance
| Location | Wilton, CA |
|---|---|
| Project | New pool and spa, flagstone deck, patio steps and fire pit |
| Setting | Single-story home on open acreage, with paddocks and pasture beyond the fence |
| Pool shape | Freeform outline pinched by three planter islands |
| Planters | Raised curved planters clad in stacked stone, set right at the water’s edge |
| Spa | Round raised spa in stacked stone, spilling into the pool |
| Tanning ledge | Wide shallow ledge with in-water loungers and curved steps down |
| Interior | Deep blue finish |
| Deck | Multicolor flagstone with pale rounded coping |
| Lounge area | Round flagstone pad at the far end of the pool, edged in coping and set into the lawn |
| Services | Pool construction · Spa construction · Pool design · Outdoor fire features · Outdoor lighting · Outdoor design |
An open Wilton acreage where three stone planters shape a freeform pool, giving the swimming area and the sun ledge their own space.
Project overview
This Montevideo Dr home is a single-story house on open acreage in Wilton, with paddock fencing, pasture and mature trees beyond the yard. A wide covered patio runs across the back of the house, set a few steps above the lawn.
Flat, open ground gives a pool nothing to tuck against. The design needed to make its own edges, so the pool could feel enclosed and planted while still opening onto the lawn and the view.
What the pool needed to do:
- Create its own sense of enclosure on flat, open ground
- Give the spa and the sun ledge their own places within one outline
- Bring planting right up to the water
- Connect the pool deck to the raised house patio
- Leave open lawn on both sides of the pool
How the design answered it
Planters that shape the water
Three curved planters in stacked stone sit at the pool edge, pinching the freeform outline into distinct areas for swimming and lounging.
A spa in the round
A round raised spa sits at one end of the pool, clad in the same stacked stone as the planters and spilling into the water beside it.
A ledge for the sun
A wide, shallow tanning ledge holds in-water loungers and an umbrella, with curved steps leading down into deeper water.
Steps up to the patio
Broad curved steps in flagstone rise from the pool deck to the house patio, where a round stacked stone fire pit sits at the center.
Details shaped around the planter islands
Open land gave the pool no natural edges, so the planters create them, and the details around each one follow its curve.
Planter islands
Three raised planters in stacked stone with pale coping, each curving into the pool outline and planted right to the water.
Round spa
Stacked stone walls under a pale coping ring, with water spilling over the spa's rim into the pool beside it.
Tanning ledge
A broad shallow ledge between two planters, deep enough for in-water loungers and set back from the swimming area.
Curved steps
Wide curved steps lead down from the tanning ledge into the pool, following the line of the planter beside them.
Lounge circle
A round flagstone pad edged in coping projects from the far end of the pool, set level with the lawn around it.
Lit patio steps
Broad curved steps rise from the pool deck to the house patio, with a small built-in light set into each riser.
Project gallery
Each photo below was taken at this Montevideo Dr pool and spa build in Wilton.
The tanning ledge and planter islands at dusk, with the spa beyond · 1 / 8
Questions about this build
What is a tanning ledge?
A wide, shallow step inside the pool, deep enough to sit or lie in a few inches of water. It gives sunbathers a spot to stay cool without swimming.
Can furniture go in the water on a tanning ledge?
Yes. Loungers made for in-water use sit directly on the ledge. On this Wilton build the ledge holds two loungers and an umbrella between the planters.
Can planters be built right at a pool's edge?
Yes. The planter walls are built with the pool and finished with the same coping, so the planting reaches the water without soil washing into the pool.
What plants work in planters next to a pool?
Plants that drop few leaves and have no thorns are the safest choice. Ornamental grasses and compact flowering shrubs keep their shape and stay out of the water.
Why choose a freeform pool?
A freeform outline suits open, natural settings and curving layouts. It can bend around planters, a spa or a ledge in ways a straight rectangle cannot.
Is flagstone a good choice for a pool deck?
Flagstone has a natural texture that gives good grip underfoot when wet. Its mixed colors also hide everyday dirt and water marks better than a single solid tone.
How far should a fire pit sit from a pool?
Far enough that people can move freely between them, and at the distance local codes and the fire pit maker require. Here the fire pit sits up on the house patio.
Can a pool have more than one shallow area?
Yes. A tanning ledge and a set of entry steps can share one outline. Separating them with planters or curves gives each shallow area its own feel.
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Financing for qualified homeowners
We work with Lyon Financial: fixed rates, terms up to 30 years and no prepayment penalties.
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