Pool & Spa Outdoor Design Blog

Outdoor Patio Fountains and Ponds

Debra Maurer — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:55:00 GMT

Patio fountains, water gardens, and patio ponds make a great addition to your outdoor space. They add a beautiful focal point and create a lovely ambiance through the sound of falling water. Choose from a variety of unique fountains and ponds to accent your deck, patio, or backyard.

Pool Cover Savings

Kimberlee Courtney — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:00:00 GMT

By using a pool cover, you'll not only be able to save money, but also time, heat, energy, maintenance, and chemicals.

Hardscaping Options: Concrete, Brick or Stone?

Kimberlee Courtney — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT

Many backyards and outdoor properties are suited for the beauty that only hardscaping can provide. Pavers come in a variety of materials, such as concrete, brick, and natural stone, and in a number of colors, shapes, and patterns. Here are a few hardscape paver ideas that may be the answer to your surfacing needs.

Plants for Ponds and Water Gardens

Kimberlee Courtney — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:44:00 GMT

Aquatic plants are incorporated into ponds and water gardens for several reasons. Not only do they add beauty to the surrounding landscape design and create a more natural-looking water feature, but they also play an important role in the ecological balance of a pond. Aquatic plants act as a pond’s filtration system, removing various substances such as ammonia, nitrates, and minerals that algae feed on. They also provide protection, shade, oxygen, and food to fish that live in the pond. There are four types of pond plants: oxygenating, floating, deep water, and marginal. Adding the different types of pond plants to your water garden will benefit the quality, health and beauty of your pond. Oxygenating Pond Plants Oxygenating pond plants benefit both the water quality and aquatic life. These types of pond plants are placed in the water and use waste provided by fish as fertilizer; in exchange they provide much needed oxygen to the water. However, the plants alone may not be ab ...

How to Stain and Refinish Your Wood Fence

Kimberlee Courtney — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:25:00 GMT

A wooden fence offers an attractive border around your backyard while keeping it secure. However, natural wooden fences require ongoing maintenance and upkeep to keep them looking beautiful. Over time, exposure to rain, hail, snow, and extreme heat can cause a wooden fence to deteriorate and become unattractive. Additionally, dirt and mildew can begin to form which causes the wood to turn an unsightly gray color. Follow these steps to refinish your wood fence. What to know before you begin: • FOR YOUR SAFETY: When staining your wood fence, always wear goggles and gloves to keep chemicals, stains, and dirt away from your skin and eyes. • Never try to refinish your wooden fence if there is rain in the forecast for your general area because stain needs time to dry and seal properly. Choosing a stain and sealant: • If you live in a wet or humid climate, you may want to buy a wooden fence stain with a quick application to avoid bubbles in the finish. Acrylic resin-based st ...

Pool Plans - 10 Tips

Kimberlee Courtney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:04:00 GMT

Like any new endeavor, planning and building a swimming pool can be exciting—but for many, it is full of unknowns. If you are ready to build your backyard retreat and are wondering where to begin, start here. These 10 tips will help you put everything into perspective and give you the tools you need to guarantee years of enjoyment.

Modern Landscaping Style

Kimberlee Courtney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:12:00 GMT

Modern landscape design combines colors, lighting, textures and abstract patterns to create an outdoor living space that will exemplify nature’s beauty while complementing contemporary architectural designs. Today’s modern landscaping style is clean, bold and dramatic; a minimalist design. Photo courtesy of Platinum Poolcare, Ltd.; Photography by Outvision Photography Modern Landscape Design - Plant Selection When selecting plants for modern landscape design consider plants that will add texture to the surroundings. Fountain grass is one such plant. Its sprouting leaves resemble cascading water from a fountain and add softness to the landscape. Plants with very fine features, such as Creeping Boobialla, Butterfly Iris or Fine Gold Leaf Stonecrop, are important parts of the landscape. Placed either as a single element or into odd numbered groups, they can add light and dark contrast. When fine textured plants are placed where the rising or ...

Sunroom Ideas - 6 Ways to Use Your Sunroom

Kimberlee Courtney — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 GMT

A sunroom is a wonderful addition to any home. These versatile rooms offer plenty of natural sunlight and bring the feeling of the outdoors inside. A great space for a variety of activities, a sunroom also gives your home added value. Take a look at some of the great ways you can use your sunroom. Photo courtesy of Archadeck of Charlotte Relaxing Rooms - Sunrooms This is probably the most common use for a sunroom. When you lead a stressful life, it’s nice to have a physical “happy place” where you can go to help you unwind at the end of a long day. Paint the walls/framework a light, soothing color or install a light floor color. Include a fireplace. For sunroom furniture ideas, it is recommended to bring in your most comfortable chair or sofa. A small indoor fountain, houseplants, or candles can all help you create a more relaxing sunroom. This is the ideal room to kick back and read a book without being disturbed, or the place to just go a ...

Loop-Loc Introduces New Safety Pool Enclosure – Idealcover

Kimberlee Courtney — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:44:00 GMT

LOOP-LOC, manufacturer of safety swimming pool covers, pool liners, and removable pool fencing, is proud to introduce Idealcover Enclosures to the U.S. marketplace. These beautiful pool enclosures are designed to provide an elegant look and maximum comfort while prolonging the swim season. A leader in the European market, The Idealcover Enclosure offers homeowners all the benefits of a traditional swimming pool enclosure, including reduced evaporation and heat loss, reduced chemical usage, and lower maintenance costs, as well as the security of a safety cover. The panels on the enclosure contain self-locking pins that must be manually lifted on either side of the enclosure before sliding the panels back. The enclosure’s doors can also be locked using a safety lock with a key. Six standard models are available and range in design from low-profile structures that lie 2 ½ feet above the surface of the pool to taller, full-sized enclosures that accommodate movement and use of sp ...

5 Areas to Improve with Outdoor Lighting

Kimberlee Courtney — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:37:00 GMT

Outdoor lighting enhances your backyard’s ambiance, improves the functionality of your space, and ensures that the perimeter of your pool and the rest of your backyard remain safe for family and guests to walk around. Take a look at these 5 great ideas for improving outdoor lighting around your home. The Grilling Area: Outdoor Grill Lights Task lighting is essential for gauging cooking times. The best option to go with is a flexible grill light designed to be weather-resistant. You can even find battery-powered models if you are short on outdoor electrical outlets. In terms of installation types, you will find a variety of options: Clip-on grill lights are the most portable, but tend to be the least sturdy. Clamp-on grill lights are typically more durable than clip-on light fixtures because the clamp screws right onto your grill shelf. screws on easily to your grill shelf, so the light fixture can be moved relatively without problem ...