With hot Aussie summers, the beach quickly gets busy. Somewhere to cool off that doesn’t require a car trip or taking the sand and salt home with you is a must. It's where you'll relax with friends in your own space. Where you'll to teach your kids how to swim in a safe, waveless environment. Where you'll to destress after work. It’s the pool: aka paradise.

An All-Weather Wonder

The pool doesn’t just have to be for summer. The integrated spa-in-pool design is quickly picking up speed, bringing all the water into one zone where guests can slip between warmth and cooling as they wish.

Solar heating extends your swim season significantly and adds minimal running cost. Heat pumps are more expensive upfront but efficient year-round. A good pool-builder will help you work out which suits your climate, usage and budget.

Pools can be endlessly customised, whether it’s inbuilt loungers, shallow areas for kids, steps and benches for seating or easy exit. Will it be an infinity pool? Have a water feature? Include lights? Create a stir with jets?

The options are endless. A good designer will help you realise your vision, building something that’s right for you. For location, you’ll consider things like sun orientation, wind factor, whether the pool should be inset or above ground, how close the fencing will sit, how you’ll refill it, and where to store cleaning and filtration equipment.

What's in the Water?

Saltwater pools have become the standard choice for many Australian homeowners. They're gentler on skin and eyes, lower maintenance day-to-day and less chemically intense.

Chlorine pools give you more precise control and can be cheaper to install, but require more hands-on upkeep.

Either way, the water still needs to be balanced regularly; a saltwater pool is not a no-maintenance pool.

For those wanting to go a step further, natural pools are a growing alternative worth considering. Instead of regulating through chemical additions, they use a separate planted zone, known as a regeneration zone, to filter and clean the water biologically. They require more space and a higher upfront investment, but running costs are low and the aesthetic, with aquatic plants framing a swim zone, is stunning.

Splash In Style

Once the big picture’s taken care of, you can enjoy planning the little details.

Materials-wise, concrete is more customisable yet more costly than fibreglass, so there’s no clear winner and you’ll have to pick what suits you best.

Decoration-wise, you could go for a variety of options: glass tiles are a popular choice, providing an alluring glimmer at the water’s edge. Porcelain is durable and gives a glossy finish, mosaics are versatile and colourful, and ceramic can add artistic flair.
Expand your imagination and get creative; your perfect pool is out there.

Your dream pool starts with a single conversation.

Winter is the ideal time to begin. Start dreaming, designing and planning your ultimate pool and spa with someone who truly understands luxury. Blake Gaffney builds bespoke concrete pools for Northern Beaches homes, each one unique, each one built around the way you live.

Reach out to Blake and begin designing something extraordinary. •

Call 0437 672 223

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