Photos Courtesy of:

Outdoor Bars and Social Areas

Adding an outdoor bar to your backyard can be a great way to enhance your outdoor living space and entertain guests. Outdoor bars provide a central location for guests to gather and socialize while enjoying drinks and snacks. It also adds style and visual interest to your backyard. Beyond entertaining, an outdoor bar also provides additional food prep space, a place to enjoy a casual meal, and can even serve as a workspace for gardening or other outdoor projects.

Water Features

While it may seem obvious to include water features with your pool, the integrations have become more elaborate and are increasingly inspired by nature. From waterfalls to fountains to spillover spas, water features are a popular way to add a touch of luxury to your pool area.

View additional Natural Facing outdoor living projects.

Outdoor Kitchens and Service Areas

Homeowners are bringing the kitchen outside, complete with built-in grills, refrigerators, sinks, and other food preparation essentials. An outdoor kitchen provides an easy and convenient way to prepare and serve food for outdoor gatherings without having to constantly go back and forth to the indoor kitchen. Pizza ovens are also increasingly popular and add a unique cooking option to your backyard.

Utilitarian Accents

With the advancement of smart technology, homeowners can now control their pool and outdoor living areas with the touch of a button. From lighting to heating to music, smart technology has made it easier than ever to create the perfect atmosphere. Options like automatic pool covers can reduce maintenance and increase safety around your pool. Lounging ledges, also called a sun shelves, gives you a comfortable place to relax in the pool.

Heated Multi-Season Conversation Areas

When your friends and family are done in the pool, a nearby conversation area can keep everyone enjoying the outside. These areas often incorporate fire pits, fire bowls, and fireplaces. These fire features are a great way to provide warmth and create a cozy atmosphere for outdoor gatherings beyond just the summer months.

View additional Natural Facing stone veneer fireplaces. 

Tips from the Pool Experts

We asked Johnson Pools what they wished more people knew when starting the pool process. Zach Casto said “I wish there was a better way for people to dig through the weeds to know which companies can really do it right.” He went on to explain how a lot of companies in the pool industry will sell customers on their capabilities with the mindset of figuring it out later. They quickly get over their heads.

Here are some tips for finding the best outdoor living and pool contractor:

• Ask how they get it done. Are they doing everything themselves or does some work get outsourced? Companies like Johnson pools have the capabilities to do everything in-house.
• Investigate their experience. Is there a trained landscape architect on the team? How long have they been working in the industry? What training does the team have?
• Talk to past customers. Get information from recent customers about the process, communication, what they wish they knew before getting started, and what they would do differently if they did it again.
• Educate yourself. Do research about what goes into building a pool and educate yourself about what it takes to do it right. This will help you ask the best questions and find the best solution for your project.
• Invest in doing it right. Choose products and materials that are going to last a long time and hold up to the activity around your pool. Saving a little bit up front could cost you significantly in the long run in maintenance or even replacement. A great example of this is the difference between real and manufactured stone veneer. Using real stone, like Natural Facing stone veneer, makes all the difference. Real stone provides timeless beauty, durability, and longevity to your outdoor living space. 

The Importance of Using Real Stone for Pools and Outdoor Living Areas

An outdoor living space is constantly exposed to the elements. Pool water also contains chemicals that can damage certain materials. Using real stone for outdoor living spaces and pools provides a durable, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing option that adds value and beauty to your home while being sustainable and low maintenance.