Living in the Northeast United States means living through long cold and too often dreary winters. During those long winter months I console myself with the thought of the sunny summer days to come with the deep rich fragrance of Damask roses, rosemary and thyme and the visual explosion of white Sea Foam blooms that cascade over the edge of my pool.
Swimming is my sanity and I do my best to make a habit of swimming a mile every morning before I head off to Manhattan for work because it clears my head for the day ahead and gives me just enough of an endorphin kick to make a very challenging time easier to manage.
Below are three images of my pool at home. Placing it was quite a challenge due to the nature of my land and the vagaries of my town's zoning laws. We were finally able to reach an agreement with the town for placement, but it meant terracing the site and cutting out a great deal of deeply buried rock and large boulder's left behind in the wake of retreating glaciers from the last ice-age. We eeked out every last foot we could within the zoning restrictions on the property and the final dimensions of the pool are 45 feet long by 18 feet wide, making a short but very usable lap pool that is also suitable for entertaining.
The great thing is that my mason was able to recycle all of the stone that our pool contractor extracted from the pool site to use in the construction of the stone terrace walls. My landscape and masonry contractor (a now retired old school native Italian) understood immediately the look and ambiance I wanted to achieve and his team built all the walls within 10 days of starting the project.
Swimming is my sanity and I do my best to make a habit of swimming a mile every morning before I head off to Manhattan for work because it clears my head for the day ahead and gives me just enough of an endorphin kick to make a very challenging time easier to manage.
Below are three images of my pool at home. Placing it was quite a challenge due to the nature of my land and the vagaries of my town's zoning laws. We were finally able to reach an agreement with the town for placement, but it meant terracing the site and cutting out a great deal of deeply buried rock and large boulder's left behind in the wake of retreating glaciers from the last ice-age. We eeked out every last foot we could within the zoning restrictions on the property and the final dimensions of the pool are 45 feet long by 18 feet wide, making a short but very usable lap pool that is also suitable for entertaining.
The great thing is that my mason was able to recycle all of the stone that our pool contractor extracted from the pool site to use in the construction of the stone terrace walls. My landscape and masonry contractor (a now retired old school native Italian) understood immediately the look and ambiance I wanted to achieve and his team built all the walls within 10 days of starting the project.
At the rear, above the pool, is a separate seating area for meals or cocktails
Sea Foam roses run the length of the pool
Below are some stunning pools from the pages of one of my favorite French design magazines, COTE SUD (No. 117 / April-May 2009).
Photo: A. Font
Photo: A. Font
Photo: B. Tuillon
Photo: B. Tuillon
Photo: E. NicolasWhenever I travel for pleasure or business, I make a point of trying to stay in a hotel with a beautiful pool.
Below are a sampling of some of the beautiful hotel pools I've been lucky enough to swim in or lounge around...
Below are a sampling of some of the beautiful hotel pools I've been lucky enough to swim in or lounge around...
The Baray Villa Pool - Sawasdee Village Resort, Kata Beach, Phuket
Photo: FG
Photo: FG
Photo: FGIf you're new to this blog, see my earlier post of February 13th on the Baray Villa Resort and Spa
When I'm on a business trip in Bangkok, it is particularly pleasant to have access to a nice pool to relax in after a grueling day of tuk-tuk rides to and fro.
The Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok
By day:
Photo: internet
Photo: internetGovernor's Palace Hotel - Yangon (Rangoon) Burma
Photo: internetFour Seasons Hotel, Langkawi Island, Malaysia
Photo: LGG
Photo: LGGVilla Des Orangers, Marrakech Medina
Photo: internetHotel Les Deux Tours, Marrakech Palmeraie
Photo: internet
Photo: internet
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Francine, your pool is fabulous and so pretty and just as beautiful if not more so than the images from Cote Sud. That is one of my favourite magazines too - they seem to come up with somewhere interesting most issues. I am trying to swim most days but do not find it easier - as the mistral blows a mighty gale outside, I am rapidly loosing interest today. Thank you for your comment on French Essence and I wish you luck with your garden and your lavender, xv.
ReplyDeleteit's so hot here - these are gorgeous pictures. thanks too for your comment today! international magazines are far better - so true!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stone pool you have. I love that you were able to reuse the stone for the terrace walls.
ReplyDeleteStunning post on those pools. I would love to go and hang out there!
ReplyDeleteAhh...Swimming is one of my favourite passtimes, especially at this time of year. I love how you have designed your own pool, especially the Sea Foam roses that you placed along the pool. They are so appropriately named. Thanks for your comment on my Blog comparing my mixed media paintings to the Catalin Artist Antoni Tapies. I had not heard of him before your comment, and then we studied his work in today's art class. He seems to be one of my teacher's favourite artists also.
ReplyDeletewow, your pool and yard are so pretty. how lucky you are to have such a lovely way to start your day!
ReplyDeletexox
www.froufroufashionista.blogspot.com
Your pool is stunning. Lovely stone work!
ReplyDeleteSeeing these now at the END of summer is just KILLER! I guess we'll have to wait till next year or travel someplace warm & sunny!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post.
ReplyDeleteIt's springtime now in Brasil, these pools give us some cool ideas.
Congratulations.
Tereza