Designing a backyard pool is an intimidating project. Safety is, of course, first and foremost. However, we all desire a pool oasis that is serene and beautiful. Creating a family pool that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing may seem impossible, but it is actually very possible with the right guidance.

Designing a family pool has very different considerations than designing a pool that’s a visual showpiece to be used occasionally by adults. When constructing a pool for the entire family, be sure to focus on both the safety and functionality during the design process. The good news is you can create a stunning pool, illuminated waterfalls, and a quiet spa all with strict safety measures in place.

To find out how, I spoke to our luxury partner LC Pool Design + Consultation Founder Lisa Cook for her design advice on how to create the family pool of your dreams. “From the materials that are the most durable and slip-resistant, to safety enclosures and step arrangements, they can still be gorgeous,” Lisa says. “It is important to dive into the details throughout the entire process. If one aspect is overlooked, it can be the difference between a pool you love, and a pool that frustrates you.”

Here are Lisa’s top considerations to design a pool environment that is both sophisticated and safe:

• Proper Pool Deck: Take care when choosing the material that surrounds the pool. Certain types of stone, concrete, marble and tiles can absorb the heat to the point that children and pets can suffer from burns on their feet. Tiles can also be very slick when wet. Test out the materials and ask questions about their slip resistance and heat absorption.

• Gates & Fencing: It is absolutely critical to select and examine safety gates, fencing and pool covers when constructing a family pool. They provide a vital protective layer, keeping little feet from entering the pool area when not monitored. In the early design phase examine the three types: Retractable Covers, Mesh Fencing and Glass Gates. Whichever safety gate and fencing you choose, you do need AT LEAST ONE and it’s best to pair it with a pool cover.

• Pool Placement: Ideally there should be distance between the home’s backdoor and the pool, to install safety measures. For instance, a popular layout is to have the indoor living room doors lead directly into the outdoor living room space, and then the pool is right next to the outdoor seating. For family style pools, this intimate layout is not ideal as it is more difficult to include a mesh fence or other safety gates around the pool.

• Pool Shape: If outdoor space is limited for fencing, the best pool shape is a rectangle pool as it can be covered with an automatic cover. Rectangle pools are attractive, easy to fit within the space allowed, and very easy to cover. Kidney, lagoon or other oddly shaped pools usually require a mesh or glass fence. Automatic covers only work with standard rectangles.

• Depth: If you’re going to commit to a deep end make sure it’s the proper depth. A deep end must be six feet legally for diving, it is also safer all the way around for jumping especially when children are over the age of 8. As long as 1/3 of your pool length is deep, that’s plenty. And, do not put your deep end in the middle. Some pool contractors suggest this as a way to get more shallow space, but it is a drowning hazard! It’s too confusing and dangerous for children.

• Trends: Don’t succumb to the trends. For example, a Baja step or shelf, a ledge that can be built along the inside of your pool, is trendy. Unfortunately, they never really get as much use as you think and they take up a fair amount of pool real estate. Unless your pool is quite large, don’t give up too much space just for a large step. You’re better off having a bench that runs along one side of the length, at least halfway. Rather than being trendy, it’s always important to ask yourself, is it functional and will it fit well with our design?

• Jacuzzi Placement: This can be a tricky one. For a family pool I recommend placing a jacuzzi at the shallow end of the pool versus the deep end. Once children are old enough to start utilizing the deep end they will gravitate to it like bees to honey. There will be endless jumps and dives and playing on large rafts in the deep end. You don’t want the jutting sharp corner of a jacuzzi anywhere near children during these activities. If possible, you’re better off having the jacuzzi be entirely off to the side or at least situated at the shallow end.

• Chemical Considerations: No matter what type of chemical concentration you choose, you will still need chlorine. Even salt water pools need chlorine. Don’t be afraid of it. It is the most stable, reliable cleaning solution for pools. Chlorine is the only substance that effectively kills algae and bacteria and it kills COVID-19 when maintained at a proper level. It is also the easiest to maintain, the most cost effective and has the highest success rate for chemical stability. Additionally, it won’t discolor your pool surface the way that saltwater will and it won’t erode your plumbing. If you have a concrete pool surface, definitely think twice before using saline. Saline pools are less stable and algae buildup is common which means you’d still need to ‘shock’ the pool from time to time with a combination of acid and chlorine.

Whether you are constructing a new pool or renovating an existing pool, take the time to plan a pool that is right for your family now and for your family as it grows. Define your wish list, budget, timeline and consider the needs of your children at various ages. Be sure to ask yourself: How long do you plan to live in this home? Will the pool still be the perfect design when the little ones are water safe teens? Then work with the experts to sketch out the ideal family pool that is both safe, stylish and will grow with your family. Soon you will be enjoying games of Marco Polo, enjoying the surrounding beauty, and have peace of mind knowing it is a safe environment for your whole family!

Guest Post on blog.coldwellbankerluxury.com, by Laura McHolm. An organizational, moving & storage expert and co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company. NorthStar Moving Company is an award winning, “A+” rated company, which specializes in providing eco-luxury moving and storage services.  www.northstarmoving.com

Click HERE to download de PDF Version.

NEW PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY ON PRE- SALE!!! ARCOMAR is located on one of the most desirable residential area in the Cabo Corridor, EL TEZAL. First phase include 30 residences, Tennis Court, 3 pools, Restaurant-Bar, Jacuzzi, Gym, Kids Club, Green Areas, 24/7 security.

PRE-SALE AND FINANCING PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. From: $515,257 USD. 5 home design models are available:

MORE DETAILS: CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION

In Mexico, on top of this, clean energy investments saw an important reduction due to the AMLO administration policy priorities. As the sanitary crisis will continue for a while, we have analyzed the ten trends to watch in 2021!

1. 2021 Elections: Counter-Reform process ahead?

Since December 2018, the head of the Federal Executive Branch has found a strong representation in the Mexican Congress by his political party colleagues (MORENA). Despite the fact they have enacted together important amendments to the Mexican Constitution and other federal and general laws, we have not yet seen amendments related to the energy industry! Instead, the Executive Branch has conducted questionable acts pretending to overcome or reverse the main principles of the Energy Reform by amending executive regulation (which goes against the secondary laws and the Mexican Constitution).

However, Mexico anticipates an important election period in July 2021, where representatives for local and federal congresses will be elected in half of the country. If MORENA representatives are elected and back Mr. López Obrador, this party may consolidate a major political force sufficient to either constitutionally reverse the Energy Reform or introduce legislative changes that change the rules of the market as per the AMLO Memorandum, and SENER & CENACE Rulings.

2. Recovery of Electricity Demand

While the promise of a successful vaccine is getting closer, Mexico will still go through an economic recovery period throughout 2021. Nevertheless, demand levels are set to stabilize around 2019 levels (310 TWh/year)[1]. As demand and fuel prices recover, in the short-term minor volatility is expected. This would, in effect mean higher PMLs. However, market analysts should note that the great renewable capacity added in the period 2016-2019 will keep prices lower than in previous years

3. Entrance in operation of +4 GW

In 2020, the SEN experienced the entrance of 4,533 MW, VS the 11,350 MW that were installed in 2019. According to the Antuko Works Plan, close to +10 GW that should have entered in operation this year are still on the pipeline and did not come online due to either the sanitary crisis or regulatory complications. The Antuko Works Plan also foresees about 4GW that will come into operation in 2021. AMDEE and ASOLMEX reported a similar figure at about 3 GW for 2021 and an additional 2.6 GW of utility-scale projects expected between 2021 and 2022. The development of this situation will mostly depend on the permit process carried by both CENACE and CRE. Will these autonomous entities continue to block the entrance of new private projects? In Antuko, we expect the slowdown in regulatory processes will continue.

4. Biden Presidency and a Push Toward Renewables

After his victory in the US elections last November, Joe Biden committed to reinforce the Paris Agreement and reach carbon neutrality in the power generation segment toward 2035. To achieve this, the elected President considers a 2 trillion injection into green technologies (more than twice the GDP of Mexico, according to S&P) Despite AMLO energy policies, the recently signed UMSCA treaty might put pressure on the Mexican government to further expand renewable capacity. Developers, investors, and financial entities should follow this topic closely as the hope of developing new projects is closely related to this political situation

5. The DG boom

According to the latest report published by CRE, the distributed generation segment in the country experienced a slow, but steady growth in the First Half of 2020, going from an installed capacity of 1,031 MW to 1,196 MW. Under the sanitary crisis context, this increase was motivated by greater residential electricity consumption, as well as a lack of support from CFE Suministro Básico toward industrial and commercial end-users. In addition to this, given the regulatory hurdles that utility-scale projects face, distributed generation stands out as a more feasible alternative for business and households to reduce their power bills

6. More legacy projects migrating into LIE

Given the regulatory hurdles around legacy projects, particularly under the self-supply scheme, both Generators and Consumers might reconsider migration to LIE framework. Companies such as Liverpool, Cervecería Cuaúhtemoc-Moctezuma, Bimbo, 7-Eleven, Coca-Cola, and Porcelanite, among many others, have challenged the proposed modifications. While Federal Judges have announced indefinite injunctions, some others such as Judge Gómez Fierro [2] considers that legacy projects oppose the Energy Reform objectives.

7. Definite Injunctions: Steps Ahead

The amparo judgments for both CENACE Ruling and SENER Policy Ruling are not definitive as they are subject to review by the Circuit Court or the Supreme Court, which shall confirm or revoke these rulings, especially referring to the erga omnes effects, which are widely discussed in the academy and the judiciary. Diverse attorneys familiarized with these processes have confirmed that final amparo resolutions (and injunction resolutions) have been practically reproduced in all trials by judges, to all plaintiffs (under the same grounds). In this light, pending final judgments in the subsequent amparos will surely be delivered faster which might bring new hopes to developers and investors.

8. Will PMLs return to 2018 levels?

System-wide PMLs fell in the second half of 2019 as a result of the extraordinarily high additions of low marginal cost capacity installed after the Energy Reform. Antuko forecasts that while demand will grow in 2021, PMLs will continue to be around these low levels we have experienced recently. PMLs might rise as fuel-prices increase, but there is little indication that demand will have a strong enough growth to catch up with supply.

There are, however, some interesting opportunities. While northern regions with larger territories and a significant renewable resource pioneered in the utility-scale segment, congestions between the north and south of the country have forced developers to seek novel investment destinations. Among these, the Eastern and Western control regions are gaining a relevant market share, while the Peninsular region (with the highest prices in the SIN) continues to be an attractive, albeit challenging, option. Intraday fluctuations are also relevant, as the clear solar profile of PMLs creates opportunities for storage.

9. 2020 Capacity Market Price: A Plunge to Zero?

The Capacity Net Price determined each February in the Capacity Balance Market, indicates whether the system maintains a good supply/demand balance. Given the installed capacity in the country increased by a 15% rate in 2019, followed by a plunge in demand due to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Antuko foresees this imbalance will cause an oversupply in the Capacity market during the 2020 exercise. CENACE, however, may modify the Capacity Balance Market criteria so that minimum and efficient planning reserves are increased to such a level that demand and supply intersect. If these were the case, the very low PMLs experienced in 2020 might push Capacity Prices to very high levels.

10. More resources to back up CFE

With the AMLO administration, the energy sector surges as a strategic area of the country, leaded by both PEMEX and CFE. For instance, in the 2020 Federation Expenditure Budget, the State assigned close to MX$456 million (+5% VS 2019) to CFE. In contrast, the 2021 Federation Expenditure Budget destinates more resources toward PEMEX (particularly for the construction of Dos Bocas), and decreases CFE budget to MX$417 million (-11.6% VS 2020). According to CFE 2021-25 Business Plan, the company foresees an estimated investment of MX$62 million to increase its generation capacity by 4.5% through the support of an investment trust fund.

Source: antuko.com

El Mogote, 22 Acres (10 Ha) has two Beach Fronts, on the beautiful peninsula in La Paz Bay right in front of La Paz City, with permits for Touristic development as A6 Residential, this is 13 houses per Ha. or per 2.2 Acres. Total 130 house sites. Only a 25 minute drive from the Malecon, (downtown La Paz) this particular property is facing Ensenada de Aripez with breathtaking views and high added value.

MORE INFO: CLICK HERE

Excellent investment opportunity in El Medano! Apartment building LOCATED next to Puerto Paraiso Mall, 7 minute walk to the beach, 5 minute walk to La Marina. This building has a total of 6 units, fully equipped, kitchen, living room, bedroom TVs, 2 mini-split A/C in each unit and a full bath. 5 indoor parking spaces in the basement, 2 parking spaces outside. Service/maintenance room equipped and a laundry service room. Elevator goes from the lobby/concierge level to the rooftop (4 levels). Rooftop has a beautiful view to the city, BBQ grill, TV, full bath and enough space to build a small pool or place a jacuzzi. This building is ready for sale and operational use, perfect for Vacation Rentals, AirBnB, VRBO.

MORE INFO: CLICK HERE

Wow, a perfect investment opportunity in the most desirable East Cape location! Business Plaza and an additional parking lot. It’s located in the beachfront community of Los Barriles. This area is known for it’s thriving and growing Expat and Mexican population, swimmer friendly beaches, world class fishing, and comfortable Baja living. 1 or 2 stories can be added to make a total of 3 functional floors allowing a hotel or apartments above the first floor shops & offices. Plaza del Pueblo is loved by the community with a great reputation from an established mix of retailers, including Intercam Bank, Candoo Restaurant and Vagos Bar and Grill. The strength of the property’s diverse tenant roster is supported by the strong trade area demographics.

more info: CLICK HERE

Elle Décor called this movement—especially pieces crafted from more sustainable materials—one of its design trends for 2019, and everyone from homeowners to designers to purveyors to artists is feeling it. Outside of the hunter-gatherer component stoked by sites like Etsy, companies like Pratt & Larson are offering those seeking high-end, handmade items for their home a more curated experience. This luxury tile maker is seeing their wares surge in popularity as homeowners look to differentiate their kitchens and bathrooms with bespoke details.

“Working with Pratt & Larson allows you to choose each element of the tile. This allows it to become part of the design process instead of forcing the design to fit an ‘off the shelf’ tile,” said company President Belle Iskowitz. “You select the size and shape of the tile, the surface texture, and the glaze. Combine these custom capabilities with the beautiful variation the handmade process brings to the tile and you have a remarkable design material that enriches any space. We’ve seen an increase in people making more informed decisions and choosing beautiful handmade tile, and we’re seeing lots of textured surfaces and bolder color choices, which is really fun for us!”

We went in-depth with another leading force in the luxury home design and decor industry, Jessica Macias, co-founder and CEO of global marketplace Maison Numen, for further insight into what’s driving this trend.

Are you seeing a heightened interest in handmade items this year? What would you say is driving design in new direction?

Jessica Macias: I think there is a return to handcrafted authenticity especially when it comes to decorative and utilitarian objects versus buying mass-produced pieces. Being strategic and purposeful about purchasing behavior is a key ingredient to a handmade ethos. The initial questions are, ‘Who you are purchasing from and what values do they stand for?’ And, ‘What type of materials are used to build each item?’ To complement and highlight special pieces, we believe in designing an impeccable foundation through the use of timeless materials, ultimately resulting in bones that evoke emotion whenever you’re in your space.

What is Maison Numen’s objective in curating these types of items for consumers?

Our focus is to find the most beautiful and high-end pieces in the handmade market now from more that 20 countries and 100 artisans and makers—pieces that reflect their provenance and that can be adapted to any contemporary home.

Has the meaning of “handmade” changed now that it’s been adopted by the luxury market?

We used to equate ‘handmade’ with cheap, DIY or souvenirs, or poor quality. With Maison Numen, it’s the other way around. When you think of the time that the artisans spend producing the piece, the savoir-faire, the knowledge passing from one generation to another, and the cultural background that these pieces represent, it creates a new type of luxury.

Are certain places around the world hotter than others in terms of finding items or fulfilling requests?

Our customers love buying pieces from Mexico, Italy, and Portugal because these regions are very rich in culture and craftsmanship. The Maison Numen customer goes to our website because they want to add one-of-a-kind pieces to their home. They want to feel connected to the culture and the history, and that’s what we keep in mind when selecting the products or choosing the makers that represent our brand DNA.

Are there specific items (or materials) that are selling particularly well or that are being requested?

Our customers are truly passionate about the different textiles from Latin America, from countries such as Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico that excel in their design, weaving techniques, and color combinations. The glassware collection from Italy that shows their majestic skills and exquisite details are really desired items. Another requested style is the pottery from Morocco; our customers are really interested in the rich history behind these pieces.