Swimming pools designs

Swimming pools designs : Defining Luxury Pools

2012-05-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Defining Luxury Pools

Superior Pools has served Atlanta’s high-end residential pool market since 1994 with luxury and quality as priorities. Owned and operated by Bret Benninghoff, Superior Pools has helped create amazing outdoor spaces and environments for many of the area’s notable and distinguished community leaders. Additionally, many of Atlanta’s most talented and sought after landscape design firms, such as Land Plus Design, Howard Design Studios, and Planters Landscape, have consulted and worked with Benninghoff. “Referrals are the absolute key to our success,” says Benninghoff.

Designing and constructing high-end residential swimming pool projects, Superior Pools offers consultation, creative designs, a wealth of knowledge, education, and limitless resources for clients who appreciate the finest amenities and finishes available. “We always include high quality materials like limestone, bluestone architectural concrete creations, and glass tile,” explains Benninghoff. “We also feature fire and water features, custom pebble finishes, architectural structures and great landscape design.”

Benninghoff takes special interest in the latest luxury pool trends, traveling regularly to study and keep pace with some of the most renowned pool designers in the country. A member of Genesis, an organization devoted to the development of higher standards in swimming pool design and construction, Benninghoff is also certified by the Society of Watershape Designers. Additionally, Superior Pools has received numerous international, national, and regional awards for design and construction. The firm has also been featured in several “Ground Breakers” episodes on HGTV as well as has many magazines such asVeranda, Trend, and Architectural Digest.

Swimming pools designs : Backyard Paradise

2012-05-26T04:14:00.003-07:00

Backyard Paradise

A lifetime of visual experiences, a pastime of dreaming, and years of experience creating gardens and pools—these are just some of the valuable assets that owner Joe DiPaulo brings to The Stone Mason of Spring. Combining DiPaulo’s experience and unique visions with a team of talented artisans, Stone Mason has completed more than 800 projects in its 29 years of pool-building and landscaping in both residential and commercial venues. With great anticipation, its dedicated team looks forward to each and every new project.

Stone Mason specializes in innovative concepts and futuristic elements paired with the strength of Old World building practices. Its projects often include natural rock pools, spas, waterfalls, and gardens, while also incorporating fire features, stone arbors, outdoor kitchens, custom seating, grottos, and other accents. The company has its own two-acre nursery and 800-ton rock gallery, providing an extensive inventory of materials for each custom project.

Stone Mason strives to capture the beauty of nature’s remarkable creations through its poolscapes and outdoor living spaces. It considers all aspects of a setting when formulating its designs, including the water’s reflection of sunlight and shapes formed by natural surroundings.

The company believes in having a close-knit relationship with its customers. That’s why its team does not include any salesmen and deals with very few subcontractors. DiPaulo designs along with clients and follows through to the final detail of each turned-key work of art. DiPaulo personally supervises all projects.

Descending from a long line of skilled Italian masons, DiPaulo refurbished historic buildings before his connection to the environment led him to design gardens and pools. “Our main focus is marrying manmade building features with nature and natural outcroppings,” DiPaulo says. “I look to create magic in every project, and have fun doing it.”

One of Stone Mason’s projects has been featured on HGTV’s “What’s With That House?” This project was also voted the Best Backyard by The Houston Press.

Swimming pools designs : Distinctive Artistry

2012-05-26T04:13:00.002-07:00

Distinctive Artistry

Stonecrest Pools specializes in crafting exquisite outdoor spaces for discerning high-end residential clients who demand nothing less than one-of-a-kind masterpieces. “We offer homeowners artesian-based designs,” says Doug Johnston, principal and designer. “While others say they build custom pools, we truly develop exclusive designs for each and every client.” In fact, Johnston calculates every detail for a project to fashion a unique sense of place, whether it is an estate with many watershapes, a private spa retreat, or a simple water feature.

Recognized throughout the industry for his skill, his work is characterized by finely executed designs and expert craftsmanship. He takes great pride in his method of developing a magnificent pool and outdoor setting from just an idea. Each of his innovative designs demonstrates a respect for classic values. “We transform a blank slate into a work of art that features water as the medium,” says Johnston. “And we accomplish this with proper design principles and superior construction methods and materials.”

Johnston continues to study and has taken classes with the Genesis Design Group.

Stonecrest Pools has been honored with a number of awards and many of its projects have been featured in lifestyle publications, including Living and Luxe magazines.

Swimming pools designs : Living the Dream

2012-05-26T04:09:00.004-07:00

Living the Dream

The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the United States, and Rugged Class Waterfalls & Pools strives to add to the drama with its spectacular outdoor living spaces.

Robin Rodgers, founder and owner/president, honed his skills in the landscaping and pool industry for more than three decades. After finding success on the west side of Washington, Rodgers decided to try his hand on what he likes to call “the sunny side of the state.” He teamed up with Jesus De La Cruz to form Rugged Class Waterfalls & Pools in the effort to craft striking outdoor environments that included luxurious pool designs. The two craftsmen have built their company into one of the most respected design firms in the Pacific Northwest.

Rodgers continues to educate himself by participating in a variety of classes, including the Genesis Design School, where he completed such courses as watershape construction, hydraulics, element of design, design communications, and perspective drawings. Keeping up with the latest trends helps him ensure each homeowner is satisfied with the end result. “My goal is that each custom design not only reflects the most modern and cutting-edge techniques, but also reflects each client’s ideas and individual needs,” Rodgers says.

From the very start, each project receives the same attention to detail. Rodgers begins by meeting with his clients to discuss their dreams and desires, and to ensure that he understands exactly what they want. Rodgers then creates a draft—which is tweaked until the homeowner’s initial vision, from personal style preferences to the different perspectives visible from inside the home—is captured.

Rugged Class Waterfalls & Pools is a proud member of Structure Studios and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Swimming pools designs : Breathtaking Innovation

2012-05-26T04:09:00.000-07:00

Breathtaking Innovation

Skip Phillips of Questar Pools and Spas, Inc., is one of the best-known poolscape design professionals in the world. He boldly innovates by combining vision with proven engineering techniques to create dynamic aquatic treasures that have earned him an international reputation for excellence, ingenuity, and originality.

Phillips’ ability to routinely transform the seemingly impossible into spectacular aquatic treasures, which add beauty and lasting value to a home, has him regularly flying coast-to-coast and to Europe, the Caribbean or other corners of the globe to work his artistic magic. He captures homeowners’ fantasies and offers limitless possibilities for years of enjoyment and aesthetic appeal that blend with the home and natural surroundings. His designs have won more than 100 local and international awards, beginning with the second pool he built. More recently, The Robb Report designated him the best vanishing-edge designer in the world, and Home & Garden Television has featured his pools twice.

In addition to their exquisite beauty, Questar’s pools and spas function superbly. The company recommends equipment and components that exceed industry standards, such as quiet, low-decibel-level, energy-efficient filtration systems that heighten the pleasure of poolside recreation and entertainment. Phillips began his career in 1975, repairing and servicing up to 1,100 pools a week. He learned from the experience and realized he could design and build better pools than the ones he maintained. He launched Questar Pools and Spas in 1981.

One of three founding partners of Genesis Design Group, an international design consortium dedicated to being the resource for those with higher expectations in waterscape design, Phillips also is certified in the Society of Watershape Designers and is frequently sought by companies, other professionals, and educational programs to provide expertise and share the secrets of his art

Swimming pools designs : The Exclamation Point! The Exclamation Point! The Exclamation Point!

2012-05-26T04:06:00.003-07:00

The Exclamation Point!

For a builder to develop into an innovative and creative force that regularly thrills its clients with top-of-the-line results, it takes a crew of imaginative minds that is willing to ignore the ordinary in order to discover extraordinary design and building solutions. James Atlas and Terry Smith, principals, have brought together a staff of highly skilled craftsmen to provide Chicagoland with exactly that type of inspired ingenuity. The result? Platinum Poolcare is among the leading high-end inground swimming pool and watershape contractors as well as one of the top service, repair, and renovation providers in the Midwest. “We are proud of our accomplishments and want people to see what we’ve done,” says Atlas, “which is why clients can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.”

Although Platinum Poolcare, Ltd., finds working with high-end landscape architects, custom homebuilders, and architectural design firms makes the construction process run smoother, Atlas and Smith are quite adamant in their belief that the client is the best source for ideas. “We focus on the clients’ needs, desires, and how the pool environment will complement and enhance their lifestyles,” Atlas says. “So when it comes to actually designing the pool environment, we are uniquely suited to translate our client’s vision into a lifetime-of-enjoyment reality.”

Platinum Poolcare, Ltd., holds membership in Aquatech, a by-invitation-only network of the nation’s elite pool builders. This alliance provides access to the latest technological advances, state-of-the-art systems, and customized waterscapes to craft intelligently designed poolscapes that operate virtually trouble-free. The company’s high standards of support and reliability do not end when the pool is built, however. Platinum Poolcare, Ltd., provides 24-hour maintenance and repair services. Platinum Poolcare also provides renovations, both major and minor. This wide range of services allows the builder to remain in touch with its clients for the duration of their pool ownership—and beyond. “We jump through hoops to make the client a passionate fan,” Atlas says.

Swimming pools designs : Backyard Dreams

2012-05-26T04:05:00.002-07:00

Backyard Dreams

Pacific Paradise Pools has been serving Southern California for over 25 years. In that time it has earned a reputation for crafting marvelous outdoor spaces for all types of homes, from simple yet elegant poolscapes to magical at-home resorts that delight the imagination. “Our mission is to help homeowners enjoy their pools and to maximize the fun factor for their own backyards,” says Rich C. Tonti, founder and designer. “I am proud to say that we have some of the most professional, experienced, and polite customer-friendly staff in the pool industry.”

Specializing in the construction of new pools, spas, water features, and major pool renovations, Pacific Paradise Pools works closely with clients to ensure complete job satisfaction. The team takes the time to talk to clients to discover the essential elements of the project. They use their experience in collaborating with other professional pool designers and landscape architects to offer a variety of amenities, such as rock slides, swim-up bars, and grottos. “We aim to please and make sure that we develop an outdoor living space that will complement the client’s and home’s personality as well as provide years of enjoyment,” explains Tonti.

Recently, the builder opened a 7,700-square-foot design showroom with a retail pool supply store to include everything a pool owner needs, from toys, chemicals, and barbecue islands, to tile selections, project portfolios, and aboveground spas. Pacific Paradise Pools also offers weekly pool and spa maintenance, seasonal education classes, and computerized water analysis.

Striving for excellence on every job, the builder has been honored with a number of awards over the years from industry associations and trade groups. In 2012, Pacific Paradise Pools won one of only four Pinnacle Awards from Luxury Pools. “The awards validate our business strategy,” says Tonti, “but the referrals from loyal, happy customers give us the greatest satisfaction, truly proving that clients endorse what we do.”

Swimming pools designs : Innovative Trends

2012-05-26T04:04:00.002-07:00

Innovative Trends

With over 50 years of experience combining aesthetic beauty with cutting-edge technology, Morehead Pools is a third-generation family business that has evolved into a comprehensive pool company with design, construction, retail, and service divisions. With expertise in custom gunite pools, the company is able to fulfill every client’s needs from each of its three locations, including Shreveport and Bossier City, La., and Little Rock, Ark.

Morehead Pools’ on-staff designers ensure that pools, spas, and water features are individually crafted to match each client’s preferences. Computerized sanitizing, heating, lighting, and spa jet systems, as well as automatically controlled water features, are all specialties of Morehead Pools. The company offers a special in-floor cleaning system, which provides the utmost in luxury and convenience for new pool owners. It also specializes in salt chlorination systems and the latest in LED lighting. Although vanishing-edge designs are still popular, Morehead Pools is also crafting a growing number of perimeter-overflow pools—a design that brings the water level up flush with the deck.

Mike Moore, president of Morehead Pools, believes that staying abreast of innovative trends is imperative. Moore believes that the backyard environment must match a resident’s lifestyle and complement the architecture of the home, encouraging the use of natural stone and rock. Flagstone and boulders from different quarries provide color options that aid in design and help pull the entire backyard together.

Morehead Pools is the only company in Northwest Louisiana and Arkansas that is both a Certified Building Professional and Certified Service Professional by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Morehead Pools is a gold member of the Genesis Design Group, as well as a member of the Master Pools Guild, and has served on a national advisory committee for new product development. Over the years, Morehead Pools has won numerous design awards for its dazzling pools, which have been featured in both national and local magazines, including Architectural Digest, Landscape Architecture, andSouthern Accents.

Swimming pools designs : Aquatic Environments

2012-05-26T04:03:00.002-07:00

Aquatic Environments

For the last 29 years, Omega Pool Structures, Inc., has established itself as one of the leaders in innovative indoor and outdoor swimming pools and spas. By offering his knowledge and expertise, owner and founder Kevin Ruddy has developed and established close relationships with architects, designers, builders, and homeowners, offering the specialized services needed and required for projects. Ruddy and his team handle everything from design and budgets to permits and construction management to ensure that every poolscape is completed properly the first time.

Specializing in pool and spa enclosures, Omega takes pride in creating indoor swimming pool environments that are not only beautiful and elegant, but which also allow clients to have total control of operating costs. Well-versed in mold prevention and vapor barriers, the talented staff seamlessly integrates indoor swimming pools with existing structures. Without the use of elaborate maintenance systems, they create a pool room that is open to the rest of the home without affecting the humidity of the other interior rooms. Thanks to energy-efficient solar heating, dehumidifying systems, and custom skylights, Omega’s indoor pool structures are comfortable, functional, and affordable.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Omega has the knowledge to overcome the most complicated design challenges to create completely custom aquatic environments that blend naturally and beautifully into any setting. Projects include elaborate swimming pools with dramatic multiple levels, vanishing edges, waterfall treatments, beach entries, and a variety of other specialized features. The company caters mainly to a clientele that demands higher standards in their projects; therefore, only elite projects are considered.

A platinum member of Genesis Design Group, Kevin Ruddy is one of the first 10 pool designers and builders to have passed the extensive classes and exams offered by the Society of Watershape Designers (SWD). He has been a featured speaker at seminars for the national and regional conventions of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP), including the 2007 Aqua Show and the 2008 Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show.

Swimming pools designs : Master Pools Builders

2012-05-26T04:00:00.002-07:00

Master Pools Builders

The Master Pools Guild is a global network of elite custom pool builders whose mission is to

create the finest pools in the world. The secret to achieving this goal is simple—members freely share ideas and information with each other.

Membership is by invitation only and is earned by topping the A-list of custom builders in a respective area. Established in 1962 by builders from across the continental United States, the Guild is now the largest international network in the industry with over 110 members building pools in the following countries: Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, United Kingdom, and the United States including Hawaii.

Guild members are craftsmen who are continually consulting with one another on creative designs, construction techniques, and technology. They are professionals committed to conducting business according to the Guild Code of Ethics that embraces integrity, good business practices, and respect for the rights of clients, employees, and suppliers.

At the Guild’s Awards of Excellence annual contest, members receive an infusion of new ideas while benchmarking their work with their peers. Frequent meetings and vendor seminars ensure that members keep up with the latest trends. They continually push the limits of imagination and innovation in meeting their clients’ dreams, confident in the fact that regardless of any artistic or technical challenges that may arise, they have incredible resources at their disposal—namely each other. Individually, each builder is extremely talented and experienced in building pools, indoors and out. Collaboratively, however, their expertise is virtually unmatched. When a pool is designed and built by a Master Pools Guild Builder, one can rest assured that it is, indeed, built by a master.

View the Master Pools Guild Builders featured in Luxury Pools:

Artistic Pools, Inc.
Atlanta, GA

Creative Master Pools, Inc.
Lincoln Park, NJ

Morehead Pools
Shreveport, LA

Swimming pools designs : Masters in the Art of Luxury

2012-05-26T03:59:00.003-07:00

Masters in the Art of Luxury

Marquise Pools, one of the Houston area’s premier pool designers and builders, has built a great reputation on creating fantastic poolscapes that are not only visually beautiful, but also professionally constructed with superior materials. Over the years, these practices have won the builder a number of awards from the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, trade publications, and this year, a prestigious honor from Luxury Pools. The images shown here are different angles of the 2012 Pinnacle Awards-winning Chimenti project.

Chris Smith and Greg Watson are partners in the business, with Watson handling all construction and implementation and Smith managing the landscape architecture staff. Smith attributes his company’s success to employing only expert craftsmen. “We take a comprehensive approach to design, pools and outdoor living spaces,” says Smith. “We can seamlessly integrate a home with a setting’s landscaping because our professional team is comprised of registered landscape architects, pool industry veterans, and top-notch service technicians.” In fact, Marquise Pools can design the entire project: hardscape and pool design, landscape, drainage, irrigation, lighting, decks, summer kitchens, cabanas, and pergolas.

The story behind the Chimenti pool is intriguing. Situated on a site that has over 11 feet of elevation drop to the rear of the property, the pool presented a set of challenges that Marquise Pools was able to overcome. “We always create a master plan before we start a project,” says Smith. In this case, Marquise decided to keep the lines of traditional appearance while incorporating more updated techniques of false perspective, elevation, scale, and proportion. The biggest test was creating a master plan that married the house’s architecture and scale to the unique natural characteristics of the property. “Having landscape architects involved in the entire pool design and construction process creates the flow that many sophisticated clients want and are willing budget for,” says Smith. “They see the value-added element of true design-build firms that invest in a staff with professional credentials.”

Swimming pools designs : Turning Water into Art

2012-05-26T03:57:00.004-07:00

Turning Water into Art

Liquid Design, LCC, was formed in 2001 by industry master David Tisherman and landscape designer Kevin Fleming. The firm is constantly elevating the standards for both design and construction throughout the Northeast, and is responsible for some of the most spectacular pools and spas ever built in the region—or anywhere else. Tisherman and Fleming are uncompromising in their attention to detail, quality engineering, selection of materials, and on-site execution.

Tisherman has been described by one trade magazine as the most influential designer and builder of his generation, and by another as the Frank Lloyd Wright of aquatic design. His educational background includes undergraduate degrees in history and three-dimensional design from California State University at Northridge, and graduate work from the Pasadena Art Center College of Design in California, as well as Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

Fleming graduated from West Virginia University in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in landscape architecture. He spent the early part of his career creating outdoor environments for a unique clientele and was responsible for designing and constructing multi-phased landscape master plans. During that time, designing watershapes became a significant element in his projects, and he quickly developed a passion for applying water in unique and elegant ways across a range of design styles, settings, and client preferences.

Tisherman and Fleming have combined their talents to reach new pinnacles of ingenuity and inventiveness for discriminating clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and nearby states.

A founder of the Genesis Design Group, Tisherman has personally educated many of the elite pool designers and builders in the industry.

Swimming pools designs : The Art of Fine Living

2012-05-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Art of Fine Living

It’s all about the preparation. The highly expert staff at Lewis Aquatech Pools works diligently with architects, landscape designers, homebuilders, and homeowners to devise a strategy that will guarantee a finished product that is not only well-crafted and beautiful, but, more importantly, one that is exactly what the client desired.

A proud member of Aquatech, the invitation-only pool building association, Lewis Aquatech employs top landscape architects, designers, and craftsmen who work with a wide range of traditional and exotic materials from around the world, including Canadian granite, Turkish travertine, French limestone, and Italian tile. Additionally, Lewis Aquatech also produces total backyard retreats that go beyond the pool to include amenities such as gazebos, spas, tennis courts, landscaping, lighting, and much more.

Lewis Aquatech is defined by teamwork. From the sales associates to the tile-setters, everyone knows that the company’s number one objective is customer satisfaction. Although Lewis Aquatech often handles projects costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, the entire staff treats all homeowners and architects the same way. “Small or large, we ensure that the pool and patio coordinate flawlessly with the home’s architecture and style,” says Don Gwiz, principal. “Our aim is to create cutting-edge pool settings that dress up the landscape and delight our clients.”

Because of Lewis Aquatech’s commitment to top-quality production and service, publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Home & Design, and Spaces magazines have recognized Lewis Aquatech’s excellence in pool design and service. The company has also been honored with awards sponsored by a variety of national trade publications and associations.

The company’s level of attention goes beyond pool building and remodeling, however, as it also provides post-construction maintenance and service, as well as retail support that includes pool care advice and a full line of pool supplies and accessories.

Swimming pools designs : Creating the Classics

2012-05-26T03:56:00.001-07:00

Creating the Classics

An influential force in the luxury pool building industry with over 30 years of construction experience, Roger Soares II, president of HydroScapes, LLC, has a well-earned reputation for transforming even the most austere of sites into outdoor living masterpieces. In fact, his work is often referenced by his peers as the definition of harmonious design and meticulous construction. “I insist that a pool design be in sync with all aspects of a landscape and that it is a subtle part of the entire space,” says Soares. “Plus, it is important to me that I produce the best because I want my clients to enjoy their pools for a very long time.”

Soares loves to listen. When a project is accepted, be it a new pool or a renovation, he immediately opens the lines of communication with the client, architect, landscape architect, and all other design professionals involved with the job. “I need to learn all of the pertinent information. Only then will I begin to conceptualize and build,” says Soares.

This method has moved Soares into the top tier of his industry: his pools have been honored with a variety of prestigious awards over the years, including a 2010 Pinnacle Award from Luxury Pools magazine. Soares has twice been named a master of design by a leading trade magazine and one of his pools was named a project of the year by another. In 2001, Soares received the Architectural Design Award for his design role in the Street of Dreams Project, Troon Highlands, Arizona, and in 2002, he won a silver award in the Home Book Design Excellence Awards, Arizona Region.

Soares is a platinum member of the Genesis Design Group. Additionally, both he and his partner, Sheri Soares, are certified by the Society of Watershape Designers.

Swimming pools designs : Seamless Designs

2012-05-26T03:55:00.002-07:00

Seamless Designs

Jamie Scott comes from a long family history in the swimming pool industry. His experience and passion led him to create Group Works. As the owner, he takes a hands-on approach by personally directing every project—from concept through final construction. He also oversees the coordination of his pool builders, masons, landscapers, electricians and other workers to ensure that the project is running smoothly. “Planning, listening to the homeowner’s desires, and setting expectations are the ingredients for a successful project,” he says. Group Works’ clients have been more than satisfied with their experiences; as proven by the fact that the company receives most of its projects through referrals.
The focus of every design goes beyond the pool alone. By observing the entire setting, the surrounding elements are incorporated into the design. These factors include everything from the land’s topography to the home and surrounding architecture. Through this approach, Group Works produces backyard havens that blend with their surroundings.
Group Works thinks of each project as having its own character, personality, and opportunities. Non-traditional materials are brought forward and considered. In addition to aesthetics, the team at Group Works focuses on hydraulics and engineering, which enables them to lower the after-construction cost. These unique designs often include environmentally-friendly systems as well, such as solar heating, ozonators, and variable-speed pumps.
Jamie Scott puts a high priority on continued education and exchanging ideas with his peers. As a platinum member of the Genesis Design Group and member of the Society of Watershape Designers, he gains in-depth knowledge and up-to-date techniques, which show in his work. Group Works recently received an award for Outstanding Pool & Recreational Project of the Year by the American Shotcrete Association, and was a winner of the 2011 Pinnacle Awards from Luxury Poolsmagazine.

Swimming pools designs : Inventing the Platinum Standard

2012-05-26T03:54:00.004-07:00

Inventing the Platinum Standard

Beautiful pools and spas exist for one main reason—to provide homeowners with years of carefree recreation and pleasure. With almost limitless options across a spectrum of styles, achieving the best possible result that fits your lifestyle and satisfies your personal desires always means finding a professional trained in the nuances of creating backyard resorts.

Fortunately, Genesis has provided many designers and contractors with the knowledge and tools to make that happen. For homeowners seeking the backyard oasis of their dreams, the selection of the right professional to make this happen has never been more important.

In 1998, the Genesis Design Group began providing educational programs needed to develop a class of pool, spa, and watershape professionals prepared to design and build tomorrow’s quality aquatic environments. From the start, Genesis set out to establish progressive educational programs covering design, engineering, and construction taught by leading experts in the field. Topics such as color theory, the history of water in architecture, presentation techniques, elements of design, landscape lighting, and design communication through measured perspective among many others set a new level of performance for an entire industry.

To date, Genesis has provided these unique educational offerings to more than 1,500 program participants with thousands more sampling classes offered in a range of venues. Of these, an elite group of 16 professionals have emerged from these programs achieving Genesis’s coveted platinum status. Each has completed a comprehensive set of rigorous educational programs, maintains proof of financial responsibility, and satisfies a host of continuing education requirements.

Genesis states: These are the best of the best, unequaled by professionals of any other designation. They are the true elite of the profession who have proven their ability to create environments that are reliably engineered and constructed, and most important, expertly designed to provide years of wonderful experiences for the homeowner seeking only the best.

“These are the best of the best, unequaled by professionals of any other designation,” says Van Bower. “They are the true elite of the profession who have proven their ability to create environments that are reliably engineered and constructed, and most important, expertly designed to provide years of wonderful experiences for the homeowner seeking only the best.”

Learn more about Genesis Design Group's

elite platinum members:

Paul Benedetti, Aquatic Technology Pool & Spa, Morgan Hill, CA

Brian Van Bower, Aquatic Consultants, Inc., Miami, FL

Gene Brown, Valley Pool & Spa, Kelowna, B.C. Canada

Steve Dallons, Pacific Pools, Inc., Alamo, CA

William T. Drakeley, Jr., Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Bethlehem, CT

Tom Driscoll, Cabana Pools Aquatech, Houston, TX

Lynn Forrest, Aqua Classic Pools & Spas, Clute, TX

Dennis Loebs, Loebs + Gordon Poolcraft, East Hampton, NY

Mike Nantz, Elite Concepts, Inc., Dallas, TX

Dave Peterson, P.E.,Watershape Consulting, Inc., San Diego, CA

Skip Phillips, Questar Pools and Spas, Inc., Escondido, CA

Joan Roca, Aquart, Costa Rica

Kevin Ruddy, Omega Pool Structures, Inc., Toms River, NJ

James Scott, Group Works LLC, Wilton, CT

Roger Soares, II, HydroScapes, LLC, Fountain Hills, AZ

Steve Swanson, The Pool Company, Clayton, CA

Swimming pools designs : Personal Paradise

2012-05-26T03:53:00.002-07:00

Personal Paradise

Environm ental Pools carefully harmonizes each client’s preferences with architectural elements and natural features that create a homeowner’s vision of a personal paradise, in styles that range from traditional to contemporary. “Our professional design staff’s ability to successfully integrate new construction into the existing landscape is probably our company’s strongest skill,” says Andy Everleigh, president.

Environmental Pools’ staff stays on the cutting-edge of pool-building technology and style and collaborates with the area’s finest builders, masons, architects, and landscape architects to coordinate each finished project. As a proud Aquatech Society member, Environmental Pools maintains ongoing relationships with other Aquatech builders around the country, a benefit that is passed onto clients by providing them with new ideas, accurate technical data, and trusted associations with manufacturers.

Environmental Pools’ design staff has been recognized for its professional design expertise with awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Environmental Pools also designed and constructed Boston magazine’s Design Home pool. This kind of success allows Environmental Pools to demonstrate its craftsmanship and to stand by its promise to design each and every project with a personal touch, allowing all of its clients to enjoy their own personal paradise.

Swimming pools designs : An Elitist Approach

2012-05-26T03:52:00.005-07:00

An Elitist Approach

Elite Concepts, Inc., is a design firm specializing in sophisticated, creative, and expertly composed water environments. With a background in both construction management and architectural design, Michael Nantz is especially adroit at crafting outdoor living spaces with features that are just as artful on their own as they are in relation to the waterscape. Nantz and his exterior design talents are a perfect fit for discriminating clients with uncompromising standards.

“On every project, an integrated design process in which the surrounding environment is heavily considered influences the final product,” Nantz says. “Often the homes’ interiors play a key role as well, providing inspiration and elements that lead to achieving what many clients consider extraordinary results.”

Versatility is the company’s strong suit, and each waterscape has its own character—achieved through the successful convergence of individual elements. Surmounting obstacles is another forte. Projects with unusual site conditions or constraints are seen as opportunities to break the rules and explore innovative options.

Elite Concepts has achieved much success in and around the Dallas metroplex, as well as consulting on and designing projects from many states across the U.S. to Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Virgin Islands. Nantz’s extensive knowledge, experience, and resources afford him access to some of the finest materials available, providing the company with an awe-inspiring portfolio that features classic, modern, and naturalistic motifs. Many of Elite Concepts’ projects have been honored by multiple local and international design awards and featured in magazines and trade publications.

As one of the few platinum members of the Genesis Design Group and certified in the Society of Watershape Designers, Nantz maintains a close working relationship with the top people in the industry, reaffirming his own position and passion as an elite waterscape designer and builder.

Swimming pools designs : Customized Luxury

2012-05-26T03:52:00.001-07:00

Customized Luxury

When clients first meet Scott Girner, president/owner of Elite Pools by Scott (EPBS), they are impressed by his passion for pool design and construction. After talking with him, they soon learn that enthusiasm is not his only trait: he is also creative, professional, and exceptionally knowledgeable about the art of luxury poolscaping. These qualities have helped him elevate his company to one of the top in Arkansas.

Many magnificent homes are built on challenging landscapes where no thought is given to a pool in the future. “I create dynamic outdoor living spaces that are in total harmony with the surrounding environment and look like they’ve always been a part of the property,” explains Girner. “Discriminating clients come to us when other builders say the project can’t be done.”

EPBS specializes in custom state-of-the-art low maintenance pools built for maximum enjoyment with minimal effort. “We limit our work to about 20 projects per year because we want to ensure that each project receives maximum focus and personal attention. My entire team gets personally involved with each product and prides itself with not getting too spread out.”

EPBS focuses on the total design concept making sure that the overall vision is shared by all. “We are not your normal pool guys,” says Girner. “We want to create over-the-top outdoor environments and aquatic architecture. We take whatever time is necessary to ensure that the color, texture, and finish of all surfaces carry out the planned theme.”

Girner’s work over the past 35 years has been recognized in the industry with a number of national awards and honors. Additionally, his reputation mainly grows through client referrals. “There is a reason why EPBS is one of Arkansas’ top waterscape designers and builders,” explains Girner. “Our formula is this: quality design integrated with superior craftsmanship equals a successful project with completely satisfied clients.”

Swimming pools designs : The Designer Advantage

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The Designer Advantage

Brett Hatfield founded Downunda Pools because he believes in and is dedicated to designing and building projects that evoke an emotion. “A design is only successful when it makes you want to interact with it. I believe it must make you feel something. The process is as important as the design. We like clients that expect the best the world can offer and are committed to the process. My team and I communicate closely to develop a plan and create a design for every client that will not only fit their individual needs, but which will also be a breathtaking testimonial to their style,” says Hatfield. “Our aim, always, is to exceed their expectations.”

Hatfield begins every project the same way: with an interview. He talks and listens to his clients as they explore various concepts and gets a feel for their lifestyles. He believes that a design should not be consumed by the pool, but views it as a component of an overall view. Creative and well-thought-out landscaping plays an integral part in creating harmonious environments and it will be incorporated when required.

Depending on the application, Hatfield will either draw a design by hand or employ the services of the latest architectural software to compose a 3D perspective. Hatfield builds a limited number of exquisite pools per year, and he and his expert team oversee each phase of the construction process with a strict attention to detail. “We make sure every pool is completed promptly, correctly, and to our highest standards,” explains Hatfield.

Hatfield continues to better his own skills along with his staff’s with memberships in the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals along with taking courses with the Genesis Design Group. Downunda Pools also belongs to the Greater Houston Builders Association and is an accredited member of the Houston Better Business Bureau.

Swimming pools designs : Family Values

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Family Values

Downes Swimming Pool Company, Inc., family-owned for 42 years, works hard to cultivate a business that delivers outstanding customer service and a superior product. It succeeds on both accounts, as the number of awards it wins each year clearly attests.

The builder has been honored with 20 international design awards and more regional awards than any other pool builder in the Midwest. Meanwhile, its award-winning service division—offering a total pool maintenance and 24-hour emergency care—is second to none.

Indeed, the company’s success comes from making each client feel special and by addressing individual needs during the design and construction process. Downes builds magnificent custom gunite pools, spas, and water features (including koi ponds) that are designed for each client. This often leads to innovative solutions to unique problems, and inspirational solutions that boggle the imagination.

“We talk to our clients to discover what they want out of their pools,” says Mike Downes, vice president and general manager. “Then our staff goes to work and designs and builds an aquascape that makes us both proud.” Currently, Downes has about 85 experienced artisans and craftsmen working for the company.

A newly expanded showroom—with grand displays of building materials and exciting amenities, such as laminars, LED lighting, stone waterfalls, and fire features—makes it easy for homeowners to visualize the materials chosen for their one-of-a-kind poolscapes. Prospective pool buyers can touch and see materials in a real-life setting. The design team at Downes Swimming Pool Company specifies a Type III high density dolomitic limestone for the pool coping and deck paving from Valders Stone & Marble, Inc., and veneer stone and landscape materials from Eden Stone Company. Downes specifies both for their beauty and long lasting durability for its customers.

In addition to designing and building its own pools, Downes consults on projects throughout the United States, as well as internationally in such places as Jamaica and Portugal. In fact, many of Downes’ new projects are completed for customers who previously had a pool built by the company, and several Midwestern clients have hired Downes to consult on pools for their second homes in warmer climates. For anyone with a tired pool in need of a facelift, Downes also excels at pool renovation.

Swimming pools designs : Visionary Leadership

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Visionary Leadership

In 1984, neighbors and friends Raul Aizcorbe and Steve Tillotson created the foundation for Dolphin Pools and Spas. Twenty-eight years later, the company is considered one of the most reputable swimming pool contractors in Arizona. Its commitment to provide exemplary customer service and build superior quality pools and spas has never wavered.

Recently, Dolphin Pools and Spas’ elite team acquired the skills of Kevin Woodhurst, who joined the company as vice president of operations and general manager. Woodhurst holds numerous pool industry certifications and has been a student and instructor in the industry for many years. In fact, he is often the go-to guy to solve complex problems on projects. “I am proud that this organization supports my vision and is willing to basically hand over the keys to me and let me run with it,” says Woodhurst. “We have an unbelievable team of professionals here.”

From a project’s inception to its completion, the skilled craftsmen at Dolphin Pools and Spas use their experience, resourcefulness, imagination, and expertise to create designs that fit homeowners’ lifestyles. They create elegant poolscapes that include many luxurious amenities like therapeutic spas, water and fire features, and spacious decks. They utilize top-of-the-line materials and finishes, always providing their clients with the finest choices. “I don’t care if a pool costs $25,000 or $500,000, we owe it to the client to build the best possible project, period,” says Woodhurst.

The builder also renovates and remodels venues and supplies maintenance services for those homeowners who need assistance. Additionally, Dolphin Pools and Spas offers ECO-smart Pools, which save on chemical and energy use, and uses construction standards above the industry standard. The builder has attained a number of awards for its designs—as well as referrals from satisfied customers. “And to me, that is the best honor a builder can receive,” says Woodhurst.

Swimming pools designs : The Art of Water

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The Art of Water

Widely heralded as the industry’s benchmark for design, construction and engineering practices, David Tisherman has achieved global recognition for the standards he sets in the watershaping industry. Based in Manhattan Beach, California, with a satellite office in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (Liquid Design, LLC), Tisherman creates structurally correct swimming pools and spas that rise to the level of fine sculpture and environmental art.

Tisherman personally supervises all construction down to the finest details. An unrelenting perfectionist, he makes no compromises in quality or artistry, basing his work on creativity that encompasses his extensive educational background and his uncanny eye for color, scale, proportion, and detail. Each project is painstakingly engineered to meet the highest possible standards for hydraulic and structural integrity.

Tisherman uses the reflective quality of water and the beauty and texture of materials to enhance an overall setting. Rather than visually “forcing the pool” into a setting, his work elegantly enhances the architecture and environment in a dignified, and often, almost lyrical tone and quality.

The Robb Report called him the “Most influential designer and builder of the past two decades,” and his work has appeared on the covers of Architectural Digest, The Robb Report, Dream Houses and Luxury Pools.

He has undergraduate degrees in history and three-dimensional design from California State University, Northridge. With graduate work from the Pasadena Art Center College of Design in California, and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, he has taught architectural rendering and presentation at UCLA. Recently, he was asked to teach Design and Construction of Residential Water Features in the department of landscape architecture at UCLA. A founder of the Genesis Design Group, Tisherman has personally educated many of the elite pool designers and builders in the industry.

Swimming pools designs : A Passion for Perfection

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A Passion for Perfection

Considering each client’s personal style, Custom Pool Concepts creates one backyard masterpiece at a time, crafting a poolscape that coordinates with the surroundings and brings the entire family hours of year-round entertainment.

“We focus on how well each pool is designed and built, not on how many pools we build,” observes Rob Dickison, company president.

The setting drives the design. Using the finest materials installed by skilled craftsmen, Custom Pool Concepts provides a professional, finished look that complements the home and endures the test of time. During the design and planning process, company designers consider vistas from various places in the home to achieve the most striking sightlines. This attention to detail is essential in creating the ultimate in outdoor living spaces.

Renovations are no exception and often present unique situations that can challenge the best of designers. Drawing on the knowledge and skills of the entire team, Custom Pool Concepts also completes spectacular renovations, some of which have required reshaping a pool, relocating and upgrading a spa, and adding unique water features.

The company scrupulously plans each backyard and coordinates all aspects of construction. Supervised by an experienced construction manager, many projects have included outdoor summer kitchens, arbors, fire features, rock waterfalls, landscaping, and spas for relaxing on cool evenings.

As a member of the prestigious Aquatech Society, Custom Pool Concepts takes pride in creating distinctive luxury pools and providing impeccable customer service. Dickison is an Association of Pool & Spa Professionals Certified Building Professional and a member of the National Plasterers Council. Custom Pool Concepts is the winner of national and regional design awards, receiving its first awards in 1989.

Swimming pools designs : A Master’s Touch

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A Master’s Touch

People often shy away from challenges, but not Ron and Ruth Aveta, owners of Creative Master Pools, Inc. Their reputation for imaginative solutions to challenging pool settings has established them as trendsetters in their marketplace. “We enjoy pushing the creative envelope and designing backyard waterscapes that are different,” says Ruth Aveta.

“We strive to find exciting ways to design to the character of the property, taking advantage of points of interest and masking those of concern,” Ron explains. “For example, a steeply pitched terrain provides an opportunity for a vanishing-edge feature along a portion of the pool to accent a distant vista. Or on a flat property, the illusion of height can be created with a rock formation built into the pool wall with water cascading into a multilevel pool. The possibilities are endless and limited only by our clients’ acceptance of imaginative solutions. Our experience gives us the confidence to design something special to meet our clients’ needs and challenges. And because we service most of the pools after construction, we know just how well they work years later.”

Creative Master Pools specializes in design, construction, and renovation of residential and commercial custom concrete pools and spas—indoors or out. A complete outdoor living environment can be provided from patios and landscaping to outdoor kitchens and environmental lighting—all through a team of highly skilled craftsmen.

Creative Master Pools is New Jersey’s exclusive member of the Master Pools Guild, a global network of elite custom pool builders committed to building the world’s finest pools. To do this, they share information on pool construction technology and techniques. This resource is just one more reason Creative Master Pools has the confidence to present clients with creative solutions for their challenging pool settings. Creative’s projects have been recognized with both national and international design and technical achievement awards and featured in books on the art of swimming pool construction.