We’re Putting in a Pool (Pool Inspiration)

Guys, I have some really exciting news that I’ve been bursting to share. We’re putting in a pool!

Eeek! This is something we’ve dreamed of for so long for our family. It can get very hot here in our seaside town and for years we’ve dreamed of a pool. Well, this summer it’s becoming a reality. We live in Scituate Harbor and have a relatively big plot of land for an “in town” location. Our back yard isn’t very large, but our side yard is. It’s almost a double lot. You can get an idea of the pool location in some of these photos previously seen on my blog:

Current Yard and Pool Location

See all that green lawn? That’s the location the pool is going to be. Here’s another view:

It’s a great part of the yard and we thought it could be enhanced even more so by a pool. Luke and I’ve talked about it for a few years and we did a lot of research and talked to some pool companies. We got quotes and while it’s a HUGE investment, it’s something we want to do while our boys are still little.

My Childhood Pool Memories

Growing up in West Andover, Massachusetts, I had a pool and I loved it so much! It was wonderful. When we moved in, I didn’t know how to swim so I wasn’t allowed to go in the pool. I’d have to sit in a baby pool, while everyone enjoyed the big pool, until I mastered swimming. It wasn’t long before I was like a fish. I’d dive off the board, touch the bottom, and swim to the other side, all in one breath.

Here’s my pool when I was little:

I have the BEST memories.

I loved having my best friend, Jimmy Gorrie, over with his family to swim.

We’d spend hours and hours – playing Marco Polo or lap races. I used to pretend I was a mermaid too. I’d also dump cholorinated water on my head because I wanted blonde hair like all my barbie dolls. It actually seemed to work pretty well. 😉

My dad did all the landscaping. Isn’t it beautiful?

The other week I shared happy memories of my dad. He really enjoyed our pool and swam laps after work. I loved spending time with him out there. He really thought our idea of putting a pool in would be great for our family. I’m just so sad that he’s not going to be sitting out there with us this summer, but I know he’ll be there in spirit.

Our Pool Plans

So it has always been a dream for us, for our children to enjoy a pool of their own. Both John and Conor started swimming very young and while we have the ocean it just isn’t the same as swimming in a pool. Not to mention that the ocean here in Scituate is FREEZING!

Last summer, Luke and I started looking into pools properly and did lots of research. We decided we wanted to go for a gunite pool because they last a lifetime, they can be customized for color and shape, and we found a company we really trust. Brett who works for South Shore Gunite came to our home and helped us decided on positioning and talked us through the benefits of gunite. South Shore Gunite has been in business, and servicing New England, since 1975. This pool company does everything for the consumer from digging the pool, to gunite, to patio and electrical, AND it’s covered under a lifetime warranty. When we narrowed our choice down to South Shore Gunite, I decided to contact a bunch of their previous customers. Some of whom, had put pools in 10 or 15 years ago and they were still so happy with the pool and the work. It felt weird cold calling people, but I was really glad I took the time to talk to about 9 people in our area and discussed their experience. SSG have also put in some very big and lavish commercial pools including the YMCA and Chatham Bars Inn pool, which is right on the beach.

I really love the kidney shape but for our yard Brett thought something a little more free form would work,  due to the set backs and dimensions, so we’d still be able to swim laps. Here’s the design of the pool:

As you can see, the shape is a loose kidney. The shallow end will be toward the front of the yard and the deep end will be toward the back. There will be steps in the shallow end with a bench and a swim out bench in the deep end. The bench in the shallow end will actually be on the right side of the steps so people can still swim laps in the pool. We also will have lights in the pool for evening swimming. Another change in the plans is we’re going to move the shed closer and incorporate the patio to make the shed visually part of the space. Conor has big ideas on designs and stuff for inside the shed for a “pool house”. 😉 I actually can picture beach hooks and built in storage for pool floats, but I think I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. The patio will have an area for loungers and for dining as we really want to fully use this space as a summer hang out and entertaining area. The patio will be aggregate which is covered under the warranty and is durable with our winters.

After giving the initial deposit in the fall. We took down our beautiful Black Walnut tree. We were all very sad about this but the tree would have been killed when they dug the trench and also walnuts would fall into the pool. I love to repurpose stuff from our yard and our home so we had the wood milled and Luke is going to build some beautiful furniture – I’m thinking raw edge shelves, benches and maybe a bar; but I know he’ll come up with some great designs. He has the wood in the basement and and it is drying out. It will be up to a year before it’s seasoned and ready to be used.

The first step after approving the plans was to get the town permit and make sure we had all the set backs right. Brett measured everything precisely and spray painted the pool outline on the grass.

The steps:

Brett went above and beyond helping us take some fence panels down and helped us put the temporary fence up so the dogs can still enjoy part of the yard.

We will need to replace some of the fence panels to be in code in Massachusetts for a pool.

The above photo gives you an idea of our side yard. You can see all of Max’s toys. I know the yard is currently looking gorgeous with snow and this beautiful orange fence. 😉 I’m sure you’ll all want to pin that image for later. Ha! Ha!

Pool Inspiration

I wanted to share some beautiful pool inspiration photos before I end the post. I’m pouring over online sources, magazines and catalogs to get some ideas. My plan is for it to be classic New England and coastal. I want it to be very simple and relaxing space. I want to be able enjoy the pool with the kids so the planting is going to be low maintenance and everything coastal – sea grasses, limelight hydrangeas etc.

Here are some images that I love from Houzz: