SWIMMING POOL

Whether a Nantucket cottage-style pool area connected by a series of flagstone terraces to its adjacent home in upstate New York, or an Asian-inspired house and pool that are as striking as the Montego Bay view that surrounds them in Jamaica, The Swimming Pool is packed with photos displaying breathtaking images of pool landscapes. Martha Baker shares ideas and tips culled from years of experience designing and building swimming pools; landscaping the gardens and grounds around them, and choosing the poolside furnishings. Not only does she reveal the detailed considerations that were acounted for when each pool was designed, but she also maps out how the readers can pull their favourite elements featured in these photos and work them into their own pool designs. She explains the logistics behind determining which design style (Modern, Classic, Romantic or Rustic) fits within certain properties; nailing down the precise locale of the pool within a property to achieve ideal aesthetic and practical value; designing the best pool shape and surrounding area; and deciding on the right equipment, patio furniture and surrounding foliage and accessories that pull it all together.