Focal Point Adds Finishing Touch

A sparkling fibreglass pool was the finishing touch to this Alfred Cove home’s outdoor entertaining area.

“The owner built the home around two years ago and always knew that he would eventually incorporate a swimming pool into the outdoor space,”

Barrier Reef Pools owner Brad Hilbert said. Mr Hilbert was enlisted to install the swimming pool in the front garden. He also helped the owner decide on a few extras that have given the project a sleek, sophisticated finish.

“The backyard of the home was quite small so the owner decided to make the front area, which wraps around the corner block, into the main outdoor entertaining space,” he said. The home itself has a contemporary appeal, softened by timber eaves and feature stone panels.

These materials have been incorporated into the outdoor area to tie the whole property together. A Barrier Reef Billabong 6.2m by 2.8m pool finished in Pacific Shimmer extends down one side of the space. It is viewed through windows from all around the home and acts as much as a water feature as a functional focal point.The pool has a built-in bench seat that wraps around the shallow-end and halfway up the length of the pool. Four spa jets offer a relaxing respite on the longer seat. A stack stone wall with LED blade water feature heads the pool, the water cascading into the pool backed by colour-changing LED lights. Coral Stone from Bonita Stone surrounds the pool while a panel of mosaic tiles sit just above the waterline. A blanket box is barely visible in the stone but a practical install cleverly hidden out of the way, while frameless-glass fencing by Sorrento Glass Pool Fencing allows the pool area and entertaining space to blend as one. Timber decking adds warmth and matches the timber-lined ceilings of the alfresco area under the main roof. Pebbles line the garden beds, which have low-maintenance tropical plants. A feature steel light box is set into one of the fencing panels along with LED strip lighting installed under a raised planter platform. Cafe blinds and a white umbrella are permanent fixtures, allowing the owners to use the area in different weather conditions.

Mr Hilbert said the space had a clever balance of uses, materials and dimension. “It is minimalistic but welcoming, with a balanced, warm mix of materials,” he said.

by Katie Lee