transitional country custom
pool & slide
gainsville, TX
2019 APSP Region 3 "award of merit" award
large freeform Pools
Designed by Mike Farley
Flow with the natural setting and blend with the transitional home plus fun was the
recipe for this client success. The hillside gradual rose up and was going to require a
18" high retaining wall. The solution would create great sound and great visual
effect, both common with one water feature; however, they are with stair stepped
slate water wall. The very précised chipped layer slate stacks up to create
"awesome and with a curved wall is amazing". Keeping the rest of the veneer with
the clean linear lines, dry stacked flagstone accented all the walls of the spa, grotto
and slide. The grotto was the focal point, not your typical pile of rocks, but a clean
neat stone work capped with fire and water bowl. The illusion was that the fire
bowl provides all the water for the grotto waterfall, the secret was a 3" supply line
with water flowing through the dry stack stone with no mortar in sections. Two
additional fire and water bowls accent the slate spillway as well. More fun started
behind the grotto with a 25' long slide. Plants softened the slide and the back of the
pool. Travertine steps treads accent the change of elevation following the hillside
grade to the slide and spa. The rolled glass spa edge and pool waterline sparkled in
the sunlight and tied in with the pool bath tile as well. This recipe was voted a
success by all! ~ Mike Farley