The Advocate - NOLA.com - June, 2019

The Advocate - NOLA.com - June, 2019

Check out the latest in New Orleans home pools:

Petite cocktail pools, tanning shelves, and 'there's an app for that!"

BY MISSY WILKINSON | Special to The Advocate JUN 27,2019 - 9:00 AM

Cocktail culture

From backyard crawfish boils to iced tea on the front porch, outdoor living has always loomed large in south Louisiana. More and more homeowners are expanding their home's footprint with an eye toward the backyard, adding fire pits, pergolas, outdoor kitchens and cabanas. And pools serve as both centerpiece and star attraction. Outdoor space can be limited in older neighborhoods, where petite courtyards or alley-like strips of yard may be the norm. But even tight properties can accommodate a pool.

“Cocktail pools — a smaller, nontraditional-type pool — are really popular in New Orleans for obvious reasons: Back yards are small,” said Mike Stanton, owner of Oasis Pools & Spas. “They have more of a fountain or water feature look to them and are more artsy.”

Typically no bigger than 10 feet wide and 20 feet long, cocktail pools bring visual interest to an outdoor space, plus a refreshing place to cool off. “Cocktail pools fit in a tight spot and are cheaper to maintain, cheaper to heat,” Stanton said. “It really is the best of both worlds.”

“It literally takes just as much effort to build a smaller pool versus a larger pool,” Stanton said.

Imitating nature

While free-form pools aren't as popular as their more symmetrical counterparts, they can be appropriate options for homeowners with sprawling, wooded backyards. Designed to resemble lakes and ponds, these pools often incorporate rock and waterfall features, darker finishes and rustic landscaping.

“The difficulty is trying to replicate nature,” Stanton said. “I'm trying to take rocks and design as Mother Nature would to make them look and act naturally.”

The flowing, free-form look can also complement a more contemporary home. In that case, the pool contractor might opt for sleeker finishes, switching out a natural stone perimeter for glass tile and limestone decking, for example.

“As far as linear versus free-form, architectural aspects of the house come into play, but it is ultimately the homeowner's choice as to what they like better,” Stanton said.

Soak in the sun

Tanning ledges — a flat, shallow area in the pool, typically located along its perimeter—are also popular among families with children.

“(A tanning shelf) is definitely a confidence-builder for a child or adult who doesn’t want to get their whole body in the pool but still wants the refreshing benefits,” Stanton said. “It’s also great for pets. Lots of customers have sent pictures of pets sitting on the ledge in the pool.”