Building a luxury custom pool is a unique opportunity to create a personal oasis that mirrors your style and enhances your outdoor living space. From the timeless beauty of infinity edges to cutting-edge technology and premium finishes, each element is meticulously designed to transform your backyard into a haven of tranquility and elegance. 

To help you feel more prepared for the pool design and building process, we sat down with Karesa Edwards, a local luxury pool designer with whom we’ve collaborated on projects for our clients over the years. Whether you’re actively planning to build a luxury custom pool or are still in the inspiration phase, we hope you’ll enjoy her insight and tips on creating a thoughtfully designed backyard area that fits your family’s needs. 

When you’re ready to take the next step in building your luxury custom home, call us at 919-460-8550 or contact us online to set up a time to chat about your ideas.

Karesa Edwards on Designing Building a Luxury Custom Pool

What are some things more people should know before the design process?

“The most common stumbling block I see is not thinking about the specifics of the pool design early on in the custom home-building process. When this happens, there’s a risk of not having enough impervious surface on the lot, and building the pool design they have in mind becomes physically impossible. 

“Having an integrated design process between the pool designer, house architect, and builder at the start of the project helps ensure that the homeowner gets exactly what they want.”

What are some important things homeowners should consider when planning their pool design?

“I like to ask clients to visualize themselves walking into their backyard space. What do they see? How does the pool area feel? From there, we can create a design that meets their needs and fits their desired aesthetic. 

“I also ask clients about automatic pool covers early in the process. If safety is paramount, an automatic pool cover is the best way to prevent accidents. However, we can only install automatic pool covers on specific shapes, and they can impact spa placement and height. They also require specialized preventative maintenance and may require installing a ‘chiller’ to maximize comfort. An automatic pool cover can have a domino effect, so it’s best to have that conversation at the beginning of the process.”

How have trends in luxury pool designs changed over the last 20 years?

“The biggest shift I’ve seen is that pools have gone from super functional with a specific purpose to being art. Of course, clients want to have it be a place their families can use, but there is more emphasis now on looking in the backyard and seeing a beautifully designed space rather than just a pool. 

“A lot of this goes back to Instagram’s impact on the pool world, where clients care more about aesthetics than ever before. Instead of a simple pool on one big flat slab, clients want multi-level spaces with a pool, an outdoor kitchen, fire pits, etc., at different elevations for a more visually striking design.”

With an emphasis on aesthetics being more important than ever, what design features are you seeing in current builds?

“There’s been a shift in creating health and wellness spaces in the pool area in recent years. For example, I’ve had clients ask for a hot tub on one side and a cold plunge pool on the other so they can experience the wellness benefits of each option. 

“We’re also seeing more minimalist luxury designs with clean lines and beautifully executed classic shapes versus massive grottos or diving boards.”

What makes a design feel high-end versus “just another pool?”

“It’s all about the interior finish materials. We primarily use porcelain tile, travertine, marble, pebble finish, copper, and stainless steel. Dark bottom pools with a black or navy interior finish also give that luxury look.”

What fun or unique designs have you worked on in your career?

“There are a few that stand out! One homeowner added a guest house and garage to their property with an existing home pool. We created a design that capitalized on the complicated terrain and made a custom water slide from the 2nd story guest house porch down to the pool. 

“For one client who’s an avid triathlete, we installed a specialized pump within the pool wall so that they could train against the waves at home within an otherwise normal pool.

“We also customized a spa depth and seat dimensions for a very tall family (the mom, who was the shortest of the five, was 6’3!) so they could comfortably sit without slouching. 

“Part of the fun of this job is getting to know clients and creating a space that reflects their unique needs and hobbies.”

What has your experience working with Rufty Homes over the years?

“Everyone on the Rufty team has been fantastic, and we have a great time collaborating to bring their clients’ ideas to life. The pool building industry is still heavily male-dominated, and I’ve always appreciated and remain grateful that Rufty gave me a shot to prove my skill and has always judged me solely on my work product.”

Here for Every Aspect of Your Luxury Build

Thank you again to Karesa for sharing her insights with us! You can visit her website to learn more and follow her work on Instagram to see her latest designs, or visit her website here. When you want to take the next step and start planning your luxury custom build or renovation, Rufty Homes is here. Call us at 919-460-8550 or contact us online to get started.