# Beach cottage pool a block from 30A A relaxed rectangle with a white deck and a bench, close enough to the Gulf to rinse off in. Drawn for a raised white beach cottage with a metal roof, board-and-batten siding and a wraparound porch, with sand-colored grounds with sea oats, dune grass, cabbage palms and crushed shell paths. A design idea for Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Gulf Coast, coastal, Coastal. Updated 2026-10-06. ## The numbers - Size: 24 × 12 ft (3.5 to 5 ft deep) - Water surface: 290 sq ft - Water: about 5,700 gal - Coping: 72 linear ft - Deck: 960 sq ft ## The design, spelled out The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 7 ft, slopes over about 8 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 9 ft. A sun shelf sits at the other end. ### Shape: Rectangle A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house. ### Size: 24 × 12 ft A pool about 12 ft wide and 24 ft long. Big enough for a few people to cool off and play, small enough for a tight lot. That is about 290 sq ft of water and about 5,700 gallons. ### Steps: Steps and a bench Steps with a bench along one wall. Gives adults a place to sit and talk in the water while the kids play. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep. ### Sun shelf: With an umbrella A sun shelf with an umbrella in the water. Adds shade so the shelf is usable at midday. ### Pool finish: Quartz Plaster with quartz aggregate, smooth with a bit of sparkle. Usually holds color and resists staining better than plain plaster, and stays gentle on feet. Warm, humid water grows algae faster, so a smooth, dense finish is easier to keep clean. ### Finish color: White finish, bright light blue water A white interior. Gives the brightest, lightest blue water. ### Waterline tile: White White porcelain at the waterline. A clean, bright line that looks crisp against dark water. It runs about 72 linear ft around this pool. ### Coping: Travertine Ivory travertine with a rounded edge. Stays cooler underfoot than most stone and gives a warm, classic edge. It runs about 72 linear ft around this pool. ### Deck: Travertine pavers Ivory travertine pavers. Light and cool underfoot, and a natural fit with Mediterranean and French styles. The deck is about 960 sq ft here. Choose a texture that stays safe when wet, because this deck will be damp often. ### Planting: Modern Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture. Choose planting that tolerates storms and keep it a few feet from the water to limit debris. ### Water features: Bubblers Bubblers: Small domes of water rising on the sun shelf. A soft sound and a cooling touch on a shelf, with little plumbing. ### Furniture: Loungers, Dining table Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck. Dining table: An outdoor dining table and chairs. Turns the pool into the place where meals happen. ### Light: Midday sun Shown in midday sun. Shows the true color of the water and the finish. ## Why it suits this house The yard: sand-colored grounds with sea oats, dune grass, cabbage palms and crushed shell paths. A coastal pool deals with wind, salt and a view, so materials and shelter shape the design. Wind chills the water and carries salt. A low wall, a glass fence and tough fittings let the pool take in the view without punishment from the weather. The house is a raised white beach cottage with a metal roof, board-and-batten siding and a wraparound porch. A coastal house wants light colors, natural wood and a view that stays open. A clean rectangle, a glass fence, pale coping and a wood-look deck keep the yard bright and let the ocean air and light do the work. ## Will it fit your yard? Plan on a clear area of about 42 by 30 ft for the pool, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 43 by 31 ft. ## Gulf Coast: what the climate asks of this pool On the Gulf Coast, a pool has to handle humidity, salt air and storm surge risk as well as the heat. - Humid air keeps decks damp, so a textured, light-colored surface that dries quickly is safer underfoot. - Low, flat lots can hold standing water after heavy rain. Deck drainage and where the pool overflow goes matter more here than in a dry region. - Salt air is hard on metals. Stainless and aluminum parts should be marine rated, and fire features need their gas lines sized and protected for wind. - In a flood zone, the pool, the equipment and the fence may all have extra rules. Check the flood map for the lot before you fall for a layout. ## Quick answers **How much water does this pool hold?** About 5,700 gallons. It is 24 by 12 ft with about 290 sq ft of water, 3.5 ft deep at the steps and 5 ft at the deep end. The gallons come from adding up the depth over the real floor, steps and shelf included. **How big a yard does it need?** Plan on a clear area of about 42 by 30 ft for the pool, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 43 by 31 ft. **What does this design cost?** A planning range for FL is $45,000 to $105,000 all in: the pool, deck, coping, fence and features listed on this page. Permits and engineering are not in it. It is a range built from published prices, not a quote, and real jobs usually land inside it rather than on its edges. **How long does it take to build?** Plan on about 3 to 6 months from a signed contract to the first swim. Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts. ## Why it works here Sand-colored grounds and a raised white cottage suit a clean white rectangle that does not compete with the dune grass. Travertine deck and coping stay light and kind to bare feet after a rinse. The bench by the steps gives a seat in the shallows under the umbrella. What to watch: Sand blows onto the deck and into the water, and salt air eats at metal fittings. With no fence in the design, the town may still require a barrier, and a raised house can change where it goes. ## What this will cost: a planning range $45,000 to $105,000 for FL, a range from published prices and not a quote. - The pool: $26,000 to $73,000. 288 sq ft of water at $90 to $250 a square foot (shell, excavation, plumbing, equipment, plaster). Steps and the sun shelf are part of the shell. - Coping: $3,500 to $4,000. 72 linear ft at $45 to $55 a foot. - Deck: $15,000 to $26,000. 964 sq ft at $15 to $27 a square foot installed. - Bubblers: $500 to $1,000. Two bubblers. Each bubbler, installed. Sources: [US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state](https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area); [HomeAdvisor, in-ground pool cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/inground-pool); [Fixr, gunite and concrete pool](https://www.fixr.com/costs/inground-gunite-concrete-swimming-pool); [Pool Research, plunge pool cost](https://poolresearch.com/plunge-pool-cost/); [Pool Research, pool coping cost](https://poolresearch.com/coping-cost/); [HomeAdvisor, travertine pavers](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/outdoor-living/travertine-pavers-install/); [Simplified Pools, water features guide](https://simplifiedpools.com/blog/pool-water-features-fountains-guide/) ## How long it takes 3 to 6 months from contract to first swim. Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts. ## What it is made of - Interior: Quartz, white (about 480 sq ft of shell). Plaster with quartz grains mixed in. Smoother than pebble and tougher than plaster, with a little sparkle under the water. - Waterline tile: White (about 72 linear ft, 10 in. band). White porcelain shows a waterline ring more than a darker tile, so it wants a regular wipe. - Coping: Travertine (about 72 linear ft). Natural stone with a rounded edge. It stays comfortable underfoot but should be sealed, and it needs a gentle cleaner rather than an acid wash. - Deck: Travertine pavers (about 960 sq ft). Natural stone pavers. Cooler than most paving in the sun, but porous: it needs sealing and a quick rinse after salt or chlorine splashes. - Planting: Modern. Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. Tidy and low water, with the beds kept away from the skimmer. - Water feature: Bubblers. Small domes of water on the shelf. They are quiet, they run on the pump or a small one of their own, and they take little room. ## Keeping it up - Quartz in this climate: A smooth quartz surface is easier to keep algae-free than a textured one, but it still needs a steady sanitizer level in warm water. - Travertine pavers deck: Seal the travertine as the maker says and rinse it after salt or chlorine splashes. Use a stone-safe cleaner, never an acid wash. - Bubblers: Bubblers are low upkeep. Check the nozzles for scale and keep the shelf free of debris. - Algae and storms: Warm, damp weather grows algae fast, so keep the sanitizer steady and circulation running. Secure loose furniture before a storm. - Yearly running cost: Owners commonly budget $3,000 to $5,000 a year for chemicals, power, service and repairs (HomeAdvisor, in-ground pool cost, 2026). ## Questions to ask a builder - Is the lot in a flood zone, and where does the pool equipment have to sit to meet that rule? - Which fittings and equipment will the builder use that are made for salt air, and how will blown sand be kept out of the skimmer? - How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping? - Do the bubblers run on the main pump or their own, and can I shut them off? - Is the travertine sealed, and how does it hold up to the pool chemicals? Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=beach-cottage-pool-santa-rosa-beach