Coastal modern pool with an ocean view in Encinitas

A clean rectangle with a sun shelf, a cedar-look deck and a glass fence that keeps the Pacific in sight.

Suits: coastal houses on a coastal in Southern California.

Coastal
Luxury tier
Hot tub
Sun shelf

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Coastal modern pool with an ocean view in Encinitas: a coastal yard in Encinitas, CA, with a bluff-top yard with ornamental grasses, succulents, a few palms and a view of the Pacific Ocean beyond. — Drawn for a white coastal modern house with cedar accents, black steel windows and a low-pitched roof, with a bluff-top yard with ornamental grasses, succulents, a few palms and a view of the Pacific Ocean beyond.

Size: 30 × 15 ft; 3.5 to 5.5 ft deep
Water surface: 450 sq ft
Water: about 10,200 gal
Coping: 90 linear ft
Deck: 1,590 sq ft
Hot tub: 7 ft round; about 850 gal

The design, spelled out

Every choice in this pool, what it is, and why it suits this house and this part of the country.

Depth profile

The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 8 ft, slopes over about 10 ft, then runs level at 5.5 ft for the last 11 ft. A sun shelf sits at the other end.

ShapeRectangle: A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.
Size30 × 15 ft: A pool about 15 ft wide and 30 ft long. A common family size with room for play and a short swim. That is about 450 sq ft of water and about 10,200 gallons.
StepsWide steps: Wide steps across one end. Easy for kids and older swimmers, and a place to sit in the shallow water. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep.
Sun shelfSun shelf: A shallow ledge a few inches under the water. Kids play and adults lounge on it, and bubblers or a chair fit there.
Hot tubSeparate tub, 7 ft round: A hot tub on the deck, apart from the pool. It has its own water and heater, so you can run it alone on a cold night without heating the pool. The tub holds about 850 gallons.
Pool finishPebble: An exposed pebble aggregate finish, in the Pebble Tec style. Durable and textured, which hides small marks, but rougher on bare feet.
Finish colorLight grey finish, soft turquoise water: A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.
Waterline tileGrey stone: Grey stone-look porcelain at the waterline. A quiet, natural band that goes with concrete and wood. It runs about 90 linear ft around this pool.
CopingPorcelain: Large-format grey porcelain with a square edge. Crisp and low maintenance, ideal beside a modern house. Check it is rated for exterior use where it freezes. It runs about 90 linear ft around this pool.
DeckWood-look deck: Warm brown composite wood-look boards. Soft on bare feet and warm to look at. Darker boards can run hot in full sun, so check the color. The deck is about 1,590 sq ft here.
PlantingModern: Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture.
Pool fenceGlass: A frameless glass pool fence. It keeps the view open. Your town's barrier code sets the height, the gate and the latch, so ask before you design around it.
Water featuresBubblers: Bubblers: Small domes of water rising on the sun shelf. A soft sound and a cooling touch on a shelf, with little plumbing.
Add to the yardPergola: Pergola: A pergola over part of the deck. Gives shade and a room feeling. It may need a permit and engineering where it is windy or snowy.
FurnitureLoungers, Outdoor sofa: Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck.
Outdoor sofa: An outdoor sofa and lounge chairs. Makes the deck feel like a living room outside.
LightGolden hour: Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best.

Why it fits the coastal

The yard: a bluff-top yard with ornamental grasses, succulents, a few palms and a view of the Pacific Ocean beyond. 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.

Why it fits the coastal house

The house is a white coastal modern house with cedar accents, black steel windows and a low-pitched roof. 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.

Turn this design around in 3D

This is the model behind the numbers above, with this design's own shape, steps, finish and deck. It loads when you scroll to it.

The same choices as the picture, as a model you can turn.

Will this fit your yard?

A planning estimate, built from the model's own dimensions. Your town's setbacks decide the real answer.

Clear area to plan on

60 × 33 ft

About 1,980 sq ft. The pool and tub alone is 42 × 15 ft.

Plan on a clear area of about 60 by 33 ft for the pool, the tub, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 62 by 35 ft.

The 4 ft walkway and 5 ft setback are our planning allowances, not code. Towns set their own distances from the water to the lot line and the house, so ask yours before you commit to a layout.

Will it fit your yard?

Width, ftDepth, ft

Enter the clear area, from the house to the back fence and side to side.

Southern California: what the climate asks of this pool

Southern California pools are an outdoor room, so the design is about the view, the shade and the way the yard flows.

The season is long and the winters are mild, so lighting, fire and seating matter as much as the water.
Lots are often small or sloped. Retaining walls, raised spas and vanishing edges show up a lot, and each one brings engineering and a permit.
Water rules and drought restrictions can affect filling, covers and water features. Ask what your water district allows.
Near the coast, marine air is hard on metal and fades finishes. Pick fittings and fences made for it.

What this will cost: ask a local builder for a quote

We do not print a price for this design. The public ranges we checked disagree widely, and soil, access, local labor and permit rules move the real number more than any picture can.

What moves the price on this design

Size. This pool has about 450 sq ft of water surface and about 10,200 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment.
Deck. About 1,590 sq ft of paving is a large line item on its own. Ask for the deck priced separately so you can compare materials.
The separate hot tub, its heater, plumbing and equipment pad.
About 194 linear ft of glass fence around the deck as drawn, set by what your town's barrier code requires.
Water features (bubblers), each with its own plumbing and pump capacity.
The yard additions (pergola), which are often permitted and priced separately.

How to get a number you can trust

Ask two or three local builders to quote the same scope in writing: the pool, the deck, the fence, the electrical, the permits and the landscaping, each on its own line. Then compare the lines, not the totals.

Share this page with them. The size, the choices and the 3D model give a builder a starting point, so the first conversation is about your yard instead of a blank sheet.

Questions to ask a builder about this design

Specific to what is in this pool. Ask them before you sign.

01What soil and slope engineering does this lot need, and what does your water district say about filling a new pool?
02Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather?
03How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping?
04What does the town's barrier code require for the glass height and the gate, and how do you clean it?
05Does the pergola need a permit or engineering for wind or snow, and who builds it?
06Do the bubblers run on the main pump or their own, and can I shut them off?