# 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. 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.

A design idea for Encinitas, CA. Southern California, coastal, Coastal. Updated 2026-10-04.

## The numbers

- 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

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.

### Shape: Rectangle

A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.

### Size: 30 × 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.

### Steps: Wide 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 shelf: Sun 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 tub: Separate 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 finish: Pebble

An exposed pebble aggregate finish, in the Pebble Tec style. Durable and textured, which hides small marks, but rougher on bare feet.

### Finish color: Light grey finish, soft turquoise water

A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.

### Waterline tile: Grey 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.

### Coping: Porcelain

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.

### Deck: Wood-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.

### Planting: Modern

Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture.

### Pool fence: Glass

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 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.

### Add to the yard: Pergola

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.

### Furniture: Loungers, 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.

### Light: Golden hour

Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best.

## Why it suits this house

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.

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.

## Will it fit your yard?

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.

## 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

No price is printed for this design. Ask a local builder for a quote. What moves the price:

- 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.

## Questions to ask a builder

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

Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=coastal-modern-pool-encinitas