# Craftsman backyard pool in Pasadena A freeform with a brick coping that matches the porch, a lemon tree and a lawn that kids actually use. Drawn for a 1920s craftsman house with a deep porch, river stone piers, exposed rafters and a low gable roof, with a lawn with a lemon tree, roses, a sycamore and a clipped hedge, the San Gabriel Mountains in the haze. A design idea for Pasadena, CA. Southern California, classic suburb, Craftsman. Updated 2026-10-06. ## The numbers - Size: 30 × 15 ft (3.5 to 5.5 ft deep) - Water surface: 360 sq ft - Water: about 9,000 gal - Coping: 73 linear ft - Deck: 1,330 sq ft ## 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: Freeform A pool with natural, flowing curves. Curves relax a yard and work with planting, a rock feature or a tub, at the cost of a more complicated cover. ### 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 360 sq ft of water and about 9,000 gallons. ### Steps: Curved steps Curved, wedding-cake steps. A formal, graceful way into a Roman or larger pool. 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. ### 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: Blue finish, classic deep blue water A blue interior. Gives a classic, deeper blue water. ### Waterline tile: Sea glass Sea-green glass mosaic at the waterline. A soft, coastal line that warms the water. It runs about 73 linear ft around this pool. ### Coping: Brick Red brick with a rolled edge. A traditional edge that suits brick houses and colonial or Tudor styles. It runs about 73 linear ft around this pool. ### Deck: Stamped concrete Tan stamped concrete with a stone pattern. An affordable deck poured in one piece. It needs a sealer and a grit additive so it is not slippery when wet. The deck is about 1,330 sq ft here. ### Planting: Lawn and hedges A green lawn with clipped hedges. Gives kids a soft place to play and a formal frame to the deck. ### Pool fence: Black aluminum A black aluminum picket fence. A standard, durable barrier that disappears in the planting and meets most barrier codes. ### Furniture: Umbrella, Dining table Umbrella: A market umbrella. Cheap shade that you can move with the sun. 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: a lawn with a lemon tree, roses, a sycamore and a clipped hedge, the San Gabriel Mountains in the haze. A classic suburb yard has room for a real pool, so the design is about how the family uses it. A regular lot and a rear yard give room for a pool, a deck and a lawn. Think about sight lines from the kitchen, where the shade falls and where the kids will play. The house is a 1920s craftsman house with a deep porch, river stone piers, exposed rafters and a low gable roof. A Craftsman house wants natural materials, warm wood and a pool that tucks into the yard. Wood-look decking, stone coping and planting that reaches the water soften a compact pool so it looks as if it belongs with the porch and beams. ## Will it fit your yard? Plan on a clear area of about 48 by 33 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 50 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. ## Quick answers **How much water does this pool hold?** About 9,000 gallons. It is 30 by 15 ft with about 360 sq ft of water, 3.5 ft deep at the steps and 5.5 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 48 by 33 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 50 by 35 ft. **What does this design cost?** A planning range for CA is $55,000 to $140,000 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 Brick coping picks up the river stone piers on the porch of the 1920s house, so the pool looks original to the lot. The freeform shape leaves lawn for kids, and the sun shelf with curved steps gives small children a shallow place to stand while adults eat at the table. What to watch: Brick coping holds heat and moisture, so expect to seal it, and bare feet find it rough. The lawn, lemon tree and sycamore also send grass, fruit and leaves into the water. ## What this will cost: a planning range $55,000 to $140,000 for CA, a range from published prices and not a quote. - The pool: $34,000 to $95,000. 359 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. - Pebble interior: $4,000 to $4,000. 606 sq ft of shell at $6 a square foot above plaster. Pebble is $10 a square foot against $4 for plaster in both sources. - Coping: $2,000 to $2,500. 73 linear ft at $25 to $30 a foot. - Deck: $17,000 to $28,000. 1,330 sq ft at $12 to $20 a square foot installed. - Pool fence: $2,500 to $6,500. 170 linear ft around the deck as drawn, at $15 to $35 a foot 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/); [ThePricer Media, pool resurfacing (quoting Angi, April 2026 data)](https://www.thepricer.org/how-much-does-pool-resurfacing-cost/); [Willsha Pools, pool finishes](https://willshapools.com/?p=5877); [Pool Research, pool coping cost](https://poolresearch.com/coping-cost/); [HomeAdvisor, pool deck cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/pool-deck); [Fixr, pool fence](https://www.fixr.com/costs/swimming-pool-fence) ## 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: Pebble, blue (about 610 sq ft of shell). Small stones set in cement. It is textured, hides wear and holds color well, and it is rougher on bare feet than the other finishes. - Waterline tile: Sea glass (about 73 linear ft, 10 in. band). Sea-green glass adds color without matching the water, and it needs the same regular wipe as any glass tile. - Coping: Brick (about 73 linear ft). Rolled-edge brick gives a traditional line. The mortar joints need attention over the years and the surface can be uneven underfoot. - Deck: Stamped concrete (about 1,330 sq ft). Poured concrete pressed with a stone pattern. It should be sealed with a non-slip additive and resealed on a schedule, or it fades and gets slick. - Pool fence: Black aluminum (about 170 linear ft around the deck as drawn). Black aluminum pickets are light, strong and the usual choice for a barrier. Near salt air, ask for a marine-rated finish. - Planting: Lawn and hedges. A lawn and clipped hedges. It softens the yard and brings grass clippings and fertilizer, so it should be kept away from the water. ## Keeping it up - Pebble in this climate: Pebble suits a dry, sunny region, but check your tap water: hard water scales any finish. - When it is resurfaced: Pebble is usually redone every 15 to 20 or more years, depending on the water and the builder (Shasta Pools, plaster versus pebble and Pebble Technology, support). On this pool that is about 610 sq ft of interior. - Stamped concrete deck: Reseal the stamped concrete every few years with a non-slip additive, or it fades and gets slippery when wet. - Black aluminum fence: A black aluminum fence needs a wash and a check of its gate latch. Near salt air, rinse it and touch up any chipped finish. - Dry season: A long dry season means steady evaporation and dust. Top up on a schedule and keep the filter clean. - 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 - What soil and slope engineering does this lot need, and what does your water district say about filling a new pool? - How will the brick be set around the curved edge and the shelf so the joints stay tight and the color matches the porch? - How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping? - Will the fence meet the barrier code, and is the gate self-closing and self-latching? - Is the pebble finish rough on bare feet here, and how long does it last in my water? Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=craftsman-backyard-pool-pasadena