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Irvine, CA · New-build subdivision

Family pool with an outdoor kitchen in an Irvine subdivision

A small freeform, a hot tub attached, a wide set of steps and a grill island on a Southern California lot.

One photo of your yard is all it needs.

Suits: modern farmhouse houses on a new-build subdivision in Southern California.

Drawn for a two-story white modern farmhouse with black window frames, a metal roof accent and a three-car garage, with a compact lot with a stucco wall, a lemon tree, ornamental grasses and succulents, the next house close beside.

Planning cost, CA
$45,000 to $130,000
A range from published prices, not a quote
Build time
3 to 6 months
Contract to first swim
Size
24 × 12 ft
3.5 to 5 ft deep
Water
about 5,400 gal
Water surface
230 sq ft
Hot tub
7 ft round
about 850 gal

Quick answers about this design

Worked out from this design's own model, so they differ from page to page.

How much water does this pool hold?
About 5,400 gallons. It is 24 by 12 ft with about 230 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 51 by 30 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 52 by 31 ft.
What does this design cost?
A planning range for CA is $45,000 to $130,000 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.

Chapter 1 of 4

The design

What is in this pool, and how it turns in 3D.

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 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.

3.5 ft5 ftwater line24 ft long

Design notes

Written with AI tools from this design's own measurements and sources, not by a pool builder. How we write

Why it works here

Compact lots with a house close beside call for a small freeform where every piece does two jobs. Wide steps and the sun shelf with loungers share one shallow zone, the round tub at the left end spills into the pool, and the outdoor kitchen sits on pavers instead of taking more yard.

What to watch

A lot of features squeeze a 24 by 12 pool: steps, shelf, tub and jets leave little room to swim. With the neighbor so close, noise from jets, the grill and the hot tub carries too.

How it reads

Blue quartz and blue glass tile make the water a bright, even blue against the white farmhouse and the black window frames. Travertine coping and concrete pavers keep a warm, pale edge. The deck jets draw small arcs on the surface, and the grill island sits low beside the loungers. In the afternoon the close neighbor's wall throws some shade, and the lemon tree and grasses stay soft around the hard lines.

Through the year

This part of Southern California is mild, so the pool is used for most of the year, with the busiest stretch in summer. Wind and a little rain are the main interruptions. Keep the hot tub on in the cool months and use the deck jets in the heat, since they cool the shallow end in the afternoon.

Every choice, row by row (16)
ShapeFreeform

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.

Size24 × 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 230 sq ft of water and about 5,400 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 shelfWith loungers

A sun shelf sized for chairs in the water. Lets you sit in the cool water in the sun with a drink, which is why it works well in a hot climate.

Hot tubSpills into the pool, 7 ft round

A hot tub built into the pool and level with the deck, spilling into it. It shares the pool's water and equipment, so one heater and one set of chemistry cover both. The tub holds about 850 gallons.

Pool finishQuartz

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.

Finish colorBlue finish, classic deep blue water

A blue interior. Gives a classic, deeper blue water.

Waterline tileBlue glass

Blue glass mosaic at the waterline. Adds sparkle and a clear blue edge to the water. It runs about 59 linear ft around this pool.

CopingTravertine

Ivory travertine with a rounded edge. Stays cooler underfoot than most stone and gives a warm, classic edge. It runs about 59 linear ft around this pool.

DeckConcrete pavers

Grey interlocking concrete pavers. Pavers move with the ground and can be lifted and reset, which helps where the soil freezes or shifts. The deck is about 1,240 sq ft here.

PlantingModern

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

Pool fenceBlack aluminum

A black aluminum picket fence. A standard, durable barrier that disappears in the planting and meets most barrier codes.

Water featuresDeck jets

Deck jets: Deck jets that arc water into the pool. A playful feature for kids that adds movement and sound.

Add to the yardOutdoor kitchen

Outdoor kitchen: An outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and counter. Keeps the cook near the pool. It needs gas or power, water and a drain, and usually a permit.

FurnitureLoungers, 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.
LightMidday sun

Shown in midday sun. Shows the true color of the water and the finish.

Coping
59 linear ft
Deck
1,240 sq ft

Why it fits the new-build subdivision

The yard: a compact lot with a stucco wall, a lemon tree, ornamental grasses and succulents, the next house close beside. A new-build lot starts as bare ground, so grading, drainage and the house's own plan shape the pool. Subdivision lots are often tight and graded for drainage. Check the homeowner association rules, the utility easements and the setbacks before the layout is final.

Why it fits the modern farmhouse house

The house is a two-story white modern farmhouse with black window frames, a metal roof accent and a three-car garage. A modern farmhouse asks for clean lines with a warm, relaxed finish. Crisp rectangles, soft grey water and honed stone or pavers sit well beside white siding and dark window frames. Keep the planting simple and the furniture casual.

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.

AI concept image of Family pool with an outdoor kitchen in an Irvine subdivision: a freeform pool with a hot tub.

Turn it, zoom in, switch the dimension lines on.

In your yard

How would this swimming pool look on your home?

See this exact design as a photorealistic video, filmed in your own yard, from one photo.

You pick the film, add one photo, and see the picture before you decide anything.

A sample yard photo

A frame from an example film

A sample yard photo on the left, and on the right a frame from an example AI film of a pool in a backyard.

Chapter 2 of 4

Will it work for you

Your yard, your climate, and what the pool asks of you after the build.

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

51 × 30 ft

About 1,530 sq ft. The pool and tub alone is 32.5 × 12 ft.

Plan on a clear area of about 51 by 30 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 52 by 31 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?

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.

Keeping it up

What this pool asks of its owner, by finish, climate, deck and feature.

  • Quartz in this climate

    Quartz does well in a dry, mild climate. Keep the water balanced and it holds its color for years.

  • Concrete pavers deck

    Sweep sand into the paver joints each year and pull weeds early, before they lift the pavers.

  • Deck jets

    Deck jets lose water to wind and evaporation. Run them on a timer and turn them off on a breezy day.

  • The hot tub

    A hot tub is a second body of water with its own chemistry. Keep it covered between uses and drain and clean it on the maker's schedule.

  • 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).

Chapter 3 of 4

Cost and timeline

A sourced range to plan with, and how long it takes.

What this design costs: a planning range

Built line by line from this design's own measurements and published prices. It is a range to plan with, not a quote.

Planning range, CA

$45,000 to $130,000

Everything on this page, built: the pool, the deck, the coping, the fence and the features. It is a range, not a quote. Every line is at its lowest published price for the low end and its highest for the high end, so a real job lands inside it rather than on an edge.

Prices are scaled for CA by a damped regional factor of 1.05 (the state's cost of living is 110.7 against 100 for the US, and we use half the gap). Land clearing, landscaping beyond what is listed, a pool house's interior and financing are not in it.

Where the range comes from

The pool
$22,000 to $61,000
230 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
$3,000 to $3,500
59 linear ft at $45 to $55 a foot.
Deck
$4,000 to $9,000
1,240 sq ft at $3 to $7 a square foot installed. HomeAdvisor's installed figure. Fixr's $6 to $8 is materials only.
Hot tub
$6,500 to $19,000
A spa added to a new pool.
Deck jets
$1,000 to $2,000
Three jets. Each deck jet, installed.
Outdoor kitchen
$6,500 to $28,000
A built-in outdoor kitchen.
Pool fence
$2,500 to $6,000
164 linear ft around the deck as drawn, at $15 to $35 a foot installed.
How we built this range, and the sources

We measure this design in the 3D model (water area, shell area, coping, deck, tub, what stands on the deck), multiply each quantity by a published price range per unit, add the lines and scale them for the state. The prices are from the pages below, collected in October 2026. Where two sources disagree the range spans both, and the line says so.

The method is written out, with every rate, at docs/POOL-IDEAS-COST-MODEL.md in our repository, and one file holds the rates, so a change of price changes every page at once.

  • HomeAdvisor's installed figure. Fixr's $6 to $8 is materials only.

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. To see how the published prices are built up and where they disagree, read inground pool cost, line by line.

How long it takes to build

From a signed contract to the first swim, before the yard additions.

Contract to first swim

3 to 6 months

Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts. Weather, inspections and the builder's schedule move every date.

  • The yard additions are usually built after the pool is finished, so they add weeks that are not in this range.
  • The hot tub is built with the pool, so it adds days of plumbing and tile rather than weeks.

What it is made of

The materials list for this design, with its own quantities from the model.

The materials list (9 lines)
InteriorQuartz, blueabout 410 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 tileBlue glassabout 59 linear ft, 10 in. band
Glass mosaic reads bright in sun and is easy to wipe clean of the waterline scum ring.
CopingTravertineabout 59 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.
DeckConcrete paversabout 1,240 sq ft
Interlocking concrete pavers. Easy to repair one piece at a time, and the joints need topping up with sand now and then to keep weeds out.
Pool fenceBlack aluminumabout 165 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.
PlantingModern
Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. Tidy and low water, with the beds kept away from the skimmer.
Water featureDeck jets
Arcs of water thrown from the deck. They run on the pump, lose some water to wind and are the first thing to turn off on a breezy day.
Yard additionOutdoor kitchen
A built-in grill and counter. It needs gas, power and drainage run to it, and a spot away from the water.
Hot tubSpills into the pool, roundabout 850 gal
Built with the pool, with its own jets, heater share and cover. Tile and coping match the pool.

Chapter 4 of 4

Talk to a builder

What to ask before you sign, and how to bring this design to them.

Questions to ask a builder about this design

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

  1. 01What soil and slope engineering does this lot need, and what does your water district say about filling a new pool?
  2. 02Where will the grill island sit in relation to the hot tub and the deck jets so spray, smoke and splash stay apart?
  3. 03Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather?
  4. 04How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping?
  5. 05Will the fence meet the barrier code, and is the gate self-closing and self-latching?

Make it yours

Start with this design and add a photo of your own yard. The free visualizer places the pool on it, with your choices ready to change.

See this pool in your yard, freeUpload your yard

More like this

Region:Southern CaliforniaSetting:New-build subdivisionHouse style:Modern farmhouseFeature:Pool with a hot tubFeature:Small backyard poolFeature:Pool with a sun shelfAll pool ideas

This is a design idea for a sample yard, and every picture is an AI concept image, not a built pool. Sizes, gallons and areas are estimates from the same maths as the 3D model, and the price and time ranges are planning figures from published sources, to help you talk to a builder.

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