# 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. 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.

A design idea for Irvine, CA. Southern California, new-build subdivision, Modern farmhouse. Updated 2026-10-06.

## The numbers

- Size: 24 × 12 ft (3.5 to 5 ft deep)
- Water surface: 230 sq ft
- Water: about 5,400 gal
- Coping: 59 linear ft
- Deck: 1,240 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 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: 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: 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 230 sq ft of water and about 5,400 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: With 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 tub: Spills 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 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.

### Finish color: Blue finish, classic deep blue water

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

### Waterline tile: Blue 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.

### Coping: Travertine

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.

### Deck: Concrete 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.

### Planting: Modern

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

### Pool fence: Black aluminum

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

### Water features: Deck jets

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

### Add to the yard: Outdoor 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.

### 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: 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.

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.

## Will it fit your yard?

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.

## 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 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.

## 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.

## What this will cost: a planning range

$45,000 to $130,000 for CA, a range from published prices and not a quote.

- 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.
- 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.

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, pool deck cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/pool-deck); [HomeAdvisor, hot tub cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/install-a-hot-tub); [Shasta Pools, Arizona costs](https://shastapools.com/blog/breaking-down-the-cost-of-an-arizona-pool); [Simplified Pools, water features guide](https://simplifiedpools.com/blog/pool-water-features-fountains-guide/); [HomeAdvisor, outdoor kitchen](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/outdoor-living/build-an-outdoor-kitchen); [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.

- 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

- Interior: Quartz, blue (about 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 tile: Blue glass (about 59 linear ft, 10 in. band). Glass mosaic reads bright in sun and is easy to wipe clean of the waterline scum ring.
- Coping: Travertine (about 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.
- Deck: Concrete pavers (about 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 fence: Black aluminum (about 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.
- Planting: Modern. Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. Tidy and low water, with the beds kept away from the skimmer.
- Water feature: Deck 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 addition: Outdoor kitchen. A built-in grill and counter. It needs gas, power and drainage run to it, and a spot away from the water.
- Hot tub: Spills into the pool, round (about 850 gal). Built with the pool, with its own jets, heater share and cover. Tile and coping match the pool.

## Keeping it up

- 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).

## 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?
- Where will the grill island sit in relation to the hot tub and the deck jets so spray, smoke and splash stay apart?
- 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?
- Will the fence meet the barrier code, and is the gate self-closing and self-latching?

Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=family-pool-irvine-new-build