Family pool with mountain views in a Parker subdivision

A freeform with a hot tub on the end and a fire pit, built to get used from May to September on the Front Range.

Suits: contemporary houses on a new-build subdivision in Mountain West.

Contemporary
Mid-range tier
Hot tub
Sun shelf

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Family pool with mountain views in a Parker subdivision: a contemporary yard in Parker, CO, with a young backyard with native grasses, a few aspens, a wood fence and the snowy Front Range on the horizon. — Drawn for a two-story contemporary new-build in gray and tan stucco and stone with a low-pitched roof and a walkout patio, with a young backyard with native grasses, a few aspens, a wood fence and the snowy Front Range on the horizon.

Size: 30 × 15 ft; 3.5 to 5.5 ft deep
Water surface: 360 sq ft
Water: about 9,100 gal
Coping: 73 linear ft
Deck: 1,570 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.

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.
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 360 sq ft of water and about 9,100 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 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 finishPebble: An exposed pebble aggregate finish, in the Pebble Tec style. Durable and textured, which hides small marks, but rougher on bare feet. A freeze season stresses plaster, so ask how the pool is winterized to protect the finish.
Finish colorBlue finish, classic deep blue water: A blue interior. Gives a classic, deeper blue water.
Waterline tileGrey stone: Grey stone-look porcelain at the waterline. A quiet, natural band that goes with concrete and wood. It runs about 73 linear ft around this pool.
CopingConcrete: Smooth, cantilevered poured concrete. A clean, modern edge that sits flush with a concrete or paver deck. It runs about 73 linear ft around this pool. Coping takes the worst of freeze and thaw, so it should be rated for it and set in a flexible joint.
DeckStamped 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 1,570 sq ft here. Where it freezes, the base and the joints matter more than the surface.
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.
Add to the yardFire pit: Fire pit: A round fire pit with seating. Extends the evening. Local burn rules and clearance from the house and plants apply.
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.

Why it fits the new-build subdivision

The yard: a young backyard with native grasses, a few aspens, a wood fence and the snowy Front Range on the horizon. 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 contemporary house

The house is a two-story contemporary new-build in gray and tan stucco and stone with a low-pitched roof and a walkout patio. A contemporary house asks for hard edges, quiet colors and one confident feature. Rectangles, large-format porcelain or concrete, and a single water feature keep the yard calm and let the architecture lead.

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

57 × 33 ft

About 1,881 sq ft. The pool and tub alone is 38.5 × 15 ft.

Plan on a clear area of about 57 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 59 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.

Mountain West: what the climate asks of this pool

In the Mountain West, a pool has to handle a real winter, intense sun and a short, bright swim season.

Freeze and thaw cycles crack decks that are not built for them. Choose paving that is rated for freezing and set on a well drained base.
Cold nights and thin air chill the water fast, so heating and a cover are what extend the season.
The sun is strong at altitude and the air is dry. Sunscreen on a deck, shade and light surfaces make long afternoons easier.
The pool is winterized or kept running with a heater, and either way the equipment needs frost protection.

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 360 sq ft of water surface and about 9,100 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment.
Deck. About 1,570 sq ft of paving is a large line item on its own. Ask for the deck priced separately so you can compare materials.
The built-in hot tub, its heater, plumbing and equipment pad.
The yard additions (fire pit), 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.

01Do you winterize this pool or keep it running, and how is the plumbing protected from a hard freeze?
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?
04Will the fence meet the barrier code, and is the gate self-closing and self-latching?
05What clearance does the fire pit need from the house and the plants, and does the town allow it?
06How is the stamped concrete sealed so it is not slippery when wet?