Modern farmhouse pool with a sun shelf in Naperville

A classic rectangle with a sun shelf and a hot tub off the end, on a lawn big enough for the whole block's kids.

Suits: modern farmhouse houses on a classic suburb in Midwest.

Modern farmhouse
Mid-range tier
Hot tub
Sun shelf

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Modern farmhouse pool with a sun shelf in Naperville: a modern farmhouse yard in Naperville, IL, with a green lawn with mature maples, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, a wood fence and neighbors' trees beyond. — Drawn for a two-story white modern farmhouse with black windows, a standing-seam metal porch roof and board-and-batten siding, with a green lawn with mature maples, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, a wood fence and neighbors' trees beyond.

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: 1,450 sq ft
Hot tub: 7 ft square; about 1,100 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.

ShapeRectangle: A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.
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 450 sq ft of water and about 10,200 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 square: 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 1,100 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 colorLight grey finish, soft turquoise water: A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.
Waterline tileGrey 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.
CopingTravertine: Ivory travertine with a rounded edge. Stays cooler underfoot than most stone and gives a warm, classic edge. It runs about 90 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.
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 1,450 sq ft here. Where it freezes, the base and the joints matter more than the surface.
PlantingLawn and hedges: A green lawn with clipped hedges. Gives kids a soft place to play and a formal frame to the deck.
Pool fenceBlack aluminum: A black aluminum picket fence. A standard, durable barrier that disappears in the planting and meets most barrier codes.
Water featuresBubblers: Bubblers: Small domes of water rising on the sun shelf. A soft sound and a cooling touch on a shelf, with little plumbing.
Features and their lines are drained or turned off for the winter.
Add to the yardPergola: 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.
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 classic suburb

The yard: a green lawn with mature maples, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, a wood fence and neighbors' trees beyond. 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.

Why it fits the modern farmhouse house

The house is a two-story white modern farmhouse with black windows, a standing-seam metal porch roof and board-and-batten siding. 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.

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.

Midwest: what the climate asks of this pool

A Midwest pool lives with a hard winter, so the swim season, the cover and the winterizing plan are part of the design.

The pool is usually closed for the winter. A safety cover, drained lines and a plan for the first warm weekend are normal costs of ownership.
Freeze and thaw cycles move decks. Pavers, a good base and joints that can flex last longer than a rigid, thin surface.
A pool heater or a heat pump stretches the season at both ends. Think about it while the equipment pad is being planned.
Back yards are often generous but fenced, so there is room for a deck, a lawn and a pergola without crowding the water.

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 450 sq ft of water surface and about 10,200 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment.
Deck. About 1,450 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.
Water features (bubblers), each with its own plumbing and pump capacity.
The yard additions (pergola), 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.

01What does closing and opening this pool involve each year, and which parts of the deck are rated for freeze and thaw?
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?
05Does the pergola need a permit or engineering for wind or snow, and who builds it?
06Do the bubblers run on the main pump or their own, and can I shut them off?