# Vineyard ranch pool in Napa

A grey-stone lap pool lined up with the vines, a hot tub apart from it and an outdoor kitchen for harvest lunches. Drawn for a long white modern farmhouse with a gabled barn-style roof, dark steel windows and a covered dining porch, with gently rolling acreage with vineyard rows, old oak trees, olive trees, lavender and golden hills.

A design idea for Napa, CA. Northern California, ranch or acreage, Modern farmhouse. Updated 2026-10-06.

## The numbers

- Size: 40 × 10 ft (4 to 5 ft deep)
- Water surface: 400 sq ft
- Water: about 12,200 gal
- Coping: 100 linear ft
- Deck: 1,600 sq ft
- Hot tub: 7 ft square (about 1,100 gal)

## The design, spelled out

The floor is 4 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 11 ft, slopes over about 14 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 15 ft.

### Shape: Rectangle

A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.

### Size: 40 × 10 ft

A long, narrow pool about 10 ft wide and 40 ft long, built for swimming lengths. It gives a straight lane and an even depth for exercise, and it fits a long, thin yard better than a wide pool does. That is about 400 sq ft of water and about 12,200 gallons.

### Steps: Steps and a bench

Steps with a bench along one wall. Gives adults a place to sit and talk in the water while the kids play. The steps lead into water 4 ft deep.

### Hot tub: Separate tub, 7 ft square

A hot tub on the deck, apart from the pool. It has its own water and heater, so you can run it alone on a cold night without heating the pool. The tub holds about 1,100 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: Light grey finish, soft turquoise water

A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.

### Waterline tile: Grey stone

Grey stone-look porcelain at the waterline. A quiet, natural band that goes with concrete and wood. It runs about 100 linear ft around this pool.

### Coping: Flagstone

Natural flagstone with irregular edges. Gives a natural, informal look that blends with planting and rock. It runs about 100 linear ft around this pool.

### Deck: Travertine pavers

Ivory travertine pavers. Light and cool underfoot, and a natural fit with Mediterranean and French styles. The deck is about 1,600 sq ft here.

### Planting: Keep what's there

The planting already in the yard. Keeps mature trees and shade in place and saves disruption.

### 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: Pergola, Outdoor kitchen

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. 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: Golden hour

Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best.

## Why it suits this house

The yard: gently rolling acreage with vineyard rows, old oak trees, olive trees, lavender and golden hills. On acreage there is room to spread out, so the pool can be sized for the whole family and for entertaining. Space lets you place the pool for the best light and keep it away from trees. A well, a septic field and an easement can still limit where it goes, so locate them first.

The house is a long white modern farmhouse with a gabled barn-style roof, dark steel windows and a covered dining porch. 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 70 by 28 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 72 by 30 ft.

## Northern California: what the climate asks of this pool

Northern California pools are built around hills, views and a dry summer, so the site decides the design.

- Hillside lots set the whole layout. A pool on a slope needs retaining walls, drainage and a geotechnical report before the shape is final.
- Summers are dry and warm and winters are mild but wet, so a cover and good drainage both earn their place.
- Wildfire areas can limit fire features, planting near the house and structures. Ask the fire authority before you plan a fire bowl or a pergola.
- Earthquake country: the shell, the steel and the plumbing connections are built to flex, and your builder should say how.

## Quick answers

**How much water does this pool hold?** About 12,200 gallons. It is 40 by 10 ft with about 400 sq ft of water, 4 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 70 by 28 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 72 by 30 ft.

**What does this design cost?** A planning range for CA is $80,000 to $215,000 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

Vines set the direction, so a 40 by 10 lap pool lines up with the rows and the farmhouse porch. Light grey quartz and grey stone tile stay calm against golden hills, and the separate hot tub at the right end keeps swimming and soaking apart while the pergola covers the kitchen.

What to watch: Harvest brings dust, bees and falling leaves near the water and the food. A lap pool 10 feet wide is for swimming, not play, and deck jets add little if you mostly swim laps.

## What this will cost: a planning range

$80,000 to $215,000 for CA, a range from published prices and not a quote.

- The pool: $38,000 to $105,000. 400 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: $4,000 to $6,000. 100 linear ft at $40 to $55 a foot.
- Deck: $25,000 to $46,000. 1,603 sq ft at $15 to $27 a square foot installed.
- Hot tub: $6,500 to $19,000. A spa added to a new pool. A separate tub still needs its own plumbing and equipment.
- Deck jets: $1,000 to $2,000. Three jets. Each deck jet, installed.
- Pergola: $2,000 to $7,000. A 10 by 12 ft pergola. The one source is dated 2022.
- Outdoor kitchen: $6,500 to $28,000. A built-in outdoor kitchen.

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, travertine pavers](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/outdoor-living/travertine-pavers-install/); [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/); [Fixr, pergola](https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-pergola); [HomeAdvisor, outdoor kitchen](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/outdoor-living/build-an-outdoor-kitchen)

## 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, light grey (about 810 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: Grey stone (about 100 linear ft, 10 in. band). A stone-look porcelain: matte, calm and forgiving of fingerprints and water spots.
- Coping: Flagstone (about 100 linear ft). Natural, irregular stone. It looks like it was always there and needs its joints watched for movement.
- Deck: Travertine pavers (about 1,600 sq ft). Natural stone pavers. Cooler than most paving in the sun, but porous: it needs sealing and a quick rinse after salt or chlorine splashes.
- 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: Pergola. A shade structure over part of the deck. It has to be anchored for local wind and snow loads.
- 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: Separate tub, square (about 1,100 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.
- Travertine pavers deck: Seal the travertine as the maker says and rinse it after salt or chlorine splashes. Use a stone-safe cleaner, never an acid wash.
- 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.
- 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

- Does this lot need a geotechnical report, and what do the hillside and fire rules allow here?
- How will the builder keep the lap lane clear of the steps and bench, and where will the deck jets sit along 40 feet?
- Is this long enough and even enough in depth for real laps, and how do the ends handle the turn?
- Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather?
- Does the pergola need a permit or engineering for wind or snow, and who builds it?

Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=vineyard-ranch-pool-napa