One of the most dramatic – and let’s face it, most expensive – elements of outdoor entertainment design is an inground pool. Some homeowners would start the process by calling several pool companies and getting estimates for installation on their property. Then after the whole process is finished and the workers from the pool company have cleaned up and left, the homeowner might decide the pool needs some landscaping.
At Knutsen Landscaping, we would like to suggest the opposite approach. Call the landscaper before you contact the pool service. There are definite advantages to meeting with a landscape designer at the very beginning.
First and foremost, a landscape designer will create an integrated overall design for your outdoor living space. We will consider the entire property and its relation to your home and neighborhood, as well as your own individual tastes and personality. Although a pool company will offer a range of selections, they are often rather standard. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but landscape design is just not what they do.
A second major concern for designing your pool landscape is what kind of trees you want and where they will be placed in relation to the pool. You want natural shade and beauty, but you will also want to avoid dirt, pests, and fallen leaves. Considering all these options as early in the process as possible will help to give you the desired result.
A third consideration is the hardscaping that your pool area might feature. Walkways, fencing, decks or patios, and structures like a pergola or gazebo, work much better as integral parts of the design, rather than an afterthought. If these options are considered and discussed from the beginning, you’ll end up with a more harmonized overall look. Furthermore, you and your landscape designer can place the pool in the best location for all of these to work together.
An inground pool is probably the biggest investment homeowners will make in the landscape of their property. Again, a pool company can give you some options and install a perfectly serviceable pool. But if you start with a landscape designer, you can come up with a design that perfectly fits what you want on your property, and you’ll end up with an outdoor living space that is unique and unlike any other property in your area. And remember, a well-designed landscape – including a pool – can add as much as 15 percent to the value of your property.
So if you are ready to make the commitment to an inground pool on your property, make Knutsen Landscaping your first call. We will meet with you to determine your goals and options. Together we can make your unique outdoor living space one that you will enjoy for years to come.