A swimming pool or water feature should feel integral to the garden rather than an isolated installation. Its position, scale and materials influence everything around it – from terraces and planting to circulation, views and privacy.
Our role is to guide clients through these decisions and to design a garden where water enhances the overall spatial experience. We consider how pools relate to the house, how they connect with outdoor living areas, and how the surrounding planting and hard landscape support the atmosphere and use of the space.
When thoughtfully integrated, these elements can extend how a garden is used throughout the year and create spaces that support both wellbeing and outdoor living. Our designs consider how these features sit within the wider landscape, ensuring they feel coherent, private and beautifully integrated.
We work closely with specialist engineers, contractors and architects to coordinate aspects such as levels, drainage, pool plant areas, safety requirements and integration with terraces and buildings. From early feasibility through to detailed design, we ensure that these elements are resolved in a way that supports both the design vision and the practical performance of the space.
This collaborative approach helps clients make informed decisions and ensures that their investment is carefully planned and executed.
Our role is to help clients navigate the design, technical and spatial considerations involved, creating gardens where water becomes a natural and enduring part of the landscape.
When considering a pool garden clients often ask...
Ideally, yes. A pool is only one part of a larger composition, and decisions about its position, scale and relationship to the house are best resolved early. A garden designer ensures the overall layout is considered first, allowing the pool to be integrated into a cohesive and well-functioning space.
Key considerations include location, orientation, levels and how the pool connects to the house and main outdoor spaces. It is also important to think about how the garden will be used beyond swimming – for relaxing, entertaining and moving through the space.
A pool should be positioned in direct relationship to the house, not independently within the garden. Sightlines from key rooms, proximity to living spaces and ease of access all play an important role in creating a space that feels connected and coherent.
The house typically provides the primary reference. Its architecture and proportions establish a framework that the pool and garden respond to, helping the overall space feel unified rather than made up of separate elements.
Integration comes from designing the pool, terraces and planting together from the outset. Alignment, proportion and a consistent material palette all contribute to a result where the pool feels embedded within the landscape rather than introduced later.
Common issues include poor positioning, insufficient surrounding space and treating the pool as an isolated feature. Inconsistent materials, weak planting and a lack of consideration for how the space will be used can also result in a garden that feels disjointed.
The space around a pool is as important as the pool itself, yet it is often made too large and treated as a uniform area of paving. We take a more considered approach, using hard surfaces only where necessary and shaping distinct, usable pockets of space around the pool, creating a garden that feels more engaging and better resolved.
The surrounding landscape is a significant part of the overall investment. Hard landscaping, levels, lighting and planting all contribute to how successful the space feels. A well-designed setting ensures the pool sits naturally within the garden rather than appearing isolated.
Materials need to perform well as well as look appropriate. They should be durable, slip-resistant and consistent with the architecture of the house. A restrained palette is often key to achieving a calm and cohesive result.
Planting should be resilient, structured and suited to the specific conditions around water. We focus on creating schemes that soften the space while avoiding excessive leaf drop and keeping maintenance manageable.
This comes down to careful plant selection and placement. Plants that shed heavily or grow too loosely are avoided near the pool edge. Instead, we use controlled forms and species that perform well in the environment, helping the space remain clean and considered.
Yes. We regularly design gardens that incorporate wellness elements such as plunge pools, counter-current pools, saunas and garden gyms. These are planned as part of the overall layout so they feel integrated, private and appropriate to the space.
Yes. We design pool houses and garden buildings as part of the overall scheme, ensuring they relate to both the house and landscape. This can include architectural design as well as internal layouts, so that spaces such as gyms, changing areas or relaxation rooms are configured to function effectively.
