Blog

Building Your Dream Home: Outdoor Areas and More

Posted on October 6, 2011 by admin

Whether you are starting from scratch or remodeling an existing home, dreaming up the ideas for a new home and seeing them come to fruition is an exciting accomplishment in your life. All home ideas are unique; there isn’t a one-plan-fits-all solution that you can pick from a shelf. Your home will speak to your creativity, personality, and family’s lifestyle. Have you always wanted that pool with a waterfall, Jacuzzi, and diving board? How about a new room specifically designed for entertainment? Many times people become overwhelmed trying to organize their dreams into designs, because they have so many great ideas that are difficult to coordinate into one cohesive plan. Here are a few tips to help you get started on building a dream home that will last through generations in your family. The most important part is to take the first step and begin gathering ideas.

Idea Sourcing

Magazines: There are tons of housing publications on the shelf at your local bookstore—go pick up a few and start sifting through the pages. You may see extravagant ideas that are the opposite of your taste but you are also likely to find that perfect barbecue area design that you had in your head but couldn’t draw out exactly right. Magazines are great because you see images of dream homes already built that you can easily picture yourself in. Also, it may be just as important to find out what you don’t want as well as what you do.
Online House Plans: There are several online databases of house plans that can be used to provide you with ideas. The benefit of having access to these blueprints is that it will help you understand how your ideas translate onto paper and how feasible the idea is with the space that you have. It may make it easier to start with a house plan that matches the general shape and size of your home and work backwards from the blueprint by adding in your ideas and personal touches.
Drive-By Browsing: The exterior of your home is an important aspect of the design. Take a short walk or drive to the local areas that are known to have excellent architectural design and jot down notes along the way. Do you like the idea of a large fountain in the front yard or is that too much? What should your entrance look like? Some homeowners do a great job complementing the architecture itself with lush landscaping. You’ll want to find some inspiration for the outdoor design too. Think gardens, trees, and various kinds of foliage you’d like to see surrounding your dream home.
Open House: Even during difficult economic times, there is still housing development in many areas. When they are in the beginning sales stages, they will all have a sample home fully furnished for prospective buyers to look at. Pretend you are in the market for a home and find some great ideas for what you would like to see in your own custom design. You might not be touring lavish mansions with fish tanks the size of a living room (maybe that is your dream), but the interior design will help you to understand what your ideas will look and feel like in real life.

Designing the Outdoors

Pool: A lot of people dream about installing a pristine pool and bubbling Jacuzzi in their yard. It can be the center of attention when having guests over and a great place to relax on your own. There are thousands of pool designs out there, and while you may have some ideas of your own, go take a look at some pool magazines, websites, and design blogs; and talk to a professional about what would look and fit best in your yard.
Outdoor Kitchen with Barbecue: If your home often becomes the social headquarters for your friends, an outdoor kitchen will kill two birds with one stone. It will get everyone having a great time together and keep them out of your house—meaning much less cleanup afterwards. An outdoor built-in kitchen and barbecue turns a basic backyard into a dream backyard. Brick ovens are also a popular trend to add to your outdoor kitchen area to make some delicious homemade pizzas.
Open grass area: Landscaping with lush vegetation everywhere is a must when designing an outdoor area. Remember to keep an open grassy space in the plans, though. If you have family or friends over, it’s nice to be able to toss a ball around or play some games in a stretch of grass—surrounded, of course, with a beautifully landscaped yard, outdoor entertainment area, and a sparkling pool and spa.

Posted in Landscape Design, Outdoor Entertainment Center, Pool Construction, Pool Design, Swimming Pool Construction | Leave a comment

Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal?

Posted on September 28, 2011 by admin

We all know it’s what’s on the inside that counts. But first impressions are everything, and whether you’re trying to sell your home or simply outshine the Joneses, curb appeal is one of your best sources of ‘impression ammunition.’ Making a perfect presentation involves more than simply cutting the grass and painting the front door. There are quite a few obvious adjustments you can make along with a few changes that are more obscure.

Freshen up with Foliage

The green aspect of your landscape can do wonders for your curb appeal and say a lot about the overall care of your home. Renewing your gardens and planting ornamental shrubs can also soften the sharp angles of your house and bring a sense of warmth. Try to find natural elements that complement your home and create a cozy feeling without overshadowing your home’s structure.

Sparkle and Shine

Although often confined to small finishing touches, hardware can drastically age your home. Take a look at your doorknobs, peepholes, house numbers, and other metal accents. Are they rusty or dull? Simply exchanging these components can make your house look years younger and give it a fresh feel. This small makeover can make a big difference while also being gentle to your budget.

Adding outdoor lighting to your walkway can also change the way people see your home. If you have guests arriving after dusk, outdoor lighting can cast a glow on your home’s exterior that subtly sets it apart from the rest of the houses on your block.

Paves and Paths

Re-paving your driveway and walkways and sealing old cracks and crevices is another great way to makeover your home’s exterior. Driveways may not seem like much to look at, but if they are unkempt, they can draw unwanted attention.

If you don’t already have one, consider adding a brick or stone path from the sidewalk to your front door to bring a feel of elegance to your home’s charisma. Create a custom walkway to carve a distinction into your front yard and invite your guests to come on in.

Color it Crisp and Clean

A new paint job is like a brand new lease on life. You may not even notice the dinginess of your siding or the dirt crawling up from surrounding flowerbeds, but one coat of paint can make all the difference. If you’re not ready to cast off your current color and repaint your home’s exterior, pressure washing the siding tops the list as one of the most drastic changes you can make to the appearance of your home, without spending a fortune to do it. Look at the colors around your neighborhood and try to find one that fits in well with the surrounding areas.

If you just want to spice up the palette of your property, you can add planters and outdoor furniture in contrasting colors to add some variety.

Sell Symmetry

Even in nature, symmetry is a quality that attracts individuals. Focus on creating a symmetrical arrangement by creating a mirror image on each side of your front door. Flank both sides with symmetrical plants, light fixtures, and accents to bring a balanced feel to your home’s exterior.

Bring in the Waterworks

Water reflections can make a home and its surrounding area appear bigger than it actually is. Ponds, fountains, and pools also bring an air of luxury to a home. Swimming pools in particular can even match hardwood floors in their ability to raise a home’s worth. Having an outdoor pool brings a reflective element to the home, adds a luxurious feel, and can set your property apart from the rest of the neighborhood.

Curb appeal is an important part of your home’s overall feel. Until your guests pass over your threshold, the exterior of your home is all they have to rely on when forming their impression. Take a good look at your house like you’re seeing it for the first time. What catches your eye? What is it lacking and where could it stand to receive a makeover? Many pieces of a home’s curb appeal are not immediately obvious. Plants and flowers, water elements, and accent pieces all share a hand in the curb appeal of your home.

Posted in Curb Appeal, Landscape Design, Pool Design, Swimming Pool Construction | Leave a comment

A Look at the World’s Most Famous Swimming Pools

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

People don’t often go on vacation to see attractions they can see at home. They go to take a gander at exotic aspects of unique places. If you’re jet-setting on the search for such an experience, think about taking some time to experience some of the most phenomenal pools on the planet. You might consider swimming pool and spa design to be fairly one-dimensional. They’re full of water, usually four-sided or round, and commonly full of chlorinated fresh water. But many custom pool builders out there have found new ways to put a one-of-a-kind spin on the traditional pool. Here we’ll dip into some of the world’s most notable pools.

California’s Most Popular Pools

This outdoor pool is that of the late William Randolph Hearst. Mr. Hearst was an American mogul who lived in his castle in the early 1900s and hosted a gamut of stars, politicians, and individuals of high society. Now a United States National Historic Landmark, the Heart castle features two notable swimming pools: the Neptune Pool and the Roman Pool.

The Largest Pools on the Planet

Looking to host an epic pool party this summer? Consider hosting it at one of these two pools; the largest currently in existence.

The title for the world’s largest indoor swimming pool goes to the “Ocean Dome.” This indoor pool can hold up to 10,000 people and is located at the Seagaia Resort in Miyazaki, Japan. Complete with a retractable roof and sand, this dome is kept at a comfortable 85 degrees with the water sitting at 77 degrees. To sweeten the deal, the dome also holds a manufactured volcano that spits flames, and also a wave machine.

The world’s largest outdoor swimming pool is located in the Chilean resort of San Alfonso Del Mar. Created by Chilean biochemist Fernando Fischmann, this pool cost over a billion dollars to create and over five years to build. This pool holds 250,000 cubic meters of water and is 3,300 meters long, covering over 860,000 square feet altogether. This pool is a saltwater lagoon that holds its own place in the Guinness Book of World Records, with water pumped in from the Pacific Ocean then filtered and treated before being supplied to the pool.

The World’s Deepest Pool

Designed for deep diving practice, the world’s deepest pool sits in Belgium. Nemo 33 is 33 meters deep (over 100 feet). As a certified indoor dive center, flat platforms at various depths allow divers to explore a variety of diving levels. Full of non-chlorinated water, Nemo 33 is open to all recreational divers over 12, including tourists and beginners.

The World’s Most Dangerous Swimming Pool

The most dangerous pool in the world sits in Victoria Falls, shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia. With a drop of over 400 feet, the “Devil’s Pool” is open to swimmers from September to December. At these times, swimmers can play just feet from where these waters cascade over the ledge without getting swept along with it to the depths of the gorge below.

Iceland’s Most Famous Attraction

The Blue Lagoon is believed to have natural healing powers. Visited by over 400,000 people each year, the water of the Blue Lagoon comes from a geothermal power plant that pulls it up from over 6,000 feet below the ground.

The silica found in the water creates a natural barrier that prevents it from reabsorbing into the earth. At varying temperatures around 104 degrees throughout the pool, the pool is used as a local spa and bathing area. Built in 1991, the water hosts a rich mineral and sulfur content and the pool offers areas with ledges for resting and caves for privacy.

Australia’s Icebergs

At Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia, this swimming pool is a full-sized eight lane swimming pool open to the public. The creation of the Bondi Icebergs can be attributed to the Swimmer’s Club, which was created by a band of local lifeguards who wished to continue swimming throughout the winter. The Winter Swimming Club became licensed in 1960 and now resides on today’s two-floor premises.

Berlin’s Badeschiff

This “bathing ship” is made from an old cargo container. Located on the Spree River, the Badeschiff is a floating container that becomes an outdoor pool in the summer with a beach, bar, and DJs. In the winter, the pool is covered for warmth and comfort.

Pimalai Resort, Thailand

This serene, breathtaking pool is a fresh water infinity pool set above the sea, allowing you a spectacular view of the beach sunset. This meditative pool came into being in 2001 and is offered by the five-star Pimalai Resort that has since won awards for its location, beauty, and accommodations.

Every corner of the world has a pool made for taking laps in luxury. From Thailand to Iceland, each pool offers its own spin on spectacular and offers a unique experience for visitors from around the globe. What surreal swimming facilities do you think San Diego pool builders can dream up to make a local mark on the list?

Posted in Pool Construction, Pool Design, Swimming Pool Construction | Leave a comment

Outdoor Entertainment Areas With Great Landscape Design

Posted on May 18, 2011 by admin

Whether your outdoor entertainment area includes a swimming pool, spa, tennis court, basketball court, firepit, outdoor dining and bar area, or a combination of the above features, it is often the design of the landscape surrounding the area that turns your yard into a place that you truly enjoy spending time in.

If your home is new or you’ve recently done a major renovation to your yard, such as adding a swimming pool or tennis court, you may need to undergo a major landscaping project in order to improve the aesthetic appeal of your yard and make it look less like a construction zone. In other cases, you may just need to make a few simple improvements to enhance the overall look and feel of your backyard.

Backyards become more welcoming places with comfortable places to rest, trees for shade, and beautiful plants, shrubs, and flowers and that grow and bloom at different times of the year. Grass provides a place to both relax and recreate. Vegetable gardens can even become part of landscape art and design, as you grow plants and flowers that both provide beauty to your yard and feed your family.

San Diego Landscape Design

San Diego landscape design requires special thought and planning for the conditions of the hot and dry southwest. In addition, many San Diego residents take great pride in their yards and outdoor landscaping, since the mild winter climate provides outdoor entertainment opportunities almost year-round.

Water is a limited resource; many San Diego residents are integrating more xeriscaping into their yards, replacing thirsty plants and lawns with stone, gravel, and rock gardens. Cacti and succulents are plants that produce flowers and grow excellently in low-water conditions. Palm trees, Joshua trees, and their relatives provide shade and beauty while requiring little water.

Synthetic grass is another option for those who love the use of their lawn for sports and recreation but don’t want a yard that requires a lot of maintenance and watering. Homeowners who golf often find that a synthetic lawn is the perfect place to practice without having to worry about damaging the grass.

Of course, San Diego is the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, despite the limited supply of water. In fact, some San Diego residents are discovering that replacing water-hogging plants and grass with a swimming pool actually saves water, since the pool water is filtered, cleaned, and treated over and over again for continuous reuse. The space of a swimming pool combined with poolside cement patios and walkways can significantly reduce the amount of plants you’ll need to water regularly in your yard.

Before and After California Landscape Design

California landscape design can be as extensive as an entire front and backyard renovation to adding one or two simple amenities or some plants and greenery to the landscape. Even a few simple additions can drastically improve the quality of your time spent outside. The changes you make should be based on your own personal activities and tastes.

Before adding new landscaping and outdoor amenities, it’s a good idea to think about how you use your yard now and how you would like to use it in the future. For example, if you like to throw backyard BBQs but always seem to be lacking enough places for people to sit, you can consider adding an outdoor dining area and a firepit with seating.

Some popular Southern California landscape design options include:

Waterfalls
Stone masonry
Tiled designs
Outdoor dining
Outdoor bars
Outdoor fireplaces
Firepits
Vegetation
Lounge areas
Patios
Cabanas
Entertainment systems
Lighting designs
Outdoor kitchens
Modern BBQ stations

California landscape contractors provide all these landscape options and more, in addition to design and construction services. A landscape contractor can help you evaluate your current yard space and landscaping in order to improve the features you already have and add new ones that will enhance your current space. Southern California is a beautiful place to spend time outdoors and improving your outdoor spaces will help you spend more time outside by providing you a place to both relax and entertain.

Posted in BBQ Area, Landscape Design, Outdoor Entertainment Center | Leave a comment

Building An Outdoor Oasis

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin

Choosing to install a swimming pool is an exciting decision, and one that requires extensive thought and planning. Swimming pool installation is an involved process, but the benefits and years of enjoyment that follow make it worth the initial work.

A swimming pool can add a lot of value to your property. Not only are you installing a valuable piece of recreation equipment, but you’re also creating the opportunity to make major landscaping improvements to your property, with a new pool as the center of your yard. Installing a swimming pool allows you to create an entire outdoor oasis right in your backyard.

Planning and Preparing for Swimming Pool Installation

You will want to do some research and make some important decisions about your new pool long before you begin construction. A swimming pool consultant can help you make a lot of significant decisions and can educate you about any legal and zoning requirements that may apply in your area.

Budgeting: Your swimming pool budget is the first thing to examine, remembering to factor in the costs of swimming pool design, construction, landscaping, equipment, and ongoing maintenance costs. You will want to contact your insurance company to find out about the cost of insuring the pool as an addition to your home. You may also want to add a form of accident insurance to your home policy that will cover any personal pool related injuries for your family and friends.

Ongoing maintenance costs will include filters, cleaning, water purification, heating, and lighting. You will need to periodically repair or replace certain pool-related equipment, such as the pool cover. Be sure to include all pool-related expenses, such as increases in utility bills, in order to be financially prepared for the ongoing costs of owning a pool.

Legal Restrictions: Before putting any money into your swimming pool design or outdoor entertainment center, you should adequately research any zoning requirements that apply to your neighborhood and property. Zoning is usually dealt with on a local level, so start by visiting your city hall’s building and zoning office. Zoning restrictions can range from fencing to pool depth requirements and the pool’s proximity to utility lines.

You may also need to purchase pool-related insurance for legal reasons, so contact your home insurance agent to begin researching your options for different types of insurance, and be sure to get quotes from other companies as well.

Pool Use: Before you work on your custom pool design, you’ll want to consider what you’ll be using the pool for and base your design around your use plans. Exercise and entertainment are the two most common pool uses. In addition, whether or not you have children or grandkids who will be using the pool will affect the swimming pool design you choose.

Pools that are primarily used for exercise are generally deeper and rectangular shaped, while pools used for fun and entertainment need shallower areas and have more options for shape and dimension. Pools designed for children’s use may need to include stairs and a shallow end that’s only a few feet deep.

Choosing a Location: Decide whether you want your pool to be at the center and focus of your backyard, or an amenity that sits off to the side and doesn’t dominate the landscape. Additional location considerations include the geology and topography of your yard, as your swimming pool installation and location may be limited by these features.

Although modern technology allows a pool to be built almost anywhere, including on significantly sloped terrain, it will be at a higher cost. You will also want to have a professional test your slope stability and soil structure before making any final decisions.

Landscaping and Poolscaping: Swimming pool installation provides a wonderful opportunity to add beautiful landscaping to your backyard. Some pool owners like to surround their swimming pool with grass, shrubs, flowers, trees, and other plants, while others like to take a hardscaping approach based on tile or cement walkways and patios that can include artistic mason work. However, most homeowners with pools like to integrate a combination of both.

Part of poolscaping includes choosing to add features such as diving boards, patio furniture, outdoor bars and eating areas, pool game equipment, and pool safety equipment. Additional poolscaping may include benches, robe and towel hangers, and a foot-washing station or outdoor shower. The possibilities are endless, so feel free to be creative and include the features that will enhance the experience for you and your family.

Swimming Pool Construction

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about before you even begin breaking ground for swimming pool construction. Once you have all the pre-construction contingencies in order, you’ll need to hire a swimming pool designer and builder. If you choose to hire a swimming pool consultant during the early design stages, this person or the company they work for can often provide you with design and construction services as well.

Some of the services you can expect from your designer and builder during the swimming pool construction phases will include:

Computer-generated design
Layout design and blueprints
Excavation work
Formwork
Steel Reinforcement
Cement and concrete installation
Plumbing installation
Electrical work
Surfacing

Once your pool is installed and working properly, landscaping and poolscaping will wrap up final stages of your swimming pool construction.

Posted in Outdoor Entertainment Center, Pool Design, Swimming Pool Construction | Leave a comment

Tropical swimming pool designs

Posted on April 21, 2011 by admin

Pacific Sun Aquatech has designed thousands of tropical swimming pool, spa, and outdoor living area’s. Waterfalls, tropical plants, shade spots, and ramada’s are a few of the elements that go into a tropical design for your property. If you are looking to have a design developed for your yard, please call our landscape architect Eric Stark to get things started. Enjoy the summer!

Posted in Tropical designs | Leave a comment

Pacific Sun Aquatech – Welcome Blog

Posted on March 8, 2010 by admin

Welcome to Pacific Sun Aquatech, your local San Diego custom pool designers and builders. Locally owned since 1969, we specialize in all aspects of outdoor home design, including custom pools, outdoor entertainment, backyard landscaping, and spas.

Here at our blog we are happy to provide tips and advice for selecting, designing, and maintaining your pool and landscaping. You also have the chance to get to know us a little better, and see updates and announcements for our business and industry.

If you are visiting the site for the first time, welcome! Feel free to take a look around at our wide array of services, as well as our custom pool and outdoor entertainment galleries. We look forward to helping you build the backyard of your dreams.

Posted in Company News | Tagged tag 1, tag 2, tag 3 | Leave a comment