2014 promises to be a good year for pool installation. As the housing market continues to recover, interest rates remain low, making right now a great time for your clients to lock in rates and install a brand new, in-ground pool this year. Additionally, going on vacation can be a hassle and not worth the expense, especially for busy families with children. Therefore, more and more Americans are turning to their backyards for a place to unwind and entertain—vacation style.
That's where a professional landscape contractor comes in. Whether you're part of the new pool project right from the start or find yourself jumping in at the end, give your clients a five-star landscape design that adds the finishing touches to their backyard. Here are a few 2014 tips and trends for turning your client's backyard into a dream vacation spot they can enjoy year after year.
Hardscape
Surround your client's in-ground pool with a natural stone instead of common concrete. The hottest trends for 2014 include flagstone, slate, limestone and travertine. Not only are these stones easy to maintain, they're also beautiful, long-lasting and, best of all, slip-resistant.
Go with the flow
The simple, traditional, rectangular in-ground pool design that many of us grew up with isn't the norm anymore. People are seeking designs and landscaping to match their lifestyles as well as their imaginations. From modern, geometric designs to fantasy-inspired rock formations and waterfalls, clients are looking for "out of the box" landscape designs that make their backyard dream come true.
A place to entertain
For the client who wants to spend a lot of time entertaining around their pool, you can recommend adding permanent shaded areas such as a stylish gazebo. Another hot trend of 2014 is installing an outdoor kitchen. Do-it-all stainless steel-built in grills are popular while the hottest outdoor appliance is a pizza oven.
Fences and walls
Your client may need a wall or fence surrounding their pool—or the property's perimeter—for both safety and privacy. Whenever possible, urge your clients to choose materials and colors that will tie in to the rest of the design. For example, add accents to a stucco wall that repeat the same geometric pattern of the pool.
An infinite view
Infinity pools have been trending for quite some time and 2014 shouldn't be any different. Infinity pools work best for a property with a view. If your client's property comes with a water, mountain, forest or even city view, the infinity pool should face this direction. The view can easily be used as a reference point for your entire landscape design.
Storage
Accounting for storage in your landscape design is also important. You'll want to discuss the various options for storing away pool toys such as floats and noodles, pool cleaning supplies, and extra seating for those bigger events like birthday parties. Even the best, most stylish designs can be ruined by a backyard littered with items that should be put away when not in use.
SOURCE: fixityourself.com
