Small Pool, Big Splash

A New Orleans homeowner-carves space from his driveway to make room for a lap pool.

Slipping into this lush pool offers immediate relief from the sun. However, this is not your standard American tale of instant gratification. It's a cool respite years in the making.

When Ron Domin moved into his snug uptown New Orleans home, he created a list of goals. "The very last part of my plan was getting the pool, and I wanted it the most," he says.

The pool is a great example of how planning pays off and thinking creatively yields stunning results.

From Driveway to Waterway

Ron first had to tackle the issue of where to put the pool. His house, a two-story Queen Anne, is situated on a small lot. A guest cottage takes up much of the backyard.

The solution: Remove 40 feet of concrete driveway, and replace it with 40 feet of blue water. "It was a little tricky," Ron says. "We had easy access to the street so the workmen were able to get right in there, but they had to start at the far end and dig forward. There was no going back."

In the space left between the house and pool, Ron had brick installed to be in keeping with the feel of a French Quarter courtyard. Then landscape architect Tim Laguaite surrounded the pool area with lush tropical plants. A waterfall, enhanced by blue mosaic tile, complements the tropical atmosphere, filling the air with the sound of rushing water. It also serves the practical purpose of drowning out the sound of two air-conditioning units and the pool pump.

AMY BICKERS MERCER

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2005
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