Memorial Flagstone & Pool Renovation Project

A couple named Murphy who live in the Piney Point area hired us to redesign their pool with a new look and to construct a flagstone patio around it. They wanted this new pool to have pathways leading to it, and they also wanted us to add a special element that would allow them to enjoy the new scenery year round.

We began the project by renovating the 1960s style pool. Originally built in a very plain design with small steps leading into it, we knocked out the walls and reshaped it into a round structure with an elongated curved end. We installed a dark, decorative plaster in the bottom of the pool and built much larger steps to create a grand sense of entrance. To create a three-dimensional water effect, we installed water jets and added a spa at the near end closest to the home.

We next replaced the original pea gravel aggregate with a new flagstone patio. We used a special construction technique to make this new patio smoother than the average flagstone surface. We fit the individual blocks together like pieces from a jigsaw puzzle, sealing the joints with grout. This preserved the decorative pattern of an irregular design while maintaining a surface so comfortable you could walk on it barefoot.

We wanted this landscape design to be as functional as it was decorative, so we installed two separate paths leading into and out of the pool area. One ran directly from the master bedroom to the spa, while the second pathway led from around the house for guests to come in through a rear garden entry. We installed custom drain grates made from stone and brass to maintain aesthetic.

To create that special year-round space the Murphy’s requested; we created a raised gravel patio and built a small wall around the fire pit. It added a nice ambiance to the flagstone and the surrounding landscaped, and it created a heat source that provided comfortable seating even in the winter.

At the opposite end of the pool, we removed a small section of the flagstone and planted a small redbud tree. We augmented the edges of the patio and lawn with a variety of native ground cover species and drought tolerant plants. We planted Iris grasses that would bloom white flowers in the spring, and potato vines for color. We planted a special kind of rose called “Knockout” which requires very little spraying and fertilizing. Caladiums were used to create red ground cover, and Pineapple guave was used to contrast the landscape with a nice bluish-gray hue. Hollies were then planted to frame the backdrop of the landscape and provide subject matter for up lighting.

Flagstone patios like the one we did for the Murphy’s can either be constructed around pools, or they can be used to ornament areas around koi ponds, fountains, special gardens, or outdoor kitchens. Give us a call, or read more articles on these subjects on our website, to see how flagstone can be used to create sophisticated designs in your yard with the look and feel of Nature.