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Town & Country Pools, Inc.
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Contenido patrocinado
Pro Spotlight: Dive Into a Pool That Suits Its Surroundings
A Springfield pool design-build professional shares how to create a liquid asset that complements your property
Contenido patrocinado
Who: Burton Gray of Town & Country Pools
Where: Springfield, Virginia
In his own words: “The pool is the main focus, but we consider the client’s entire outdoor environment.”
Imagine immersing yourself in a swimming pool that blends beautifully with the rest of your backyard and the landscape beyond. Its effect can be otherworldly and immensely satisfying. Burton Gray, the owner of Town & Country Pools in Springfield, works closely with designer Michele Ament to bring this idea to life for clients.
“We think about the topography and how the pool is going to relate back to the home architecturally,” Gray says. “We want to provide clients with the outdoor lifestyle they’re looking for and get them outside.”
Where: Springfield, Virginia
In his own words: “The pool is the main focus, but we consider the client’s entire outdoor environment.”
Imagine immersing yourself in a swimming pool that blends beautifully with the rest of your backyard and the landscape beyond. Its effect can be otherworldly and immensely satisfying. Burton Gray, the owner of Town & Country Pools in Springfield, works closely with designer Michele Ament to bring this idea to life for clients.
“We think about the topography and how the pool is going to relate back to the home architecturally,” Gray says. “We want to provide clients with the outdoor lifestyle they’re looking for and get them outside.”
Plunging in early. A swimmer since age 3, Gray has been in and around pools almost since birth. He worked as a lifeguard and managed community pools, as well as swam competitively in high school and college.
Upon graduation, Gray joined Town & Country Pools, which was owned by his childhood neighbor, in the company’s construction division. After becoming sales manager and then vice president and partner, he purchased the company in 2000.
Upon graduation, Gray joined Town & Country Pools, which was owned by his childhood neighbor, in the company’s construction division. After becoming sales manager and then vice president and partner, he purchased the company in 2000.
Never a dull day. “Every project, client and backyard is different,” Gray says. “Every day there’s a new challenge.” Each project has its own budget and topography and requires different materials, and Gray enjoys the variety. He also works with a wide array of general contractors, landscapers and subcontractors.
Below, read Gray’s tips for creating a backyard haven with a beautifully integrated pool.
Below, read Gray’s tips for creating a backyard haven with a beautifully integrated pool.
1. Reimagine the Edge
Think beyond a typical concrete pool edge and choose one that better suits your backyard. Gray suggests installing a swimming pool that goes right up to your landscaping or lawn. You can also select a vanishing-edge pool, like the one in Woodbridge seen here.
The clients wanted to visually blend their pool with the Occoquan Reservoir, located below their home. “They were looking for a total backyard experience,” Gray says. If a vanishing edge isn’t within your budget, consider installing a reverse-beam pool for a similar look without the higher price tag. This style of pool has a retaining wall where it meets a grade change, and can be a great way to work around difficult topography.
See more of this project
Think beyond a typical concrete pool edge and choose one that better suits your backyard. Gray suggests installing a swimming pool that goes right up to your landscaping or lawn. You can also select a vanishing-edge pool, like the one in Woodbridge seen here.
The clients wanted to visually blend their pool with the Occoquan Reservoir, located below their home. “They were looking for a total backyard experience,” Gray says. If a vanishing edge isn’t within your budget, consider installing a reverse-beam pool for a similar look without the higher price tag. This style of pool has a retaining wall where it meets a grade change, and can be a great way to work around difficult topography.
See more of this project
2. Follow Nature’s Lead
Select dark interior plaster to create a more natural-looking pool and enjoy a breathtaking reflection. “Since we’re in Northern Virginia, the water is naturally on the darker side,” Gray says. White plaster better suits regions known for their aqua waters.
The team used a black silica-based material — mixed with crushed mother-of-pearl for a subtle sparkle — inside the Lovettsville pool seen here. “The property is very bucolic, so we wanted something that fit very naturally,” Gray says. He used travertine around the pool to complete the look.
See more of this project
Select dark interior plaster to create a more natural-looking pool and enjoy a breathtaking reflection. “Since we’re in Northern Virginia, the water is naturally on the darker side,” Gray says. White plaster better suits regions known for their aqua waters.
The team used a black silica-based material — mixed with crushed mother-of-pearl for a subtle sparkle — inside the Lovettsville pool seen here. “The property is very bucolic, so we wanted something that fit very naturally,” Gray says. He used travertine around the pool to complete the look.
See more of this project
3. Draw From Your Home
Keep your house’s exterior aesthetic in mind when designing your pool to help ensure a cohesive look. “We try to tie in materials used in the home as well as line form,” Gray says. For instance, the team installed tan-colored travertine around the pool seen here to complement the siding of this house in Haymarket.
The pool’s walls match the stone used in the cabana’s chimney and foundation. “We kept the same palette,” Gray says. The clients’ garden was small and had a grade change, making it an ideal candidate for a reverse-beam pool with a catch basin. The pool’s free-form edge also matches the flower beds’ curvilinear lines.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Burton Gray and Michele Ament and examples of their work, visit Town & Country Pools’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Keep your house’s exterior aesthetic in mind when designing your pool to help ensure a cohesive look. “We try to tie in materials used in the home as well as line form,” Gray says. For instance, the team installed tan-colored travertine around the pool seen here to complement the siding of this house in Haymarket.
The pool’s walls match the stone used in the cabana’s chimney and foundation. “We kept the same palette,” Gray says. The clients’ garden was small and had a grade change, making it an ideal candidate for a reverse-beam pool with a catch basin. The pool’s free-form edge also matches the flower beds’ curvilinear lines.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Burton Gray and Michele Ament and examples of their work, visit Town & Country Pools’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Town and Country Pools Inc., located in Springfield, VA. was founded in 1977 and has completed over 2,600 custom... Leer más
Valoración de M A:
Town and Country Pools lived up to their excellent reputation. They were recommended to us by several friends and we decided to hire them. They were efficient, respectful, creative and very profession...Más
Valoración de SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction:
The entire staff at Town & Country Pools go above and beyond throughout each step of the construction process, as well as throughout their maintenance services. Their professionalism, knowledge, and a...Más
Beautiful projects, patios and pools. I recognize the backyard in the first picture, having seen the space..you did an amazing job.