Pool Design Ideas: Retro Classic Clubhouse

Our Pool Design Ideas series was created to help spark ideas of what might be a good fit for you in your backyard. When you’re starting the process of building a pool, there are numerous decisions to make. A great place to get started is with the pool design and design elements. Whether it’s a freeform or geometric design, with modern, Tuscan, or retro design elements; it’s really about the look that fits your home.

At California Pools & Landscape, we’ve been creating custom pools in the valley of the sun for more than 35 years. We’ve designed hundreds of retro pools of all shapes and sizes, to meet the desires of every client.
About This Buckeye Classic

These Buckeye homeowners wanted to transform their desert backyard into an oasis, with plenty of areas for activities. They came to our design team looking for a pool with a swim up bar, a sunken tiled roof structure and a baja shelf. They needed a deep pool with something for the grandkids to jump off of in the deep end and a putting green added for outdoor fun. An outdoor bathroom with an attached shower was also a priority for these customers to add.

The focal point from inside the home is striking, the tiled structure sets the backdrop for the pool with the large baja shelf centered on it. The retro pool has several custom features that set it apart like multiple water features, lights and the inviting swim up bar. With several areas for relaxation, entertainment and recreation throughout the yard, this Buckeye classic is a championship clubhouse.

Creating A Retro Feel With Design Elements

Creating a clean and classic design to match the feel of the home while incorporating numerous design features was at the top of the list for our team. Almost 2,000 square feet of Pecan Tumbled Travertine carry throughout the design of this outdoor environment. Pecan Travertine Coping also sits around the edge of the pool for a consistent flow from the surrounding deck.The baja shelf and swim up bar are centered in this design, each offering a nice area to relax in the water. The pool’s Arctic Sea Glass Pebble interior sparkles in the Arizona sun and pairs beautifully with the Gothic Blue waterline tile.
The swim up bar is the signature destination in the pool spanning 16ft and offering five bar stools, all capped off with Arctic Ocean Bering Strait 1”x1” tile. The bar top offers a different shade of Seven Seas Mediterranean Blue tile with a 9” overhang on each side, which creates an area for enjoying food or drinks. The tiled roof shade structure towers over the sunken bar and offers a great escape from the sun. Our design team matched the look of the roof tile on the home perfectly, making the structure look like it’s always been there and creating the outdoor clubhouse feel.

The baja shelf is 9ft wide and sits 12” underwater offering a great place to enter the pool or relax. Three Parascoping Fountains were installed on the baja shelf adding ambiance and balance to the pool’s environment. The raised water wall creates a classic design look and a big splash of blue with the Gothic Blue Tile.

Incorporating Design Elements Throughout The Yard

These Buckeye customers maximized the space in their backyard, incorporating several design elements throughout their outdoor environment. The design of the yard is tied together with the Pecan Tumbled Travertine that surrounds the pool and leads to the fire pit. The fire pit is 4ftx4ft and capped off with a travertine cap. A 18” seatwall topped with the Pecan Tumbled Travertine offers a natural gathering spot on cool nights in the desert and a barrier to the tropical landscaping behind it.

An outdoor bathroom was installed behind the wall of the tiled shade structure. The restroom has a toilet and sink to offer a convenient option for relief while outdoors. An outdoor shower was also installed on the wall leading into the bathroom which gives a great option for cleaning off before and after using the pool.

Desert landscaping and artificial turf were installed to add a natural feel to the outdoor environment. A large AZ Pro Put Putting Green with 4 pins and 4 cups offers a fun area for recreation and entertainment. Additionally, 370 sqft of CPL Designer Synthetic Turf connects to the putting green and leads to the travertine deck.

Designing Your Own Backyard Oasis

Hopefully, these pool design ideas helped you figure out some design elements that you might enjoy in your backyard design. Selecting pool and backyard elements as well as design features is a fun part of the process. It’s important to consider what will fit into your home’s environment and be enjoyed by you and your family.

The elements in this ultimate retro backyard are just a few of the many design options that we have available at California Pools & Landscape. We’ve built a page that houses all of the retro design ideas that could create an ultimate backyard experience. To see all more design ideas visit our Photo Galleries.

Love this pool design idea? If you’re ready to start with your dream yard design, get started with one of our talented designers.