Another in Texas - Cypress

[SuzfromTexas]

Another possibility is to change the shape of the firepit. A longer rectangle with rounded corners would look very nice.

My favorite ideas are Kim's - move it closer to the spa making for a very nice conversation area, or get a portable firepit. That's actually what we have for a patio table - a firepit from Lowe's with a round patio table top sitting on it. It looks very nice and gives more of a coffee table feel for conversation. Little ones sit more comfortably at it. And we can move it when needed. We don't use it as a firepit, but in your case, you would have a firepit for the cooler months and an outdoor casual conversation table for the hotter months. That would give you the versatility of repurposing it for different occasions.

One more thought on a different shape if you want the permanent firepit is this : (can't think of the shape name...) Take a rectangular strip but curve it like the letter 'C' but not as closed. Or think of it like the curved bench I've seen people pour on the backside of their round fire pit. Then.... place it a few feet behind the spa to sort of echo the shape of the spa. It wouldn't take as much space as a round firepit. I think the curved look of the flames would be very pretty and unique. I'll see if I can find one on Pinterest.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Here we go..... maybe something like this could be used and even fix your concerns over a straight-edged deck? I did have something a little larger in mind, but if you're short on space, maybe this works even better.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

I like that!! Now how to get more deck without losing the rest of our play space and still be able to fence it all in?


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[SuzfromTexas]

I'm bumping your diagram to this page, so I don't have to keep flipping between pages. If you resolve the firepit issue by moving it closer to the spa, then don't you have enough deck space? I thought the original issue was having too little seating space behind the firepit as it is in this diagram below.

Here's another idea (I'm on a roll.... Lol!!!) How about building a curved firepit that hugs or is close to hugging the spa???? Ooooooo.....ahhhhhhh..... then you'd have a swim-up beverage bar (from the spa) and a firepit where people could be on either side of it - in the spa or sitting on the deck behind it. I'll put the picture under your diagram.

Okay, here we go! Best I could do on the super low res screen shots from Google Earth.


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Not sure how this gave me the idea, but it did. Imagine instead of curving away from the pool in this picture, your firepit would curve towards the pool but on the backside of the spa.

or.... again ooooooooooo...... ahhhhhhhh, place the curved firepit along the curved part of the pool next to the spa and behind the table in the pool? Now there's a conversation area! That would free up quite a bit of space.

Down the road when money is rolling in, could you extend the deck and fenced area on the opposite end of the pool if you find you really needed more decking?

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

I'm bumping your diagram to this page, so I don't have to keep flipping between pages. If you resolve the firepit issue by moving it closer to the spa, then don't you have enough deck space? I thought the original issue was having too little seating space behind the firepit as it is in this diagram below.

Here's another idea (I'm on a roll.... Lol!!!) How about building a curved firepit that hugs or is close to hugging the spa???? Ooooooo.....ahhhhhhh..... then you'd have a swim-up beverage bar (from the spa) and a firepit where people could be on either side of it - in the spa or sitting on the deck behind it. I'll put the picture under your diagram.





Not sure how this gave me the idea, but it did. Imagine instead of curving away from the pool in this picture, your firepit would curve towards the pool but on the backside of the spa.

or.... again ooooooooooo...... ahhhhhhhh, place the curved firepit along the curved part of the pool next to the spa and behind the table in the pool? Now there's a conversation area! That would free up quite a bit of space.

Down the road when money is rolling in, could you extend the deck and fenced area on the opposite end of the pool if you find you really needed more decking?

I really like this fire pit idea and I think we'll implement something along those lines. Going to talk to hubby and PB to see if that would be an option (thinking about cost difference and if the fire ring has to be made custom.)

Definitely still want more decking though. Part of the issue was not being able to walk around the fire pit of we had furniture on the deck as well. I know we want more deck and would prefer to do it now. They how without killing our needed play space is the biggest problem.


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[SuzfromTexas]

You are a challenge, aren't you?!!!! (just kiddin' around with you) I got nothin' in the way of help for your deck situation. But I have faith in you, TM! You wanted 'your cake and to eat it, too' with your pool features, and you did it!!!! You'll work this out, too! I can't wait to see it!

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Okay, here is me taking Suz's idea and playing with it. Let me see if I can describe it correctly. This is definitely not to scale so hopefully I'm not too terribly far off. . Brown is fire pit, thinking sectional or curved shape patio furniture for that side. Added decking and checked fence with straight sections. I think I'd want the deck round though in case fence was ever taken out later. The green bushy bordering would actually be landscaping on the pool side but river Rock walking paths along the rest of the yard. I have nearly 50 stepping stones and will get another 10+ this year our exchange students have painted for us.

Edited to add: This is a small sampling of them. I want to make a walking path around the yard that would walk you around the world. I need a way to use them. Any thoughts or changes to this idea/drawing before I discuss with PB?


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[kimkats]

TM is your fence right ON your property lines? If so you are stuck If not.......you can move your fence.

Kim:cat:

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

TM is your fence right ON your property lines? If so you are stuck If not.......you can move your fence.

Kim:cat:

Yep, fence is right on the 5' easement and can't be moved.

The new black metal fence can be moved around though as long as it's in straight sections.

Any thoughts on the idea I posted above?


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[kimkats]

TM that is it!! You did it! Love the shape and size! You go girl!

Kim:cat: (we must have been working on it at the same time. I did not see your nor Suz's ideas before I put mine."

 

[Marlahoutex]

TM, can you move the play structure to the right side of the pool? Sorry if that has already been asked and answered. That'd open up the left for your pit and give you more deck.

If not, then I think what you have would work.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

TM, can you move the play structure to the right side of the pool? Sorry if that has already been asked and answered. That'd open up the left for your pit and give you more deck.

If not, then I think what you have would work.

Do you mean where the green boxes are? Those are not easily moved garden beds and they are huge. We may consider changing them up but not until we harvest everything growing in them and the carrots will grow well into winter. So much for the trampoline going back up anytime soon. It is big too.


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[Marlahoutex]

Actually I meant to the right of the pool, on the other side of the house.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Actually I meant to the right of the pool, on the other side of the house.

There is only 3' of deck between the edge of the pool on the right of it and the fence. On the other side of that is the front of the property and a build line will not allow us to move the fence to claim any more of it for the back. It's in the deed restrictions for corner lots. I wish that was a possible option though I understand why it's not. They wouldn't want to be able to see the play sets and such from the front of the house. The pool is really more in the side yard than the back.


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[twinkiesmommy2009]

There are tile guys "dropping off supplies and equipment for tomorrow" in my yard right now!!! I didn't get a return text from my PB when I asked what would be next but this was an even better way to get me the message!

Eek!!

Edit: Went outside to see what all they left... The funniest thing - the boots. Lol



They said they're picking up the materials in the morning and should be here sometime around 11. [emoji322] I had plans with my daughter (who goes back to South Korea on Friday morning) but I'm rearranging so I can be here to show them where the step markers go. I sure hope it works out how they said or I'm going to feel even worse about rearranging on her so I can be here.


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[Nursenini]

Yay for tile day!!! Are your tile guys doing the step markers? Over here, the plaster guys are doing mine.

 

[twinkiesmommy2009]

Yay for tile day!!! Are your tile guys doing the step markers? Over here, the plaster guys are doing mine.

Oh, I don't know! I texted her asking if I was going to be able to choose a grout color and she texted me back, yes and to let her know ASAP so she could let the guys know. I texted her back that I could choose fast but that I haven't seen samples or anything and don't actually know where to look. I also told her I had enough samples of the glass tiles for my step markers and that they would need a white thinset. No rely yet though.

Anybody know which grout color goes best with the Manyara Serengeti from NPT? Does coping need a grout color choice too?


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[twinkiesmommy2009]

Oh, I don't know! I texted her asking if I was going to be able to choose a grout color and she texted me back, yes and to let her know ASAP so she could let the guys know. I texted her back that I could choose fast but that I haven't seen samples or anything and don't actually know where to look. I also told her I had enough samples of the glass tiles for my step markers and that they would need a white thinset. No rely yet though.

Anybody know which grout color goes best with the Manyara Serengeti from NPT? Does coping need a grout color choice too?

Update: Heard from PB. Tile guys will do our step markers.

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[twinkiesmommy2009]

Need design help fast! We picked Antique White to go with our Light Walnut Coping (PB suggested that or Bone).

We're totally split in the family on the grout for tile. Hubby picked Camel Buff and PB says it ALWAYS looks good. I was leaning towards Natural Gray and my Mom & Stepdad are all for "any" Gray saying brown will look dirty. Thoughts?


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[philboyj]

The antique white is a good choice for coping. I was not a fan of darker grout - especially after they did some samples for us. I might have gone with antique white for waterline tile too - just to tie everything together.