A big, flat backyard full of grass is a blank canvas. For this homeowner in Austin’s Mueller neighborhood, it was also wasted space. The yard was open lawn inside a privacy fence, with nothing to draw anyone outside. He wanted to change that with a modern custom pool and spa that would make the backyard the best room of the house.
Before: a big yard and a lot of grass
There was plenty of room to work with. The yard was mostly grass, edged by a dark privacy fence and a small deck off the back of the house. It was a good size for a pool, but nothing about it said “spend the evening out here.” That gave us a clean slate to design from instead of working around old features.
The goal: modern, clean and built for relaxing
The homeowner wanted a pool that looked modern and custom, not like a standard kit. His list was clear:
- A pool and a raised spa built together
- A tanning ledge for lounging in the water
- A wraparound deck connecting the house, the pool and the seating
- A water feature
- LED pool lights and LED bubblers for night swimming
- Iridescent glass tile in colors that catch the light
- A heater and a chiller so the water is comfortable all year
Design choices
We kept the shape simple and rectangular to match the clean, modern look the homeowner wanted. The raised spa sits at one end of the pool, so it reads as part of the same design. The tanning ledge gives shallow, sunny space for loungers in the water.
The iridescent glass tile wraps the spa and the waterline. It catches the sun during the day, and at night it picks up the color of the LED lights. The wraparound deck ties everything together, with room for a row of loungers, umbrellas and a seating area by the house.
Construction: digging, rock and the build
Once the design and permits were in place, we started excavation. Like a lot of Austin backyards, this one had rock under the soil. We hit rock during the dig and removed it safely. Rock excavation is always included in our pricing, so it was never a surprise cost for the homeowner.
From there the crew formed the pool and spa, ran the plumbing and electrical for the lights, bubblers, heater and chiller, and finished the tile, coping and deck. The build itself took about 10 weeks. For most custom pools, permits and any HOA approval take about 4 weeks, and construction runs 8 to 12 weeks.
The result
The grass yard is now a modern backyard retreat. The pool and spa sit side by side, the tanning ledge adds shallow space to relax in the water, and the wraparound deck makes it easy to move between the house, the water and the shade. The heater and chiller let the homeowner use the pool and spa in winter and in the middle of an Austin summer.
After dark, the LED lights and bubblers change the whole feel of the yard. The glass tile glows with whatever color is set, and the spa becomes the place to end the day.
What a pool like this costs
This pool and spa came in at about $90,000. Our custom pools start at $49,900, but most clients upgrade with features like a spa, tanning ledge, lighting and glass tile, and a typical custom pool runs $70K to $90K. Adding a spa usually adds $15K to $20K. Financing is available through Lyon Financial, so you can plan a project like this around a monthly payment.
Planning your own backyard pool
If you have a big, open yard like this one, start with how you want to use it. Do you want to swim laps, lounge in the sun or relax in a spa at night? Those answers shape the size, depth, features and lighting. We’ll help you plan the layout and features before anything is dug.
Want to see what a pool could look like in your yard? Learn more about working with a custom pool builder in Austin, or see your financing options.