The Front Yard Pool

When we designed the pool, my intention was a rectangular pool that would reflect the tower of the house.

The palms were chosen to reflect in the pool on the south side.

The house 1 year ago at purchase. Welcome to our jungle.

When we bought the Florida House, the original owners told the neighbors that Canuks had bought the house. Apparently there was a consensus that we were Crazy Canuks after it was revealed that we intended to put a pool in the front yard. They couldn't fathom it. Most had never ventured into the inner front yard. It was a dark, spooky jungle. I am sure they worried about their property values. My own father in law thought I was nuts. But I had a vision the minute I saw this house online, and I contacted the City to see if I could get approval for a front yard pool. The Yard is actually more of a courtyard. We have a 25' front yard on the sidewalk side, and a second 40' yard with a fence dividing it. 

My plan was to make the inner yard more of a courtyard, typical of many Spanish Colonial Revival houses. We changed the wooden stockade fence to wrought iron, and designed a simple, linear rectangular pool that lined up nicely with the "Tower" portion of the house in order to reflect it. On the other side we planted a row of Foxtail palms to reflect in the other end of the pool. The center hot tub lined with Mexican tile recreates the effect of a circular fountain, also typical of a Spanish Colonial courtyard. We manged to use some of the old brick in a pathway from the gate to the sidewalk, but used new pavers in a hexagon pattern on the pool deck that mimic the old Hex Block pavers found all over the historic parts of St. Petersburg, and also in another area of our yard. We curved this away from the front gate so we could block a direct view into the courtyard from the street and we planted many of the gorgeous palms originally removed from the jungle pre-pool construction, and also a Hibiscus hedge to grow up against the fence for privacy and color.

We have had many neighbors drop by to tell us they love it. And they admit they don't think I am crazy any more.