A backyard pool has been the perfect way to enjoy this summer’s soaring Oklahoma temperatures. And with landscaping and other features like grills, fire pits, seating, televisions and more surrounding the pool, homeowners can enjoy the area as a true outdoor living space year-round.
Brent Swift, Alissee Ellis and their 10-year-old son have soaked up the rays, the water and the atmosphere surrounding their backyard pool in Norman all summer. The pool was an unexpected surprise when they first moved in — it had been filled in and covered up in their backyard.
Working with Laud Studio landscape architect Brent Wall, they unearthed it, replastered it, retiled it, filled it with water and developed the space around it, too. Since March 2021, it has been open for year-round fun.
“It’s the focal point of our house during the summer for sure,” Swift said. “We’re outside a lot as a family.”
Kenna Griffin and her family are out in their pool every day in Edmond during the summer as well. They built it over their large backyard in 2018, and it became an entertaining getaway during the pandemic when everyone was sheltering at home. They enjoy the pool house, the fireplace and the hot tub when it’s too cool for the pool.
“It’s our favorite space,” Griffin said. “We had created this backyard oasis. We’ve transformed it into this place that we love.”
405HOME featured the beautiful home of Swift and Ellis in its summer 2022 issue, but not their pool, which is pictured here. This summer, their pool has been a welcome respite from the heat, but they enjoy the space during every season. Right now, Swift, an avid tennis fan, has been watching tennis tournaments outdoors. In the fall, it will be football. He and Ellis will entertain back there. And the family definitely has enjoyed some new high-tech pool toys this year, such as a sea scooter, he said.
“It’s been refreshing to always have something to go out and jump in,” Swift said.
