Our Backyard Pool Reveal: Creating an Outdoor Living Oasis with Southern Elegance Pools
*This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here. Thank you for supporting my blog.*If you’ve been following along with our backyard journey, you know we’ve spent the last several months completely immersed in our custom pool build. From initial design concepts and plumbing to laying the leathered marble pavers and installing our screen enclosure, transforming our blank-slate yard into a true extension of our home has been such an exciting project.
Right as the pool wrapped up and the weather started its gorgeous seasonal shift, we began putting the finishing touches on the space. We wanted an area that felt cohesive with our interior's coastal traditional aesthetic: calm, inviting, highly functional, and most importantly built for family life.
Today, I am so thrilled to finally share our complete backyard pool reveal! Come on out and take a tour of our new outdoor oasis.
1. Designing with Southern Elegance Pools
A project like this truly comes down to having the right team by your side. We worked with Southern Elegance Pools and our incredible pool designer, John Lillo, and we cannot recommend them enough!
From day one, John and the team helped us thoughtfully design and maximize our available square footage so that we could fit a little bit of everything into the layout without it feeling cramped or cluttered. Thanks to their combined expertise, our backyard seamlessly incorporates dedicated zones for swimming, lounging, dining, and storage. They truly helped turn our vision into an effortless outdoor extension of our home.
Catch Up on Our Pool Journey
If you’d like to look back at how this project came together, from choosing our builder to watching the transformation step-by-step, check out the full pool series below:
Meet Our Builder: Why We Chose Southern Elegance Pools (+ The 3D Designs!) – A breakdown of our design priorities, builder consultations, and why we ultimately chose our team.
Our Custom Pool Build: Permits, Prep, and Breaking Ground – How we optimized a smaller footprint to fit swimming, lounging, and dining zones.
Backyard Pool Build Update: Rebar, Inspections, and Pouring the Concrete Shell – The initial phase of construction, digging out the footprint, and setting the pool structure.
Our Backyard Pool Build Update: Plumbing, Equipment, Screen Footers & Pavers! – Choosing our waterline tile, layout details, and laying the travertine patio.
2. Custom Pool Finishes & Materials
Choosing the materials and finishes was one of the most exciting parts of the design process, and seeing how they all complement each other in person is so satisfying!
Custom Corner Steps & Preserve Bench: One of our favorite design features came directly from our designer, John Lillo. He gave us the absolute best layout for how we use the pool by designing three integrated steps in the corner, with one step extending into a full bench seat along the entire length of the pool! It faces directly out toward the preserve, making it hands-down the best seat in the house.
Coping & Pavers: For the deck and coping, we selected Diana Royal Leathered Marble. To achieve a clean, seamless look, we used the exact same leathered marble material for both the pool coping and the surrounding pavers.
Waterline Tile: We opted for the Aquabella Stars Gemini 6×6 Tile, which adds the perfect rich accent around the perimeter.
Interior Plaster Finish: We chose Coastal Blue by Tempool Inc. Initially, I was leaning toward a lighter finish for the water, but I am so glad we decided to upgrade to a darker shade. The rich blue tone makes the pool pop against the light marble deck and provides a gorgeous contrast that truly anchors the space!
Sleek Hardware & Drains: To keep the deck surface looking as clean and uninterrupted as possible, we opted for a hidden skimmer lid that seamlessly blends into the stone pavers. We also went with a minimal channel drain along the patio, which handles drainage efficiently without drawing eyes away from the leathered marble finish.
3. The Back Door & Entry Details
We wanted the transition from the indoor living areas right out to the pool deck to feel completely intentional.
Right outside our back door, we painted both the door and the surrounding trim a custom color specifically matched to our pool's waterline tile (Aquabella Stars Gemini 6×6 Tile). Tying that color element directly to the pool unifies the entire exterior elevation. To soften the transition and welcome guests, we added two large planters filled with lush greenery and hung a sleek solar lantern that casts a warm, welcoming glow across the patio once the sun goes down.
4. Lounging by the Water
When you step out toward the pool edge, we wanted a comfortable spot to supervise swimming or just soak in the afternoon sun.
We set up two classic adirondack chairs equipped with pull-out retractable ottomans, the absolute best feature for kicking your feet up and relaxing. To complete the pool-edge setup, we added a clever umbrella side table that provides both convenient shade and a sturdy spot to rest a cold drink right where you need it.
5. The Ultimate Outdoor Living Area: HDPE Furniture & Sunbrella Comfort
For our main conversational seating area beneath the screen enclosure, we wanted durable furniture that could stand up to North Florida weather without sacrificing style.
Durable Outdoor Furniture: We invested in an HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) outdoor furniture set featuring a comfortable couch, two matching armchairs, a side table, and a coffee table. The wood-grain finish gives it the organic warmth of timber with none of the maintenance, and the price point was fantastic for the incredible quality.
The Sunbrella Cushion Upgrade: While the frames were amazing from day one, the original cushions were a bit lacking in long-term comfort. To fix that, we upgraded to custom Sunbrella outdoor cushions. Let me tell you, it completely transformed the space! All in, including the original furniture set and the upgraded Sunbrella cushions, we spent a total of a little over $1,000 for this entire seating setup! That is a fraction of the cost of most high-end HDPE brands, where just a single sofa alone often runs $2,500 to $3,000. It is now so comfortable that more than a few afternoon naps have already been taken right here on the couch!
6. Watertight Outdoor Cabinets
Keeping a pool deck tidy can be a challenge when you have kids, toys, towels, and outdoor dining ware constantly in use.
To solve this and create a functional credenza surface underneath our outdoor TV, we added two matching HDPE outdoor cabinets. We were honestly so pleasantly surprised by how watertight and sturdy these cabinets are!
Cabinet One holds all of our pool towels and pool toys, keeping them out of sight and completely dry.
Cabinet Two houses all of our outdoor dishware and entertaining essentials, keeping everything right on hand for poolside meals.
7. Family Dinners at the Teak Dining Table
No outdoor living space is complete without a spot to gather for a meal. For our dining area, my mom kindly gifted us a gorgeous teak dining table.
Surrounded by comfortable chairs, this table has quickly become one of our favorite spots in the house. There is nothing quite like sitting down for a family dinner right after an afternoon of swimming, listening to the evening breeze through the screen enclosure.
Embracing Our New Outdoor Oasis
Taking the time to get the layout, comfort, and styling just right has made this space everything we hoped it would be. Whether we're floating in the pool, lounging on the couch with a book, or enjoying dinner as a family, this backyard has truly become the heart of our home.
Water Line Tile: Aquabella Stars Gemini 6×6 Tile | Pool Plaster Finish: Coastal Blue by Tempool Inc. | Pavers: Diana Royal Leathered Marble | 15 Foot Umbrella | Oval Teak Dining Set (similar) | Serwall HDPE Outdoor Furniture Set | Amala Sunbrella Seat and Back Cushions in Navy | HDPE Cabinets | Hisense Television used with this TV Cover | Outdoor TV Wall Bracket | Umbrella Side Table | 3-tiered umbrella | Solar Lantern | Weatherproof Electrical Box
What is your must-have feature in an outdoor living space? Let me know in the comments below!
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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Welcome to our backyard pool reveal! Step into our newly finished North Florida outdoor living space featuring custom pool tile matching, durable HDPE outdoor furniture with upgraded Sunbrella cushions, watertight storage cabinets, a teak dining set, and cozy lounge styling—designed with Southern Elegance Pools.