The Texas Hill Country gives you something most backyards don't: elevation, long views, and big skies. The best custom pools use that terrain instead of fighting it. Here are seven design moves we love for lots in New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, and beyond.
1. Vanishing (infinity) edge
On a sloped lot with a view, a vanishing edge makes the water appear to spill into the horizon. It's the single most dramatic move available to a Hill Country backyard — and the grade many of these lots already have is exactly what makes it possible.
2. Tanning ledge (Baja shelf)
A shallow sun shelf at the water's surface is perfect for a lounge chair, the kids, or a cool-down on a 100-degree afternoon. Add bubblers and umbrella sleeves and it becomes the most-used part of the whole pool.
3. Raised spa with a spillway
A raised spa does double duty: a warm soak in winter, and a year-round water feature whose spillway pours into the pool. It also adds height and structure to the design, which reads as a more finished, resort-level backyard.
4. Grotto & natural stone
Stacked stone, a hidden grotto, and a waterfall lean into the Hill Country's limestone character. Done well, the pool looks like it belongs to the landscape rather than dropped on top of it.
5. Fire features
Fire bowls, a fire pit, or a linear fire wall set against the water create the contrast that makes an evening backyard unforgettable — and they extend your season well into the cooler months.
6. Deck-level (perimeter overflow) design
A perimeter-overflow pool sits flush with the deck and mirrors the sky like glass. It's a clean, modern, architectural look that pairs beautifully with contemporary Hill Country homes.
7. Full outdoor living
The pool is the centerpiece, but the backyard is the destination. An outdoor kitchen, a covered pergola, and a comfortable lounge area turn a pool into a place you actually live — which is the whole point.
Designing for your specific lot
The right combination depends on your slope, your view, your home's architecture, and how you want to use the space. We start every project with a custom 3D design so you can see your backyard before a single shovel hits the ground — and refine it until it's exactly right.
Let's design your backyard.
Tell us about your lot and your vision. We'll create a custom 3D design so you can see your backyard before we build it.