Five of the most enviable backyard swimming pools

texas

El Campo, Texas:  A small town about 150 kilometres south-west of Houston, Texas, has the auspicious honour of being the world’s largest residential pool, according to the builders, Kuykendall Custom Pools Inc. Featuring a 6-and-a-half metre water slide, two hot tubs, sunken bar, outdoor kitchen, six waterfalls and lazy river, which runs for over 150 metres, this oasis set the owners, and long-time local residents, back a cool $US3 million ($3.91 million) to construct. Holding an astonishing 600,000 gallons of water (the typical backyard pool holds 16-20,000 gallons) this aquatic masterpiece also presents as a kids’ paradise, with rock climbing wall, two additional slides and a rope swing hanging from a gunite tree which cost tens of thousands alone. To complete the look, over US$250,000 worth of Floridian palm trees were flown in to offset this perfect paradise.

oz pool

Sunshine Beach Australia:  Taking its inspiration from the Greek Islands, the pool is suspended six metres above the ground and features two superb custom made day beds, which have the look of simply floating on top of the world, and is fitted with LED lights which change to any colour of the rainbow at the flick of a switch, making it the perfect place to party. The cost of the build is estimated to be approximately $250,000-$300,000.

see more at: http://www.domain.com.au/advice/take-the-chill-out-of-your-bones-with-five-of-the-worlds-most-enviable-backyard-swimming-pools-20160707-gq0cs4/

Five Common Bathroom Remodeling Blunders and how to steer clear of them

bath

Making it all about the toilet
That leads me to my next blunder: avoid making the toilet the first thing you see in the bathroom, and avoid any sight lines to it from adjacent rooms. I like to put the toilet and shower in their own room while keeping the sink separate. This allows someone to take a shower while someone else gets ready at the sink. In the bathroom floor plan here, the wall between the two rooms uses up only about 5cm of width in the overall size of the bathroom but doubles the room’s functionality.

Read More at: http://www.domain.com.au/advice/five-common-bathroom-blunders-steer-clear/

How to decorate a small space

plants

Space is becoming more and more of an issue, and unless you’re the proud owner of a penthouse or are really into the cluttered look, it’s time to get smart about how to decorate smaller areas.

No window?  No problem.  If you have a room without a window and don’t want it to look like a dark box or a storage cave, Buckins says lighting is your new best friend.

“Keep it light and bright, go monochromatic with your palette and incorporate lots of lighting to create mood and interest,” she said.

“If you can’t see the outdoors, it helps to bring it in.

“For instance I’ve seen a lot of hanging plant holders on the market right now that hang from a ceiling in a nice formation, which look beautiful and don’t take up valuable floor space.”

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/07/10/tips-on-how-to-decorate-your-tiny-apartment/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage