TRANSFORMING A NARROW BACKYARD INTO A DREAM LAP POOL AND OUTDOOR OASIS IN NORTH AVOCA
- Luxury Pools + Oudoor Living
- Feb 25
- 7 min read
Q+A | Client 3d Design + Concept
With Design & Managing Director of Luxury Pools and Outdoor Living, Jason Diamond
Featured Property | Beerana Ave, North Avoca
In this Q&A with Jason Diamond, we dive into the intricate design process behind transforming a narrow, challenging backyard in North Avoca into a stunning outdoor oasis. Jason reflects on the inspiration behind the project, sharing how the in-house design team tackled the unique challenges presented by the site and the client's needs. From designing a stunning lap pool to creating a multifunctional outdoor space that caters to both relaxation and family fun, Jason highlights how the Luxury Pools & Outdoor Living team collaborated to exceed client expectations. He also touches on the innovative elements that brought the vision to life, overcoming compliance hurdles, and the pride in delivering a design that required no changes, leaving the clients truly delighted.
Q: What was the inspiration for your client?
The client faced the challenge of an extremely narrow space on an unusually shaped block, located in one of the Central Coasts most desirable suburbs, North Avoca. They had recently built a new home—modest in exterior appearance but exceptionally well-appointed inside.
The client had a previous Development Approval (DA) for a simple and somewhat uninspiring pool and outdoor living space. It lacked many of the features essential for creating an outdoor entertainment area that truly offers an escape from work-life stresses.
Ultimately, the client entrusted our company to develop the vision and inspiration for the property, working within the constraints of size and placement. While these limitations presented a challenge, we were able to overcome them successfully.
Q: Why did your clients want a pool? Who was going to use it?
One partner, along with one of the daughters, was eager to use the pool for lap swimming, while the family of six needed an alternative place to cool off besides the beach. The northern end of Avoca Beach can become windy and occasionally unsafe, making a lap pool a more reliable option.
While a pool can enhance any home, the key is to make it a true destination. With four children reaching the perfect ages for outdoor fun, the family needed a space that could comfortably accommodate them and help spread their activities across the property. Another important factor for our clients was creating a place where their children would want to bring their friends—ensuring everyone stays safe while having fun.
Q: What motivated the client to decide on Luxury Pools & Outdoor Living to design and build their outdoor space?
The client wanted to transform their outdoor area into a true lifestyle destination and told us they had researched several companies. Ultimately, it was our passion, commitment to quality, professionalism, and unwavering motivation that set us apart and convinced them we were the right choice.
Q: What was your client's end goal for the use of space? Eg: wellness space, entertaining, guests’ quarters etc
Like many families on the Central Coast, a pool represented the quintessential Australian dream for our clients. Their primary focus was on creating a space for lap swimming, relaxation, and general enjoyment. Beyond those needs, they had minimal requirements, entrusting us to develop the overall concept and bring their pool and outdoor vision to life.
Q: What were the design challenges?
The challenge was transforming a narrow, elongated space bordered by two 1.8-meter-high boundary fences into an area that felt open and inviting, rather than confined or claustrophobic. Our goal was to create a sense of freedom and personality within the space, overcoming its restrictive shape and surroundings.
Q: Was the site suitable for pool construction? If not, how do you face this challenge?
With 1.8-meter-high fences on either side, a space no wider than four meters across, sandy soil conditions, and an existing DA approval, it's fair to say the challenges were significant. Navigating these constraints required creativity, expertise, and teamwork.
Overcoming challenges like this comes down to collaboration. It’s about having skilled people who are respected, empowered to problem-solve, and given the freedom to create. That dynamic is what enables us to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Equally important is persistence—trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again, without arrogance but with resilience. In this case the Luxury Pools and Outdoor Living design team, Jason and Chris went back and forth, gradually syncing their understanding of the issues and exploring solutions. Several iterations were developed before we reached “that moment.”
We know it's the right time to present to our clients when the hair on your arms stands up—that unmistakable feeling that everything has aligned. That’s when the design is truly approved, not just by us but by the vision itself. It’s the moment you know the challenges have been met, and the brief has been fulfilled—or better yet, exceeded. Challenges met!
Q: How did you get inspiration for designing this space? eg. Design style or references that inspired your vision/concept for the clients design.
In this case, the client’s home itself became the inspiration for our design. We often model our projects to complement the house, creating a cohesive balance. However, when working with older or dated homes, we sometimes find ourselves reimagining the house to suit the outdoor project.
Here, the house was brand new, already being photographed for its stunning interior. Our task was to extend that internal beauty outward, seamlessly blending it with our external design creativity.
Q: What new or innovative elements did you include in this design, if any?
This project features several standout elements, including a hidden TV unit, an in-floor cleaning system, and integrated pool garden boxes. However, one of the most striking features is the extra-tall waterfall, designed to break up the space while softening the harsh boundary walls that might otherwise feel enclosing.
To further counteract the narrowness of the space, we used lush planting and strategically placed planter boxes to interrupt the linear lines, preventing the area from feeling confined.
The primary challenge with a long, narrow space was creating distinct focal points and visual layers to break up the yard’s length. We achieved this through raised planter boxes, a raised spillover spa, a bridge leading to stepping stones, a water feature backdrop, and a cantilevered, intricately detailed pergola.
Ultimately, we’ve packed every desirable element of a large backyard into a compact yet stylish coastal design, delivering a space that feels expansive, inviting, and perfectly balanced.
Q: What additional spaces in addition to the pool have been added to this outdoor space? eg. Cabana, spa, wellness retreat, guest house etc
An innovative cabana has been added to the northern end of the space. Inside, it houses a hidden equipment room and surfboard racks, perfect for both the dad and kids who love to surf.
On the outside, the cabana creates an ideal entry point from the beach, leading directly to an outdoor shower. This thoughtful design allows for a seamless transition from the beach to the lap pool or house, ensuring everyone arrives home clean and refreshed.
Q: Describe the client’s response when presented with the renders and fly through? eg. “Im going to cry”, “this is beyond our expectations” etc
The client did mention she was about to cry, but the most common reaction was, “Wow, wow, wow—you guys, you guys, you guys!” It was clear they loved the design, as there were no requested changes. Their immediate response was to ask us to move straight into production.
While enthusiasm like this is always rewarding, it’s equally important to remain mindful of the client’s budget. Architecture often inspires reflection, and excitement can sometimes overshadow practical considerations. That’s why we conduct a thorough cost estimation before advancing to the next stages.
Even when clients are eager to proceed, it’s crucial they understand potential cost variations compared to initial budgets. To address this, we've implemented clear processes to keep clients informed and confident as we move forward.
Q: Did you have any compliance issues with the council to overcome on this project? If so, what were they?
We encountered significant challenges with our new design on an existing Development Application (DA). However, Jason and Chris worked closely with the certifiers, collaborating as a team to resolve the issues. Through their persistence, we were able to reach a solution that allowed our client to begin construction sooner, using the same DA, while adding a 4.55 amendment for additional items.
The issues we faced included a neighbor who had built 400mm over our client's boundary, as well as two boundary fences that were so close to each other that they presented specific requirements under both the NCC (National Construction Codes) and AS1926 pool safety standards.
Q: What are you most proud of this design experience?
We’re incredibly proud of delivering another design that required no changes and left our client so emotional, they were nearly in tears. But what we’re most proud of is how well our team worked together to overcome the challenges we set for ourselves.
The design perfectly suits the challenging space, the client is thrilled, and we’ve met the needs of the council and certifiers, all while staying very close to budget. Luxury Pools & Outdoor Living was built with a dream, years of experience, hard work, professionalism, and passion—all poured into creating a company determined to tackle the challenges our clients face. And now, we can say it’s our process to deliver Designs + Approvals + Builds that make our clients truly happy.
When we set up this business, we believed there had to be a better way. With this design, we’re grateful for the hard work that has come before, allowing us to create work that leaves our clients extremely satisfied.
At Luxury Pools and Outdoor Living, we pride ourselves on taking on projects that push the limits of design and engineering. Every project is a unique challenge that we approach with creativity and expertise, and all of our projects are a testament to what can be achieved.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into our latest projects!
Explore a world of endless pool possibilities, from stunning infinity edge pools and sleek lap pools to luxurious resort-style designs. At Luxury Pools and Outdoor Living, we specialise in designing and building custom concrete pools and outdoor spaces on the Central Coast. Contact us today on (02) 4304 1638 for your complimentary consultation!
Design & Build by Luxury Pools & Outdoor Living
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