November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
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Close your eyes and imagine you’re at a luxury resort. Perhaps you’re sitting by a glistening pool, sipping on an iced drink beneath a bamboo cabana. As a pool owner, you don’t have to go further than your own backyard to experience the same escape. Building a poolside cabana is a great way to create your own tropical paradise and entertainment destination.
When incorporating a cabana into your pool’s design, it’s important to decide what amenities you would like to include. As there are varying designs and types of cabanas to choose from, deciding the desired uses of yours is an integral first step.
According to HGTV, for Designer Nicole Sassaman and her husband, the inspiration behind their own outdoor creation was the luxury living of indoors. “For us, it was important to create harmony by bringing the inside outdoors and the outdoors in,” says Sassaman. “We wanted there to be the same comforts outside as we have in the house itself.”
In addition to being a chaise-inspired haven from the summer sun, cabanas can also provide a place to store your pool chemicals, keep clean, fresh towels, organize pool accessories and toys, as well as offer a changing room for guests. Truly, this cooling refuge from the summer sun is both a practical and valuable destination. To help decide which type of cabana is right for you, here are a few examples of popular styles:
The tent style
This is the most standard cabana. It’s not a complicated design to create on your own with some tools and a little time. The structure is simple—four posts and a roof, and can be dressed up with a smattering of bamboo or fringe. By leaving this structure open-air, you will not only enjoy an uninterrupted view of your pool, but can relax in the shade with the benefit of a cool breeze.
According to the DIY Network, this structure doesn’t have to be boring. “[The cabana] just isn’t complete without a few luxurious accessories. A double chaise lounge, an outdoor television and a couple of outdoor speakers” bring a tropical paradise home. Just be aware of any electronics that should not be outdoors or are not water safe.
Prefabricated sheds
Purchasing a ready-made shed is a quick and easy way to bring a cabana to your pool. With a few simple stylistic upgrades, your new shed can become paradise found. This style is ideal for the pool owner who needs more space and storage options. There are many varieties and sizes of sheds available at home improvement stores. Install shelves to store supplies, include benches and a divider for changing and drying off and voila!, no more wet footprints and towels in the house.
Prefab sheds are a great way to get the cabana you want with little to no planning. There are sheds available for almost every design aesthetic, so the cabana you want is undoubtedly waiting for you now.
The guesthouse style
This style is perfect for those who want their cabana to reflect the utmost in luxury. The sky’s the limit with this design—install plumbing and electrical outlets, and you can enjoy endless options for outdoor accessories. A guesthouse includes all the amenities of a standard home: kitchen, restroom and bedroom, so why not include the same in your cabana? A kitchen and bar area are the latest trends in upscale cabana design, in addition to a comfortable space where guests can seek respite from the afternoon sun.
No matter what style of cabana you choose, you should build it to fit your needs and those of your guests—and don’t get lost in trying to incorporate the grandest amenities and accessories. It is your paradise after all.
