One of Schiffer Publishing's newest titles, Scott Cohen's Poolscapes: Refreshing Ideas for the Ultimate Backyard Resort, written by Scott Cohen and Elizabeth Lexau, includes over 400 color photos with each chapter highlighting a project from Mr. Cohen's portfolio. The idea book features projects in yards of every size, and illustrates tips and techniques for designing everything from infinity-edge pools to waterfalls, spas, Tuscan-style fountains and the landscaping that surrounds them.
The president of The Green Scene, a design and construction firm based in Northridge, Calif., Cohen shares "Design Tips" for each featured project, which address a wide variety of details from how to landscape around pools to how to add eye-catching lighting. One of these tips, which references lighting in a geometric poolscape that was featured on HGTV's Big Splash, is: "A combination of different lighting effects creates a mesmerizing nighttime display. Here the counter is lit from below with fiber optics. Throughout the yard, trees are accented with uplighting. Under-surface lights illuminate the fountain for a 'shower of diamonds' effect."
The book also includes a brief overview of different kinds of water features, the top 10 plants for pools, a glossary of common pool and spa terms and a "Pool Construction 101" guide that prospective buyers could find quite handy as they ponder what size and type of pool they'd like to put on their property.
