BY
Rachael Hedgcoth
PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul Bonnichsen

When seeking ways to give your pool some personality, consider these elements:

Artificial rocks

Fiber-optic lighting

Large umbrellas

Spill-over spas

Water misters

Fire pits

Directional fountains

Sheer-descent waterfalls

Paver, flagstone or slate decking

Outdoor kitchen

Custom pool enclosures

Lagoon-like pool design

Unique landscaping
When warm weather hits, there's sure to be a party at the Fienes' house. Outside, that is.

One glimpse of the breathtaking water retreat that the family calls their "backyard" explains why Pat Fiene, wife Christine, and their three boys Jake, Matthew and Josh, dont have to look far when they are in search of vacation-like fun.

A private oasis — which is surely the envy of the neighborhood — lies just beyond the back door of the Fiene home, located in the Brookborough Estates subdivision of Overland Park.

For the Fiene boys, spring weather signals a race to see who can make the first splash in the family's 100,000-plus gallon heated pool. A zero beach entry, a mini tri-level mountain for jumping into the pool's 14-foot depths, a diving board and a waterfall showcase just the beginning of what makes this pool unique.

Inspired by family vacations to Orlando, Fla., Pat sought to bring home some features from afar.

"We would go on vacation and see things we liked," Christine says. "Pat designed the pool with many of those features in mind."

One of the things Pat had seen in Florida was a "spin-around," a whirlpool-like alcove featuring jets that swirl the water in a circular motion. He also envisioned a sandy beach entry and a wave pool.

"There were some things we tried to talk him out of," laughs Bob Muehlbach, owner of Esther Williams Pool Dealer & Spas in Olathe and the designer and builder of the Fienes' pool.

Muehlbach nixed the sand from the plans, as well as the wave pool, which would have required a two-story building to generate the air currents needed to create the waves.

"If we would have gone ahead with that wave pool, he would have had the only residential wave pool in the nation at that time," Muehlbach says.

However, the "spin-around," as Muehlbach calls it, remained part of the plans. Christine says the kids have a blast in it.

The pool also has accessories for basketball and volleyball games, and it has a hidden built-in bench tucked just behind the waterfall that tumbles off the simulated rock platform.

While certainly a kid-friendly paradise, this aqua sanctuary harbors a hook for Mom and Dad as well.

Across the stamped-concrete pool deck is a luxurious Jacuzzi tub with a warm, inviting waterfall.

"It's so nice to sit under that waterfall," Christine says with a smile.

Pat and Christine, owner of several successful business ventures, say their backyard is a haven for spending much needed time with their boys, away from their busy schedules. 

To top the yard off, an outdoor pool house is keeper of a television, mounted for convenient viewing from the comfort of the steaming Jacuzzi. The outdoor kitchenette also features a refrigerator, a sink and a bar top featuring a stunning ocean-themed mosaic, hand-crafted by Christine's mother.

"It took her about two years to do that," she says.

The final engaging element of the Fienes' backyard is its landscaping, which was initially designed by Aristocrat Home and Garden. Adorned with lush bushes, plants, trees and soft floodlighting, the Fienes truly have achieved a resort ambience.

The sounds of cascading water coupled with floating reflections and spectacular amenities drown out any evidence of the bustling suburbs that surround the Fienes' home.

But this upscale pool is just one example of how Kansas Citians are extending their living spaces outside, proving that nippy winters can't hamper local residents' desires to enjoy life alfresco.

While a pool — whether vinyl-lined, gunite (concrete) or fiberglass — might be the main focus, what really sets it apart from another is its design, spa and fountain features, backyard accessories and surrounding aquascape.

Above all, a pool should complement the home.

"Some people like symmetrical lines, some people like free-form pools," Muehlbach says. "It depends on the house, whether a client wants to go with a more elegant feel or natural flagstone look. It depends on what's already going on in the backyard."

Muehlbach says he gives his clients a list of things to consider when they are in the process of deciding what pool is right for their home.

"They should think about several things, such as: Who will be using this pool? Will it be a family fun center? Will it be for entertaining? Will it be used as a lap pool? Who will need access to the pool — younger or older people, or both? Will there be small children around?"

Once a concept for a pool design is drawn up, a client can expect the installation or construction process to be completed in anywhere from two weeks to five months — or more — depending on the type of pool chosen. A fiberglass pool or a vinyl-lined pool will take the least time, while a concrete pool could take half a year.

Roger Banks, owner of Overland Park-based Banks Blue Valley Pool and Spa, is well-acquainted with the detailed process behind creating custom gunite pools.

"We try to make every pool we do unique," he says. "We integrate it into the house and yard so it looks like it belongs — so it doesn't just look like it was dropped from the sky."

He says that a lot of upscale homeowners who have moved to Kansas City from the likes of Texas and California are bringing new pool trends to the area.

"They have had pools before and they want something with more interest," Banks notes.

Consequently, spill-over spas, decorative rock waterfalls and lagoon-like or natural-looking pools are becoming more common around town.

"Pools with multiple levels are coming on strong in the Kansas City area," he adds.

He and Muehlbach both contend that outdoor kitchens are rapidly growing in popularity in the area.

"People want more of a country club atmosphere in their backyard," Banks says.

It seems that as time goes on, upscale Kansas City families want to enjoy their backyards year-round.

Luckily, the seasonal luxury of poolside life has been extended beyond the traditional timeframe thanks to outdoor fire pits, pool enclosures and radiant-heated walkways.

Pool and spa industry experts report that couples and families are focusing their entertainment sights inward in light of social, global, economic and environmental changes.

The Fienes' poolside paradise is a great example of how this trend has hit the Heartland.

"It's cyclical," Banks explains. "It's like we're back to 'take care of your house and it will take care of you.'"