A Mermaid’s Pool in Prospect, KY

We will always remember the time we built a pool for a real-life mermaid.  She may have been relocated to Prospect, Kentucky, where there is no ocean in sight, but she has clearly found a way to stay in her element.

When we first visited the property, the family admitted they really did not use their backyard. Nothing drew them outside or gave them much reason to spend time there.  Clearly, they needed a water element.

What started as a conversation about a fairly small fiberglass pool eventually became an Imagine Pools Illusion 40 designed around the way this family wanted to live: swimming, exercising, recovering, entertaining, teaching children to swim, and simply being in the water.

The backyard before construction. It was already private and green, but the homeowners wanted a reason to actually use the space.

Why They Chose the Imagine Pools Illusion 40

When I first met with the family, they were thinking about a much smaller pool turned the opposite direction, straight out the primary bedroom doors. But as the design process continued, they realized their entire backyard could be a swimming pool. That was very exciting for the mermaid.

They were initially drawn to the Illusion 40 for its tanning ledge. The pool is approximately 15 feet wide by 40 feet long, with a deep end of about 7 feet. Around 11 feet, 4 inches of the pool is taken up by the tanning ledge and benches, and the ledge itself is about 15 to 16 inches deep.

That tanning ledge is one of the things that makes this pool so versatile. It is a fantastic place for small children to play, a great place for adults to lounge, and if a dog is going to get into the pool, that is typically where they get in. On the Illusion, the ledge is a little deeper than some, so small dogs may still be swimming, but for larger dogs it works well as an entry and resting area.

Can You Really Swim and Exercise in an Illusion 40?

One concern the homeowners had was that the tanning ledge would take valuable real estate away from the swimming lane. As you can imagine, being able to swim is hugely important to a mermaid! To solve that, we added a Badu swim jet. The swim jet provides resistance to swim against, so both Mr. and Mrs. can get a serious workout without needing a traditional lap pool. 

After they started thinking about exercise, they also started thinking about recovery. If they were going to swim hard, they wanted to relax afterward, so we added four therapeutic jets on a bench in the deep end.

That combination has really worked well for her. She can swim laps, use the swim jet, recover with the therapeutic jets, entertain young children, entertain adults, or just get in with her husband and relax. She told me that she feels like anything she wants to do, this pool works for her, and I think that is probably the best description of the Illusion 40.

Why the Safety Ledge Has Been Such a Big Deal

One of the things we really like about Imagine Pools is the safety ledge that runs around the perimeter of all their pool shells. About 16 inches under the water, there is a small, 2” ledge around the entire pool that gives a swimmer a place to put their hands, push their head above water, and rest.

It may have been designed with children in mind, but it is helpful for anyone of any size or age. Our mermaid has been giving swim lessons to neighborhood children, and she has been very careful about showing them how to use that feature. Knowing it is there gives the children more confidence in the water.

Would a 40-Foot Pool Be Too Big for the Yard?

Honestly, this was the part I worried about the most. I thought a 40-foot pool might dwarf the backyard, and I was concerned we would not have enough room between the house and the pool or between the far side of the pool and the landscaping.

We measured that yard over and over. I would say we probably measured it five different times. Some trees ultimately did need to be removed, and the homeowners replaced them closer to the fence so the space could work better.

In the end, it turned out beautifully. The pool does not overwhelm the yard at all, and I am very glad we took the time to keep checking the layout before moving forward. It is a good example of why the size of the pool cannot be looked at by itself. You have to think about the house, the landscaping, the remaining yard, walking space, and how the whole backyard is going to feel once everything is finished.

The Details You May Not Notice

There was actually a lot going on in this backyard. We had the swim jet, four therapeutic jets, an automatic safety cover, and a nearby fire pit, which meant there was also a gas line that had to be buried in the same general area.

We also did hidden skimmers, which is one of those details most people may never even notice. Instead of having a plastic skimmer lid interrupting the pavers, the skimmer covers blend into the surrounding deck. It gives the whole area more continuity and makes the finished pool look more refined.

Those are the kinds of things I think homeowners sometimes never realize we are thinking about. There may be a lot of complexity behind the scenes, but if the project is handled well, the finished backyard should feel simple.

Finishing the Backyard

Around the pool, we kept the hardscape fairly restrained. We used clay-colored FireRock pavers and did not cover the entire backyard in decking.

For the rest of the space, the owners collaborated with Zeppa’s Lawn Care, who completed the turf, landscaping, and privacy fence. They did a lovely job, and I think the combination of the pool, the pavers, the turf, the landscaping, and the fence is part of why the yard feels so finished without feeling overbuilt.

When I first stepped into the backyard after everything was complete, my first reaction was, “Oh my goodness, this feels like a high-end resort.” But after I spent a little time there, I realized it is also a very quiet, peaceful space. That combination is what really makes the backyard special.

Beach Sand Pool Color and the Teal Automatic Cover

Our Mermaid chose Beach Sand for the fiberglass pool color because it reminded her so much of her native waters. All of us at Sanctuary Pools agree that the Beach Sand color reminds us of the water off the coast of Destin, Florida. And for that reason, we love it and think it is too often overlooked.

The homeowner also chose a teal automatic safety cover, which is her favorite color. She told me that sometimes she just sits and looks at the pool because the pool color and the cover make her happy. I love that, because at that point the pool does more than give her a place to swim. The backyard itself has become something she enjoys looking at and spending time in.

Is the Imagine Pools Illusion 40 Right for Your Backyard?

If another homeowner told me they wanted a fiberglass pool that would work for exercise, children, adults, entertaining, dogs, swimming, and relaxing, I would immediately tell them to look closely at the Illusion 40.

It has worked extremely well for this homeowner; it has worked well for many of our other clients, and Tony and I have found many of the same things to be true with our own Illusion 40.

That versatility is what makes this pool so special.

If you’d like to browse all the photos for this project, look here.