Shaded Nook to Bright & Breezy Retreat

Our Projects
Written By Kim Manunui

What was once a tucked-away retreat has been transformed into the centerpiece of the backyard—a place to gather, cool off, and enjoy the sunshine from morning to evening.

 

When our clients approached us about revamping their backyard, they had a clear vision: create a space that felt open, bright, and seamlessly connected to their home. What stood before was a cozy, enclosed pool area—lush with greenery, but shaded and somewhat secluded from the rest of the house. While it had its charm, it lacked the usability, light, and indoor-outdoor flow the homeowners desired.

The Before: Private but Confined

The original pool area featured a small plunge pool nestled beneath mature landscaping and dense foliage. A charming cabana, hanging chairs, and a kids’ cubbyhouse gave the space personality, but it felt disconnected from the house. The tall hedges and overhanging trees made it a cool, shaded area—great in theory, but in reality, it often felt dark and closed-in. There was limited space for lounging, entertaining, or soaking up the sun, and the separation from the main house made the pool more of a secondary feature than a central attraction.

The Vision: Light, Space, and Flow

The homeowners wanted to rethink how the backyard was used. Their goals were simple but transformative:

  • Open up the space to create a more usable area.

  • Bring in more light by reducing overgrowth and adjusting the orientation.

  • Improve the connection to the house, making the pool an integrated part of the daily living experience.

The After: A Bright, Breezy Entertaining Space

The results speak for themselves. The new design features a stunning in-ground pool set in light tiles that reflect the sun and amplify brightness. Dark wooden decking accents the perimeter, offering warmth and contrast. The pool area is now wide, open, and inviting—framed by carefully selected greenery that adds texture without overwhelming the space.

One of the biggest upgrades? The direct connection to the house. Glass fencing allows for uninterrupted views from the living room and patio, creating a true indoor-outdoor flow.

What was once a tucked-away retreat has been transformed into the centrepiece of the backyard—a place to gather, cool off, and enjoy the sunshine from morning to evening.

Pool size: 8.5m x 4.5m - 1.2 to 1.8m depth

Pool colour: Abel Tasman

Pool features:

  • Zodiac 1 HP pump

  • Naked freshwater system

  • Pool lights

  • Cairo custom pit roller and Dukote thermal blanket

  • Canyon beige porcelain coping tiles and paving

  • Viron Invertor IHP170 Heat Pump

  • Belaire Glass Fencing

  • Kwilia Decking and Feature wall (to match house) – Skelton Building

Pool build: Mayfair Pools Hamilton & Cambridge - Waikato Pools

Photographer: Saul Osborne Photography

Before

After

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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Pool Installer Vs Pool Builder