13 Pools That Epitomize Outdoor Living at Its Finest

Straight from the Galerie archives, these swimming pools offer a refreshing way to beat the heat

Luxurious outdoor living area with circular pool, elegant seating, and tropical landscape in the background.
Inside and out meld seamlessly at Margarita Turull and Ricardo Zapata’s Dominican Republic getaway, which was decorated by Juan Montoya. Photo: Miguel Flores-Vianna

There is nothing better than soaking up the sun and relaxing by a pool, especially in the comfort of a home, whether it’s yours or a friend’s. Showcased in Galerie, these private pools—in dazzling locations from Palm Beach to Marrakech—have stunning architectural design and complement their respective residences perfectly. Dive into our selection. It will have you wishing for summer year-round.

Though López’s collection is international, he is credited with helping to promote Mexican artists such as Abraham Cruzvillegas, who created the sculpture of found materials displayed next to López’s pool.
Eugenio López’s pool. Ricardo Labougle

1. Eugenio Lopez’s pool area features artwork by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas, who created the sculpture of found materials next to the pool, as well as a Louise Bourgeois “Spider” seen climbing the poolside façade; the chaise longue and table are by designer Glyn Peter Machin.

Luxurious outdoor living area with circular pool, elegant seating, and tropical landscape in the background.
Margarita Turull and Ricardo Zapata’s pool area. Miguel Flores-Vianna

2. Juan Montoya incorporates water into the design of Margarita Turull and Ricado Zapata’s Dominican Republic escape by curving the infinity pool around the outdoor living area to create an effortless indoor-outdoor space.

Recommended: Juan Montoya Designs a Chic Caribbean Retreat

Modern backyard with a small pool, surrounded by desert plants and a concrete patio, under a clear blue sky.
The Rudin family’s pool courtyard. Trevor Tondro

3. Architects Silvia Kuhle and Jeffrey Allsbrook of the Los Angeles firm Standard redesigned the Rudin family home with an emphasis on midcentury style. Their serene pool courtyard acts almost as an oasis for their weekend desert retreat.

Modern backyard with a white pergola, swimming pool, lounge chairs, and greenery on a sunny day.
A Beverly Hills pool area designed by Studio Jackson. Roger Davies

4. Designer Ryan Jackson of Studio Jackson crafted a contemporary pool area for this Beverly Hills villa that is outfitted with furniture by Gandia Blasco and a John Dickinson side table by Sutherland.

Outdoor pool with turquoise water, surrounded by lush greenery and a cozy seating area with white chairs and a table.
William Georgis’s La Jolla home pool. Roger Davies

5. Architect William Georgis swims daily in his La Jolla, California, home pool, which features vintage Maurizio Tempestini chairs for Salterini poolside.

Recommended: 9 Dreamy Bedrooms with Incredible Works of Art

Modern house with large windows, surrounded by palm trees, and a glowing pool in the foreground at twilight.
Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts’s pool area of their Desert Modern home. Scott Frances

6. In Rancho Mirage, California, architect Steven Harris and designer Lucien Rees Roberts renovated a 1957 Donald Wexler home that is the very essence of Desert Modernism with its sleek architecture and large pool area.

Outdoor courtyard with a swimming pool, surrounded by lanterns, palm trees, and a plush seating area with cushions.
A view of the Bulgari’s pool courtyard. Ricardo Labougle

7. The exotic Marrakech riad of the Bulgari family features a stunning swimming pool within the main courtyard flanked by lanterns and a Pablo Paniagua–designed daybed.

Modern backyard with a pool, lounge chairs, surfboards, colorful balls, and surrounding greenery on a sunny day.
The pool in a La Jolla home designed by Eddie Lee. Douglas Friedman

8. Eddie Lee designed this La Jolla residence with a laid-back California style. The table and chairs set up in the pool area are by Gloster.

Tropical poolside patio with palm trees, sun loungers, and a cozy seating area outside a luxurious villa under a blue sky.
Pool area of a Palm Beach redesigned home by Aman & Meeks. Douglas Friedman

9. This Bermuda-style residence revamped by Aman & Meeks features elegant landscape designs by Keith Williams of Nievera Williams around the pool area as well as McKinnon and Harris dining chairs, chaise longues, and settees. The John Dickinson side tables are by Sutherland.

Modern house with pool at sunset, lounge chairs aligned on patio, trees in the background, sky with pink and orange clouds
La Quinta residence pool. Roger Davies

10. For this Palm Springs retreat crafted by Madderlake Designs, the desert landscape is incorporated into the home by Marmol Radziner. The pool area features chaises by Sutherland, with Perennials fabric on the cushions, and iron-and-travertine side tables by Philip Nimmo from Jean de Merry; Minotti made the sofa and daybed arranged around the fireplace.

Serene garden with trimmed hedges, flowering plants, a white bench, and a clear blue pool in the foreground
The East Hampton pool. ERIC PIASECKI. STYLED BY PHILIPPA BRATHWAITE

11. At this Robert A.M. Stern Architects–designed estate in East Hampton, landscape designer Justin Terzi created a parterre of boxwood and Russian sage divided by a stone path leading to a Chippendale iron bench.

Charming white house with a pool, surrounded by greenery, showcasing classic architecture and a serene outdoor setting.
The pool at designer Bryan Graybill’s Hamptons home. ERIC PIASECKI. STYLED BY HELEN CROWTHER

12. Fringed with honed absolute black granite, the pool at interior designer Bryan Graybill’s Hamptons retreat, created in collaboration with architectural firm Historical Concepts, features chaise longues by Kingsley Bate.

Modern open-air living space with a pool, contemporary furniture, artwork, and potted plants under a clear blue sky.
The Los Angeles home of Lori Kanter Tritsch and her partner, William P. Lauder. Roger Davies

13. Conceived in collaboration with Kovac Design Studio, the Los Angeles home of Lori Kanter Tritsch and her partner, William P. Lauder, features sliding glass walls that open up to a pool court with spectacular views. The custom-designed terrazzo terrace is furnished with a sectional sofa by Holly Hunt and a B&B Italia dining table surrounded by Summit director’s chairs. Inside, a group of Robert Indiana screen prints makes a splash.

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