at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012 - (Page 197)

| gRAnD IDeAs| Molobor eetuero dolore tateM et adiaM digna faccuMsandre do odit ad te Minissi. isi blandre ent ut addition installations. Fitted lights, heaters, diving boards and jet bubbles all make a swimming pool more luxurious, but they come at a cost. For indoor pools, you may want to consider roll-on, roll-off floors that can transform a pool room into a comfortable games room, providing usable space in minutes and at the touch of a button. Contractors such as Portrait Pools also offer automatic swimming pool covers that mould to any shape or design. Remember to take into account the cost of pool insurance and maintenance. Often, the contractor that builds the pool will be able to offer a service that includes weekly, monthly or holiday maintenance. This will be determined by the pool’s location – indoors or out – plus its size and how often it is used. The pool’s temperature, clarity and pH levels all need to be checked and maintained, and are crucial to whether you can use your pool as and when you want. A splashing build an in-ground swimming pool will take approximately six to eight weeks. A basement pool will require extensive excavations, and a typical basement will take approximately 10 to 16 weeks for the structural phase to be completed. The actual swimming pool build will be additional to this. If you want to build a pool, you must get planning permission and comply with building regulations. Contact your local council, which will have more information. If the pool has a capacity greater than 10,000 litres, which is designed to be refilled automatically with mains water, you must also inform your water and sewerage company or authority before you begin work. There are also guidelines on energy conservation and low energy use that relate to swimming pools. Finally, if you want to empty your pool, you should check the best way to dispose of the water with your environmental regulator or water and sewerage company or authority. You’ll need authorisation to dispose of pool water into sewers, surface waters or groundwater. n what could be better than a lavish pool in the stretches of your back garden, or an indoor sanctuary for use year-round? Words: Lucy Oben-Pepra | PhotograPh: Getty Images ools provide a great opportunity to relax as well as exercise, so it’s important to pick one that suits your lifestyle as well as your design preferences – whether indoors or outside in your garden. Do you want to swim laps to challenge our Olympians, or are you looking for somewhere to take a leisurely dip with friends and family? Will you have children in the pool or is it for adults only? Do you want to be able to swim all year round, or are you looking for a fair-weather option? Questions such as these will affect your choice before buying. Also, bear in mind that a wellconstructed and designed pool can add value to the price of your property but if the building work is shoddy, it will do the opposite. P Sarah says... ‘I love the idea of an outdoor pool. I’d choose one where you can adjust the depth by lifting the floor. this also allows you to “put it away” when you’re not using it, so the space can still be a part of your garden.’ What about the paperwork? How much will it cost to create and maintain? When it comes to building a pool, you should consider not just the price of the pool itself, but how much it will cost to maintain. Of course, the price of the pool will vary according to its size, style, design and any additional How long will it take to build a pool? This will vary depending on style and the number of features you want to include. On average, to www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2012 | 197 http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012

EDITOR’S LETTER
WELCOME FROM SARAH
NEWS
AWESOME AUGUST
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TABLE TALK
THE THRIFTY FIFTY
TRENDS ON TRIAL
BEENY UNCUT
ESSENTIAL HOME-BUYING GUIDE
SURVEY SAVVY
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
THE NEW FACE OF PROPERTY?
SELLER SECRETS
LOCATION LOCK-UP
SOAP AND GLORY
OPEN UP
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
TOP SHOP
THE BRIGHT STUFF
GET THE JUNGLE LOOK
WARDROBE WARS
A ONE OFF
MOSAIC MAGIC
GLASS ACT
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
FRAME GAME
IT’S A BLINDER
SNUG AS A BUG
BURNING QUESTION
THE A-TEAM
QUICK FIX
BEAT THE BUILDING BLUES
LET THERE BE LIGHT
GOING DOWN
GARDEN GREATS
DIRTY DEALINGS
ALIEN INVASION
JUMP RIGHT IN
LITTLE WONDER
OUT OF SIGHT
PROFESSOR GREEN
ECO EXCLUSIVE
TALKING TRASH
PRO PLANET PROJECTS
HELLO, SUNSHINE
CARBON-NEUTRAL COVER
STAR GLAZER
EARTH HOUR
HOT TOPIC
MASS REDUCTION
WASTE NOT
SWITCHED ON
ETHICAL INTERIORS
YOU LIVE WHERE?
COMING SOON
WINNING SPOT
LUXE LINEN
CATCH-UP
STOCKISTS

at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012