Chapel Hill, NC · 2024
The Ashworth Pool
Pool with integrated stepping stones & patio terrace
The Story
The Ashworth family wanted a pool that felt connected to their expansive stone patio — not separated from it. We designed an integrated layout where stepping stones cross over the pool's sun ledge, visually blending pool and patio into one seamless surface.
The Challenge
Stepping stones crossing a pool require precise structural support — they can't float, and they must be level with the pool coping. The engineering for flush-mount stepping stones is far more complex than standard pool construction.
Our Solution
Each stepping stone is supported by a concealed stainless steel pier anchored to the pool shell. The stones sit at water level, creating the illusion of walking on water while being perfectly stable.
12 weeks
Build Time
16×32 ft
Pool Size
Pool + Stepping Stones
Features
1,600 sq ft
Total Area
Construction Timeline
From ground to glory.
Site Assessment
A mid-sized backyard with an existing stone patio. The pool needed to feel like a natural extension of the patio, not an addition bolted on.
Excavation
Pool shape excavated adjacent to the existing patio. The sun ledge section was carefully excavated to only 12 inches deep for the stepping stone crossing.
Steel & Pier Mounts
Standard rebar grid plus custom stainless steel pier mounts welded to the rebar at each stepping stone location. Each pier precisely leveled to coping height.
Shotcrete Shell
Pool shell shotcreted with the pier mounts cast into the concrete. The sun ledge section finished with a smooth, level surface for the stepping stones.
Tile, Coping & Stones
Waterline tile and natural stone coping installed. The stepping stones — matching the patio stone — set onto the concealed piers at water level.
Patio Integration
The existing patio extended to meet the new pool coping, creating one continuous stone surface. Landscape lighting added along the pool edge.
Final Reveal
Stepping stones appear to float on the water's surface, seamlessly connecting patio to pool. The Ashworth Pool looks like it's always been part of the landscape.
The Transformation
Before & After
BeforeAfter
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