Freeform Pool with Natural Rock Waterfall

Design notes

French country pools sit in a gravel or limestone terrace framed by clipped box and lavender. Look for pale limestone coping, a simple rectangle aligned with an allée or wall, iron loungers under a plane tree or pleached limes, and a stone pool house with shutters. Fountains and rills tie the water to the garden's axis.

What to look for

• The coping — how the deck meets the water sets the whole tone
• Where the spa sits and how it spills into the pool
• Night lighting: which features glow and which stay dark