Rectangular Pool and Raised Circular Spa

Design notes

Mediterranean pools sit in courtyards and terraces of travertine or terracotta, edged with stucco walls, arches and a spillover spa or tiled fountain. Look for waterline tile in blue and white, coping in warm limestone, cypress and olive trees for vertical shade, and a loggia or pergola draped in bougainvillea where the loungers actually go.

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