Wake Forest Modern Provence Get Away is a custom concrete pool and outdoor living project in Raleigh, NC that blends contemporary design with the relaxed elegance of Provence, France. The goal was to create a backyard that felt clean, architectural and highly intentional, while still carrying the warmth, softness and romance that define classic Provençal outdoor living.
The result is a luxury pool environment built around a one of a kind pool layout, a dramatic elevated spa water feature, a suspended pool edge designed to showcase the surrounding woods, a custom pavilion and kitchen, refined marble detailing, copper scuppers, integrated planting, landscape lighting and softened gathering spaces throughout the property.
This project is modern in structure, but deeply connected to the landscape around it.
At the center of the project is a custom concrete swimming pool with a highly personalized layout designed specifically for the architecture of the home and the wooded setting beyond it.
One side of the pool was intentionally suspended to create a cleaner visual edge and allow more dramatic views into the surrounding trees. That design move gives the pool a floating quality and makes the water feel more connected to the landscape beyond it.
Rather than treating the pool as a simple rectangle set behind the house, the geometry was carefully developed to create movement, layered experiences and a stronger relationship between the water, the hardscape and the surrounding site.
The result is a backyard composition that feels refined and highly custom from every angle.
While the project is clearly contemporary, the design language was softened with details that call back to the outdoor living traditions of Provence.
The connection to Provence comes through the use of pale stone, warm natural materials, gentle curves, integrated planting and the balance between architecture and garden. Instead of creating a cold or overly minimal poolscape, the design introduces softness and warmth so the outdoor environment feels elegant, welcoming and lived in.
That balance is what gives the project its identity. It is a modern marvel, but one with character, ease and a distinctly European sensibility.
A fabricated white marble in a Paris fabrication was used as one of the defining materials of the project.
This marble appears throughout the installation, including the patio, pool coping, water feature walls, flower bed detailing and the custom outdoor kitchen. Using the same material across multiple elements creates a strong sense of continuity and gives the entire space a quiet architectural consistency.
Its light tone reflects the brightness and clarity often associated with contemporary design, while the fabrication and application help it feel elevated and tailored rather than stark.
The stone becomes the visual thread that ties the entire project together.
One of the most striking features of the project is the multi tiered water feature system.
The raised spa was intentionally designed higher than the adjacent pool and acts as the show stopping centerpiece of the composition. More than a visual feature, the spa water feature is designed to run hot water so the movement and sound also reinforce the experience of the spa itself.
That additional height creates a layered effect across the poolscape and gives the backyard a stronger sense of depth and drama. Water moves through the space in a way that feels luxurious, immersive and highly composed.
The spa is not just attached to the pool. It is elevated as an experience.
Copper scuppers were integrated into the water feature walls to introduce both movement and material character.
As the copper ages and develops a natural patina, it will continue to evolve visually and become even more connected to the overall palette of stone, water and landscape. This gives the project a sense of maturity over time and adds an artisanal quality that supports the Provençal influence.
The copper provides a rich accent against the white marble and textured masonry while the water flow adds sound, motion and visual rhythm to the backyard.
One of the most unique details of this project is the integrated planter positioned within the pool itself.
This element was designed to bring the surrounding landscape directly into the water and blur the line between built space and natural setting. Rather than treating the pool as something completely separate from the woods around it, the planter allows the landscape to become part of the pool composition.
That decision reinforces the overall design philosophy of the project. Even in a highly modern setting, nature remains part of the experience.
It is a subtle gesture, but one that gives the pool a very distinctive identity.
The outdoor living experience extends beyond the pool through a custom pavilion and kitchen designed for year round use and entertaining.
The pavilion features a tongue and groove ceiling that introduces warmth and craftsmanship overhead while complementing the strong architectural lines of the structure. Beneath it, the custom kitchen provides a functional gathering space that feels fully integrated into the design rather than added as an afterthought.
The same white marble used throughout the project continues into the kitchen, helping the cooking and entertaining area feel visually connected to the pool, water feature and surrounding hardscape.
Together, the pavilion and kitchen create another destination within the backyard and make the project function as a complete outdoor living environment rather than simply a swimming pool installation.
Because so much of the project relies on strong linear forms, a rounded fire pit was introduced to soften the composition.
Positioned within the turf inlaid pattern, the circular fire feature creates a more relaxed and social moment within the landscape. Its curvature provides contrast to the rectilinear pool, pavilion and paving layout, while also helping the backyard feel more comfortable and human in scale.
This balance between sharp lines and softened forms is an important part of what makes the design successful.
The fire pit becomes both a visual counterpoint and a functional gathering space.
Turf inlaid within the hardscape introduces another layer of softness and rhythm throughout the project. The patterning helps organize the outdoor living spaces while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding lawn and landscape.
Landscape lighting was incorporated throughout the installation to extend the architecture and atmosphere into the evening hours. Lighting helps define pathways, emphasize planting, highlight architectural features and allow the pool, spa and pavilion to take on a completely different character after dark.
Inside the pool, Lightstreams tile adds another level of finish and craftsmanship. It introduces subtle richness and depth to the water while reinforcing the luxury character of the overall design.
These details may be quieter than the major features, but they are essential to the complete experience.
What makes this project memorable is the way it balances bold design with softness and livability.
The suspended pool edge captures the woods beyond. The raised spa becomes a true focal point and experience. The integrated planter brings nature into the water. Copper scuppers add movement and material evolution. White marble unifies the architecture. The pavilion and kitchen extend the space into everyday living. The rounded fire pit softens the geometry. Turf inlays and lighting complete the environment.
The finished project is not simply a modern swimming pool in Wake Forest. It is a fully realized custom outdoor living space that feels tailored to the home, deeply aware of the surrounding landscape and elevated by a subtle nod to Provence, France.
Wake Forest Modern Provence Get Away is a custom concrete swimming pool and outdoor living project in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The project combines contemporary design with subtle influences from Provence, France through its use of pale stone, warm materials, water features, integrated planting and relaxed outdoor gathering spaces.
This project includes several highly distinctive design elements, including a unique pool layout, a suspended pool edge that enhances views of the surrounding woods, an integrated planter within the pool and a multi tiered water feature system anchored by an elevated spa.
One side of the pool was intentionally suspended to create stronger visual drama and maximize the views into the wooded landscape beyond the backyard. This design move gives the pool a lighter, more architectural presence and helps connect the water to the natural setting.
The raised spa was designed as a focal point within the project. It sits intentionally higher than the pool and runs hot water, creating a more immersive spa experience while also serving as the visual showpiece of the multi tiered water feature design.
A fabricated white marble in a Paris fabrication was used extensively throughout the project, including the patio, coping, water feature walls, flower bed detailing and the outdoor kitchen. Copper scuppers, Lightstreams tile and warm natural finishes in the pavilion were also used to complete the design.
Copper scuppers were chosen for both their visual warmth and their ability to age beautifully over time. As they develop a natural patina, they add even more character to the project while continuing to provide elegant water movement and sound.
The integrated planter brings landscape directly into the pool composition. It was designed to visually connect the pool with the surrounding woods and reinforce the relationship between architecture and nature throughout the backyard.
Yes. The project includes a custom pavilion with a tongue and groove ceiling, a full outdoor kitchen, a rounded fire pit, turf inlay patterns, landscape lighting and multiple areas designed for lounging, gathering and entertaining.
The Provençal influence comes through the balance of modern architecture with soft and timeless elements such as pale stone, warm natural materials, gentle curves, integrated planting and a lifestyle oriented outdoor layout that encourages relaxing, dining and gathering.
LYFE Pools designs and builds custom concrete swimming pools and complete outdoor living environments in Raleigh and throughout the Triangle. Projects can include pools, spas, water features, outdoor kitchens, pavilions, fire features, lighting, natural stone, landscaping and highly personalized outdoor spaces designed around the home and property.
