In the swim for summer

just to add a little bit of fun to the space.’’

Retro comeback

While most pool designs seem to be about maintaining simplicity, Hatcher says it’s worth keeping an open mind for all things 1970s.

‘‘It might not suit everyone but the once-maligned kidneyshaped pool is having a resurgence, and its retro 1970s design is definitely cool again!’’

Colour matching

Hatcher has a simple system for working out what colours might best suit your future pool.

‘‘If you live near the coast and have a largely coastal palette of colours surrounding your home then blue tiles or render for the pool works well. For a pool in a bushland setting with grey, brown and green surrounds, consider a contemporary green look for your pool to flow on from and blend well with the rest of the exterior of your property.’’

Smart pools

Finally, no one wants to give themselves more work or spend more money when it comes to installing and taking care of a backyard pool. Hedges knows that the one thing all of her clients can agree on when it comes to a new pool is that it must be cost effective and easy to maintain.

‘‘It is all about the selfcleaning pool nowadays and if there is one thing that everyone looks for it is a ‘lowmaintenance’ installation, as pools can be tricky to care for.’’

– domain-com-au I love our lounge at the front of the house with the sea views. There is no TV distraction and plenty of books so it’s a pleasant place to sit and chat with family and friends. I enjoy my first cup of tea here every morning as I get real pleasure watching the everchanging expansive sky out of the windows and sometimes the sun rising.

Finish this sentence with an anecdote. ‘‘Once someone came to my door and . . . ’’

. . . got a surprise to find there was no door. It caused lots of confusion and shouting to explain how to get in. The joys of renovations for two years – there was no door for a few months.

Your proudest DIY moment?

Finding a partner who can do DIY. I’m a ‘‘jump in without thinking’’ DIYer – no patience and like to take risks. Such as, ‘‘Let’s just hope we are nailing this into a stud!’’

If my partner would let me, I would get rid of . . .

His hoardings in the garage. He gets great pleasure though when One of the ducks in my set of flying ducks like you’d see on the wall of Coronation Street. It broke.

Favourite piece of furniture?

A beautiful outdoor table and benches. It comfortably sits 10 and has seen many a good evening for the past 15 years. It’s solid and has that beautiful aged wood appeal now.

If I had $50k, what I’d change about my house . . .

I would add a balcony to the bedroom we added to our house on the top floor so that you would be able to see the view better.

Which home habit annoys you the most?

Picking up everyone’s stuff lying around. Greg would say my bad habit of leaving lids not on properly is highly annoying and I get that.

What’s one domestic trick you’ve learnt over the years?

I love coming home to my bed being made and so try very hard to do this in the mornings.

‘‘Clients no longer want the backyard to be ‘all pool’, realising that it becomes a dead space in winter.’’ Vanessa Hedges