#ingroundpool

An illustration of a medium-sized traditional backyard with stamped concrete and a rectangular lap pool

An illustration of a medium-sized beach-style backyard landscape with a kidney-shaped lap pool is shown.

Example of a medium-sized beach-style backyard with concrete and a kidney-shaped lap pool.

An illustration of a sizable minimalist backyard landscape with a custom-shaped natural pool

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Hot tub - mid-sized contemporary backyard concrete and custom-shaped natural hot tub idea

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what “summer at home” really means.

For the past few years, I’ve flirted with the idea of installing a pool, but it always felt like a someday luxury. You know the type of dream you pin to a secret board and revisit every time you're stuck in traffic or folding laundry? That was me—collecting sun-dappled visions of in-ground pools that stretch across perfectly manicured lawns.

But this year felt different. I don’t know if it was the back-to-back BBQs in other people’s backyards or the way my kids practically lived in their inflatable pool last summer. I just wanted something permanent, something real. So I started researching.

I landed on a page from Cummins Signature Pools — they’re local to Belford, which immediately caught my attention — and the way they broke down the process of Inground Pool Installation just made everything feel…doable. Like, “Oh, maybe this doesn’t have to be a 3-year project.” It was simple and reassuring: site visit, design plan, excavation, install. Step by step. And they seem to really know the quirks of our Jersey soil and weather, which is kind of a big deal here.

Reading through their guide got me thinking not just about having a pool, but about the right pool. Like, what shape fits our yard without sacrificing the garden? Do we want a shallow tanning ledge or a classic rectangle for laps? My son is campaigning for a diving board. I’m leaning toward underwater lighting and a built-in bench. And my husband? He’s all about a spa feature on one end.

There’s something magical about visualizing the transformation of space—how our chaotic, weedy backyard could morph into a peaceful, blue oasis. It’s not just about the aesthetics, though that’s obviously a big part of it. It’s the potential for new routines: Saturday morning swims, evening floats under the stars, hosting birthday parties without having to book a venue. Life, but more fluid.

And real talk: the idea of a custom pool that adds value to the house and gives us a reason to stay home more? It’s kind of a win-win. Especially with how crazy travel has gotten. I don’t need a resort. I just want to sip iced tea with my feet in the water.

I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. It’s a commitment, financially and emotionally. But finding Cummins Signature Pools made me realize it doesn’t have to be a fantasy. It’s actually within reach, especially when the process is broken down clearly by a team that feels local and attentive.

Who knows—by next summer, I might be writing this from a lounger, poolside.