May 2026 Pool of the month: The Pinnacle 40 with sunken style in central Illinois

Some builds come together fast. Others take real patience, coordination and a homeowner with a very clear vision. Our May 2026 Pool of the Month is a case study in the second kind.

This win goes to Leisure Pools Bloomington for The Pinnacle 40 from Leisure Pools in Ebony Blue with a matching Amalfi Spa, installed on a central Illinois property. The homeowners came to the project already knowing exactly what they wanted, and the Leisure Pools Bloomington team spent close to eight months working alongside them and their broader project team, from initial design through final build out, to bring that vision to life.

Terraced walls and a hidden pool equipment room

Before the pool itself could go in, the property needed a serious amount of site work. The homeowners excavated the yard and poured massive concrete retaining walls to create a lowered, terraced feel around the pool area, with multiple levels rising above it. The effect is striking and almost fortified, more like a private amphitheater around the water than a typical backyard pool.

Tucked into the corner behind hidden black doors is the equipment room, fully enclosed and outfitted with special ventilation to safely handle the gas heaters. Hiding the equipment this way keeps the sightlines clean and lets the terraced walls and the pool itself stay the visual focus, exactly as the homeowners intended.

Patience as a pool construction strategy

Every pool build has a timeline, but this one required something different: the discipline to wait. The Leisure Pools Bloomington crew was ready to break ground early, but the project depended on several outside pieces falling into place first. The retaining walls needed to be finished and cured. The utility company had to run new electric service out to the site. The gas company had to install a line large enough to support the home’s heating system.

Most projects move quickly from start to finish. This one was different. It meant staying ready to execute precisely the moment each piece was finally in place, rather than rushing ahead before the site was set. That patience paid off in a finished product with no shortcuts and no compromises.

A modern, low-maintenance fiberglass pool finish

Rather than surround the pool with more concrete or traditional landscaping, the homeowners chose artificial turf for a clean, sleek, low-maintenance look that matches the home’s modern feel. Custom pavers frame the coping around the pool and spa, and pockets of loose rock break up the turf throughout the space as a textural accent, adding visual interest without adding upkeep.

The pool itself includes four laminar jets, which send graceful, glassy arcs of water across the surface and add motion and sound to the space day and night. It is heated with a robust 2,400 kBTU gas system paired with an Omni Logic control system and a full saltwater setup, along with 950 series pumps to keep everything running efficiently even with a heating system of that size. A charcoal-colored automatic pool cover from Integra Pool Covers finishes the look and keeps the pool protected and easy to maintain between uses.

A sunken fire pit, inspired by another Leisure Pools build

One of the standout features near the pool is a sunken fire pit, added after the homeowners saw the idea used on another Leisure Pools project and decided they had to have one of their own. It is a good reminder that even homeowners who arrive with a fully formed vision can still be moved by seeing what is possible elsewhere. Sometimes the right photo or video from a past build is what turns a good idea into a final one, and it is exactly the kind of inspiration Leisure Pools dealers can offer clients throughout the design process.

Many hands, one finished backyard pool space

While the Leisure Pools Bloomington team handled the pool, the spa and the coping around them, the surrounding work was completed in phases by a rotating group of trusted specialists. One subcontractor completed the fire pit and its surrounding stonework. Another installed the artificial turf. Yet another came in afterward to finish the remaining concrete work throughout the space. Coordinating that many moving pieces across multiple phases, on top of waiting for the retaining walls and utilities, is part of what made this build such a strategic and layered process.