The Pool that won the company their Pool of The Year Award, was based on a medieval theme, and was in the Residential Indoor Pools over £175,000 category.  It was a particular favourite of Andrew Rutherford of Portrait Pools because of the blend of old with modern features that worked really well.  It will be a challenge for the team to beat for net years awards ceremony!

Another achievement that Portrait Pools gained this year was their first SPATA Gold Award for Sustainability, which shows their customer commitment to providing energy efficient as well as stunning and spectacular luxurious pools.  Their award winning pool, was built in a barn conversion in Cheshire, and used design techniques that helped the pool and bespoke spa pool to blend in with the gym and pool hall nearby.  With a custom made Heatstar Phoenix climate control system, it enabled the design team to keep the temperature to the desired level required.  The customer was very happy and have hours of pleasure in the new addition to their home.

This was not the only contented customer of Portrait Pools, as another customer felt compelled to write a testimonial for the team after completion of their pool project!  It was their first pool purchase, and they researched other companies, but decided on Portrait Pools, which was a decision they have never regretted in the 18 months since they bought it!  The full testimonial is available to read on our homepage.

One of the features of our luxury pools, that is a speciality of ours, is movable floors, and they are very popular with new customers and old!  They are fitted in the pool, and can be raised or lowered to suit the user.  This is invaluable for small children or family members with special needs that are learning to swim.  Once the pool is not in use, the floor can be fully raised to act as a cover for the pool, making it completely safe.  This is another feature that our customers like, as it means they can use the pool space for entertaining or for business meetings, and gain back the space that the pool has taken up.

Please take a look at our homepage for further information on any aspect of our pool designs, or if you would like to discuss a pool project with us, just fill in our Contact Form, and we will give you a call.

A feature that we can now add to your luxury swimming pools at Portrait Pools, is the innovative idea of a fast lane.  The Fast Lane System can be installed into practically any type of pool, whether new or existing, that has a compatible construction, which we will be able to advise you on.

The System has two main parts to it, the Power Unit and the Swim Unit.  The Power Unit hydraulically powers the swim current in the water.  It has 5 horsepower motor and will be placed safely within your plant room, keeping electrical components away from the pool itself.  It uses 5 gallons of  biodegradable vegetable based hydraulic fluid to power the swim unit, connected by two hydraulic hoses, keeping electricity well away from the water.

The Swim Unit is mounted on the side of the pool, and has a hydraulic motor beneath the water that turns the custom-designed 16” propeller.  This then produces an innovative channel system which straightens and smooths the current of the water.  By varying the flow of oil from the power unit, you can control the speed of the propeller and the swim current.

The swim unit can be placed in any pool with a minimum depth of 35”, which means if you can swim in the water, it is able to have a fast lane unit fitted!  It is very quick to learn how to use, being operated by an ON/OFF switch on a remote control, and a choice of speeds, either faster or slower.  This will make swimming in your luxury pool a whole new experience, that you will want to repeat again and again!

All that you need is a single 30-Amp, 220 Volt, GFCI circuit, and we will do the rest!  Usually in your pool you will swim endless lengths, and turn at each end to return.  This can become monotonous and boring, but with the fast lane installed, you will have a fitness regime you only dreamed of!  Cardiovascular fitness, joint and muscle strengths, and low impact workout sessions.  Perfect if you have a family member with special health needs, as the current can be adjusted to suit.

Fill in our online Contact Form and we will be happy to give you a call and answer any questions you might have, or to arrange an appointment.

For the past four years, we have gone to this event, and this year was no exception, with Andrew, David and Sue, our project coordinator, exhibiting this year on the Saturday and Sunday, in the Garden section of the Exhibition Rooms.  They met up with Claire and Lana from SPATA, (the standards we work to), who had their stand nearby.

The Grand Designs Live is on at Excel London in the Royal Victoria Docks, from the 4th to the 12th May 2013, based on the popular TV programme, Grand Designs, that is shown on Channel 4.  The presenter of the programme is Kevin McCloud, who will be present at the show.

There are over 500 exhibitors there, in seven different areas, Grand Interiors, Grand Gardens,  Grand Home Improvement, Grand Self Build, Grand Renovations, Grand Technology and Shopping.  Everything is on display that you are likely to need if planning a new building project, or looking to redecorate your existing property.

It is a great opportunity for you to meet a popular TV personality, and to get some inspiration for your home improvements project, with the most updated technology on show.  You can also pick the brains of the experts for advice, or ideas of the best way to do things, before you start.  If you could not get along to this exhibition, they are planning another show in Birmingham, later in the year, so check it out!

If you have been planning a Swimming Pool Project, Spa Pool or Sauna, and missed the opportunity to get along to the show, you can take a look through our gallery on our portfolio page, and see the wonderful creations we have designed for our customers.

If you would like to give us a call to discuss your project requirements, call 01704 544222 or you can fill in our online Contact Form, then we will be happy to give you a call back to discuss your project with you.

“We wanted a significant water feature and looked at various decorative mini pools and tanks,” says Richard Armstrong, Heavenly Spa’s proprietor.

“The purpose of the feature was to make us special and create an atmosphere of luxury as well as wellbeing.

“A small but powerful exercise pool was screaming to be included but fancy design options were disproportionately expensive.

“We met Portrait pools at the Spatex Exhibition in February last year,” Richard recalls. “We chose them over the other suppliers because of their approach.

“Their concrete spraying expert was at the show and was most impressive. The consultant was sympathetic to our project and their prices were reasonable. They listened to what we wanted and helped us create a pool we are truly pleased with.”

Portrait designed and constructed the 5 x 4.5 x 1.4 reinforced sprayed concrete pool shell. The pool shape was designed to maximise its size within the room it was to be located in, finished in NDM edging tiles from Waxman, and an Ezarri Pearlescent glass mosaic tile band, the main pool is finished in Aquastone Paradise Blue.

Portrait specified the pool plant, Tagelus 100 36″ filter, 2 HP Sta-Rite pump, 130,000 BTU S/S heat exchanger and a Triogen UV unit. The client specified the two Fastlane counter current units.

“The pool is available whenever we are open,” says Richard. “The outside is cleaned daily and the chemical levels checked every 2-4 days depending on the pool’s use. In line with our green beliefs, we use ultraviolet purification as the main method of keeping the pool hygienic with minimum levels of chlorine only.”

At a total of some 2500 square feet, Heavenly Spa has to be selective in its menu but still manages to provide a comprehensive range of treatments, both on the ‘wellbeing’ and ‘beauty’ sides of the business.

Richard again: “The size of our facility is small compared with most. We want to keep it select and have planned a maximum gym membership of only 100. It is certainly towards the ‘boutique’ end of the market. Most of our visitors say they never knew anything like this existed.

“With the counter current options on the pools we like to think we have the smallest pool in London to come up to Olympic standard training.”

Heavenly Spa Gallery