Spending $125,000 on a backyard pool might sound like a luxury.
For Hope DeCarlo, it was something much simpler.
It was creating a place where her family could spend time together for years to come.
When Hope, 31, and her husband moved into their Georgia home in late 2023, the backyard was little more than an empty stretch of land waiting to be transformed. To many homeowners, it represented possibility. To the mother of two, it looked like the perfect place to build the kind of family retreat she had always imagined.
"When we first moved into our home, I kept telling my husband that the backyard would be the perfect spot for a pool," DeCarlo told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. "After our first summer here, I knew we needed some type of water feature."
Less than two years later, that vision became reality.
By the spring of 2025, the family had completed a custom backyard transformation in just 36 days while staying within a carefully planned $125,000 budget. More than a year after construction wrapped up, DeCarlo says she still hasn't found a single thing she would change.
The finished backyard features a 16-by-36-foot pool designed to complement the home rather than overpower it. But for DeCarlo, creating that space wasn't about adding every luxury feature available. It was about making thoughtful choices from the very beginning.
Building a Vision
Long before construction began, DeCarlo already knew exactly what she wanted.
After researching contractors, the family chose American Lifestyle Pools to bring the project to life. Having a clear vision before breaking ground helped keep construction moving efficiently and allowed the project to be completed in just over a month.
Rather than filling the backyard with every possible upgrade, DeCarlo focused on the features she believed would make the biggest difference to both the look and everyday enjoyment of the space.
"My non-negotiables were a large sun ledge, travertine decking and making sure the pool aligned with the house," she told PEOPLE. "I love clean lines, so I wanted the pool to visually end at each side of the home. The travertine was important to me because it stays cool during our Georgia summers."
Although some people online were surprised by the project's $125,000 price tag, DeCarlo said the investment covered much more than the pool itself. The budget also included fencing, landscaping, heating and cooling systems, and additional structural work needed because parts of the backyard were not built on solid ground.
Even then, careful planning remained at the center of every decision.
"We were very strategic with the layout," DeCarlo explained to PEOPLE. "I also skipped a spa because I honestly didn't think we would use it enough to justify the cost."
Instead, the family invested in features that would help them enjoy the pool for much longer than the traditional swimming season.
Because the back of the home faces west and receives direct sunlight for much of the day, DeCarlo decided that both a heater and a chiller would provide more lasting value than decorative extras.
"Having both has been well worth it and helps us enjoy the pool comfortably," she told PEOPLE. "We don't close our pool for the winter, so if we get a random warm day, we can turn on the heater and use the pool whenever we want. It has definitely helped us get much more use out of the pool throughout the year."
The choices reflected more than good design.
They reflected the way DeCarlo approached the entire project—not by asking what would look most impressive, but by considering what would serve her family best over the years ahead.
Thoughtful Choices, Lasting Rewards
Looking back, DeCarlo says every decision mattered—from selecting cool-to-the-touch travertine decking to deciding against a spa—but one choice stood above the rest. Choosing the right builder, she said, gave her confidence throughout the entire process.
Although the family selected a contractor whose bid was slightly higher than some competitors, she believes the investment paid off in ways that couldn't be measured by price alone.
"Our builder was extremely transparent and let us know exactly what to expect," DeCarlo told PEOPLE. "If anything, it reinforced how important it is to choose the right builder and spend time planning upfront."
Throughout the 36-day construction process, clear communication helped eliminate many of the surprises and delays that often accompany large home renovation projects. Instead of constantly reacting to unexpected problems, the family was able to focus on watching their vision gradually take shape.
For DeCarlo, the experience reinforced something she now shares with anyone considering a similar project.
"Choose a builder you trust," she emphasized in her interview with PEOPLE. "We actually went with a builder who was a little more expensive, but their reviews, reputation and transparency spoke for themselves. Looking back, it was absolutely worth it."
Her advice reflects the same philosophy that guided every decision throughout the renovation.
Rather than chasing every available upgrade, she believes homeowners should first think about how they want to live in the space they are creating. Features that fit a family's daily life, she learned, often bring far more lasting value than simply choosing the most luxurious additions. That mindset shaped everything from skipping the spa to investing in heating and cooling systems that would allow her family to enjoy the pool throughout much of the year.
Planning, she believes, is just as important as the finished product.
Taking time to establish priorities, choosing experienced professionals, and understanding where to invest—and where to save—helped turn an ambitious vision into a backyard the family continues to enjoy every season.
A Backyard That Feels Like Home
Today, more than a year after construction was completed, the backyard has become exactly what DeCarlo hoped it would be when she first looked out over the empty space behind her new home.
The carefully planned pool, spacious sun ledge and cool travertine deck have created an outdoor space designed not only for summer afternoons but for much of the year, thanks to the heating and cooling system she prioritized from the start.
Looking back, she says there isn't a single decision she regrets.
"This is truly my dream pool," DeCarlo told PEOPLE. "After a full year of using it, I can honestly say there hasn't been a single time I've thought, 'I wish we had done something differently.'"
For many readers, the story may begin with a headline about a $125,000 backyard transformation completed in just 36 days.
For Hope DeCarlo, however, that number has never been the point.
What matters most is that the empty backyard she once imagined transforming has become a place where thoughtful planning, practical decisions and a clear vision came together to create something her family will enjoy for years to come.
Sometimes the most meaningful transformations aren't measured by how much they cost.
They're measured by the life they make possible afterward.
Subscribe to The Bright Story and step into a world of hope, wonder, and humanity at its best. With unlimited access, discover powerful personal journeys, heartwarming family and animal stories, incredible discoveries, and the everyday kindness that makes life brighter.
Comments