This full residential pool and spa renovation in Sandy Springs transformed an aging backyard retreat into a beautifully cohesive outdoor living space. The project encompassed a complete overhaul of every surface — from new Ivory Travertine coping around the pool, spa, and back porch, to a fresh StoneScapes Aqua Cool plaster interior and all-new 6×6 pool and spa tile. The spa received special attention with a widened spillway, a new Ivory Travertine spillway, and an elegant Ivory splitface stone veneer on its front face — delivering a complete transformation that looks and feels entirely new.
Sandy Springs is home to some of the most beautiful residential properties in the Atlanta metro area — and the backyard pools that anchor those properties deserve the same level of care and craftsmanship as the homes themselves. But over time, even well-maintained pools begin to show their age. Coping cracks and stains, plaster becomes rough and discolored, tile loses its luster, and details that once felt fresh begin to look tired.
For this Sandy Springs homeowner, that moment had arrived. The pool and spa had served the family well for years, but the surfaces, tile, and stonework were overdue for a complete renewal. More than a simple replaster, this project called for a full reimagining of every material and detail — a renovation that would bring the entire outdoor space into harmony and deliver a backyard retreat worthy of the home it belonged to.
Allen Pool Service handled every phase of this project, from demolition and removal to installation, finishing, and final startup. Here’s a closer look at what went into this transformation.
The existing stone coping was fully removed and replaced with new 2-inch Ivory Travertine — a natural stone selection that immediately elevates the look and feel of the entire backyard. Travertine coping runs along the top edge of the pool and spa walls, forming the visual and physical border between the water and the surrounding deck. It is one of the most prominent design elements of any pool, and the choice of material here makes a significant statement.
Ivory Travertine is beloved in pool design for its warm, creamy tones and naturally varied veining — no two pieces are exactly alike, giving the finished installation an organic richness that manufactured materials simply cannot replicate. Its light color palette complements virtually any home exterior and landscaping, reflecting heat rather than absorbing it, which keeps the coping comfortable underfoot even on the hottest Georgia summer days.
Travertine is also a highly practical choice for pool coping. It is naturally slip-resistant due to its slightly textured surface, durable enough to withstand decades of seasonal temperature swings and pool chemistry exposure, and easy to maintain with proper sealing. Extending the same Ivory Travertine across the back porch ties the entire outdoor living area together into a unified, intentional design — a detail that makes the renovation feel comprehensive rather than piecemeal.
New StoneScapes Aqua Cool Plaster (with Removal of Mosaic Dolphins)Before any new plaster could go down, the old mosaic dolphin artwork on the pool floor was carefully removed along with the existing plaster surface. The pool shell was then prepared and refinished with StoneScapes Aqua Cool — a premium pebble and aggregate plaster finish from one of the most respected names in pool surface technology.
StoneScapes finishes blend small natural pebble aggregates into a durable, polymer-modified cement base. The result is a surface that is noticeably harder and more resistant to staining, etching, and chemical wear than traditional smooth plaster — critical qualities for a residential pool that will see years of family use. Pebble finishes also have a naturally varied, organic texture that hides minor imperfections far better than smooth plaster, keeping the pool looking pristine longer between renovations.
The Aqua Cool color blend produces a beautiful, soft blue-green water appearance — the kind of inviting, clear water color that immediately makes you want to jump in. It pairs beautifully with the warm tones of the Ivory Travertine coping and the new tile, creating a cohesive palette across all the pool’s surfaces. For homeowners who want a pool interior that looks genuinely resort-quality, StoneScapes Aqua Cool is consistently one of our top recommendations.
All of the existing pool and spa waterline tile was removed and replaced with fresh new 6×6 tile — a clean, classic format that works beautifully in both traditional and contemporary pool designs. The waterline tile band is one of the most visible design elements of any pool interior, running at eye level along the perimeter and setting the visual tone for the entire space.
The 6×6 format offers a bold, substantial look compared to smaller mosaic tiles — each tile covers more surface area, creating a clean, uninterrupted visual rhythm around the pool and spa. This larger format is also practical: fewer grout joints mean less opportunity for calcium scaling and algae buildup at the waterline, making routine cleaning more efficient.
Fresh tile at the waterline does more than improve appearance. It provides essential protection for the pool shell at the zone of greatest chemical activity — where mineral deposits, sunscreen residue, and the constant wet-dry cycle create the most aggressive conditions for surface degradation. New tile, properly installed and grouted, safeguards the structure while giving the pool a crisp, refreshed look that is immediately noticeable.
Widened Spa Spillway with New Ivory Travertine SpillwayThe spa spillway — the channel through which water cascades from the elevated spa down into the pool — was widened and completely refinished with new Ivory Travertine. This single upgrade has an outsized impact on both the visual appeal and the sensory experience of the backyard.
A wider spillway produces a broader, more dramatic sheet of flowing water — transforming what was a narrow trickle into an elegant, resort-style water feature that can be heard and seen from across the yard. The sound of moving water is one of the most relaxing elements of any outdoor space, and the widened spillway amplifies that effect considerably. Finished in Ivory Travertine that matches the surrounding coping, the spillway feels like an intentional architectural feature rather than a functional afterthought.
Travertine is an ideal material for a spillway due to its natural porosity and texture — it softens the appearance of flowing water beautifully and holds up exceptionally well to the constant moisture exposure of an active water feature. With proper sealing, a Travertine spillway will remain beautiful and structurally sound for many years of daily use.
The final detail that truly sets this renovation apart is the installation of Ivory splitface stone veneer on the front face of the spa. Splitface is a natural stone product with a deliberately fractured, textured surface — each piece has depth, variation, and dimension that creates a striking visual effect quite unlike smooth tile or flat stone.
Applied to the vertical front face of the spa, the Ivory splitface veneer transforms what is typically a plain concrete surface into a genuine design feature. The layered, dimensional texture catches light and shadow throughout the day, creating a dynamic appearance that changes with the sun’s position. In the Ivory colorway, it ties seamlessly to the Travertine coping and spillway, completing the cohesive natural stone palette that runs throughout this renovation.
Splitface stone veneer is also highly durable in wet and outdoor environments — it handles moisture, temperature cycling, and pool chemistry exposure without degrading or losing its appearance. It requires minimal maintenance beyond occasional sealing, and it will continue to look beautiful for years, becoming a signature element of this backyard’s character. For a homeowner who wanted their pool and spa to feel truly custom and finished, this detail delivers exactly that.
The Result: A Sandy Springs Backyard TransformedFrom the new Ivory Travertine coping that frames the pool and porch, to the shimmering StoneScapes Aqua Cool plaster beneath the water’s surface, to the bold new tile, the widened spillway, and the dimensional splitface spa face — every element of this renovation was chosen with intention and installed with craftsmanship.
What the homeowner received was not just a renovated pool, but a fully reimagined outdoor living space — one where every material works in harmony with the others, and where the quality of the work is visible in every detail. The pool and spa now feel like the centerpiece they were always meant to be, and the backyard as a whole reflects the care and investment that went into this project.
Allen Pool Service is proud to deliver residential renovations of this caliber throughout Sandy Springs and the greater Atlanta area. If your pool is ready for its next chapter, we would love to help you write it.
Whether you’re looking for a full renovation like this Sandy Springs project or a targeted upgrade, Allen Pool Service brings the expertise, craftsmanship, and attention to detail your pool deserves. Contact us today to discuss your vision.
Please call (770) 451-1621 to for pool renovation, service, and winterization by Allen Pool Service in Atlanta.
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