Lap up a watery design this winter with an indoor swimming pool.

You don't need to live in a warm winter climate to sit poolside. People are designing pools to create a resort-like atmosphere inside their home, says Teri Wiltshire, spokesperson for Master Pools Guild Inc., in Richmond, Virginia. "People are drawn to water and want to bring that experience inside their homes," she says. "Homeowners who build indoor pools are focused on health and well-being year-round, and also use it for entertaining family and friends."

But homeowners who are diving into indoor swimming pool construction need to have a plan before going financially underwater on a stylish swimscape, says Mark Reed, president and chief executive officer of Memphis Pool in Tennessee.

"An indoor pool is a way to prolong a six-month swim season, when compared to the backyard variety," he says. "Homeowners can expect to pay up to 30 percent more for an indoor pool, as opposed to the same construction in the backyard."

But swimming laps in luxury isn't as easy as filling a hole in the ground. Reed says the average indoor-size pool is between 15,000 and 20,000 gallons and is typically built on-grade. In a stroke of ingenuity, indoor pools built in a solarium-style space can feature panels on the roof that can be opened and closed for an indoor-outdoor feel.

The poolroom can be a sunny segue from the inside of the house to scenic views outside. Usually attached to the back or side of a home, the poolroom can be the centerpiece of an in-home spa experience, often surrounded by a hot tub or gym equipment.

Before breaking ground on a watery respite, the site needs to be prepared and graded so water flows away from a home's foundation. Water also travels the path of least resistance, so it's important to make sure it doesn't seep into the house by having an equipment pan in the pump room, in the event the filtration system springs a leak.

"You need to have a plan for water drainage, because you don't want the water splashed from the pool to end up inside your home," Reed says. "There also has to be a plan for the ventilation and dehumidification of the house with an indoor pool, so the evaporated water doesn't condense on walls and ceilings."

More people are swimming in style with splashy features built around their indoor pools. "Homeowners are educated about options they want," Reed says. "Each pool we build is unique and built around the personality of the homeowner and design of the house."

The size and shape of an indoor pool depends on how it will be used. A classic geometric shape is perfect for a lap pool, while a naturalistic, curving shape can be more conducive for recreation with a waterslide and diving boards.

Reed says the inside and bottom of many indoor pools are tinted to give the illusion of blue hues. Finishes inside the pool using aggregate, such as colored pebbles, are as beautiful underwater as they are underfoot. Also, the indoor pool can be an illuminating project, with underwater light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that cast cool lights in color.

But just as important as how an indoor pool looks is how it smells. "We've all been to the hotel that greets you with the chlorine smell of their indoor pool," Reed says. "You don't want that smell permeating your home."

Reed says one of the most effective water sanitizers for a pool is an ultraviolet (UV) and ozone water treatment system. "This system reduces the need for chemicals, and there's little off-gassing of chloramines, which leads to that strong chlorine smell in the air."

Swimming and safety must go together like a foot and flipper in an indoor pool. "It's really important to go over water safety rules at your pool and have layers of safety precautions in place," Reed says. "Since you can't put a fence around an indoor pool, local building codes have guidelines, which often include having an alarm on the door to the poolroom."

Extra amenities surrounding an indoor pool, such as a sauna, workout equipment and lounge chairs, give families more opportunities to enjoy the poolroom. "Our team isn't just building a pool," Reed said. "We want to create a relaxing oasis that families can dive into."

Taking the Plunge

To find reputable pool contractors in your area, go to: MasterPoolsGuild.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

After the holidays, bid your home a vibrant "Happy New Year!" -- or "Felice Anno Nuovo!" -- by bringing a little Italy into your kitchen.

America's midcentury modern movement is making a comeback with the flowing curves and dramatic angles of Italian design that never went out of style in Europe, says Amir Ilin, director of North American sales for Pedini USA, based in Paramus, New Jersey. "Italy is the country that brings the world the sleek design of the Lamborghini and Ferrari automobiles, and that same design principle is found in the home," he says. "There is a small faction of Italian design that is traditional and rustic -- with carvings and gold leafing -- but today, when we talk about Italian design in America, it is contemporary and refined."

American kitchen trends, as released by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, based in Hackettstown, New Jersey, forecast design principles with streamlined spaces, which are emulated in Italian kitchens.

A clutter-free culinary space appeals to not only millennials, but active baby boomers -- or "zoomers," says Ilin. "As design in the home becomes more open, many people want the kitchen to look like the rest of the home, which is becoming more contemporary in design," he says. "This kitchen design style isn't new in Europe, but it has been catching on in the United States for the past five years."

With countertops and an island more akin to fine furniture than traditional American kitchen cabinetry, contemporary Italian style is often unadorned, featuring flush doors, natural materials and rich monochromatic colors.

Contemporary Cabinetry

Cabinets built by American manufacturers traditionally use framed construction, in which the rails and stiles form a "frame" on the cabinet front.

Conversely, Europeans employ frameless cabinet or "full access" manufacturing techniques, which offer greater accessibility by eliminating the front stiles and frame. In a technique that uses "thicker box construction" for stability, flat door and drawer fronts create a sleek, simple aesthetic.

Ilin cautions that not all installers are built the same. "It's important to not warp cabinets when installing on hanging rails," he says. "Also, larger standing cabinets need to remain square when adjusting legs."

Cabinet finishes can range from lacquer to high-gloss, using exotic woods or veneer. Shelving often rolls out for greater accessibility, with glass fronts that open at the touch of a hand.

Kitchen Island

If your home's floor plan is a vast sea of space, the kitchen shouldn't be uncharted territory for an island.

"An island can act as a buffer between the rest of the room and the kitchen itself," Ilin says. "Italian-inspired islands don't have corbels, but can be sculptural with angled legs and clean lines."

Countertops range from stainless to stone. Ilin says slabs of porcelain are the most popular countertop in today's Italian kitchen, which can be fabricated in all shapes and sizes, without the ongoing maintenance of sealing stone.

Ilin is a big fan of vented range hoods -- another sculptural element often set above the kitchen island -- that really clear the air in kitchen design. Also, a range hood is essential to remove moisture, grease and particulates from the home, and prevent these things from being breathed in and adhering to walls, cabinets and furnishings, which is especially important in an open floor plan.

Specialized Spaces

The idea of creating a breakfast bar -- stocked with conveniently located first-of-the-day foods, dining ware and appliances -- makes it easier for families to break-the-fast. Stocked and stored behind closed doors in an Italian-inspired kitchen, countertops pull out when in use and push back into a large cupboard when finished.

Often, this cupboard can house a complete coffee station, which can also be pressed into service at the end of an evening. The specialized cupboard is also the perfect place to house the blender, toaster and espresso machine.

To raise a glass to toast stylish epicurean endeavors, Ilin says a wine refrigerator is becoming a must-have appliance. Self-standing, temperature-controlled cabinets or credenzas made especially to store wine can start at $1,000, based on the design and the number of bottles they will hold.

Colorful Culinarian

When creating a sleek design in a thoroughly modern monochrome, an exciting way to color your kitchen is to allow small appliances -- such as a stand mixer -- and cast iron cookware in bright tones to reside on the corner of a countertop or cooktop.

In a more daring move, the kitchen island can be fabricated in a color -- such as a warm, yellowy "dune" hue. Ilin says the trend is shifting away from colorful islands, which are harder to swap out than kitchen accessories.

"Italian design has a timeless quality to it, in that it is pared down," Ilin says. "Good design should have beautiful form, but it must first be functional -- especially in the kitchen."

A Contemporary Kitchen

To find one of 20 Italian-inspired kitchen showrooms near you, go to PediniUSA.com and select SHOWROOMS.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

A home's fireplace is a hot spot. A natural focal point of any room, a fireplace is a space around which families can chill out, especially during the holidays.

"A roaring fire in a room draws people together," says Chris Muller, senior "fire buyer" of the Omaha, Nebraska-based Hayneedle Inc., an online home store started in 2002. "Instead of having just a hole-in-the-wall for a fireplace, a mantel hung above it completes the picture."

A mantel is most easily described as the shelf above a fireplace. Muller says there are two types of mantels: a free-hanging shelf and a surround, in which the mantelpiece is attached to vertical pieces that frame the firebox.

"With a design movement toward the more contemporary and clean lines, mantel shelves -- without the surrounds -- are most popular," Muller says. "Mantel surrounds require more measurements and tend to be in traditionally decorated homes, which is not the most popular design trend right now."

If you find your existing fireplace design has fizzled out, the easiest way to reignite it as a focal point is to add or replace the mantel. Whether you're renovating an existing space or contemplating creating a new fireplace, it's never been easier to pass the mantle on hot design.

A zero-clearance fireplace -- made of metal with a masonry lining -- is a self-contained fireplace, which allows homeowners to have a gas-burning fireplace that can be directly vented through an outside wall. This option eliminates the need for a chimney and flue, as it is vented through a horizontal pipe that exits an outside wall.

"To install a fireplace in a home isn't the major construction project it once was," Muller says. "Also, if people are painting an existing red-bricked fireplace white, it's time to update the mantel shelf."

The mantel should complement a home's design and style -- so don't place a multi-tiered traditional mantel into a home with a modern, minimalistic vibe.

While mantels can be made of metal and stone, the most popular material is wood. "People are wanting a simple shelf that looks like a rustic piece of pine or barnwood," Muller says. "A simple wooden mantel is the style that can be at home in a contemporary space or farmhouse, alike."

After determining the style of mantel, it's important to select the proper size for the mantel, based on the dimensions of the firebox itself and the hearth room.

Mantels are typically a standard 60 to 72 inches wide. The height of the shelf can vary from 5 to 10 inches tall.

"Rooms with large fireplaces and vaulted ceilings can accommodate a bigger mantel," Muller says. "The mantel is the focal point of the fireplace, and it's important to get the proportions right, without being too under- or overwhelming."

Muller suggests making paper templates of mantel shapes, taping them above the fireplace and stepping back to assess different choices before buying.

To install a mantel shelf requires securing a notched hanging board into the studs or masonry above the firebox. After the hanging board is installed, the mantelpiece then snugly fits onto the secured, customized board. If installing a surround-style mantel, the vertical pieces attach to the hung shelf on either side of the firebox and are secured at the bottom.

Some mantels hold secrets and conceal more space than meets the eye. Pearl Mantels' Abingdon fireplace mantel shelf contains a secret drawer in which a homeowner can stash candles, fire-starters or the television remote.

"Often, people hang their flat-screen television above the mantelpiece, but the decoration of the mantel can be year-round," Muller says. "Even though the fireplace isn't in use in July, you can still display a patriotic theme on the mantel. In the winter, the mantel can be covered in pine boughs and is used as a place from which the stockings are hung."

As families and friends gather around the hearth and home, a warm mood is created with a mantel that matches your house's design aesthetic.

"Starting around $200, a new mantel shelf is a way to give your fireplace a facelift," Muller says. "Add personal touches to the mantel decor, such as photos, candles and small family heirlooms and your fireplace will be glowing, with or without a fire."

Hot Spot

For more mantel ideas, go to Hayneedle.com or visit YouTube and search "Hayneedle Decorate Mantel."

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)