Houston Cool Pools

Houston Cool Pools

The Ultimate“Pool Nerd”

Mike Chatelain,

PhD (Pool Hole Designer)

Mike Chatelain with his wife, Simone

Video coming soon

30+ years
in the swimming pool industry
March 2020
joined Houston Cool Pools
Ground up
chemistry, design, construction and customer care
“

I'm Mike Chatelain. I've spent more than 30 years in the swimming pool industry, learning the business from the ground up: chemistry, design, construction and customer care.

Along the way, I've trained many pool designers and led a design and sales team. I joined Houston Cool Pools in March 2020 because its reputation mattered to me.

I still love helping homeowners turn an idea into a backyard that fits their home, family and lifestyle. I care just as much about how the details come together when it's time to build.

Life outside the design studio

Away from work, you'll find me with my wife, Simone, and our two dogs. We love bareboat cruising, traveling and time by the pool.

Mike and Simone on a bareboat cruise, and with friends aboard a boat in a marina
Mike Chatelain holding one of the family's Corgis

The portfolio

My favorite pools

Different yards. Different personalities. A backyard should feel like yours.

Dusk lagoon pool with fire bowls, a raised spa, and a hammock under a pavilion
Curved freeform pool
Geometric pool with Moroccan tile, turf, and a covered lounge

Dream/Design/Enjoy

More backyard inspiration

Room to relax, gather and enjoy the water.

Dark geometric pool with bubblers, a sun shelf, and a tanning ledge
Freeform pool with a raised spa, stone walls, and a broad patio
Geometric pool and raised spa with sheer descents and blue loungers

The whole backyard

The best designs bring the pool and outdoor living together.

Rectangular pool with a sun shelf, in-water loungers, and a raised stone spa
Outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and dining area beside the pool

The best part of the job?

Hearing that the backyard feels like home.

Houston Cool Pools' reputation helped draw me here. I encourage you to talk with customers we've built pools for and hear about their experience firsthand. Here are a few of my favorite reviews.

Google reviews

Justin Kirtley

6 reviews · 4 photos

10 months ago

HCP did an incredible job on our pool! They are an incredible company to do business with. They had great reviews and had a fair price. The owner, Mike Lopez, was always accessible throughout the entire process. Our designer, Mike Chatelain, was able to make the vision we had and turn it into reality. Miguel Sosa did a great job as the project manager by always informing us as to which step was next and always kept us in the loop. Sarah Moore on the back end has been incredible with the pool start-up process and with answering all of our questions as a first time pool owner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to go through the pool building journey. If you choose HCP as your pool builder, you won't regret it.

Steve Jones

10 reviews · 8 photos

11 months ago

Reasonable price

Mike and the whole team were wonderful to work with—professional, efficient, and attentive throughout the project. They made the process easy, and the finished pool looks beautiful. We're really happy with how everything turned out!

Russ and Tina

2 reviews · 2 photos

10 months ago

Reasonable price

HCP is the BEST!! Everything was fantastic! From design (they really listened to what we wanted), from construction (communication was A++), post-construction (Sarah goes above & beyond!) and now during maintenance (Mike is thorough, respectful & reliable). Mike L., Mike C., Jake, Sarah, Mike D., THANK YOU all for being the most wonderful team! You are truly appreciated!

The experience matters

From the first design conversation to the finished backyard.

Megan LeBleu

6 reviews · 12 photos

3 years ago

Absolute GREAT company to work with! From the consult and design process with the awesome Mike C. to project completion with Jake C.… and interactions with the owner Mike. L… we felt like family. They were thorough but quick and always ready to answer questions via email or phone… or a quick stop by the shop… we highly recommend Houston Cool Pools to anyone doing a pool project!

Along with Houston Cool Pools we worked with their partner Pope Remodeling to build a covered patio, an outdoor kitchen area and a pergola. Again, thorough but speedy work. All the subcontractors were polite, talented and helpful. Bob's design expertise took the covered patio idea from one that would be separate from the house to one that looks like it was built with the house. Just beautiful.

Just as a note: Our backyard prior to this project was just grass with a couple of trees… and one tiny strip of concrete just outside the door. What a transformation!

joe lopez

Local Guide · 16 reviews · 9 photos

3 years ago

Once we agreed on design Houston Cool Pools took over. They prepared and submitted the architectural design plan. They answered all inquires and kept the construction area clean. Their trades were very professional. No loud music. The end product is amazing. This is our fourth pool.. Second by Houston Cool Pools. Highly recommend. I will not ever use anyone else. I also use their weekly cleaning service. No issues on build or since completion.

Kim Patchan

12 reviews

11 months ago

Great price

Outstanding Experience with Houston Cool Pools!

We couldn't be happier with our new pool! From the first consultation to the final walkthrough, the entire team at Houston Cool Pools was professional, responsive, and detail-oriented. They helped us design the perfect backyard oasis that fits our space and style perfectly.

Communication was excellent throughout the process — we always knew what stage the project was in and what to expect next. The crew showed up on time, worked efficiently, and kept the area clean each day. The craftsmanship and finish quality are top-notch — you can tell they take real pride in their work.

Now that it's complete, our pool looks absolutely stunning, and everything functions perfectly. Friends and family can't stop complimenting it! I highly recommend Houston Cool Pools to anyone looking for a reliable, creative, and high-quality pool builder in the Houston area.

Relationships that last

Design, construction and care after the pool is finished.

Mark Stewart

10 reviews

6 months ago

Houston Cool Pools did a fantastic job installing our pool a few years back and whenever I have since had a maintenance query they have been incredibly attentive and called to help or sent someone round if I couldn't trouble shoot it. Excellent after service care - thank you guys

Andy Akers

Local Guide · 50 reviews · 206 photos

6 years ago

My wife and I chose HCP from several suggestions from co-workers and personal interviews. This is our first pool and we wanted to get it right from a quality standpoint and value. Since we were new to this there were a few changes made along the way, but each time it was effortless. Mike C, Mike L, and of course Miguel and their teams of contractors made the vision come to life. We're very happy with the final product and have already spent countless hours enjoying and learning about our pool and will for many years to come.

Thanks guys!

Jeff Wheeler

10 reviews · 1 photo

4 years ago

What a great experience. The process and final product exceeded our expectations. Mike C. did a great job on the design and captured exactly what we wanted. Everyone at HCP was very professional and easy to work with. They also completed everything ahead of schedule!

Marie Liddell

9 reviews · 2 photos

11 months ago

Reasonable price

Houston Cool Pools did a fantastic job on our backyard pool and fire pit. Everyone was friendly and a pleasure to work with.

Mike Chatelain was patient, understanding and helpful throughout the entire process. Sarah has been wonderful and responsive when there are any maintenance needs that arise. We highly recommend Houston Cool Pools.

My toughest design challenge

A beautiful pool also needs to fit the yard and work in real life.

The Sumpter project: geometric pool, raised spa, sheer descents, and lounge seating

The challenge

The goal was to transform an ordinary backyard into a complete outdoor entertainment destination featuring a custom swimming pool, raised spa, sunken conversation area with a fire feature, multiple water features, and a full-size pickleball court.

The challenge wasn't simply fitting everything into the backyard. It was making every component work together, both visually and mechanically.

  • Custom swimming pool
  • Raised spa
  • Sunken conversation area with a fire feature
  • Multiple water features
  • Full-size pickleball court

01

The Engineering

One of the most complex aspects of this project was designing the drainage system. We needed to collect runoff from the pickleball court, route the drainage lines around the back of the swimming pool, incorporate the discharge from the sunken entertainment area's sump pump, and continue the drainage system around the opposite side of the property to the street. The real challenge was coordinating elevations, pipe routing, and drainage slopes to maintain positive flow throughout the gravity-fed portions of the system. It's the kind of engineering that homeowners rarely see, but that makes all the difference in how a backyard performs.

02

The Design

This project also pushed the boundaries of traditional swimming pool aesthetics. We incorporated glass tile, split-face stone, dark finishes, raised walls, and multiple water features into a cohesive design. With so many contrasting materials, the challenge was achieving the right balance of texture, color, and proportion without making the backyard feel overwhelming. Equally important was positioning the pool, spa, fire feature, and water features to create carefully planned sightlines from the main living areas across the back of the home. The backyard needed to look just as impressive from inside the house as it did when you were enjoying it outdoors.

03

The Pool Nerd Touch

A backyard this elaborate shouldn't require equally elaborate maintenance. That's why we incorporated an engineered in-floor cleaning system designed to circulate water and help remove debris from the pool's floor, steps, and other surfaces. The objective was simple: maximize the time spent enjoying the backyard while minimizing routine cleaning.

04

The Result

The Sumpter project demonstrates something I've believed throughout my career: Great pool design isn't just about creating something beautiful. It's about understanding how every component works together, solving the challenges homeowners may never see, and creating an outdoor environment that looks incredible and functions exactly as intended. That's where nearly 30 years of experience and a little Pool Nerd thinking really pay off.

What I'd put in my own backyard

  1. 01

    In-floor cleaning

    Less cleaning, better circulation, and more time enjoying your pool. An engineered in-floor cleaning system works quietly behind the scenes to keep your pool cleaner with less effort, so you can spend more time swimming and less time maintaining it.

  2. 02

    Sun shelves

    The perfect place to kick back, soak up the sun, and relax in the water without ever leaving the comfort of your pool.

  3. 03

    A natural rock waterfall

    The soothing sound of cascading water, the natural beauty of stone, and a stunning focal point that transforms your backyard into your own private retreat.

  4. 04

    A fire pit with built-in seating

    The perfect gathering spot to relax by the warmth of the fire, share stories, and enjoy great company long after the swimming is done.

Let's talk about your backyard

Have an idea? I'd love to hear it.

No need to have every detail figured out.

Houston Cool Pools

“Building our reputation one pool at a time.”

Serving Houston since 1996 · (281) 645-6631

The Pool Nerd — Mike Chatelain | Houston Cool Pools