It’s not often that a luxury pool designer has the opportunity to create spaces where lifelong memories are made — where the pool becomes the focal point, the design process is just as meaningful as the final result and backyards are transformed into modern-day havens. But for Jason Decker and his team at Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping, that’s exactly what they get to do every day, impacting the communities they serve and leaving behind a legacy that will last for years to come.
Beyond the “Rectangle”
Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping makes it a point to emphasize that what they bring to the table is the opposite of conventional pool contractor fare.
“We’re not really rectangle-box pool people,” Jason Decker explains. “When you work with us, you know you’re going to get something unique to you and your needs, while also being aesthetically beautiful.”
That out-of-the-box mentality, paired with a dedication to extraordinary pools, landscaping and timelessness, truly defines the brand and can be seen reflected throughout each of their projects.
The Legend Trails Estate Project
One such timeless project, on the property of a large traditional-style home, provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Decker and his team. Intentionally designed, the home features a stunning courtyard visible from nearly every room in the house, with the focal point being the pool.
“When I sat down with the builder, he showed me the plans, and the whole house was essentially shaped like a big U, with the pool right in the center,” Decker recalls. “As a pool contractor, you’re kind of honored.”
Though the home itself is a beautiful tribute to Romanesque-inspired architecture, complete with expansive glass French doors that open onto the courtyard, it is the pool’s infinity edge design and thoughtfully designed landscaping that truly captivate.
Featuring a large fire pit and two dramatic fire bowls flanking the pool, the project evokes an atmosphere that is both elegant and awe-inspiring, and at night it truly shines, with the lighting features drawing your eyes to the gorgeous horizon.
Thoughtfully crafted stone elements, including black basalt and Ripson tile, also play a key role in the custom-built spa located just steps from the client’s primary bedroom.
“It creates little ridges in the tile, so when the water flows over it, it produces this really soothing sound,” Decker says.
With the emotional experience at the center of every Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping project, each design element is intentionally chosen. That attention to detail extends to an elevated wall alongside the spa that acts as a windbreak while cool, cascading water gently flows down its surface, creating a peaceful, resort-like atmosphere — an atmosphere that Decker and his team are so proud to have produced.
“I can't help but say ‘Wow, this whole house is focused around this courtyard and what we built,’” Decker reflects. “It’s truly incredible.”
Pushing Creative Boundaries for Lakefront Properties
Another one of Elite’s current properties is centered around pushing both creative and technical boundaries.
“It’s our fourth Lautner-edge pool, which is where the pool deck and the water are at the exact same elevation,” Decker explains. “They’re very challenging to build and very expensive because the detail work is incredibly time-consuming.”
What makes the project even more unique is that the spa will sit inside the pool itself and rise only three-quarters of an inch above the water level.
“The spa is barely elevated from the pool,” states Decker. “That allows the spa to be 104 degrees while the pool stays 84 degrees, and we’re designing it so the two bodies of water don’t have to mix. It’s incredibly challenging, but we’re up for the task.”
Innovation Meets Simplicity
Speaking of special, an entirely different pool and landscape design, though equally as innovative, is located in Valley, Nebraska alongside a beautiful lake.
“The pool is really cool. It’s the first time we’ve done this, but we created a 360-degree elevated spillover pool,” Decker explains. “On half of the pool, it meets up to the pool deck, which is leathered marble with lounge chairs, oversized couches and tables.”
The project also features one of the most in-demand trends among luxury pool clients: custom LED lighting.
“We did LED strips underneath the limestone caps in the infinity basin, so it lights up the entire infinity-edge wall,” Decker explains.
The lighting can even be customized for holidays and special occasions, including red, white and blue displays for the Fourth of July and can be programmed right from the client's own phone.
Despite the highly customized and innovative features throughout these projects, Decker emphasizes the importance of simplicity, believing the most timeless designs are often the most restrained.
“Simplicity is the best thing when it comes to pool and landscape design,” Decker states. “You don’t need turtles shooting water out of their mouths to make something beautiful. We really want the pool area to complement the existing beauty of the home and the land it sits on — to add to it, not detract from it.”
Through each project, Decker and his team continue proving that innovation does not have to come at the expense of lasting elegance.
The Outdoor Living Lifestyle
As luxury outdoor design continues to evolve, so do the ways families use these spaces.
“We’re seeing more and more requests from clients who are wanting screened-in spaces with heaters and ceiling fans, speakers, TVs and fireplaces,” mentions Decker. “Normally people are swimming during the day or maybe into sunset, but they often express how they want to be able to stay outside, turn on a movie and have a drink at the bar.”
The desire to spend meaningful time together outdoors doesn’t have to end when the weather cools down, and Decker emphasizes that Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping can help families create spaces designed for every season.
“In the fall, families may not be using the pool as much but the pool still looks beautiful,” Decker explains. “They can go outside, watch a football game, turn on the fireplace and cook s’mores alongside the backdrop of the pool and water features.”
The desire to transform backyards into private resort-style retreats has only continued to grow over the years, with many clients choosing to invest in their homes rather than second properties.
“I have a lot of people who have actually gotten rid of their cabins and lake homes to build their vacation spot right outside their back door,” Decker explains. “People get busy with their kids’ sports and school activities, and they don’t always have the time to drive an hour to another property or maintain it. A lot of them sell those places and use that cash flow to create an amazing backyard sanctuary just steps outside.”
The Bucket List
Even after nearly three decades of designing outdoor spaces that redefine how families live at home, Decker still finds himself inspired by what’s possible next.
“I’ve always wanted to do a clear acrylic wall around a pool,” Decker ruminates. “I’ve taken continuing education classes on them, and there are some unique challenges because you’re essentially creating a magnifying glass that looks right into the pool, so the interior finish has to be flawless. But I would love to do that one day.”
Decker also has his eye set on designing a pool in a historic district like Happy Hollow.
“I want to do a pool that is really classic, with all-brick planters, an all-brick courtyard, arches and a very old-world feel,” Decker dreams. “I would love to work with a client out there and create something really iconic.”
Beyond the Backyard
Ultimately, what defines Decker’s work goes far beyond immaculate landscaping, meticulous attention to detail and the dependable craftsmanship his company has become known for. It’s found instead in the moments unfolding across backyards throughout the Omaha metro area — families laughing together during summer pool parties, children learning to swim for the first time as proud parents cheer them on and grandparents sitting quietly on the patio after guests have gone home, reflecting on an evening spent celebrating a granddaughter’s graduation.
These are the moments Jason Decker and his team help create every day — spaces that feel enduringly beautiful, deeply personal and designed to be lived in. And it’s those meaningful experiences, long after construction is complete, that continue to make Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping a lasting part of the communities they serve.
To find out more and to book your consultation today, visit eliteluxurypool.com.
“We’re not really rectangle-box pool people.When you work with us, you know you’re going to get something unique to you and your needs, while also being aesthetically beautiful.”
Designed to Stand Out
For many homeowners, choosing Elite Luxury Pools & Landscaping means choosing something truly unique. Rather than relying on standard designs, Jason Decker and his team create innovative outdoor spaces tailored to each client's lifestyle, vision and property.
That personalized approach, combined with Elite's reputation for pushing creative boundaries, often results in backyards unlike anything else in the neighborhood. From dramatic infinity edges and integrated spas to custom fire features and thoughtfully curated landscaping, each project is designed to feel distinctive while complementing the home's architecture and surroundings.
The result is more than a beautiful backyard. It's a one-of-a-kind outdoor environment that reflects the homeowner's personality while delivering the elevated luxury and craftsmanship for which Elite is known.