Designing a Relaxed Italian-Inspired Poolside with Fiona Gould

When interior stylist Fiona Gould set out to transform her family pool area, she wasn’t chasing trends, she was chasing a feeling. Inspired by relaxed Italian villas and sun-washed European retreats, the vision was warm, layered and softly textural, with just the right touch of playful charm.

Designing for real life was just as important as aesthetics. With two energetic boys, a dog, and full afternoon sun to contend with, durability and generous shade were non-negotiable. The result is a timeless outdoor space where sculptural stripes, natural materials and a statement Basil Bangs umbrella come together in effortless harmony.

We caught up with Fiona to unpack the decisions behind the design and share her insights on creating outdoor spaces that balance emotion, longevity and everyday practicality.

What guides your decision-making when you’re designing a space?
Were there any ‘non-negotiables’ that you wanted/needed?

I always begin with the overall feeling I want to create. For this area I was chasing that relaxed, Italian villa atmosphere - warm, textural and softly sun-washed, and I knew I wanted to introduce a touch of something playful and unexpected, to add a little joy and life to the space.

The non-negotiables were warmth, quality and timelessness. The stripe waterline tile was locked in early as the hero element, so every other decision needed to support that rather than compete with it. I also prioritised natural-looking materials and a textural, neutral base to keep the space feeling calm and layered.

Were there any performance or usability requirements that you had to tick-off?

Absolutely. It’s a high-use family space with two crazy little boys and a dog in tow, so durability was critical. Materials had to handle full sun, pool splash, be safe for our kids and withstand general wear without constant maintenance. Ie floor tiles that had great anti slip properties, weatherproof fabrics, hardware that won’t rust, fibre cement sheeting instead of timber.

Why did you choose these particular Basil Bangs items?

We get all the afternoon sun out here so shade was a huge priority for our family. An oversized umbrella that will be durable and sturdy, while having architectural charm in a perfect shade of soft blue to compliment our pool tiles was the dream. I love that the scallop pattern feels playful, but it’s done in a subtle way and with beautiful quality materials so it feels elevated and timeless.

Being able to wheel the base around with ease to follow the sun has been an absolute game changer for us, no more straining our backs moving a 30kg weight throughout the day.

For seating we always pictured beanbags in this space. We wanted something casual and versatile that we could move around the yard depending on what we were doing. I’m so glad we went with the Terra stripe, the space needed a touch of rich, warmer tones and the print is the perfect hint of playful pattern to finish off my Italian-cottage dream.

At what point in the process did the umbrella come into play? Was it an early
decision or something that completed the look?

I always knew I would do a statement umbrella, but before we made our final selections I really wanted to see the fixed elements all in place first. I had the luxury of time so I wanted to live with the stripe tile and finishes for a while to see how much colour and pattern the space could handle. In a reno it’s easy to get swept up in trends, or the reverse, play it too safe, but giving yourself a little time to sit and digest ensures the final result reflects your true style.

How would you recommend people approach their own planning and decorating decisions when choosing items for their own space. What should they consider?

Moodboards are crucial for refining down the vision, but ultimately it’s important to consider how you want the space to feel. That emotional intention will always lead to stronger decisions than chasing trends. Also think about longevity, both in style and in practicality. Will you still love it in five years? Does it genuinely support the way you live and use the space day to day?

Also I really believe in investing in the elements that do the heavy lifting, like your main flooring, shade solutions, balustrades. These larger pieces shape the atmosphere of a space way more than the smaller decorative layers so it’s important that you adore them.

What role does texture and material play in your styling choices, particularly in outdoor settings? Was there a hero colour you worked around, or did the palette evolve more intuitively?

Texture is everything! Especially outdoors. Render, stone, tile, fabric, ceramic, timber… the contrast between matte and gloss, smooth and tactile - these are the important details that create depth and prevent a space from feeling flat.

I’ve always been drawn to European outdoor spaces that have evolved over decades (centuries even). They’re often a little imperfect and beautifully worn, but because they rely on natural materials, they feel timeless, sophisticated and layered with character. I still see opportunities to layer in even more texture over time to our space - that’s part of the charm
of design, it can always evolve.

Our palette was centred around a sun-kissed, textural neutrality. It took time to find the right green-blue for the waterline stripe tile, but once we did everything clicked and it became the subtle hero. That tone really set the soft, airy direction for the entire space and guided the warmth and lightness of everything that followed including the dreamy soft blue of the umbrella which amplifies that breezy, relaxed feeling out there.

Is there anything you would do differently if you were doing another pool area? 

We were blessed with the most bizarre shaped pool so (although I love our unique gal!) naturally I would love to work with a more traditional shape next time. I’d love to integrate a garden bed into the design next time as well. Bringing planting closer to the pool softens the hard finishes and enhances that relaxed, villa-style atmosphere I’m drawn to.

And if it were our forever home, I would have invested in resurfacing the pebble crete to a lighter tone to achieve that dreamy, ice-blue water colour. That said, for our current home and budget, I’m genuinely so happy with how it turned out. It feels warm, character-filled and completely aligned with how we live.

Fiona’s poolside proves that timeless design and real-life practicality can coexist beautifully. By investing in quality shade and layered textures, she’s created a warm, relaxed space that feels effortless, enduring and made for everyday living.