Andy Ellis’ Private Slice of Paradise

2 minute read

A man wearing a pink sweatshirt, black shorts, and a backwards blue cap stands beside a round wooden hot tub in a modern backyard, giving a thumbs-up gesture. The area is landscaped with small trees, plants, and a black wooden fence.

From helping his grandparents on their asparagus farm to winning international landscape design awards, ex-All Black, Andy Ellis, knows a thing or two about transforming a boring backyard space. His humble beginnings sparked a lifelong love of the garden and maximizing spaces for both aesthetics and entertainment options. Never one to shy away from a daunting project, Andy approached us to help find the perfect Spa Pool for what would become his amazing new backyard.

A person stands on a concrete patio under construction, giving a thumbs up. There is a large outdoor fireplace with a fire burning on the right, and building materials scattered on the ground. A black wooden fence surrounds the area.

After drawing up the plans for his landscape overhaul, Andy told us he was looking for a statement Spa; “it needs to be round, and I want it to look great in the garden,” he advised. After assessing some options, we suggested the Quebec, our new and award-winning circular cedar Spa. He was sold.

A man smiles at the camera in the foreground while two workers install a hot tub on a tiled patio. The hot tub is partially wrapped in plastic, and green lifting straps are on the ground. A black wooden fence and leafless trees are in the background.

A couple of months after installation, we caught up with Andy again to see how it was all going.

Talking us through his design, he explained his desire to replicate some of the ‘New York vibe’ he had come to appreciate during his time in the United States. “We took some inspiration from all of those open rooftops you see in New York. We’ve got a big fireplace for entertaining, running fairy lights over the top of certain areas, and then we’ve got our Spa which was such a good way to tie it all together,” Andy explained.

However, Spa Pools are much more than an alluring ornament in the garden. Andy has found having an Alpine Spa right in his backyard lets him do more of what really matters in life. “Often it’s a chance for me to sit down with the kids with no phones, relax together and see how the day has been. Other times, in the evenings, my wife and I will grab a glass of wine and relax there together”.

A smiling man in a pink sweatshirt, black shorts, and flip-flops stands next to a round wooden hot tub on a tiled patio, giving a thumbs-up. The area is surrounded by potted plants, small trees, and a black wooden fence.

One other bonus Andy discovered with the Quebec Spa was “just how easy it is to use. There’s no drama – you just drop the little test strip in there and see what it needs”. This ease-of-use comes down to intelligent in-built sanitisation systems that work behind the scenes to eliminate bacteria and reduce your need to add harsh chemicals to the Spa.

So, whether you’re building your dream home or simply looking for a cosy place to relax with your loved ones, we’re always here to help.

Written By our Spa Pool Expert - Kyle Clement

Kyle Clement is one of our Alpine Spas spa pool specialists. With years of hands-on experience and a genuine passion for spa pools and great customer service. From first-time buyers to seasoned enthusiasts, he is helping people find the right spa pool for their space, their lifestyle, and their budget.