In 2003, we received a call from John and Jennifer Randall of West Houston. They had decided to build a French-style home just off of Piney Point near Memorial Drive. Jennifer wanted a modern French landscape design that reflected the symmetry, balance, and patterns of Old World estates. French landscapes like this are popular because of their uniquely proportioned partier gardens, formal garden and constructions, and tightly clipped hedges. John also wanted the French landscape design because of his passion for his heritage (he originally came to Houston from Louisiana), as well as the obvious aesthetic benefits of creating a natural complement to the architecture of the new house. The first thing we designed was a motor court driveway/parking area in the front of the home. While you may not think that a paved element would have anything at all do with landscape design, in reality it is truly apropos to the theme. French homes almost always have paving that extends all the way to the house. In the case of the Randall home, we used interlocking concrete pavers to create a surface that looks much older than it really is. This prevented the property from looking too much like a new construction and better lent itself to the elegance and stateliness characteristic of French landscape designs in general. Further blending of practical function with the aesthetic elements of French landscaping was accomplished in an area to the left of the driveway. John loved fishing, and he requested that we design a convenient parking area to temporarily store his boat while he waited for a slip at the marina to become available. Knowing that this area would function only for temporary storage, we came up with the idea of integrating this special parking area into the green space of a parterre garden. We laid down a graveled area in the shape of a horseshoe that would easily allow John back up his truck and unload his boat. We then surrounded this graveled area with a scalloped hedge characterized by a very bright, light green color. Planting boxwoods and Holly trees beyond the hedge, we then extended them throughout the yard. This created a contrast of light and green ground cover that is characteristic of French landscape designs. By establishing alternating light and dark shades of color, it helps establish an unconscious sense of movement which the eye finds it hard to resist following Parterre gardens like this are also keynote elements to French landscape designs, and the combination of such a green space with the functional element of a paved area serves to elevate the mundane purpose of a temporary parking and storage area into an aesthetic in its own right. Also, we deliberately chose the horseshoe design because we knew this space could later be transformed into a decorative center for the entire garden. This is the main reason we used small stones to cover the area, rather than concrete or pavers. When the boat was eventually relocated, the darkly colored stones surrounded by a brightly colored hedge gave us an excellent place to mount an outdoor sculpture. The elegance of the home and surrounding French landscape design warranted attention at all hours so we contracted a lighting design company to ensure that all important elements of the house and property were fully visible at night. With mercury vapor lights concealed in trees, we created artificial moonlight that shone down on the garden and front porch. For accent lighting, we used a combination of up lights and down lights to differentiate architectural features, and we installed façade lights to emphasize the face of the home itself. Although a new construction, this residence achieved such an aura of stateliness that it earned fame throughout the neighborhood almost overnight, and it remains a favorite in the Piney Point area to this day. For more the 20 years Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's fine neighborhoods.

photos by Isaac Norris

Designer, Randy Angell The "before" photos on this backyard show a non descript, typical 30 year old pool. The homeowners had no desire to "play it safe" and so, we didn't! We utilized th simple, straight lines of the existing pool to lay out a multi level space for an outdoor living area, a sun lounge area, and a cooking and dining area.

Custom Freeform Pool with raised spa, waterfall, & boulders in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, PA by www.custompoolsbybarry.com

Welcome to our project showcase, where luxury meets comfort and style in every detail. Picture yourself lounging on a sleek swimming lounge chair under the shade of a stylish umbrella, surrounded by vibrant greenery and swaying palm trees. Through the expansive glass windows and steel doors, the warm Florida sunlight floods into your space, illuminating the brick block floor beneath your feet. In this picturesque setting, the blue sky above reflects in the crystal-clear waters of your backyard swimming pool, creating a serene oasis right in the heart of Clearwater, FL. From the bustling city of Tampa to the tranquil neighborhood of 33756, our expert team brings innovative remodeling ideas and interior concepts to life. Whether you're dreaming of a modern house with floor-to-ceiling glass windows or envisioning a cozy home addition with custom steel tables and chairs, our general contracting services ensure seamless execution from concept to completion. Let us transform your space into a personalized sanctuary, where ceiling lights twinkle like stars overhead and every corner reflects your unique style and personality. Welcome to a world where luxury meets functionality, where the beauty of nature blends seamlessly with modern design. Welcome to your dream home, brought to life by our team of dedicated professionals at Houzz.

The backyard features a custom pool and hot tub. The space promises hours of summer fun!

A new pool house structure for a young family, featuring a space for family gatherings and entertaining. The highlight of the structure is the featured 2 sliding glass walls, which opens the structure directly to the adjacent pool deck. The space also features a fireplace, indoor kitchen, and bar seating with additional flip-up windows.

16x35 swimming pool by JONES POOLS enclosed with retractable pool cover - Casablanca Inifnity from ALBIXON CANADA

A remodeled home in Saint Helena, California use two AG Bi-Fold Patio Doors to create an indoor-outdoor lifestyle in the main house and detached guesthouse! Project by Vine Homes

photography by Miguel Coelho

Wade Griffith

The addition we designed for this indoor therapy pool blends seamlessly with the existing traditional home. The heated floors and 102 degree water therapy pool make for welcome retreat all year round, even in Vermont winters. The addition was constructed with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) for maximum R-value and minimum air penetration in order to maintain 90 degree air temperature year round.

View of the rear elevation of the home.