The clients wanted a small, simple pool house to compliment their historic farmhouse and provide abundant capabilities for outdoor entertaining. They settled on a small, open structure with a vaulted cedar ceiling and task/ambient lighting. An outdoor kitchen, a covered seating area, a storage/changing room and an all-weather Azek pergola with party-lighting were included. A structural retaining wall was needed to provide level ground for both the in-ground pool and pool house, along with strategically planted ornamental grasses for privacy. The green standing seam roof, sliding barn door, board & batten siding and period-correct trim all mirror details from the residence and detached barn.

Request Free Quote This backyard features a rectangular swimming pool, an exercise swim spa, and a custom spa. The swimming pool measures 15'0" x 50'0", the Spa measures 6'0" x 16'0" and the exercise swim spa measures 6'0" x 16'0". All three pools have automatic pool covers with stone lid systems. All three pools have LED colored lighting. The coping is Valders, Buff-colored Limestone. The interior exposed aggregate finish color is Midnight Blue. The patio area also features a fire pit, as well as a natural stone pool deck and coping. This project is at a home in Glencoe, Illinois.

The transitional elements carry throughout this home inside and out: the square columns, clean structural design of both window and roof lines, and the sharp lines of the pool and patio. The Herringbone patterned bricks surround the rectangular pool and spa add just the right texture to this back yard retreat.

Swimming Pool Design.

Neil Landino

Exterior Worlds was contracted by the Bretches family of West Memorial to assist in a renovation project that was already underway. The family had decided to add on to their house and to have an outdoor kitchen constructed on the property. To enhance these new constructions, the family asked our firm to develop a formal landscaping design that included formal gardens, new vantage points, and a renovated pool that worked to center and unify the aesthetic of the entire back yard. The ultimate goal of the project was to create a clear line of site from every vantage point of the yard. By removing trees in certain places, we were able to create multiple zones of interest that visually complimented each other from a variety of positions. These positions were first mapped out in the landscape master plan, and then connected by a granite gravel walkway that we constructed. Beginning at the entrance to the master bedroom, the walkway stretched along the perimeter of the yard and connected to the outdoor kitchen. Another major keynote of this formal landscaping design plan was the construction of two formal parterre gardens in each of the far corners of the yard. The gardens were identical in size and constitution. Each one was decorated by a row of three limestone urns used as planters for seasonal flowers. The vertical impact of the urns added a Classical touch to the parterre gardens that created a sense of stately appeal counter punctual to the architecture of the house. In order to allow visitors to enjoy this Classic appeal from a variety of focal points, we then added trail benches at key locations along the walkway. Some benches were installed immediately to one side of each garden. Others were placed at strategically chosen intervals along the path that would allow guests to sit down and enjoy a view of the pool, the house, and at least one of the gardens from their particular vantage point. To centralize the aesthetic formality of the formal landscaping design, we also renovated the existing swimming pool. We replaced the old tile and enhanced the coping and water jets that poured into its interior. This allowed the swimming pool to function as a more active landscaping element that better complimented the remodeled look of the home and the new formal gardens. The redesigned path, with benches, tables, and chairs positioned at key points along its thoroughfare, helped reinforced the pool’s role as an aesthetic focal point of formal design that connected the entirety of the property into a more unified presentation of formal curb appeal. To complete our formal landscaping design, we added accents to our various keynotes. Japanese yew hedges were planted behind the gardens for added dimension and appeal. We also placed modern sculptures in strategic points that would aesthetically balance the classic tone of the garden with the newly renovated architecture of the home and the pool. Zoysia grass was added to the edges of the gardens and pathways to soften the hard lines of the parterre gardens and walkway.

Our client lives on nine acres in Fairfax Station, VA; he requested our firm to create a master plan to include the following; Custom 3-car garage with apartment above, custom paver motor court for easier egress and ingress, more inviting front door entrance with the new smaller motor court with accent stone walls. The backyard was transformed into the ultimate outdoor living and entertaining area, which includes a large custom swimming pool with four gas fire bowl/water feature combo on stone pedestals, custom spa with Ipe pavilion, rain curtain water feature, wood burning stone fireplace as focal point. One of the most impressive features is the pool/guest house with an underground garage to store equipment, two custom Ipe pergolas flank both sides of the pool house, one side with an outdoor shower, and another sidebar area. With six feet of grade change, we incorporated multiple Fieldstone retaining walls, stairs, outdoor lighting, sprinkler irrigation, and a full landscape plan.

Colorado brushed and chiseled in a versaille pattern.

Designed by Pinnacle Architectural Studio

This renovation and addition project, located in Bloomfield Hills, was completed in 2016. A master suite, located on the second floor and overlooking the backyard, was created that featured a his and hers bathroom, staging rooms, separate walk-in-closets, and a vaulted skylight in the hallways. The kitchen was stripped down and opened up to allow for gathering and prep work. Fully-custom cabinetry and a statement range help this room feel one-of-a-kind. To allow for family activities, an indoor gymnasium was created that can be used for basketball, soccer, and indoor hockey. An outdoor oasis was also designed that features an in-ground pool, outdoor trellis, BBQ area, see-through fireplace, and pool house. Unique colonial traits were accentuated in the design by the addition of an exterior colonnade, brick patterning, and trim work. The renovation and addition had to match the unique character of the existing house, so great care was taken to match every detail to ensure a seamless transition from old to new.