Rain water is channeled through a perforated pipe to create a waterfall. The water then is channeled into rain water reserve tanks under ground. Photo: Aaron Leitz

This is a view of the revised landscaped area including the water feature and stone accent wall adjacent to the new outdoor deck and spa area. Landscape Architecture: Samura & Associates

Without leaving the comfort of their home, our clients are able to relax and enjoy themselves in their own resort-like poolside cabana. This beautiful outdoor living space is located in the backyard of a European style luxury home. Surrounded by a wooded lot and lush landscaping and a stunning pool with a spa, this "dreamscape" is amazing. The cabana was built with natural full thickness stone and a vaulted ceiling complete with a fireplace and television. The ceiling is lined in cedar a holds two outdoor fans. The eyebrow arch widow above the front opening adds great interest and character. All outdoor furnishings were provided by our design teams that are comfortable as well as gorgeous. This space is open to a beautiful pool surrounded by gardens and many other amenities providing great oasis for family & friends to gather.

Danes Custom Homes

This amazing outdoor pool and patio oasis is adorned with Coronado Stone Products Santa Barbara stone veneer in the color Brookshire. This large stone veneer with a subtly chiseled texture adds the perfect accent to any secluded backyard hideaway. Santa Barbara is a large thin manufactured stone veneer that can be applied to most substrates. Create your own beautiful backyard oasis with products from Coronado Stone. Image courtesy of Toll Brothers. View more images at http://www.coronado.com

A slice of Tuscany in Northern California.

Landscape by Gardens by Gabriel; Fire Bowl and Water Feature by Wells Concrete Works; Radial bench by TM Lewis Construction

Simon Callaghan Photography

Nightshot of this beautiful rooftop in Chicago's Bucktown area. Water, fire and friends is all this rooftop needs to complete one of the cities nicest and private rooftop. Photos by: Tyrone Mitchell Photography

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Scott Shigley