I agree wwith kiwikaryn. Some modern artificial grasses are indistinguishable from the real thing. And, yes, proper installation is crucial. susandawn, you'd be surprised how far artificial turf has come. Check out some of our grasses at our gallery at http://www.globalsynturf.com/gallery. We also have a warehouse in your area where you can check out our grasses in person or pick up free samples. The warehouse is located at 3320 E Miraloma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806. And like littlemissk mentioned, finding a good installer is key. We can help you find one in your area if you call us at 877-796-8873. littlemissk, all great recommendations you've made. The only tweak I would make is that artificial turf shouldn't be uprootable (even by a dog) if installed properly, i.e. with proper seaming and infilling. A good deodorizing infill to use is ZeoFill.

Kim, I'm a bit late to the party (after sending a first comment back in July) but just checked back in to this thread, and now that I see you posted pics of the broader area [way back 6+ months ago!], I see a big issue worth commenting on.......the whole area needs more 'fluffy stuff' (my highly-technical term for plantings)! Way too much hard surfaces, without any fluffy stuff. The landscape architect in me wants it to be more balanced; I often see this sort of yard, where the contractor (who may indeed be rightly proud of his/her well-crafted brickmasonry, or pool, or whatever) doesn't consider the other aspects that make it a real overall environment. Sometimes it's a matter of simply not thinking broadly; sometimes it's a matter of reluctancy to compromise some of the homeowners' budget over to trades that aren't their own. More homeowners are inclined to begin a big outdoor project by going directly to a contractor to design it than a landscape architect (or at least a good landscape designer) but the potential shortfall there is, you might say, "When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Naturally enough, a contractor wants to steer a project toward whatever skills they have & whatever materials they're used to using. Hence why I see so many brick homes with hardscaping of fieldstone, or concrete-block mortarless segmental retaining walls, and that sort of thing. Back to your specific pictures: I'd look into saw-cutting out sections (of thoughtfully-designed geometry --- in other words, some rectilinear shape that varies in & out rather than just straight across) out of the generously-sized pooldeck......do so only after consulting a pool guy, but oughta be structurally fine if several feet back from pool (e.g., certainly flanking both sides of steps down from terrace; maybe a bit too close to do so on opposite side of pool, although you only need 12-18" to support growing a vine onto wall, or espaliered plants.) In those areas, besides low- & medium-ht. plants you could also have a hint of a "canopy effect" w/ small-maturing fruit- or flowering trees (species that wouldn't be a hassle w/ too much litter into pool....or midsize evergreens like tree-form Burford Hollies). Landscape lighting playing off this fluffy stuff would look beautiful reflecting off pool surface. Is there room for tall (i.e. pyramidal) evergreens on outside of wall to screen neighbor's white house (if not also neighbor on other side not seen in photos)?

Tough decision but since entertaining family and friends is a primary function of our space I voted for the built in bar and grill but pool and hot tub were both tied for second. Here in California, because of the drought, it is almost blasphemous to think about large water usage.

I think it may depend on not only where you live but the stage of your life. When I had children I would have been in heaven to have a basement where they could hang out with their friends until they left home. It would have been an awesome room that grew with them. My children seldom were interested in the backyard. They park yes! The backyard no. Now I have no children at home. I am very interested in my entire yard on about 1/2 acre. Our home sits in back of another house and property. There's a long drive up to our house. It will soon be walled in on all four sides because of our dogs and our desire for privacy. Behind the house is a farmer's field and beyond that is an old growth forest. What I really like about France is that most of the homes have a walled in yard, front and back, and people ring at the gate for entry. This gives the home owners much more property to use as they see fit. So curb appeal become a statement of lots of flowers and creative plantings that is personal to each home.