The home had an existing elevated wood deck with a small outdoor living room below. Betz re-surfaced the deck with Ipe hardwood and installed glass railings to preserve the view of the yard. The existing stairs to ground level were removed to increase usable space, with access now via the basement...

Over half the length of the original outdoor living room was widened to accommodate a comfortable lounge area plus a hot tub. When entertaining groups, the steps between the spa and sofa often come in handy for extra seating.

The modern 14’ x 28’ vinyl pool features elegant full-width custom vinyl over steel walk-in steps. A section of artificial turf lawn serves as a kids play area and helps to keep the yard low maintenance, as does the border of river rock interspersed with decorative grasses around the perimeter.

The pool features a refreshing Blue Seastone liner which replicates the look of blue and tan exposed aggregate pebbles. The muted blue tones contrast beautifully with the surrounding sandblasted Indus Grey stone coping, which has been finished with a smooth straight face for a modern look.

Conveniently situated beside the walkway to the front of the home, a spacious cedar storage shed helps the owners keep the backyard tidy and free of clutter. The pool equipment is similarly placed discreetly out of view on the opposite side of the home.

After dark the backyard springs to life with the lights on the deck and outdoor living room complementing the array of garden lights that circle the perimeter. The pool’s LED lights can be set to a single colour or changing rainbow of colours depending on the mood desired.

This view shows how enlarging the floorplan of the outdoor living room provided the additional space needed to accommodate a six-person hot tub plus a comfortable eight-cushion sectional. The fire table adds a touch of drama and is especially popular on cool evenings.

This backyard is a perfect testament to efficient outdoor planning. The yard itself with artificial turf, patio stone, river rock and decorative grasses is undeniably low maintenance, while the outdoor living room and dining deck include all the essential ingredients for delightful leisure living.