Mid-sized transitional courtyard stone patio fountain photo in Atlanta

"We just love it. Everyday I sit here and look out this window or sit on this porch and just revel in the color that’s unfolding. And the bird activity! I'm a birder so... it's just stunning." California native sages, grasses, wildflowers & low-water mediterranean climate pollinator plants.

"We just love it. Everyday I sit here and look out this window or sit on this porch and just revel in the color that’s unfolding. And the bird activity! I'm a birder so... it's just stunning." California native sages, grasses, wildflowers & low-water mediterranean climate pollinator plants.

"We just love it. Everyday I sit here and look out this window or sit on this porch and just revel in the color that’s unfolding. And the bird activity! I'm a birder so... it's just stunning." California native sages, grasses, wildflowers & low-water mediterranean climate pollinator plants.

"We just love it. Everyday I sit here and look out this window or sit on this porch and just revel in the color that’s unfolding. And the bird activity! I'm a birder so... it's just stunning." California native sages, grasses, wildflowers & low-water mediterranean climate pollinator plants.

Small transitional backyard stone and custom-shaped pool photo in San Diego

Located in suburban Oklahoma City, the design of this outdoor space is reminiscent of a modern lodge getaway with natural stone materials. With a generous backyard as a canvas, the space was divided into zones designated for activities, such as entertaining and socializing, relaxing by the water, and cooking.

Pool - small transitional backyard stone and custom-shaped pool idea in San Diego

This modern green home offers both a vacation destination on Cape Cod near local family members and an opportunity for rental income. FAMILY ROOTS. A West Coast couple living in the San Francisco Bay Area sought a permanent East Coast vacation home near family members living on Cape Cod. As academic professionals focused on sustainability, they sought a green, energy efficient home that was well-aligned with their values. With no green homes available for sale on Cape Cod, they decided to purchase land near their family and build their own. SLOPED SITE. Comprised of a 3/4 acre lot nestled in the pines, the steeply sloping terrain called for a plan that embraced and took advantage of the slope. Of equal priority was optimizing solar exposure, preserving privacy from abutters, and creating outdoor living space. The design accomplished these goals with a simple, rectilinear form, offering living space on the both entry and lower/basement levels. The stepped foundation allows for a walk-out basement level with light-filled living space on the down-hill side of the home. The traditional basement on the eastern, up-hill side houses mechanical equipment and a home gym. The house welcomes natural light throughout, captures views of the forest, and delivers entertainment space that connects indoor living space to outdoor deck and dining patio. MODERN VISION. The clean building form and uncomplicated finishes pay homage to the modern architectural legacy on the outer Cape. Durable and economical fiber cement panels, fixed with aluminum channels, clad the primary form. Cedar clapboards provide a visual accent at the south-facing living room, which extends a single roof plane to cover the entry porch. SMART USE OF SPACE. On the entry level, the “L”-shaped living, dining, and kitchen space connects to the exterior living, dining, and grilling spaces to effectively double the home’s summertime entertainment area. Placed at the western end of the entry level (where it can retain privacy but still claim expansive downhill views) is the master suite with a built-in study. The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom, and laundry. The flexibility of the space—crucial in a house with a modest footprint—emerges in one of the guest bedrooms, which doubles as home office by opening the barn-style double doors to connect it to the bright, airy open stair leading up to the entry level. Thoughtful design, generous ceiling heights and large windows transform the modest 1,100 sf* footprint into a well-lit, spacious home. *(total finished space is 1800 sf) RENTAL INCOME. The property works for its owners by netting rental income when the owners are home in San Francisco. The house especially caters to vacationers bound for nearby Mayo Beach and includes an outdoor shower adjacent to the lower level entry door. In contrast to the bare bones cottages that are typically available on the Cape, this home offers prospective tenants a modern aesthetic, paired with luxurious and green features. Durable finishes inside and out will ensure longevity with the heavier use that comes with a rental property. COMFORT YEAR-ROUND. The home is super-insulated and air-tight, with mechanical ventilation to provide continuous fresh air from the outside. High performance triple-paned windows complement the building enclosure and maximize passive solar gain while ensuring a warm, draft-free winter, even when sitting close to the glass. A properly sized air source heat pump offers efficient heating & cooling, and includes a carefully designed the duct distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. The super-insulated envelope allows us to significantly reduce the equipment capacity, duct size, and airflow quantities, while maintaining unparalleled thermal comfort. ENERGY EFFICIENT. The building’s shell and mechanical systems play instrumental roles in the home’s exceptional performance. The building enclosure reduces the most significant energy glutton: heating. Continuous super-insulation, thorough air sealing, triple-pane windows, and passive solar gain work together to yield a miniscule heating load. All active energy consumers are extremely efficient: an air source heat pump for heating and cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation (ERV), and high efficiency appliances. The result is a home that uses 70% less energy than a similar new home built to code requirements. OVERALL. The home embodies the owners’ goals and values while comprehensively enabling thermal comfort, energy efficiency, a vacation respite, and supplementary income. PROJECT TEAM ZeroEnergy Design - Architect & Mechanical Designer A.F. Hultin & Co. - Contractor Pamet Valley Landscape Design - Landscape & Masonry Lisa Finch - Original Artwork European Architectural Supply - Windows Eric Roth Photography - Photography

A description of the homeowners and space from Linnzy, the Presidential Pools, Spas & Patio designer who worked on this project: "The homeowners can be described as an active family of three boys. They tend to host family and friends and wanted a space that could fill their large backyard and yet be functional for the kids and adults. The contemporary straight lines of the pool match the interior of the house giving them a resort feel in the very own backyard! The large pergola is a perfect area to cool off in the shade while enjoying a large outdoor kitchen as well as an oversized fire pit for the cooler nights and roasting marshmallows. They wanted a wow factor as the pool is the main focal point from the living room, and the oversized wall and rain sheer did the trick!"

Located in suburban Oklahoma City, the design of this outdoor space is reminiscent of a modern lodge getaway with natural stone materials. With a generous backyard as a canvas, the space was divided into zones designated for activities, such as entertaining and socializing, relaxing by the water, and cooking.

This lakeside A-Frame cottage required creative space planning. The main level leads to the master bedroom with a private deck. The master bathroom features a space-saving pocket door and a contemporary compact shower and vanity. Making use of all available space, built-in storage behind the entry door, along the base of the walls, and under the stairway leading to the loft (which serves as both a closet and future sleeping area for guests). All furniture was selected for multi-purpose and maximum storage. The floors look like a greyed rustic wood, but are actually luxury vinyl tiles...perfect for the in-and-out traffic from water related activities.

Our pool designers will ask you if you are looking for a geometric or freeform pool. A geometric pool can be a great fit for a modern décor, and a freeform pool can be combined with hardscape to create your own backyard oasis. Some homeowners are really looking for that WOW factor, and invest in a show-stopping infinity, or negative edge pool. Infinity pools are especially popular among beach cities, such as San Diego, since they can be especially dramatic when poised over a coastal view. A pool is a powerful outdoor focal point, and becomes an instant center of get-togethers and social activity. Many homeowners are interested in learning about different water features options that can really bring their pool to life. Water features such as water bowls, water spouts, fountains, waterfalls and water jets can all make wonderful additions to your new pool.

One small window, faux woodgrain cabinets and lots of doors made this closed-off Arlington kitchen feel dark and drab, the total opposite of the vibrant young family of four that lives here. To brighten and open up the small kitchen, we removed the wall separating the dining room, expanded the window above the sink and installed a French door to let even more light in from an adjoining sun room. Light now pours into the kitchen, making it feel welcoming, airy and bright. To accommodate the expanded kitchen, we removed a hulking set of built-ins from the dining room which provided two extra feet to work with. The larger footprint allowed us to relocate major appliances and provide a generous amount of storage and prep space including a food safe butcher block to the right of the range. Natural wood elements such as the chopping block, reclaimed shelves and beautiful new floors add character and warmth to the all-white kitchen. One of the must-haves in this renovation was a farmhouse sink which is a great way to maximize function when a smaller sink base is used. We opted to take the tile backsplash all the way to the ceiling along the window wall, creating a more polished look with the added bonus of making the ceiling feel taller. The subway tiles’ subtle texture adds depth to the simple white-on-white motif and the change to a herringbone pattern behind the range adds visual interest without feeling too busy. A crisp white backdrop is perfect for adding pops of color with dishware, accessories and the family’s vintage stand mixer. The newly renovated kitchen-dining area is much better suited for this family’s active lifestyle and the updated design now complements the rest of their stylish home. Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

A fresh, modern take on a water ski retreat for an active family. Vaulted ceilings with crisp millwork details add layers to this custom home. Easy to care for materials and selections with art and elements to create a highly personalized home.

A new Home in Leschi, Seattle, designed for a couple who enjoy cooking, entertaining and a variety of water recreation. This new home is situated in a very active neighborhood. Visual and sound features are used to create a calm, and privacy from the street, while large windows and bi - folding doors open to views of the beautiful gardens and the lake. Program includes a wine cellar with a refurbished bank - safe door, radiant floors, rain harvesting system that feeds the water feature and garden irrigation, custom designed steel staircase and other artisanal touches. to maximize the value of such prime property, the house is oriented for optimal lake views and designed to the maximum height and lot coverage allowable by code. Permitting involved obtaining a height variance, as well as a complex ECA exemption.

The swimming pool at this Martha’s Vineyard estate contains custom granite coping and paving. The decking is Woodbury gray granite with a thermal finish. Three retractable fountains along the pool’s west side can be activated for an elegant water feature. Photo Credit: Jonathan Keep Landscape Designer

Eric George
Example of a mid-sized transitional patio design in San Diego

Water Pointe's residences are built to last, with a close eye to detail and using the highest-quality methods, materials and craftsmanship. You can choose from five single-floor models and select an array of options to meet your requirements for a luxurious, care-free and active lifestyle. Photo by Robert Hare