View of Outdoor Kitchen with Raised Bar Top. Simple yet Formal Landscape. Open Lawn Area for Play.
Traditional beige two-story brick exterior home idea in Chicago

The distinct spaces can be seen from this overhead view. The dining area is separated from the social space by three large containers on one side and from the fire pit by a low profile planting bed on the other side. A small grill with counter is conveniently located near the three season room. Landscape design by John Algozzini. Photo courtesy of Mike Crews Photography.

For those that lean towards a more classic, upscale pool design, Van Kirk & Sons offers our Roman or Geometric style pools. The overarching elegance and practicality of this timeless style makes it the perfect choice for a customer looking for a pool that is more symmetrical in form.

Large tuscan backyard rectangular pool photo in Miami

View pool and spa from underneath the cherry tree.
Example of a large classic backyard stone and rectangular hot tub design in Boston

New Vernon, NJ
Design ideas for a large traditional full sun front yard formal garden in New York for fall.

Landon Acohido www.acophoto.com
Large beach style side yard stone and rectangular infinity hot tub photo in Seattle

Even small spaces need great design. Container and small space gardens - decks, alcoves and patios are all great spots to "green" up with planted pots. Add color, texture and warmth to your small spaces - or drama to a large space - with a well-designed container. Birdbaths, fountains, troughs and more make great containers. Irrigation can be run to your containers or Oyas (water vessels) can be planted in the containers to provide irrigation and to keep your plants healthy.

Example of a large minimalist backyard tile and rectangular infinity pool house design in San Francisco

pool with swim up bar
Example of a large classic backyard stone and custom-shaped natural hot tub design in Philadelphia

Small spaces can be the best. This pool and spa separated with a sheet of acrylic gives this pool an uninterrupted look. The limestone wall acts as a backdrop for the garden urn creating a focal piece of art

Pool fountain - mid-sized contemporary backyard rectangular pool fountain idea in Dallas with decking

Close-up shot of water feature and deck. Glass panels keep the view clear when enjoying the patio area. The fountain was a murky, slimy pond before we retrofitted it to recirculate into the pool. The brick veneer pops in and out in a random arrangement, creating a serene white noise as the water trickles over them. Photo by Susan Sotera

This Livingston, New Jersey homeowner contacted CLC Landscape Design looking for a backyard that would function as a space for their young family to relax and play while also being a space to entertain family and friends. Luckily for us, their backyard was a blank slate with little more than overgrown grass and some trees occupying the backyard. To meet both of the client's needs, a space that's functional for the family and for entertaining, we designed a backyard with multiple spaces. First, we designed a deck off the back of the house. The composite deck contains an outdoor gas firepit as well as a built-in outdoor BBQ. As you descend from the deck onto the patio, there is a hot tub near the pool. Techo-Bloc Blu 60 Smooth in shale grey was chosen for the pool patio. To go along with the architectural aesthetic of the home, we designed a rectangular vinyl-liner swimming pool with a pavilion aligned to the center axis of the pool. The pavilion includes a ceiling fan, ceiling lights, an outdoor television, and a bar. At 20' x 14', the pavilion is spacious enough for multiple chairs, outdoor sofas, and a small table. To finish off the pool area, we selected a variety of plants to provide multiple seasons of interest. Some clients are indifferent when it comes to the plant palette. Others, like this client, share our passion for plants. As such, we worked closely with the homeowner on selecting the plants. As you leave the pool area, there is a lawn area behind and next to it. We selected a spot near the pool area for a playset for the homeowner's children. It is close enough to the pool area that the parents can keep an eye on their children, but also far enough away so the adults can relax while their children play. We'd be remiss if we failed to acknowledge the exquisite taste of the homeowner in selecting all the patio and deck furniture. We love everything the homeowner selected and think it all perfectly compliments our landscape design.

spaulding landscape architects, llc
Inspiration for a coastal backyard rectangular and stone pool house remodel in New York

Shady side yard container plantings
Photo of a traditional shade side yard landscaping in Orange County for summer.

The pool features a submerged spa and gradual entry platforms. Robert Benson Photography.
Example of a mid-sized cottage backyard rectangular pool house design in New York

My client for this project was a builder/ developer. He had purchased a flat two acre parcel with vineyards that was within easy walking distance of downtown St. Helena. He planned to “build for sale” a three bedroom home with a separate one bedroom guest house, a pool and a pool house. He wanted a modern type farmhouse design that opened up to the site and to the views of the hills beyond and to keep as much of the vineyards as possible. The house was designed with a central Great Room consisting of a kitchen area, a dining area, and a living area all under one roof with a central linear cupola to bring natural light into the middle of the room. One approaches the entrance to the home through a small garden with water features on both sides of a path that leads to a covered entry porch and the front door. The entry hall runs the length of the Great Room and serves as both a link to the bedroom wings, the garage, the laundry room and a small study. The entry hall also serves as an art gallery for the future owner. An interstitial space between the entry hall and the Great Room contains a pantry, a wine room, an entry closet, an electrical room and a powder room. A large deep porch on the pool/garden side of the house extends most of the length of the Great Room with a small breakfast Room at one end that opens both to the kitchen and to this porch. The Great Room and porch open up to a swimming pool that is on on axis with the front door. The main house has two wings. One wing contains the master bedroom suite with a walk in closet and a bathroom with soaking tub in a bay window and separate toilet room and shower. The other wing at the opposite end of the househas two children’s bedrooms each with their own bathroom a small play room serving both bedrooms. A rear hallway serves the children’s wing, a Laundry Room and a Study, the garage and a stair to an Au Pair unit above the garage. A separate small one bedroom guest house has a small living room, a kitchen, a toilet room to serve the pool and a small covered porch. The bedroom is ensuite with a full bath. This guest house faces the side of the pool and serves to provide privacy and block views ofthe neighbors to the east. A Pool house at the far end of the pool on the main axis of the house has a covered sitting area with a pizza oven, a bar area and a small bathroom. Vineyards were saved on all sides of the house to help provide a private enclave within the vines. The exterior of the house has simple gable roofs over the major rooms of the house with sloping ceilings and large wooden trusses in the Great Room and plaster sloping ceilings in the bedrooms. The exterior siding through out is painted board and batten siding similar to farmhouses of other older homes in the area. Clyde Construction: General Contractor Photographed by: Paul Rollins

Epei benches warm the platinum gray concrete benches and the Firepit will warm legs and bodies as some will eventually sink into the rattan couch or chair which sits squarley on the stamped concrete Sandstone pool deck.