Befitting a gourmet, high-end appliances ensconced in gray/white granite, give the kitchen gravitas. A spacious center island, topped with honed black granite, provides plenty of room for prepping meals, morning coffee or kibitzing with the cook.

Pool Builders Inc. built this traditional swimming pool in Davie, Florida. This pool has a Blue Opal RiverRok finish and features an elevated spa with tiered spillway, sheer descent waterfall, and a mosaic tile medallion in the beach seating area.

Pool Builders Inc. built this traditional swimming pool in Davie, Florida. This pool has a Blue Opal RiverRok finish and features an elevated spa with tiered spillway, sheer descent waterfall, and a mosaic tile medallion in the beach seating area.

Pool Builders Inc. built this traditional swimming pool in Davie, Florida. This pool has a Blue Opal RiverRok finish and features an elevated spa with tiered spillway, sheer descent waterfall, and a mosaic tile medallion in the beach seating area.

Pool Builders Inc. built this traditional swimming pool in Davie, Florida. This pool has a Blue Opal RiverRok finish and features an elevated spa with tiered spillway, sheer descent waterfall, and a mosaic tile medallion in the beach seating area.

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

This elevated perspective highlights how thoughtful pool and hardscape design can transform a sloped backyard into a functional outdoor retreat. The custom pool, integrated spa, and expansive stone terrace were carefully planned to create distinct areas for dining, lounging, and entertaining—while maintaining clean sightlines back to the home. Ideal for homeowners seeking a cohesive outdoor living design that feels intentional, spacious, and refined.

Jimi Smith Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary backyard custom-shaped infinity pool remodel in Kansas City with decking

Rear Elevation. The Sater Design Collection's luxury, Tuscan home plan "Arabella" (Plan #6799). saterdesign.com
Large tuscan beige one-story stucco exterior home photo in Miami with a hip roof

Example of a large beach style backyard concrete and rectangular hot tub design in New York

Beautifully designed by Giannetti Architects and skillfully built by Morrow & Morrow Construction in 2006 in the highly coveted guard gated Brentwood Circle. The stunning estate features 5bd/5.5ba including maid quarters, library, and detached pool house. Designer finishes throughout with wide plank hardwood floors, crown molding, and interior service elevator. Sumptuous master suite and bath with large terrace overlooking pool and yard. 3 additional bedroom suites + dance studio/4th bedroom upstairs. Spacious family room with custom built-ins, eat-in cook's kitchen with top of the line appliances and butler's pantry & nook. Formal living room w/ french limestone fireplace designed by Steve Gianetti and custom made in France, dining room, and office/library with floor-to ceiling mahogany built-in bookshelves & rolling ladder. Serene backyard with swimmer's pool & spa. Private and secure yet only minutes to the Village. This is a rare offering. Listed with Steven Moritz & Bruno Abisror. Post Rain - Jeff Ong Photos

Example of a large minimalist white three-story stucco flat roof design in Los Angeles

Designed By: Richard Bustos Photos By: Jeri Koegel Ron and Kathy Chaisson have lived in many homes throughout Orange County, including three homes on the Balboa Peninsula and one at Pelican Crest. But when the “kind of retired” couple, as they describe their current status, decided to finally build their ultimate dream house in the flower streets of Corona del Mar, they opted not to skimp on the amenities. “We wanted this house to have the features of a resort,” says Ron. “So we designed it to have a pool on the roof, five patios, a spa, a gym, water walls in the courtyard, fire-pits and steam showers.” To bring that five-star level of luxury to their newly constructed home, the couple enlisted Orange County’s top talent, including our very own rock star design consultant Richard Bustos, who worked alongside interior designer Trish Steel and Patterson Custom Homes as well as Brandon Architects. Together the team created a 4,500 square-foot, five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary house where R&R get top billing in almost every room. Two stories tall and with lots of open spaces, it manages to feel spacious despite its narrow location. And from its third floor patio, it boasts panoramic ocean views. “Overall we wanted this to be contemporary, but we also wanted it to feel warm,” says Ron. Key to creating that look was Richard, who selected the primary pieces from our extensive portfolio of top-quality furnishings. Richard also focused on clean lines and neutral colors to achieve the couple’s modern aesthetic, while allowing both the home’s gorgeous views and Kathy’s art to take center stage. As for that mahogany-lined elevator? “It’s a requirement,” states Ron. “With three levels, and lots of entertaining, we need that elevator for keeping the bar stocked up at the cabana, and for our big barbecue parties.” He adds, “my wife wears high heels a lot of the time, so riding the elevator instead of taking the stairs makes life that much better for her.”

The Control/Shift House is perched on the high side of the site which takes advantage of the view to the southeast. A gradual descending path navigates the change in terrain from the street to the entry of the house. A series of low retaining walls/planter beds gather and release the earth upon the descent resulting in a fairly flat level for the house to sit on the top one third of the site. The entry axis is aligned with the celebrated stair volume and then re-centers on the actual entry axis once you approach the forecourt of the house. The initial desire was for an “H” scheme house with common entertaining spaces bridging the gap between the more private spaces. After an investigation considering the site, program, and view, a key move was made: unfold the east wing of the “H” scheme to open all rooms to the southeast view resulting in a “T” scheme. The new derivation allows for both a swim pool which is on axis with the entry and main gathering space and a lap pool which occurs on the cross axis extending along the lengthy edge of the master suite, providing direct access for morning exercise and a view of the water throughout the day. The Control/Shift House was derived from a clever way of following the “rules.” Strict HOA guidelines required very specific exterior massing restrictions which limits the lengths of unbroken elevations and promotes varying sizes of masses. The solution most often used in this neighborhood is one of addition - an aggregation of masses and program randomly attached to the inner core of the house which often results in a parasitic plan. The approach taken with the Control/Shift House was to push and pull program/massing to delineate and define the layout of the house. Massing is intentional and reiterated by the careful selection of materiality that tracks through the house. Voids and relief in the plan are a natural result of this method and allow for light and air to circulate throughout every space of the house, even into the most inner core. Photography: Charles Davis Smith

Photography by Alex Stross
Hot tub - large contemporary backyard tile and rectangular infinity hot tub idea in Austin

Blake Worthington, Rebecca Duke
Inspiration for a huge contemporary formal and open concept light wood floor and gray floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

This gorgeous zero edge pool is the focal point of a major home addition. The existing pool, which was still in good shape, was lengthened by nine feet. A new curved end wall was built and topped with a tempered glass spill wall. The pool's light blue Armorcoat interior is boldly outlined with black flagstone, while the elevated spill over spa has two sheer descent waterfalls, which combined with the spill wall of the pool, creates a triple punch of dramatic cascading water. (19 x 45, custom rectangular)

Jim Westphalen
Mid-sized minimalist brown two-story wood exterior home photo in Burlington with a metal roof

Three zinc-clad boxes adorn this Lake Austin home, while the stone and stucco provide warmth on the ground floor. An outdoor living area lakeside blends seamlessly with the landscape leading up to the water beyond; a perfect spot for entertaining. Published: Luxe interiors + design, Austin + Hill Country Edition, November/December 2016 Photo Credit: Dror Baldinger