Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!

Photo of a mid-sized modern rock and full sun backyard stone formal garden in Seattle.

Completed in 2013, this stunning Italianate Mediterranean Villa is located in Highland Park, Texas and stands out in an already distinct architectural neighborhood. This project was designed and installed by Harold Leidner Landscape Architects. The expansive property features a lush landscaping, front motor court with travertine pavers and a luxury pool and spa. The pool area was designed to have a private resort feel to allow for entertaining. In addition to the spacious loggia and cabana spaces, the owner also wanted to have shade protection near the water, so a custom designed pavilion was built on the end of the pool to provide a shaded destination with cushion lounges that extend out into the water, flanked by fountains and adjacent to a fire bowl feature with a classic fire place surround. A truly elegant outdoor space for parties and entertaining with a sophisticated, modern flavor.

Contemporary exterior home idea in DC Metro

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

These homeowners loved their outdoor space, complete with a pool and deck, but wanted to better utilize the space for entertaining with the full kitchen experience and amenities. This update was designed keeping the Tuscan architecture of their home in mind. We built a cabana with an Italian design, complete with a kegerator, icemaker, fridge, grill with custom hood and tile backsplash and full overlay custom cabinetry. A sink for meal prep and clean up enhanced the full kitchen function. A cathedral ceiling with stained bead board and ceiling fans make this space comfortable. Additionally, we built a screened in porch with stained bead board ceiling, ceiling fans, and custom trim including custom columns tying the exterior architecture to the interior. Limestone columns with brick pedestals, limestone pavers and a screened in porch with pergola and a pool bath finish the experience, with a new exterior space that is not only reminiscent of the original home but allows for modern amenities for this family to enjoy for years to come.

Tradition Outdoor Living began this project as this client’s home was under construction. The customer decided to add their desired shade structure before the house was finished, however, the builder was not interested in adding the covered patio to the original house plans. Tradition Outdoor Living created design drawings of the covered patio to add to their home and attained all necessary building permits and HOA approval for the addition. The patio cover addition was designed to look original-to-the-home, with matching stucco finish on the columns and beams, paint, shingles, and gutters. Incorporating stacked veneer stone on the columns to match the front of the home, the exterior addition looks flawlessly original. This seamless addition boasts a tongue and groove ceiling, illuminated by recessed lights with dimming capability and providing a stark contrast to the dark stucco of the exterior. Tradition placed two ceiling fans, selected by the client, for all-day comfortability. The pool-side patio cover invites those enjoying the pool to rest and refresh in the shade!

Example of a mountain style deck design in New York with a bbq area

Design Consultant Jeff Doubét is the author of Creating Spanish Style Homes: Before & After – Techniques – Designs – Insights. The 240 page “Design Consultation in a Book” is now available. Please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com for more info. Jeff Doubét specializes in Santa Barbara style home and landscape designs. To learn more info about the variety of custom design services I offer, please visit SantaBarbaraHomeDesigner.com Jeff Doubét is the Founder of Santa Barbara Home Design - a design studio based in Santa Barbara, California USA.

This is an example of a modern landscaping in Dallas.

Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!

These homeowners loved their outdoor space, complete with a pool and deck, but wanted to better utilize the space for entertaining with the full kitchen experience and amenities. This update was designed keeping the Tuscan architecture of their home in mind. We built a cabana with an Italian design, complete with a kegerator, icemaker, fridge, grill with custom hood and tile backsplash and full overlay custom cabinetry. A sink for meal prep and clean up enhanced the full kitchen function. A cathedral ceiling with stained bead board and ceiling fans make this space comfortable. Additionally, we built a screened in porch with stained bead board ceiling, ceiling fans, and custom trim including custom columns tying the exterior architecture to the interior. Limestone columns with brick pedestals, limestone pavers and a screened in porch with pergola and a pool bath finish the experience, with a new exterior space that is not only reminiscent of the original home but allows for modern amenities for this family to enjoy for years to come.

Example of a transitional home design design in Minneapolis

Tradition Outdoor Living began this project as this client’s home was under construction. The customer decided to add their desired shade structure before the house was finished, however, the builder was not interested in adding the covered patio to the original house plans. Tradition Outdoor Living created design drawings of the covered patio to add to their home and attained all necessary building permits and HOA approval for the addition. The patio cover addition was designed to look original-to-the-home, with matching stucco finish on the columns and beams, paint, shingles, and gutters. Incorporating stacked veneer stone on the columns to match the front of the home, the exterior addition looks flawlessly original. This seamless addition boasts a tongue and groove ceiling, illuminated by recessed lights with dimming capability and providing a stark contrast to the dark stucco of the exterior. Tradition placed two ceiling fans, selected by the client, for all-day comfortability. The pool-side patio cover invites those enjoying the pool to rest and refresh in the shade!

Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!

A breathtaking city, bay and mountain view over take the senses as one enters the regal estate of this Woodside California home. At apx 17,000 square feet the exterior of the home boasts beautiful hand selected stone quarry material, custom blended slate roofing with pre aged copper rain gutters and downspouts. Every inch of the exterior one finds intricate timeless details. As one enters the main foyer a grand marble staircase welcomes them, while an ornate metal with gold-leaf laced railing outlines the staircase. A high performance chef’s kitchen waits at one wing while separate living quarters are down the other. A private elevator in the heart of the home serves as a second means of arriving from floor to floor. The properties vanishing edge pool serves its viewer with breathtaking views while a pool house with separate guest quarters are just feet away. This regal estate boasts a new level of luxurious living built by Markay Johnson Construction. Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Photographer: Scot Zimmerman

These homeowners loved their outdoor space, complete with a pool and deck, but wanted to better utilize the space for entertaining with the full kitchen experience and amenities. This update was designed keeping the Tuscan architecture of their home in mind. We built a cabana with an Italian design, complete with a kegerator, icemaker, fridge, grill with custom hood and tile backsplash and full overlay custom cabinetry. A sink for meal prep and clean up enhanced the full kitchen function. A cathedral ceiling with stained bead board and ceiling fans make this space comfortable. Additionally, we built a screened in porch with stained bead board ceiling, ceiling fans, and custom trim including custom columns tying the exterior architecture to the interior. Limestone columns with brick pedestals, limestone pavers and a screened in porch with pergola and a pool bath finish the experience, with a new exterior space that is not only reminiscent of the original home but allows for modern amenities for this family to enjoy for years to come.

Tradition Outdoor Living can create a refreshing oasis in your own backyard! This outdoor living space boasts a custom pool to maximize the backyard area, along with a bubbling spa and dazzling fire feature. The custom pool and spa, outlined by travertine coping, stack-stone walls, and non-slip spray deck surface, will keep you cool in the daytime heat and will glow in the evening with LED pool lighting. The water features that set this pool apart include Sheer Descent waterfalls and bubbling jets in the shallow portion of the pool, known as the Sun Deck. The exquisite, natural gas fire pit radiates with an adjustable flame height and matching stack stone walls and travertine capstone to give a flowing nature to this entertaining space. Needless to say, the shimmer of the decorative glass provides a view in itself! One of the biggest benefits to the Gas Burning Fire-Pit: no ashes, no hassle! With our client’s interests in mind, we created a covered patio built to look original to the home with matching paint, shingles and gutters, maintaining a traditional yet fresh appeal to the backyard space. The cedar wrapped posts and beams convey a natural feel to this patio cover addition. The vaulted ceiling, finished with pre-stained tongue and groove pine, gives the room an airy and spacious feel. Lighting the patio are the recessed can lights and flood lights, and to make the warmer days bearable, outdoor ceiling fans are a plus!

These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull