There is a difference in Outdoor living and living outdoors fabulously exclaimed outdoor designer Michael Gotowala as he envisioned this outstanding two level outdoor kitchen, outdoor living space to be just the right recipe to order that much more than just grilling.Living beyond the walls of your home turned out to be quite fabulous for this Avon, Connecticut family thanks to the artistic envision of Michael Gotowala and his Preferred Properties crew. Outdoor Living designer and master builder of outdoor kitchens Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES reveals to us the insight of multi level outdoor living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The secret to success for this trendy outdoor living lifestyle is to understand the family members lifestyle indoors and portray that familiar lifestyle outdoors. This equates to endless hours of quality time spent outdoors. Gotowala's artistic display of outdoor living fabulously can be for entertaining large catered gatherings or intimate outdoor kitchens for fun with family and friends. The Difference in Outdoor Living and Living outdoors fabulously begins with a fabulous design and ends with meticulous workmanship. For more outdoor kitchen inspiration see our website where Great Outdoor kitchen ideas begin. THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE at www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com

There is a difference in Outdoor living and living outdoors fabulously exclaimed outdoor designer Michael Gotowala as he envisioned this outstanding two level outdoor kitchen, outdoor living space to be just the right recipe to order that much more than just grilling.Living beyond the walls of your home turned out to be quite fabulous for this Avon, Connecticut family thanks to the artistic envision of Michael Gotowala and his Preferred Properties crew. Outdoor Living designer and master builder of outdoor kitchens Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES reveals to us the insight of multi level outdoor living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The secret to success for this trendy outdoor living lifestyle is to understand the family members lifestyle indoors and portray that familiar lifestyle outdoors. This equates to endless hours of quality time spent outdoors. Gotowala's artistic display of outdoor living fabulously can be for entertaining large catered gatherings or intimate outdoor kitchens for fun with family and friends. The Difference in Outdoor Living and Living outdoors fabulously begins with a fabulous design and ends with meticulous workmanship. For more outdoor kitchen inspiration see our website where Great Outdoor kitchen ideas begin. THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE at www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

San Rafael Overview: This garden project began with the demolition of an existing pool and decks cantilevered over a hillside. The garden was originally a Japanese-themed garden retreat and free-form shaped pool. While the client wanted to update and replace many elements, they sought to keep the free-form characteristics of the existing design and repurpose existing materials. BK Landscape Design created a new garden with revetment walls and steps to a succulent garden with salvaged boulders from the pool and pool coping. We built a colored concrete path to access a new wood trellis constructed on the center-line view from the master bedroom. A combination of Bay friendly, native and evergreen plantings were chosen for the planting palette. The overhaul of the yard included low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage. A new wood deck replaced the existing one at the entrance as well as a deck off of the master bedroom that was also constructed from repurposed materials. The style mimics the architectural detail of the mansard roof and simple horizontal wood siding of the house. After removing a juniper (as required by the San Rafael Fire Department within the Wildland-Urban interface) we designed and developed a full front-yard planting plan. All plants are Bay-Friendly, native, and irrigated with a more efficient in-line drip irrigation system to minimize water use. Low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage were also part of the overhaul of the front yard redesign.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

A raised Koi pond reflects the sky in this garden outside the master bedroom wing. Fieldstone walls and bluestone coping complete this reflecting pool. Photo Credit: Virginia Hamrick Photography

San Rafael Overview: This garden project began with the demolition of an existing pool and decks cantilevered over a hillside. The garden was originally a Japanese-themed garden retreat and free-form shaped pool. While the client wanted to update and replace many elements, they sought to keep the free-form characteristics of the existing design and repurpose existing materials. BK Landscape Design created a new garden with revetment walls and steps to a succulent garden with salvaged boulders from the pool and pool coping. We built a colored concrete path to access a new wood trellis constructed on the center-line view from the master bedroom. A combination of Bay friendly, native and evergreen plantings were chosen for the planting palette. The overhaul of the yard included low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage. A new wood deck replaced the existing one at the entrance as well as a deck off of the master bedroom that was also constructed from repurposed materials. The style mimics the architectural detail of the mansard roof and simple horizontal wood siding of the house. After removing a juniper (as required by the San Rafael Fire Department within the Wildland-Urban interface) we designed and developed a full front-yard planting plan. All plants are Bay-Friendly, native, and irrigated with a more efficient in-line drip irrigation system to minimize water use. Low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage were also part of the overhaul of the front yard redesign.

Outdoor living home addition including master bedroom and office addition all within reach of living beyond the walls of this Westport Connecticut home. Westport, Ct. WITH A LOVE of outdoor living, these Connecticut homeowners wanted to outfit their open-air area for maximum enjoyment. Envisioning a space especially for cooking, dining, and relaxing, they hired Michael Gotowala, principal designer and president of Preferred Properties Landscaping and Masonry, whose motto is to “live beyond the walls of your home outdoors.” Preparing their home so the owners could do just that, Gotowala got to work on an addition that allowed for a master bedroom and office walkout for private outdoor living. The heart of the outdoor area features a fireplace with arched stone bins, granite countertops, and an adult beverage center. To the right, a stone hot tub complements the stone courtyard and privacy walls, which are highlighted with fire jars. To the left of the addition is pool central. This section includes a fire pit with stone bench and L-shaped island against the house. element, visually connecting areas. The stone façade on the house matches that of the island, making the entire space appear larger. Stone steps at all the door openings have different heights to accommodate the pool and home addition. And Gotowala chose an artful mix of varieties that all complement each other: Noble hill yellow stone for the walls, Norwegian buff limestone for the pool deck and coping, and yellow river granite for the kitchen countertops. For more insight on this Fabulous outdoor living project in Westport, Ct. by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES go to www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

Door style: Pendleton 275 Inset | Species: Paint grade | Finish: White Island: Casual Vintage Smokey Blue The kitchen opens to this cozy family room, which also uses the Pendleton 275 Inset door style. Showplace Kitchens: http://www.showplacekitchens.com/ Showplace Wood Products: http://www.showplacewood.com/

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Outdoor living home addition including master bedroom and office addition all within reach of living beyond the walls of this Westport Connecticut home. Westport, Ct. WITH A LOVE of outdoor living, these Connecticut homeowners wanted to outfit their open-air area for maximum enjoyment. Envisioning a space especially for cooking, dining, and relaxing, they hired Michael Gotowala, principal designer and president of Preferred Properties Landscaping and Masonry, whose motto is to “live beyond the walls of your home outdoors.” Preparing their home so the owners could do just that, Gotowala got to work on an addition that allowed for a master bedroom and office walkout for private outdoor living. The heart of the outdoor area features a fireplace with arched stone bins, granite countertops, and an adult beverage center. To the right, a stone hot tub complements the stone courtyard and privacy walls, which are highlighted with fire jars. To the left of the addition is pool central. This section includes a fire pit with stone bench and L-shaped island against the house. element, visually connecting areas. The stone façade on the house matches that of the island, making the entire space appear larger. Stone steps at all the door openings have different heights to accommodate the pool and home addition. And Gotowala chose an artful mix of varieties that all complement each other: Noble hill yellow stone for the walls, Norwegian buff limestone for the pool deck and coping, and yellow river granite for the kitchen countertops. For more insight on this Fabulous outdoor living project in Westport, Ct. by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES go to www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Outdoor living home addition including master bedroom and office addition all within reach of living beyond the walls of this Westport Connecticut home. Westport, Ct. WITH A LOVE of outdoor living, these Connecticut homeowners wanted to outfit their open-air area for maximum enjoyment. Envisioning a space especially for cooking, dining, and relaxing, they hired Michael Gotowala, principal designer and president of Preferred Properties Landscaping and Masonry, whose motto is to “live beyond the walls of your home outdoors.” Preparing their home so the owners could do just that, Gotowala got to work on an addition that allowed for a master bedroom and office walkout for private outdoor living. The heart of the outdoor area features a fireplace with arched stone bins, granite countertops, and an adult beverage center. To the right, a stone hot tub complements the stone courtyard and privacy walls, which are highlighted with fire jars. To the left of the addition is pool central. This section includes a fire pit with stone bench and L-shaped island against the house. element, visually connecting areas. The stone façade on the house matches that of the island, making the entire space appear larger. Stone steps at all the door openings have different heights to accommodate the pool and home addition. And Gotowala chose an artful mix of varieties that all complement each other: Noble hill yellow stone for the walls, Norwegian buff limestone for the pool deck and coping, and yellow river granite for the kitchen countertops. For more insight on this Fabulous outdoor living project in Westport, Ct. by Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES go to www.OutdoorKitchenDesigner.com

There is a difference in Outdoor living and living outdoors fabulously exclaimed outdoor designer Michael Gotowala as he envisioned this outstanding two level outdoor kitchen, outdoor living space to be just the right recipe to order that much more than just grilling.Living beyond the walls of your home turned out to be quite fabulous for this Avon, Connecticut family thanks to the artistic envision of Michael Gotowala and his Preferred Properties crew. Outdoor Living designer and master builder of outdoor kitchens Michael Gotowala founder of THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE by PREFERRED PROPERTIES reveals to us the insight of multi level outdoor living beyond the walls of your home outdoors. The secret to success for this trendy outdoor living lifestyle is to understand the family members lifestyle indoors and portray that familiar lifestyle outdoors. This equates to endless hours of quality time spent outdoors. Gotowala's artistic display of outdoor living fabulously can be for entertaining large catered gatherings or intimate outdoor kitchens for fun with family and friends. The Difference in Outdoor Living and Living outdoors fabulously begins with a fabulous design and ends with meticulous workmanship. For more outdoor kitchen inspiration see our website where Great Outdoor kitchen ideas begin. THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN STORE at www.OUTDOORKITCHENDESIGNER.com

The clients had just bought the home and loved the inside but not the outside. They did not want the formal setting with Greek busts. Since remodeling the old pool would have restricted the new, they had it removed so they could start from scratch. Their favorite setting was much more organic with a cabana, fireplace, and an outdoor kitchen. The house needed an addition with an entertainment media room, cigar room and pool bath. Privacy was achieved by adding a cabana on the north side with a full stone wall. The spa needed to be close to the master bedroom and have visibility of the flat screen television in the cabana. The spa is flush with the upper patio so not to block the view of the pool. A natural boulder stream connects the pool and spa. To soften the house planting is between the cabana and house. Decks and coping are Travertine. Pebblesheen color is Ocean Blue. Access to the cabana was located between the spa and the pool on the floating pad. Remote controlled fire features accent both ends of the boulders. Retaining walls were built behind the waterfall to bring the grade up so plantings looked more natural and waterfalls appeared to come out of the hillside. The cabana features were to create three zones. It does not matter the season or time of day, this space provides the family's perfect outside setting to enjoy each other. Project designed by Mike Farley. Check out Mike's Reference Site at FarleyPoolDesigns.com for more info and videos.

This garden project began with the demolition of an existing pool and decks cantilevered over a hillside. The garden was originally a Japanese-themed garden retreat and free-form shaped pool. While the client wanted to update and replace many elements, they sought to keep the free-form characteristics of the existing design and repurpose existing materials. BK Landscape Design created a new garden with revetment walls and steps to a succulent garden with salvaged boulders from the pool and pool coping. We built a colored concrete path to access a new wood trellis constructed on the center-line view from the master bedroom. A combination of Bay friendly, native and evergreen plantings were chosen for the planting palette. The overhaul of the yard included low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage. A new wood deck replaced the existing one at the entrance as well as a deck off of the master bedroom that was also constructed from repurposed materials. The style mimics the architectural detail of the mansard roof and simple horizontal wood siding of the house. After removing a juniper (as required by the San Rafael Fire Department within the Wildland-Urban interface) we designed and developed a full front-yard planting plan. All plants are Bay-Friendly, native, and irrigated with a more efficient in-line drip irrigation system to minimize water use. Low-voltage lighting and minimal drainage were also part of the overhaul of the front yard redesign.

The main design goal of this Northern European country style home was to use traditional, authentic materials that would have been used ages ago. ORIJIN STONE premium stone was selected as one such material, taking the main stage throughout key living areas including the custom hand carved Alder™ Limestone fireplace in the living room, as well as the master bedroom Alder fireplace surround, the Greydon™ Sandstone cobbles used for flooring in the den, porch and dining room as well as the front walk, and for the Greydon Sandstone paving & treads forming the front entrance steps and landing, throughout the garden walkways and patios and surrounding the beautiful pool. This home was designed and built to withstand both trends and time, a true & charming heirloom estate. Architecture: Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners Landscape Design & Stone Install: Yardscapes Mason: Meyer Masonry Interior Design: Alecia Stevens Interiors Photography: Scott Amundson Photography & Spacecrafting Photography

The main design goal of this Northern European country style home was to use traditional, authentic materials that would have been used ages ago. ORIJIN STONE premium stone was selected as one such material, taking the main stage throughout key living areas including the custom hand carved Alder™ Limestone fireplace in the living room, as well as the master bedroom Alder fireplace surround, the Greydon™ Sandstone cobbles used for flooring in the den, porch and dining room as well as the front walk, and for the Greydon Sandstone paving & treads forming the front entrance steps and landing, throughout the garden walkways and patios and surrounding the beautiful pool. This home was designed and built to withstand both trends and time, a true & charming heirloom estate. Architecture: Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners Landscape Design & Stone Install: Yardscapes Mason: Meyer Masonry Interior Design: Alecia Stevens Interiors Photography: Scott Amundson Photography & Spacecrafting Photography