Gibeon Photography
Kitchen/dining room combo - contemporary concrete floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in Other

A Memorial area family commissioned us to create a natural swimming pool in their back yard. The family already had a standard pool on premises, but it was isolated in an area of the yard not particularly suited to seating guests or hosting get-togethers. What they wanted was a second, natural swimming pool built that would serve as the hub of a new home outdoor entertainment area consisting of a new stone patio, comfortable outdoor seating, and a fire pit. They wanted to create something unique that would preserve as much of the natural features of the landscape as possible, but that would also be completely safe and fully functional as a swimming pool. We decided to design this new landscaping plan around a pre-existent waterfall that was already on the property. This feature was too attractive to ignore, and provided the ideal anchor point for a new gathering area. The fountain had been designed to mimic a natural waterfall, with stones laid on top of one another in such a way as to look like a mountain cliff where water spontaneously springs from the top and cascades down the rocks. At first glance, many would miss the opportunity that such a structure provides; assuming that a fountain designed like a cliff would have to be completely replaced to install a natural swimming pool. Our landscaping designers, however, came up with a landscape plan to transform one archetypal form into the other by simply adding to what was already there. At the base of the rocks we dug a basin. This basin was oblong in shape and varied in degrees of depth ranging from a few inches on the end to five feet in the middle. We directed the flow of the water toward one end of the basin, so that it flowed into the depression and created a swimming pool at the base of the rocks. This was easy to accomplish because the fountain lay parallel to the top of a natural ravine located toward the back of the property, so water flow was maintained by gravity. This had the secondary effect of creating a new natural aesthetic. The addition of the basin transformed the fountain’s appearance to look more like a cliff you would see in a river, where the elevation suddenly drops, and water rushes over a series of rocks into a deeper pool below. Children and guests swimming in this new structure could actually imagine themselves in a Rocky Mountain River. We then heated the swimming pool so it could be enjoyed in the winter as well as the summer, and we also lit the pool using two types of luminaries for complimentary effects. For vegetation, we used mercury vapor down lights to backlight surrounding trees and to bring out the green color of foliage in and around the top of the rocks. For the brown color of the rocks themselves, and to create a sparkling luminance rising up and out of the water, we installed incandescent, underwater up lights. The lights were GFIC protected to make the natural swimming pool shock proof and safe for human use.

A custom made sectional with natural latex cushions is a perfect companion to the organic wool rug and toss blanket. Photo by: Brad Nicol
Example of a mid-sized trendy formal and open concept light wood floor living room design in Los Angeles with white walls, no fireplace and no tv

Classic screened-in porch idea in Birmingham

Example of a mid-sized classic backyard stone and custom-shaped hot tub design in Atlanta

Photo of a mid-sized coastal full sun front yard stone landscaping in Providence.

Leo McKillop Photography
Example of a large beach style dark wood floor and brown floor sunroom design in Boston with no fireplace and a standard ceiling

Photography by: Marco Romani, RLA Entire Landscape Constructed by: Arrow
Photo of a small traditional backyard stone garden path in Chicago.

The hardscape in a landscape is often the skeleton of a design, helping create the style and function of an outdoor space. Patios, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pathways, and retaining walls in a variety of materials can be every style from the most modern and contemporary to the traditional.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard stone and rectangular natural pool remodel in Houston

Traditional vernacular forms define this modern farmhouse beside a waterfall
Mid-sized traditional beige two-story vinyl gable roof idea in New York

Inspiration for a large rustic backyard stone patio remodel in Chicago with a pergola

Fanuli Photography
Living room - large contemporary formal and open concept medium tone wood floor living room idea in Sydney with white walls

Trendy multicolored one-story mixed siding flat roof photo in Brisbane

Tom Story | This family beach house and guest cottage sits perched above the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. A portion of the main house originally housed 1930’s era changing rooms for a Beach Club which included distinguished visitors such as Will Rogers. An apt connection for the new owners also have Oklahoma ties. The structures were limited to one story due to historic easements, therefore both buildings have fully developed basements featuring large windows and French doors to access European style exterior terraces and stairs up to grade. The main house features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Custom cabinetry throughout in built-in furniture style. A large design team helped to bring this exciting project to fruition. The house includes Passive Solar heated design, Solar Electric and Solar Hot Water systems. 4,500sf/420m House + 1300 sf Cottage - 6bdrm

Inspiration for a large transitional formal and enclosed light wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Toronto with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Inspiration for a transitional backyard stone landscaping in Tampa.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional partial sun side yard stone garden path in New York.

This ultra-luxurious pool in Massachusetts featured a dive rock, waterfall and incredible design selections. The swimming pool is complimented by a pool house, patio seating and an expansive deck that's material came from a mountain range in Maine.