The outdoor living area utilizes bold radial lines to offer a sense of unobstructed openness along the panoramic riverside views. Special consideration was given to the design and engineering of the outdoor space to allow a massive 60-foot span between columns, resulting in an unparalleled view. Playful geometric shapes speak to an easy livability that belie the bold and glamorous design. The second floor deck provides seamless access from the guest bedrooms, office and exercise rooms. The use of glass railing and zero-edge doors carefully preserve the view. A Grand ARDA for Outdoor Living Design goes to RG Designs and K2 Design Group Designers: Richard Guzman with Jenny Provost From: Bonita Springs, Florida

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Eric Vidar Photography
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Robert Shaw photographer
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Deep overhangs shade the house from direct solar heat gain. The house steps down the hill culminating in a pool. Photo: Prakash Patel
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A brand new pool house with kitchenette and dining areas. All-cedar wood construction with mitered corners and edges. This view shows the wonderful openness of the design while maintaining functionality. On the right side of the pool house you can catch a glimpse of the custom-made blind doors. They are called blind because they have no trim. Only the door knobs and hinges give it away since the cedar siding moves seamlessly across its face.

Private sun deck with views of Camelback Mountain.
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The large Ryan Hughes Design Build poolscape provides plenty of room for outdoor entertainment and relaxation ad features a screened enclosure, areca palm trees. a baja shelf with modern Ledge Lounger chaise lounges, infinity spa, and two retaining wall water features. Outdoor living is redefined!

Carol Kurth Architecture, PC and Marie Aiello Design Sutdio, Peter Krupenye Photography
Pool house - large contemporary indoor concrete and rectangular pool house idea in New York

A pool house addition with a painted pergola for shading and walkout balcony above with custom steel railings. --Photo credit: Candace M.P. Smith Architect, PC

Originally designed by one of the most notable landscape architects in town, this once impressive project had faltered in recent years. The pool and spa still functioned well, and the client wanted to keep it intact. In addition, they wanted to keep as much of the existing landscaping as possible. The surrounding decks, walls, and steps were fair game. At first glance, one might think that our changes were simple material changes. Upon closer inspection, however, one can see the subtle, yet transformative changes that come together to update this classic pool in a tasteful, timeless manner, and improve the flow and usability of the deck areas, while softening the feel of the massive hardscape. The subtle changes begin as soon as you walk out the back door of the house. The existing decking had a lot of what we call “tweeners”; areas that are overly generous walkways, yet not large enough to house furniture. The awkwardly small bluestone patio was expanded to accommodate a generous seating area, by pushing the step-down closer to the pool. Our talented stone mason carefully married the new bluestone into the existing, resulting in an imperceptible difference between the two. As you descend the new bluestone steps to the pool level, your bare feet will be thankful for the new smooth-finished limestone colored concrete, with a hand cut pattern carefully etched into its surface. The old red brick decking was so hot that the owners could not walk around the pool in bare feet. The brick coping was also replaced with an eased edge Pennsylvania Premier Stone which matches the new step treads throughout the project. Between the house and the pool, a large raised planter was reconfigured, giving additional space to the pool deck for a shaded lounge chair area. Across the pool, a bank of rather tall painted brick retaining walls were cut down, shortened, and moved. This lessened the visual impact of the walls, which were rather overwhelming in the space, as well as opening up a new seating area, nestled under the arms of the massive pecan at the back of the property. Rather than continuing solid decking around the entire pool, the area near these walls has been transformed to large stone stepper pads set in a sea of beautiful St. Augustine lawn. This creates a visually softened area that is still suited to setting tables and chairs when the guest list calls for additional seating. The spa area is quite possibly the most dramatic change on this project. Yet more raised planter walls divided this area into awkward spaces, unsuited to proper furniture placement. The planters were removed, new stone decks, once again expertly married into the existing, opening the area to house a large dining table and new built in bbq area. The spa itself was re-imagined with the bluestone coping, and painted brick veneer. The most impressive addition though is the new handmade glazed tiles that surround the existing cast stone water feature. This water feature was almost unnoticeable against the painted brick wall, but now the dramatic arch and pop of color draw the eye to this quaint little corner of the property.

Tiled in shades of crisp blue by Vidrepur in Titanium, the infinity spa is perfectly situated to keep the conversation flowing alongside two weather resistant Signature Chaises by Ledge Lounger on the baja shelf. Areca palms sit atop stone and tile planters and are lit for ambiance and enjoyment.

The entire back and side yard were renovated to include an extensive travertine deck, new landscaping, an entertainment center with a BBQ, bar, outdoor kitchen, and large overhead shade structure. This project involved an extensive renovation of the client's exiting free form pool and natural rock waterfall.

French Inspired Pool and Landscape. Designed and Photographed by Marco Romani, RLA - Landscape Architect. Arrow
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The back exterior of this client's home from the covered lanai faces a lovely lake. A sail shade provides protection from the sun in the patio area outside the pool house. Stephen Allen Photography