Interior Design: Beth Armijo, Armijo Design Group (armijodesigngroup.com) Kitchen Design: Terri Rose, Exquisite Kitchen Design (myekdesign.com) Contractor: Steven Hillson, Boa Construction (boaaaa.com) Photography: David Lauer (davidlauerphotography.com)

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard rectangular aboveground hot tub remodel in Toronto with decking

Pool - contemporary backyard rectangular lap pool idea in St Louis with decking

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone pavers, this new area alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem to overcome was the disconnected feel of the existing patio; there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement in their outdoor space. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating and gaining the greatest amount of continuous, flat space that the client needed. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a very tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining hardscape gaps were later filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and then lit up with the incredibly versatile Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

Large elegant backyard rectangular aboveground hot tub photo with decking

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Inspiration for a large modern rectangular lap pool remodel in San Diego with decking

Dual Zone Swim Spa by Endless Pools Custom Built in deck with a Large Pergola Shade Cover.
Large elegant rectangular hot tub photo in Houston with decking

Patio - large contemporary backyard concrete paver patio idea in Tampa with a fire pit and no cover

Design: Abodwell Interior Design | Photographer: Dennis Owen — in Laguna Beach, CA.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard tile patio remodel in Orange County with no cover

Example of a tuscan lap pool design in New York

Inspiration for a large timeless backyard rectangular aboveground hot tub remodel with decking

Whitewater Imagery
Example of a large classic backyard stone and rectangular lap hot tub design in New York

Bel Marin Keys, Novato, residence. Polished Mexican Pebbles placed between the tinted concrete steps and pavers. Cumaru wood deck. Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Designer, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

View pool and spa from underneath the cherry tree.
Example of a large classic backyard stone and rectangular hot tub design in Boston

This infinity pool lights up beautifully at night. Add a few firebowls, dramatic garden beds and an outdoor kitchen and the three tiered paver patio comes to life.

Example of a trendy backyard rectangular pool design in Los Angeles with decking

The ever trending Hampton design, a timeless rectangle, with steps spanning the width of the pool. This pool is enclosed with a symmetrical patio and surrounded by vibrant plant life. In addition this yard boasts a pool house with a pergola. As outdoor living is becoming a must have for New Jersey homeowners, this yard has multiple relaxing and lounging zones complementing the center of it all, the inground swimming pool.