This project, by Houston based pool builder and authorized Ledge Lounger Dealer, Custom Design Pools, features multiple seating areas, both in pool and out of pool, making it ideal for entertaining and socializing.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary full sun courtyard concrete paver water fountain landscape in New York.

Matea Testa
Inspiration for a contemporary patio remodel in Vancouver

This luxury outdoor living space in Scottsdale's Storyrock community seamlessly blends modern design with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The centerpiece is a custom geometric pool featuring a sunken firepit lounge, offering an intimate gathering spot surrounded by water. Adjacent to the pool, a fully equipped swim-up cabana bar provides a shaded retreat for relaxation and entertainment. The design incorporates clean lines, natural materials, and desert-adapted landscaping to create a cohesive and inviting environment. This project exemplifies Shearon Design Collective's commitment to crafting bespoke outdoor spaces that harmonize with their surroundings.

The Villa Linda center courtyard exudes a calming and peaceful ambiance. This complex outdoor space is full of water, natural materials, fire, lighting and venues for leisure. Palm trees tower above this tropical outdoor oasis with the expansive pool and experience-filled outdoor area including a custom built sunken fire lounge with contemporary stepping stones. Photography by Jimi Smith.

Nicholas Doyle
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal master white tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile alcove bathtub remodel in New York with a wall-mount sink, a wall-mount toilet and white walls

The water feature is 24” deep 500 s.f. and filled with 6” of Black Mexican beach pebbles. Multiple Techobloc Raffinato planters each equipped with drip irrigation. Plantings were installed by our client. Six sheer descent waterfalls and multi-colored underwater lights are controlled from the clients mobile phone or iPad. All the paving is a Turkish Travertine with a connecting floating bridge that leads to a more private sunken patio/pavilion area, where one can sit and enjoy the tranquil sound of sheer descent waterfalls. The addition of the contemporary sculpture and a bubbling granite boulder completes this backyard transformation! -Photography by George Brown

This luxury outdoor living space in Scottsdale's Storyrock community seamlessly blends modern design with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The centerpiece is a custom geometric pool featuring a sunken firepit lounge, offering an intimate gathering spot surrounded by water. Adjacent to the pool, a fully equipped swim-up cabana bar provides a shaded retreat for relaxation and entertainment. The design incorporates clean lines, natural materials, and desert-adapted landscaping to create a cohesive and inviting environment. This project exemplifies Shearon Design Collective's commitment to crafting bespoke outdoor spaces that harmonize with their surroundings.

Perched atop a garage on the second floor of a newly built condo, this expansive rooftop in Carroll Gardens felt almost too vast to comprehend. The design challenge was to create intimacy and human scale. A figure-eight path guides movement through a series of distinct garden rooms. Crisp, angular planters—some sunken, others raised—establish a dynamic visual rhythm that plays with elevation. A custom pergola defines the dining zone, while a built-in bench and L-shaped sofa create a quiet corner ideal for working outdoors. Year-round visual interest was a priority, especially from the interior, so conifers and ornamental grasses provide structure through the winter months.

A covered patio space featuring a fireplace and TV entertainment center is a great place to escape from the outdoor elements to sit back, watch TV, and relax.

Back yard. Custom wood guardrail conceals a deck off Master Bedroom (right) and built-in seating around firepit (middle-left). Photo by Clark Dugger

Front yard with simple landscape and low vehicular gate, entry gate and fence. Planter at fence creates acts as a back for built-in bench. Photo by Clark Dugger

This luxury outdoor living space in Scottsdale's Storyrock community seamlessly blends modern design with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The centerpiece is a custom geometric pool featuring a sunken firepit lounge, offering an intimate gathering spot surrounded by water. Adjacent to the pool, a fully equipped swim-up cabana bar provides a shaded retreat for relaxation and entertainment. The design incorporates clean lines, natural materials, and desert-adapted landscaping to create a cohesive and inviting environment. This project exemplifies Shearon Design Collective's commitment to crafting bespoke outdoor spaces that harmonize with their surroundings.

Natural tropical resort on a small residential lot with some heavy plantings, palm trees and a 25' slide. The front entry and family room view centered on the beach entry and boulder cave. Raised planters and the spa flank the cave. The spa spillway was made wider to place larger, more natural stone work. Also, the spa bench has an armrest so one's back does not rest against the boulders. The cave has a "random" stair-stepped stacked stone crafted entry giving a more natural look. Planting pockets flank the beach entry, which the Travertine pavers completely cover. Every resort needs a swim up cabana, bartender and television. Across the pool we have a great firepit to gather around and enjoy each other all seasons of the year. Photography by Mike & Laura Farley.

The standard spa was 'sunken' so it would not look out of place. It is easier to get into as well.
Example of a large classic front yard concrete paver patio fountain design in Kansas City

This bold modern landscape showcases Northstone’s expertise in precision design and luxury outdoor construction. The layout features a dramatic diamond paver pattern in charcoal, contrasted by clean architectural lines and sculptural elements throughout. At the center, an infinity-edge custom concrete pool spills into a lower-level catch basin, flanked by a sunken lounge with integrated fire features. Oversized steps and custom aluminum planters create a striking, tiered transition that anchors the space with scale and sophistication. Recognized as the leading landscape and pool design-build firm in Montreal and Toronto, Northstone delivers complex, high-impact outdoor spaces through a fully in-house team of over 180 professionals. Our reputation is built on craftsmanship, innovation, and consistency at every phase.

This luxury outdoor living space in Scottsdale's Storyrock community seamlessly blends modern design with the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The centerpiece is a custom geometric pool featuring a sunken firepit lounge, offering an intimate gathering spot surrounded by water. Adjacent to the pool, a fully equipped swim-up cabana bar provides a shaded retreat for relaxation and entertainment. The design incorporates clean lines, natural materials, and desert-adapted landscaping to create a cohesive and inviting environment. This project exemplifies Shearon Design Collective's commitment to crafting bespoke outdoor spaces that harmonize with their surroundings.

Pool - large modern pool idea in Phoenix

Perched atop a garage on the second floor of a newly built condo, this expansive rooftop in Carroll Gardens felt almost too vast to comprehend. The design challenge was to create intimacy and human scale. A figure-eight path guides movement through a series of distinct garden rooms. Crisp, angular planters—some sunken, others raised—establish a dynamic visual rhythm that plays with elevation. A custom pergola defines the dining zone, while a built-in bench and L-shaped sofa create a quiet corner ideal for working outdoors. Year-round visual interest was a priority, especially from the interior, so conifers and ornamental grasses provide structure through the winter months.