You already saw part 1 of this project when we began to create a backyard paradise at this Williamsburg home, and now we're thrilled to show you the final results. This little slice of heaven is tucked away amidst already-beautiful landscaping, and our goal was to create a space where the homeowners could truly enjoy what was already growing right in their backyard.

The basic outline of the area was to add pavers with a stair landing, water feature, fire pit, and - of course - a small but beautiful water feature. The curved staircase leads down from the new landing straight to a grill, perfect for backyard cookouts. The fire pit, centered among the pavers, has some added features - a wood grain look and smokeless insert - that will make this space perfect for those outdoor summer evenings spent with friends.

And that's not all...

We're building a 3,500 square foot paver driveway! It's a tall order, especially in Yorktown, which often features groundwater issues among a host of other things. We had to approach this one knowing we could find a solution, even if we weren't sure exactly what it would be at first.

To solve the groundwater problem we decided to utilize geogrid, a material that can be used to reinforce soil and other materials like it. We used open grade construction with a combination of woven fabric, different sizes of round gravel, geogrid, and pavers laid on top for a solid base. Along the way we had to remove an aggregate walkway and add a condensation line with plenty of drainage.

But we couldn't stop there, because we knew this driveway needed a little flair...

When you walk into this backyard oasis, there are three areas where you can spend your time: the pool (now re-done), the sunken fire pit, or the hidden hot tub in the back corner. By creating a yard with multiple 'layers,' we wanted to have an oasis (or three!) within an oasis right in this Virginia Beach homeowner's backyard.

While some of this structure already existed, it wasn't welcoming - pea gravel around the pool isn't exactly friendly to bare feet! - and needed a big upgrade. We surrounded the pool with pavers and re-made their diving board, adding two full palettes of concrete to create a solid foundation. For the sunken fire pit, we made sure the space felt connected to the pool while still being separate, with a small step as a transition piece. Techo bloc creates an eye-catching area for a table and chairs to break up the paver pattern, and behind wooden panels is a hot tub area for a private, intimate setting so guests can truly get away.