We wanted to create a backyard paradise at this home in Yorktown, but with 1200 square feet of pavers, we had a lot to do – and a lot to work with! The first step was to add some additional privacy with a fence and landscaping that includes green giant arbor trees to create a little separation from the neighbors.

The main event is the River Pools swimming pool, where we added some curves, colors, and textures to make the space pop. Since kids will be visiting this backyard a lot, we added a water wall both for beauty and to create a ‘natural’ diving board – we can promise it will be used over and over again! On the side for the adults is a hot tub surrounded by a stone wall, so the grown ups can relax while the kids play.

And believe it or not, this is only phase 1…

Phase 2 is going to feature a massive outdoor kitchen with an extended patio and grill to round out the perfect backyard swimming pool scene, and the landscaping we installed will just continue to grow. We planted dwarf magnolias, limelight hydrangeas, boxwood hedges, and nepeta.

Of course we wanted to light everything – trees, walls, the walkway, color-changing lights in the pool – to create a warm, welcoming space for the homeowners and each one of the guests who steps foot in their backyard.

Watch the video and scroll through the slideshow to see this incredible transformation!