Vision and Fulfillment
At the outset, the homeowners believed the land beyond their existing deck could not be touched due to a golf course easement. As a result, they assumed their property had limited outdoor potential and that their backyard would remain an underutilized buffer to the course.
When our design team showed them that thoughtful design could work within the easement, their entire outlook changed. Suddenly, what they once saw as wasted space became the foundation for an extraordinary outdoor living environment.
Their vision quickly crystallized into two priorities: first, creating a space they could actively enjoy for relaxation, entertaining, and appreciating the course views; second, ensuring the project significantly increased the home’s market value. From the beginning, they were clear that resale potential was just as important as day-to-day enjoyment. They wanted a backyard that would make the property stand out — both as a personal retreat and as an investment in the home’s long-term desirability.
Our team fulfilled this vision by designing and delivering a complete outdoor living retreat within the easement, transforming an overlooked area into a major asset. The pool, with its concealed autocover vault, creates a sophisticated focal point while maximizing functionality. A fire pit gathering area, refined stonework, and layered plantings establish a sense of luxury and permanence. Every detail was planned to feel like a natural extension of the home, while also ensuring that future buyers would recognize the quality, functionality, and added value.
What was once seen as unusable land is now a stunning feature that elevates the family’s lifestyle and dramatically enhances the overall worth of the property.
Challenges and Solutions
The most significant challenge of this project was the golf course easement that stretched across the backyard. At first, the homeowners assumed this meant no improvements could be made in the area. Our design team not only demonstrated that a project could be built within the easement, but also took the lead in coordinating with the golf course to secure approvals. This required detailed communication, plan reviews, and thoughtful design adjustments to ensure the project respected the course’s requirements while still achieving the client’s goals.
Another major challenge was technical: the pool’s automatic cover required a mechanical vault. Standard installations demand the vault be set back several feet from the pool edge, which would have disrupted the clean, formal lines of the design and consumed valuable space. Our team developed a unique solution by integrating the vault directly into the retaining wall abutting the pool. This allowed us to conceal the mechanical system seamlessly within the structure, preserving aesthetics while ensuring reliable functionality.
The site also posed logistical challenges. Working within the easement limited construction access and required precise planning to protect the golf course grounds. Additionally, we needed to manage grading transitions between the deck, the new pool, and the fire pit terrace to create a cohesive, level flow. Careful engineering and step-by-step sequencing of work allowed us to overcome these constraints.
By addressing these challenges head-on — navigating the approvals process, engineering a custom autocover solution, and executing precise construction — we transformed what once seemed like an unusable space into an extraordinary outdoor retreat that fully satisfied the client’s vision.
Wow Factor
The wow factor of this project lies in the sheer transformation of what was once perceived as unusable land into a breathtaking outdoor living environment. Initially, the backyard ended at the existing deck, with the homeowners assuming the golf course easement beyond it was off-limits. Today, that same area is a fully realized retreat — complete with a pool, fire pit, and terraces — seamlessly integrated into the landscape and tied back to the home.
The concealed engineering adds to the “wow.” The custom solution of embedding the pool’s autocover vault within the retaining wall allowed for a clean, uninterrupted line where water, stone, and architecture meet. Guests see only beauty and craftsmanship, never the mechanics behind it.
From the homeowner’s perspective, the wow is twofold. First, it is a dramatic lifestyle upgrade — a place to relax, entertain, and gather with family and friends, just steps beyond the deck. Second, it delivers tremendous value. By unlocking the potential of land they once considered unusable, the project significantly enhanced the property’s market appeal and resale value, something very important to the client.
The result is an outdoor living space that feels both luxurious and natural, as if it always belonged there. Every visitor is struck by how the backyard now flows effortlessly into a resort-quality setting, hidden in plain sight within the boundaries of a golf course easement. That stunning transformation is what makes this project truly extraordinary.
Special/Additional Features
Environmental Considerations
Drainage systems were carefully designed to protect both the pool terrace and the golf course, with subsurface systems capturing runoff and directing it safely. Plantings emphasize pollinator-friendly and native species—including bayberry, summersweet, and blueberry—blended with client favorites such as hydrangea and roses.
Lighting and Durability
Landscape lighting extends use into the evening, highlighting textures of stone walls, plant masses, and the dramatic fire/water feature. The outdoor kitchen under the pavilion was designed with durable materials, including natural stone and marine-grade finishes, to withstand the coastal environment.
