The residents of this home in San Marcos, Calif., enlisted AAA Landscape Specialists to maximize the entertaining space and ocean view in their backyard. The resulting concrete patio has two levels and includes a fire pit, fire bowls, and a barbecue. The heightened patio elevates the entertaining area and enhances the ocean view. A portion of lawn was kept in the yard for the owner's kids and dog to play.

Four stacked stone veneer pilasters mark the boundaries of the raised patio area. Atop two of these pilasters are Backyard Blaze fire bowls with fire glass; the other two have cast concrete planters with dipladenia flowers. The steps, one of them quartz and the others concrete, are lit with Lightcraft Outdoors step lights with Brilliance LED bulbs. The seating wall adjacent to the step is topped with quartz and faced with stucco. Three alternating crews of 3-4 workers completed the project in just ten weeks. Two and a half inches of class 2 base was used, compacted to 90 percent or more. The concrete is reinforced with number 3 steel rebar. The concrete is a Davis standard color with strength of 3500 psi which was poured at a minimum thickness of 4". The joints were hand tooled to a depth of 2/5 the thickness of the concrete –
in this case, about 1.6".

For thirty years, AAA Landscape Specialists has provided award-winning service to their San Diego, Calif., area clients in all aspects of landscape construction, masonry, concrete, lighting, water features, outdoor kitchens, decks, patio covers, stonework, pavers, fireplaces and fire pits, and more.

The owner of this home in San Marcos, Calif., sought an area for entertaining guests while keeping a grassy area for the kids and dog to play in the rectangular backyard. AAA Landscape Specialists made the best use of the space, creating a two-level patio with fire pit, outdoor kitchen islands, and enhanced ocean view while maintaining an ample grass area for play.

The Room
After the design was approved, the first step was to demolish the existing landscape and hardscape. The irrigation and drainage main lines were laid, followed by gas and electrical lines and conduits. The masonry groundwork was next, including the footings and then the structures. After the hardscape drainage locations were determined, the concrete patio was poured. Bands of quartz, which were cut from the same stone as was used on the step and seating wall, were installed strategically across the concrete to visually delineate the transition between living spaces and walkways.

The patio cover was constructed out of primed and painted Douglas fir. The hardscape lighting was then installed, including step lights from Lightcraft Outdoors and Integral Lighting on the seating walls. The masonry was then completed, the plantings positioned, and final landscape lighting installed, including Best Quality Lighting. The final step was the installation of the cast concrete fire bowls with fire glass from Backyard Blazes. Four stone veneer pilasters mark the corners of the seating areas on the upper patio: two of these have the fire bowls; the other two have cast concrete planters with dipladenia flowers. The 5'x3.5' fire pit, located on the upper patio, was custom designed and built by the AAA crews using the same stone veneer and quartz. It is gas fueled and has fire glass in the pit.

The 5'x3.5' gas fire pit, which was custom-designed and built by AAA, has stone veneer sides and uses fire glass. Because the owner desired a simple, easy-to-maintain backyard with hearty plants, AAA planted pygmy date palms, star jasmine, day lilies, Spanish lavender, birds of paradise and kangaroo paws around the yard.

The seating wall has a stone veneered backrest and seat. The quartz used for the wall was also used on the fire pit and as accents on the walkways, helping transition living spaces to walkways.

The homeowners selected a stainless steel barbecue and side burner for their outdoor kitchen area. The granite tile countertop provides a smooth surface for preparing and serving food. Unique Lighting recessed hooded lights were added to the granite backsplash.

The patio cover was constructed out of primed and painted Douglas fir. The wicker patio furniture, positioned underneath the patio cover and around the fire pit, is from Design Furnishings.

The View
The wicker patio furniture is from Design Furnishings, and provides the space with the feeling of an outdoor room. The homeowners selected a Bull barbecue and side burner for their outdoor kitchen, which has granite tile from Emser Tile. The backsplash features Unique Lighting hooded recessed lights. The homeowner specifically requested plants that would be simple, easy-to-maintain, and hearty. AAA selected pygmy date palms, star jasmine, day lilies, Spanish lavender, birds of paradise and kangaroo paws for planting throughout the yard.

In just ten weeks, the backyard was entertainment-ready. The crews were all from AAA Landscape; none of the work was subbed out. Three different crews of 3-4 men worked on different aspects of the project. All company-owned hand tools were used, including jackhammers, masonry saws, concrete finishing tools, and carpentry tools.