The residents of this Redondo Beach, Calif., home wanted to transform their backyard into a space for relaxation, entertainment, and play. Sandi Fields Landscape Design took on the challenge, creating a backyard paradise with outdoor kitchen, pool, spa, fire pit, and built-in stone bench.

The outdoor kitchen is equipped with Bull BBQ stainless steel slide-in double side burners, 38" Brahma stainless steel gas grill, and stainless steel double drawers. The granite countertop is backed with a stone backsplash. Tropical plantings were used throughout the backyard to maintain a singular theme.

With seating for six and Bull BBQ bar center with sink and stainless steel beer tap, the homeowners now have adequate and comfortable space for entertaining as well as for play. Shade is provided by a custom-built patio cover designed by Alan MacGregor, ASLA. Because the patio is fully covered, the homeowners can enjoy the space even in inclement weather.

To the left of the spa is a bench built into the natural stone retaining wall. A 6'x 32" gas fire pit sits in front of and extends the length of the bench. At either end of the upper deck area, fire bowls rest on stone columns.

The residents of this Redondo Beach, Calif., home wanted to renovate their backyard into a more useable outdoor space where they could spend quality time with family and guests - relaxing, entertaining, and playing.

On their wish list were a spa, a fire pit, an outdoor cooking and dining area with an attached patio cover, and as large a pool area as possible while not excluding any of the other requested elements, and still having adequate and comfortable room left over. To meet their desires, Sandi Fields Landscape Design truly had to make best use of the available space.

Prior to the remodel, the backyard consisted of an undersized patio area, a deteriorating patio cover, a lawn area and retained slope area, and wood property line fencing severely damaged by animals. In the redesign, using materials that would resist animal damage from raccoons and skunks was a priority.

Ultimately, the 28'x16' pool area became a focal point as well as an activity area. The pool had to be hand dug due to limited side access. About 60 cubic yards in total were excavated through hand digging and a dump truck. The landscape company owns all tools and equipment used during the process.

To absorb the height of the slope, the pool area was elevated 18 inches, the 8'x 8' negative edge spa was raised 2 feet, and the 6'x 32" fire pit with custom built-in bench was placed in the upper deck level. Two fire bowls mounted on columns frame the built-in bench and fire pit.

The new covered patio area has an outdoor furniture arrangement of sofa, chairs, a coffee table, a dining table, an outdoor flat screen TV and radiant heaters for warmth. The outdoor kitchen area has a granite counter top and bar with seating for six.

Paving and pool decking were a combination of 12"x 12"slate and sealed sandstone colored concrete. The pool coping was a poured in place colored concrete.

Since the primary use area was shifting to the back of the yard, the team worked to provide privacy from the neighbors view as well as areas to draw people into the whole space. This included a safe space for children to play and a space for outdoor entertaining that can easily accommodate a large group. Other challenges included absorbing some of the height of the hillside by using different heights and elevations of elements, and correcting poor drainage issues that were present due to the existing patio.

The placement of the stone bench on the upper deck absorbed some of the problematic hillside height. The concrete seat provides a place to relax, stay warm, and dry off in front of the rectangular gas fire pit, which contains cobalt blue fireglass.

The paving and pool decking are a combination of 12"x 12" slate and sealed sandstone-colored concrete. The pool coping is a poured in place colored concrete installed by Ken Fritts of Palos Verdes Pools. The 28'x 16' pool had to be hand dug because of limited side access. The spa is constructed out of the same natural stacked stone as the retaining wall, steps to the upper deck, and the base of the bench. The old wood property line fencing was replaced with brown wood-textured vinyl fencing to provide privacy from the neighbors as well as prevent local windlife from chewing on the fence.

The outdoor kitchen area features a stainless steel beer tap set into the granite countertop and bar seating for six. A team of four concrete artisans constructed the rock outcropping accessible from the upper deck. The custom wrought iron gate on the left behind the kitchen area was designed and installed by three craftsmen.

To the side of the stone bench, Grand Effects gas fire bowls on stone columns provide outdoor lighting for entertaining in the evenings. The fire bowls, like the fire pit, contain ???(R)???AE?" cobalt blue fireglass. The birds of paradise to the left of the firebowl maintain the tropical theme of the backyard.

The landscapers translated the client's wish list into a dream yard, designing the area to function in compliance with city codes (set backs, height restrictions, lot area calculations, fencing, grading and drainage issues), and meeting the client's budget criteria. The end result was a collaborative effort that included, Ken Fritts of Palos Verdes Pools and Alan MacGregor, ASLA. Sandi Fields Landscape Design did the design and landscaping; Fritts completed the pool and hardscape installation; MacGregor designed the overhead patio cover. From demolition to completion in February 2014, the job took seven months.