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A Backyard Re-design That Really Works
"I know that no two designers will ever visualize a backyard redesign in exactly the same way,” says Scott Cohen. “But when I first saw this site, I still couldn’t help myself from wondering “What on Earth were they thinking when they originally laid out this plot plan?”
The original swimming pool and patio design totally blocked the gorgeous views on this panoramic lot, paved over much of the greenery, and had minimal space allocated for entertaining. The water fountains and material selection were reminiscent of something from Star Wars and screamed of the architectural style of the 1970’s, when it was originally constructed.
The homeowners had a big wish list, which was expressed through a comprehensive interview process that I go through with my clients with the aid of a 4-page questionnaire that I have developed over my career of 24 years.
They wanted to create a yard that worked well for entertaining larger groups of guests, takes advantage of the spectacular views, and still meets the everyday needs of their young family. Most of all they wanted a space that had a clean contemporary feel.
Cohen prefers concrete over granite countertops because of the unlimited shapes, colors, and green attributes. ?EUR??,,????'?????<?Our counters are cast with recycled glass, fiber optic lights, rock and concrete, and then polished to a finish as smooth as glass. We can build any design on site and have little or no waste to haul away on completion?EUR??,,????'?????<?.
Some designers have their signature look. With a glance you can identify their work. This is not true for my work. I like to design in different styles, depending on the client’s needs and the architecture of their home. Just like truly talented actors can play a wide range of theatrical roles, I am of the opinion that a talented designer should be able to design in a variety of different genres, and contemporary styling is one of my favorite.
The first step in designing any backyard space is to divide it into several different outdoor rooms. People have a natural tendency to break up into smaller groups at gatherings. They rarely congregate in just one area. Think about the last party you attended. One group will be discussing Facebook, while another discusses the economy, another is talking about sports, and your Uncle Bill can’t stop talking about the tasting samples at Costco. Because of this inclination to break into smaller groups, oversize patios stuck at the back of the house are a thing of the past.
A new sun deck patio opened up the back yard to the panoramic valley views. The weedy slope became the new outdoor living area, complete with custom fireplace and a clean stainless steel sheer cascade water feature. This pool remodel repeats materials rich in texture but neutral in color.
The waterfall at the rear side of the pool combines a sheer cascade water feature and a stacked stone waterfall. With waterfall design, physical appearance is only one aspect of the feature considerations. Oftentimes, the sound a waterfall makes is even more important than how it looks. The right waterfall can soothe your soul, and the wrong one can unnerve you or even have you running to the bathroom! The stacked stone on this waterfall creates an extremely relaxing subtle splashing sound that reminds me of the soothing sound of rain sticks.
Good traffic flow through a garden space from one outdoor room to another is critical to prime design. I call this flow “wayfinding”.
The walk-across-water fountain at the back of the pool was created by casting black colored concrete stepping pads in place at the same finish height as the pool coping. The cast pads help with yard flow because they connect one side of the yard with another in a fluid motion (pun intended).
On this project the home-owner was very involved in the material selection, and lucky for me, he has impeccable taste. We mounted stainless steel tiles on the barbecue counter backsplash, fused stacked stone on the pilasters, installed custom stainless steel weirs as spillways from the spa, and tinted the fireplace with bold red paint.
As with any creation, this project was a combination of efforts from my design and office staff, a talented construction team, and a home-owner that shared in the responsibility in creating an outdoor environment in which we could all take pride.
Scott Cohen is author of two new books that are loaded with design tips for creating your own terrific outdoor rooms. Scott Cohen’s Outdoor Kitchen Design Workbook is a comprehensive outdoor kitchen design and construction manual, and Scott Cohen’s PoolScapes, which is an insider’s walk through Scott’s top 25 projects.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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