This outdoor room at the Smalls' house in Carlsbad, Cal. is centered by a fireplace that was custom built with a natural flat stone veneer from K.R.C. Rock, a local supplier. The insert is a Fireplace Xtrordinair 864 TRV GreenSmart direct-vent, gas fireplace with a fan and a power heat duct. A Samsung 65-inch 3D TV is recessed into the chimney face. The two windows are solid glass to protect the area from the elements. Two Sunpak outdoor heaters and two Hamilton Bay ceiling fans help regulate the temperature. Helping to regulate the mood are 22 Lithonia 3-inch, bronze, recessed lights separated into six dimmable zones.

Keeping a family close and safe is often sited by a homeowner as the chief reason that they hire a landscape contractor to transform their lackluster yard into something much more enticing to the younger set and more comfortable for the parents. Such was the case for Kevin Smalls in the northern San Diego County town of Carlsbad.

He has four young children and wanted to create a backyard that would continue to be a draw to them and to their friends, now, as elementary school students, and later, as young adults.

Justin Cummings of Backyard Vacations was given the directive to mastermind the transformation and produce a complete outdoor entertainment area.

Most of the work was completed by Cummings and his crew of eight and though the overall build with its outdoor bar/cooking area, spa, and pool with all of its special play features was a big success, it is the outdoor living room with a swim-up bar that stands as the showpiece of the project.

A Downhill Start
The existing sight consisted of an area of bushes and plants that sloped steeply down from the back property line to a 3-foot high retaining wall with a stone barbecue in the center of it. In front of that were an area of concrete, a fire pit and a small patch of lawn.

It took about three days to prepare the site. The existing hardscape was removed by the use of a 90-pound jackhammer with a tow-behind compressor in combination with a Bobcat skid steer to lift it. The crew took up the lawn and then brought the level area down six inches below stucco and started from scratch.

To dig out the lower area and the footings, the Bobcat and a mini-excavator were put into service.

The slope was cut in two stages. The first cut was three to four feet back. Then they stepped it up and cut back another four feet. The crew put in an 8-foot retaining wall at the first cut and a 5-foot retaining wall behind it.

Across from the custom-cut granite top of the swim-up bar is the sofa area, which is two feet below grade. Notice how the grade changes with the wall as it angles upward at the left of the photograph. Helping to hide the neighbor's fence are the trumpet vines growing up the custom-cut and framed latticework.

 

Cameron stone pavers were recessed flush, in a free formed shape, around the top-cast finished, concrete floor. The steps leading up to the spa, and the boulders that they are set between, are artificial rock made on sight with rebar, wire mesh, and cement that was textured, brushed and painted. Autumn Flame ledgestone veneer surrounds the pillars. To save the homeowner money, the top of the swim-up bar was made from pre-manufactured granite pieces instead of a custom-cut slab. The 2-foot by 8-foot pieces, purchased from local supplier, North County Tile and Stone, had to be manufactured on sight, which included having them bullnosed and glued together to produce the finished product.

According to Smalls, this work overcame what he saw as a big hurdle. "We had a small palette to work with because of the very small backyard," he said. "And the large, steep bank in the backyard, which we thought was a negative, Backyard Vacations made into an asset."

The columns of the outdoor room were constructed of concrete masonry units and finished with stucco. The roof is a wooden structure, parts of which have a stucco finish. Clay tiles cover the rooftop. The retaining walls, which are recessed into the slope, were built with concrete masonry units, finished with stucco and capped with Cameron stones that were cut square.

The room is ready for almost any weather this area experiences – mild heat in the summer but often chilly and wet in the winter - as it is equipped with two ceiling fans, two overhead heaters, and a fireplace fan for extra warmth. In addition, two wall cutouts were fitted with solid glass windows to protect the room and its occupants from the elements.

Marine plywood was used for the custom cabinets. Real stone was used for the fireplace and hearth. Cameron stone was used throughout.

It runs from the back door, flows through the deck, comes down the stairs and is placed around the entire perimeter. The landscaping surrounding the room and the pool includes a podocarpus box tree, a ficus tree, a deodara tree, agapanthus plants and trumpet vines.

The outdoor room is just part of this build, which includes a pool with a set of jump rocks, a waterfall, a rocket slide, a rope swing, a spa and a swim-up bar. The dramatic lighting above the pool is produced by artificial "logs-on-fire". Additional outdoor illumination is provided by a mixture of Kichler LED path lights and spotlights with an AZT finish. The pool deck is mesa buff-colored, top cast concrete with recessed Cameron stones. The steps leading up to the slide and rope swing are constructed from Cameron stones. Restoration Hardware provided all of the outdoor furniture. Capistrano tiles from Eagle Roofing Products cover the roof of the outdoor room.

The retaining wall had to be recessed into the slope. It was constructed from concrete masonry units, given a stucco finish and capped with square-cut Cameron stones. Backyard Vacations decided on marine plywood for the custom-built cabinets due to its high resistance to moisture. The cabinet tops were manufactured on sight from store-bought granite countertops. The fireplace hearth is capped with Cameron stones from Thompson's Building Supply, a regional supplier. The fireplace mantle was also custom built by the crew.

The artificial logs-on-fire are constructed of steel tubing and cement that was textured to look like bark. Galvanized gas lines with holes drilled into them are recessed into the top of the cement logs.

The cooking/dining area includes a 48-inch DCS barbecue, a kegerator with a Perlick tap, a sink and a trash center with a cutting board. A Summit 3-drawer refrigerator and an Electrolux under-counter icemaker (inset) are on the other side of the counter. The bar top and countertops were manufactured on sight from store-bought granite pieces. The same ledgestone installed throughout the room was used to create a backsplash behind the barbecue and along the back of the counter. The backsplash is capped with square-cut Cameron stones. The cabinet doors were custom-made by Cummings and his crew from marine plywood.

A Well-timed Finish
Backyard Vacations and three subcontractors completed the work within a tight window - two months from first inspection to final inspection - because the client wanted it ready in time for his son's birthday.

Cummings managed the subcontractors that installed the plumbing, ran the electrical wires and built the pool's artificial rock wall, artificial rock steps and the artificial logs-on-fire. He said that on any given day there were 12 to 18 people working on the project. In line with the homeowner's vision, it was decided that the pool/lounge area should present an element of "challenge, mystery and excitement," that the kids could grow into, therefore the slide, dive rocks and rope swing.

"We created a very safe, yet challenging set of features," said Smalls.

So now while the children frolic, the parents socialize in the outdoor living room that also doubles as a sports-watching man cave – Smalls likes to host gatherings to watch San Diego Chargers' games - and more.

"You'll find everything from (YMCA) Indian Princess dads to book clubs gathering in our outdoor room," states the homeowner. "And when the temperature drops and the kids move off the cul-de-sac, nine times out of ten the group moves to our backyard. And we love it."