FEATURED PROJECT

Poolside Outdoor Living Retreat

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Project Snapshot

The Vision

The Approach

The Transformation

Featured Elements

The Finished Experience

Project Snapshot

LOCATION

Montgomery County, MD

PROJECT TYPE

Full-Scope Backyard & Custom Pool Transformation

KEY FEATURES

20x44 Custom Lap Pool · Automated Cover · Custom WV Water Feature Jump Platform · Integrated Terracing & Retaining Walls

The Vision

Elizabeth and Darren had the kind of property that should have made staying home irresistible. Instead, the backyard was barely used.

Once the kids outgrew a playset the yard wasn't functional for much, too sloped to play ball and it just didn't inspire entertaining possibilities or offer fun options for kids. So it just went unused.

With teenage twins and a family that loved to entertain, they all wanted a space that could be fun and flexible for all ages, and most seasons. Elizabeth wanted room to swim laps. They both wanted privacy.

And they didn't just want a pool. They wanted entertaining space that functioned beyond just pool season with seating areas, loungers for sunbathing, and a conversational area.

THEN CAME THE HARDER PART

Making the vision work with the site and the investment

~$300K

Expected investment

~$500K

First complete design

Once the site was fully evaluated, the first complete design came in above Elizabeth and Darren's original investment target. The steep grade, structural work, privacy needs, pool, and the rest of the outdoor living plan all added complexity that was not obvious at the beginning.

Rather than dilute the entire design, LiveWell worked through the plan with them piece by piece. The conversation shifted to priorities: what mattered most to the way they wanted to live outside, which elements could be simplified, and where the scope could be adjusted without sacrificing the privacy, scale, and sense of retreat they wanted from the property.

That process shaped everything that came next.

The Approach

LiveWell handled the project from start to finish, including survey, design, Montgomery County permitting, the landscape permit, construction, and even pool school at the end. Elizabeth and Darren had one team and one point of contact throughout the entire process.

ONE TEAM · ONE POINT OF CONTACT

Survey

Design

Montgomery County Permitting

Landscape Permit

Construction

Pool School

THE BIGGEST DESIGN DECISION

Turning the pool to run parallel with the house

The first concept oriented the pool across the yard. It looked beautiful on paper, but making it work would have required an additional $50,000 to $75,000 in retaining walls and engineering. By turning the pool to run parallel with the house, LiveWell worked with the slope instead of fighting it, opened up room for a true patio beside the house, and allowed the pool itself to grow to 20 by 44 feet, protecting the experience the homeowners wanted while removing a major piece of unnecessary cost.

$50K–$75K

in cost avoided

20 × 44 ft

lap pool gained

Then every line item went through the same scrutiny

LiveWell built a live cost spreadsheet with each option turned on and off, so Elizabeth and Darren could see exactly what every design choice meant for the budget. None of those decisions were about making the backyard feel less special. They were about spending where the design would actually be seen, felt, and enjoyed.

Economical block where the finish would never be seen; finished block kept in the visible areas

Flagstone steppers in place of full hardscape where a simple path was all the space needed

A refined patio footprint and a simplified stair landing

Refreshed basement door with deck stairs reworked for the new layout

What changed was not the ambition of the backyard. It was where the investment went.

By simplifying the parts of the project that did not need to make a visual statement, LiveWell protected the scale, privacy, and overall experience that mattered most.

The Transformation

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Featured Elements

This project did not come together because of one showpiece feature. It came together because every choice had to answer to the property itself. The slope, the mature oak, the wooded edge, the pool depth, the privacy, and even the diving experience all had to work together. Nothing feels dropped in. Nothing fights the site.

Pool placement and elevation

The steep slope shaped the entire design. Terracing, retaining walls, fill, and drainage helped establish the right pool elevation and placement while balancing privacy, sun exposure, distance from the house, and enough patio space to make the pool feel natural within the yard.

Circulation shaped around the property

Access from the upper porch guided the stair landing, deck stairs, patio layout, and basement door update. On the other side of the yard, LiveWell worked around a mature oak by staying outside its critical root zone, allowing the layout to taper naturally while preserving the wooded character of the property.

One pool for swimming, playing, and entertaining

The pool was designed to support lap swimming, jumping and diving, and plenty of space for entertaining. A natural stone platform doubles as a water feature and jump ledge, adding movement and sound while giving the kids a playful feature that feels integrated into the wooded setting.

Materials and custom details that belong to the property

The material palette was kept natural, from stone-look pavers and flagstone coping to Prism Blue Pebble Sheen and subtle glass tile details. Finished block was used where visible, while flagstone steppers, railings, the jump platform, and the automatic cover were customized to fit the pool and property.

Layered planting for privacy and year-round interest

The planting plan adds privacy while keeping the landscape connected to the wooded setting. A mix of evergreens, shrubs, ferns, and ground covers creates a loose, natural feel, while varied ground covers fill the spaces around the pavers with texture, visual interest, and year-round color.

The Finished Experience

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Client testimonial

Before this project, we had a yard that was serene to look at but never used. Now we have a backyard we thoroughly enjoy, where we are living and entertaining constantly. The whole balance of how we're living in our space has shifted. We love it! Obviously the pool is great fun, and we're using it in tons of ways, but the entertaining space and overall flow into/out of our house is also terrific and a huge improvement. We expect to use it year round.