Sunland Custom Pool, Outdoor Pavilion, Firepit, and Backyard Resort

Swimming Pool Construction
Sunland

This Sunland project was designed for a client with a large family that gathers often. Usually 20 to 40 people, and sometimes more when friends are included. The goal was to create a backyard that could entertain all ages at the same time, with places for adults to relax, kids to swim and play, and the whole family to enjoy Southern California indoor-outdoor living.

The front yard is intentionally understated, but the backyard opens into a complete private resort. A large pocket door was added to the family room so the house opens directly toward the pool, creating a true inside-out living experience. There is also a large outdoor pavilion for cooking, dining, entertaining, and gathering. The result is a property where the main living space flows naturally from the house to the pool, pavilion, firepit, bar, planting, and outdoor rooms.

The design had to support a lot of activity without feeling crowded. The pool became the center of the backyard, with different areas arranged around it so adults could enjoy their time together while still keeping an eye on children using the pool and play areas. Every zone has a purpose, but the yard still feels connected.

One of the most creative construction solutions was the sunken firepit and bar area. The original concept separated the firepit from the pool, which would have been much more expensive. Garden View rethought the construction approach by digging the pool and firepit area together, then building a wall inside the pool to separate the main swimming area from the firepit and bar. This saved a significant amount of money and reduced the cost of the firepit and bar area by roughly two-thirds compared to the original separate concept.

The sunken firepit is one of the signature features of the project. Pebble pool plaster was actually used as the finish on the firepit walls and floor, and it has held up exceptionally well. Custom black tile adds a strong design statement by surrounding complexity with simplicity. Project Manager Steven Reinoehl also added a skull detail in the firepit, with the flame coming up through the eyes. In the project photography, Hans Barkus adds Garden View personality beside the firepit and tequila display.

The pool area also includes a built-in wall that separates the firepit and bar from the main pool. This allows people to sit near the fire, face the water, and still feel connected to the main pool activity. The firepit, bar, pool, pavilion, and house all work together instead of feeling like separate features.

The backyard originally had about two and a half feet of slope, so Garden View had to level the property to make it more useful. Instead of using standard retaining walls, we selected boulders directly from the quarry that were more quadrangular in shape and could fit together to retain soil. This boulder solution created a natural edge, fit the style of the project, and reduced the cost by about half compared to the original retaining wall approach.

Wood-like pavers were used throughout the pool and entertaining areas. They give the warmth and character of real wood without the maintenance, wear, or heat issues associated with some other paving materials. The pavers help organize the space while supporting barefoot pool use, outdoor dining, and large family gatherings.

The outdoor pavilion includes cooking, dining, and entertaining space and reflects the client’s eclectic taste. The plant wall was designed by the client and adds another unique personal element to the project. Throughout the yard, the design balances strong features — pool, fire, bar, pavilion, boulders, tile, planting, furniture, and lighting — without letting any one feature overpower the others.

This project is also used in Garden View’s book, Composing the Landscape: Utilizing the 15 Principles of Art (and Music), as the example for “Orchestration.” Like a conductor bringing together many instruments, Garden View’s designers and project managers helped organize the client’s exceptional vision into one complete composition. Rhythm appears in the repeated pavers and planting. Unity comes through consistent materials, boulders, colors, and forms. Contrast appears in the fire, water, tile, stone, plant wall, and pavilion. Balance keeps the many features from feeling cluttered.

The finished Sunland backyard is a true example of orchestration: a custom pool, sunken firepit, outdoor bar, pavilion, boulder retaining, wood-like pavers, planting, lighting, and indoor-outdoor living all working together for a large family that loves to gather.

Before & After