Pasadena Modern Pool & Front Yard Landscape

Swimming Pool Construction
Pasadena

This Pasadena project is a great example of what we love most about design-build work: taking a yard that felt tight and dated and turning it into something clean, modern, and surprisingly spacious—without fighting the architecture of the home.

The challenge was clear from day one. The homeowners wanted a contemporary poolscape with a sleek look and strong lines, but the house itself is clad in classic stone. On top of that, the back hillside sloped down toward an existing planter, which made the yard feel shorter and more cramped than it really was.

The goal became twofold: create usable space and blend two different design genres so the finished yard felt intentional—not like modern elements were simply dropped into a traditional setting.

Making a small yard feel bigger

To open up the backyard, we pushed the design to work as hard as possible within the lot. A new rear wall was constructed at the back of the pool and aligned with the property setback line, which immediately gave the yard a longer visual run and a cleaner edge.

To keep the project efficient, we integrated the wall with the pool structure—using the pool floor as a footing for the wall. It’s a smart solution that reduced cost while still delivering a high-end look and a major functional upgrade.

Classic stone, modern detail

To tie everything back to the home, the wall was clad in the same stone used on the house. That continuity is what makes the project feel cohesive. Then we layered in the modern elements the client wanted: glass tile accents and sheer descent fountains that add movement, symmetry, and sound.

The water features bring the wall to life, especially in the evening when the lighting hits the tile and the pool takes on that deep, reflective glow.

Clean hardscape with a contemporary edge

The deck and coping were kept intentionally simple to support the modern aesthetic. Sand-washed concrete provides a clean, refined surface underfoot, and a cantilevered edge gives the pool a crisp finish that feels current without being stark.

The end result

What started as a cramped, sloped backyard is now a modern outdoor living space that feels bigger, cleaner, and far more usable. The project blends traditional stone architecture with contemporary materials and water features in a way that looks natural—like it was always meant to be there.

Before / After