The backyard, designed as a whole.
A pool is the centerpiece, but the magic is in everything around it — where you cook, gather, and watch the sun go down. We design the entire scene so it reads as one continuous room, from the back door to the water's edge. In the Texas Hill Country, where the season outdoors runs most of the year, that surrounding space is where families actually live.
Outdoor kitchens, shaded structures, fire features, decking, and layered lighting are built in durable, weather-ready materials and tied together so your backyard works as beautifully at midday as it does after dark. As an outdoor kitchen and pool builder serving the Texas Hill Country, we handle the full backyard remodel with pool, deck, and living space as one coordinated project — one design, one crew, one accountable timeline.
Designing the pool and its surroundings together is what separates a backyard that feels intentional from one that feels assembled piece by piece. Sightlines from the kitchen to the water, the path from the back door to the spa, where the evening sun falls on the dining area, how the deck drains in a downpour — these are decisions best made on one drawing, by one team, before anything is poured. When outdoor living is an afterthought bolted on later, the seams always show.
Whether you are building a new pool or already have one, we can design a complete outdoor-living space around it — from a single shaded kitchen to a full resort backyard with fire, water, and dining all in one continuous scene.
Outdoor Kitchens
Grills, burners, refrigeration, storage, and bar seating in weather-ready materials.
Decking & Coping
Travertine, pavers, and concrete decking that ties the whole backyard together.
Pergolas & Shade
Pergolas, pavilions, and covered structures that beat the Texas heat.
Fire Features
Fire pits, fireplaces, and fire bowls that extend the evening outside.
Lighting & Landscape
Layered landscape and feature lighting plus plantings that finish the scene.
Dining & Lounging
Defined zones to cook, gather, and relax around the water.
The elements that make a backyard a destination.
Every outdoor-living project is assembled from a handful of core elements, chosen and scaled to how your family actually uses the space. Here is how we think about each one in a Hill Country backyard.
Outdoor kitchens & bars
From a simple grill station to a full second kitchen with refrigeration, burners, and bar seating — built in weather-ready stone, stainless, and porcelain so it lasts through Texas seasons.
Decking, coping & surrounds
Travertine, porcelain pavers, and decorative concrete that tie the backyard together, drain properly, and stay comfortable underfoot. The deck is what makes a pool feel finished.
Shade & structures
Pergolas, pavilions, and covered patios with optional fans and lighting that keep the space usable through Hill Country summers — not just after the sun goes down.
Fire & evening features
Fire pits, fireplaces, and fire bowls placed for sightlines, safety, and breeze, paired with layered lighting that turns the backyard into a destination after dark.
Build it in stages, or all at once.
Outdoor living scales from a focused addition to a full backyard build, so budgets vary widely. Many homeowners design the whole vision up front and phase the build over time. Ask about financing options to bring more of it forward.
A single high-impact element — an outdoor kitchen, a pergola, a fire feature, or a deck extension — designed to integrate with your existing space.
A combined patio scope: decking, a kitchen, shade structure, and fire and lighting designed and built together as one room.
A complete resort backyard — pool, spa, kitchen, dining and lounging zones, fire and water features, structures, and landscape lighting in one cohesive design.
Ranges depend on size, materials, structures, and utilities. We provide a clear, line-item proposal so you can see exactly where the budget goes — and phase the build if you choose.
Pool and patio, one design and one crew.
The biggest advantage of building your pool and outdoor living together is that nothing falls through the cracks between trades. Here is what that looks like in practice.
One design, one drawing
Pool, deck, kitchen, and structures are planned on a single drawing so sightlines, drainage, and utilities all line up before anything is built.
No gaps between trades
One accountable team manages every element, so nothing falls through the cracks between a pool builder, a mason, and a landscaper working in isolation.
Built for Texas weather
Materials and structures are chosen for sun, heat, and storms — cool-underfoot decking, shade where you need it, and finishes that hold up year-round.
Phase it your way
We can build the whole space at once or stage it over time, with footings, utilities, and drainage prepped so future phases drop in cleanly.
Designed as one space.
Design the Flow
We map how you cook, gather, and move between the house, patio, and water.
Material & Layout
Decking, structures, and finishes are chosen to match your home and lot.
Build
Kitchens, structures, decking, and fire features are built in one coordinated pass.
Finish & Light
Plantings and layered lighting bring the whole space to life day and night.
5.0 stars, and counting.
Rated 5.0 on Google · Google Guaranteed · BBB accredited
From start to finish it was a pleasure working with J. Oliver — informative, responsive, with top-notch workmanship from every subcontractor.
Josh and Shan went above and beyond to bring my dream pool to life. This is my third pool, and by far the best experience I've had.
An easy, hassle-free build from start to finish — very knowledgeable, and they customized the pool just perfectly.
Your backyard, answered.
Should I build outdoor living with my pool or after?+
Designing the pool and outdoor living together is ideal — the spaces, sightlines, utilities, and decking all flow as one, and you only pay to mobilize one crew. We can also add outdoor living to an existing pool and tie it back into the space seamlessly.
What can you include in an outdoor kitchen?+
Grills, built-in burners, refrigeration, storage, bar seating, and counter space in durable, weather-ready materials like stone, stainless, and porcelain — sized to how you actually entertain, from a simple grill station to a full second kitchen.
Can you provide shade for the Texas heat?+
Yes. Pergolas, pavilions, and covered structures keep the patio usable through Hill Country summers, and we integrate fans, lighting, and even misting where it makes sense so the space works at midday, not just after sunset.
Do you handle landscape and lighting too?+
We design and install layered feature and path lighting as part of the build. For full landscaping we are happy to refer you to our partner Singer Services, or you can always choose the landscaper of your choice and we will coordinate.
What decking materials do you recommend in the Hill Country?+
Travertine, porcelain pavers, and decorative concrete all perform well here. Travertine stays cooler underfoot in direct sun, pavers offer the widest range of looks, and concrete is the most budget-friendly. We help you weigh heat, maintenance, and style for your space.
Can you build a fireplace or fire pit by the pool?+
Absolutely. Fire pits, built-in fireplaces, and fire bowls extend the evening outdoors and become a natural gathering point. We size and place them for safety, sightlines, and the prevailing breeze.
Can outdoor living be built in phases?+
Yes. Many homeowners design the complete vision up front, then build it in stages as budget allows. Designing the whole space first ensures utilities, footings, and drainage are ready so later phases drop in cleanly.
Do you offer financing for outdoor living projects?+
Yes. We work with financing partners so you can spread the cost over time and bring more of your backyard vision forward. Visit our financing page or ask during your consultation.
Guides for a complete outdoor space.
Live outside.
Let's design a backyard your family never wants to leave. A first conversation costs nothing.