Justin Fox, Creative Director
Realm Design, Irvine, Calif.
Problems solved
Jeri Koegel
While the property had a majestic hillside view, it did pose some issues.
This family requested a luxurious resort destination in their backyard. Since the home came in a Tuscan style that dominates certain areas of Orange County, Calif., designer Justin Fox decided to give the yard what he calls a transitional look — one that can blend with traditional styles but offers modern or contemporary touches.
But the yard had significant issues with views and privacy. While the vista beyond was gorgeous, either side of the yard stared directly at the roofs of other homes — and could be viewed by neighbors.
To address this issue, Fox sunk one area of the yard and placed the outdoor kitchen and spa there. To block views of the roofs from the spa, while preventing a claustrophobic feeling, he used two 8-foot-wide acrylic panels to dam up the elevated pool on two of the spa walls. “It gave them something a little more intriguing to look at,” Fox says.
The clear panels offered another benefit: “When you’re inside the house looking toward the backyard, you can see through the pool, which makes the yard appear a little bigger,” he adds.
What the Judges Thought
The yard offers several show-stopping focal points that are both functional and well spaced so they add up to just enough.
On the other end of the pool, Fox placed a floating deck for two chaise lounges. This was shielded from peering neighbors on two planes, via a ceiling above and a waterwall behind it.
Even the inclusion of that floating space was inspired by another challenge. “With such a small yard, we realized if we put a large pool in there, it would take a lot of functionality out of the space, but we really wanted to make the pool look as big as possible,” Fox said. “To make it look larger, the pool extends on the sides of that lounge area.”
The other end of the pool narrows to a single swim lane, with a swim-up bar to the side , maximizing both the pool’s length and the functionality of that area
