Before And After - Design

Backyard Pool Deck Design & Outdoor Living Planning – Auburn, NY

This backyard design project in Auburn, NY began with a homeowner seeking a permanent solution to ongoing drainage failures and poor usability around their existing pool area. The original installation, completed by a previous contractor, lacked the necessary planning and foresight to properly manage water flow, resulting in runoff and silt regularly entering the pool and creating long-term maintenance challenges.

Drawing on decades of job site experience, certified installation knowledge, and a college-educated design background, Elegant Estates approached this project from a design-first perspective—identifying not only the visible issues, but also the underlying causes that would need to be addressed to ensure long-term success.

Rather than forcing a design to fit the space, the layout was engineered from the ground up to solve water management concerns, support structural loads, and create a functional outdoor living environment. Through this process, all major challenges—including drainage, access limitations, elevation changes, and infrastructure needs—were accounted for and resolved during the initial design phase.

The result was a first-round design that aligned with the homeowner’s vision while eliminating the need for costly change orders, delays, or mid-project redesigns.

Design Considerations & Planning Highlights:

• Full evaluation of existing site conditions, including failed stamped concrete installation and drainage deficiencies
• Identification and correction of water flow patterns contributing to pool contamination and runoff issues
• Integration of permeable pavement systems within the design to manage water at the surface level
• Inclusion of high-capacity surface and subsurface drainage strategies to handle extreme rain events
• Strategic grading plan developed to direct water away from pool, structures, and neighboring properties
• Structural planning for stoops, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen, including subterranean support systems
• Layout design accommodating multiple access points from the home into the outdoor space
• Incorporation of outdoor living features, including fire feature, seat walls, and full kitchen area
• Design of integrated lighting plan, including wall lighting, accent lighting, and pool ambiance features
• Material selection combining Cambridge and Techo-Bloc systems with natural black sandstone accents
• Development of custom coping, banding, and layout patterns to enhance visual flow across large surfaces
• Planning for limited site access, ensuring all phases of demolition and installation could be executed efficiently
• Coordination of drainage discharge to safe exit points, including routing to existing culvert systems
• Development of detailed 3D design renderings including flyover views to fully visualize layout, flow, and scale
• Multiple perspective views provided, including ground-level and elevated angles to evaluate spatial relationships
• Interior-to-exterior sightline planning to ensure the design complements views from inside the home
• Time-of-day visualizations to illustrate lighting effects, shadows, and overall ambiance throughout different conditions
• Design structured to support long-term low maintenance programs, including EcoGuard surface protection

This project is a clear example of how experienced, construction-informed design can prevent costly mistakes, streamline installation, and deliver a finished product that performs as well as it looks.

Full Landscape Design & Planning – Ithaca, NY

This full landscape design project in Ithaca, NY was developed for a homeowner undergoing a complete home renovation and addition. Elegant Estates was selected not only for installation, but for a design-first approach that would ensure the outdoor environment complemented the upgraded home while proactively addressing structural and grading challenges across the property.

Leveraging decades of job site experience, certified installation knowledge, and a college-educated design background, this project was approached with a focus on identifying potential issues early—particularly in relation to slope management, structural support, and long-term performance. This allowed the design to be completed with confidence, minimizing the risk of change orders and ensuring a smooth transition from concept to construction.

The front entry was designed to create a natural, welcoming flow with a serpentine walkway and integrated porch overlay, while planting design softened the architecture and enhanced curb appeal. In the backyard, careful planning was required to manage a significant slope, reinforce structural elements, and provide safe, lasting access throughout the space.

Design Considerations & Planning Highlights:

• Full site evaluation coordinated with ongoing home renovation and addition
• Development of cohesive landscape design to complement updated home architecture
• Strategic layout planning for serpentine front walkway and enhanced entry experience
• Integration of concrete paver overlay beneath covered porch for continuity and durability
• Identification and resolution of slope-related challenges through retaining wall design and grading strategy
• Structural planning for reinforced retaining wall systems supporting deck piers and hillside stabilization
• Use of geogrid reinforcement and proper aggregate backfill in accordance with ICP and SRW standards
• Replacement planning for outdated staircase with long-term natural stone tread solution
• Design of stabilization planting strategy to manage erosion and support grade transitions
• Extension of design from home to roadside to create full-property connectivity and flow
• Development of detailed 3D design renderings including flyover views and multiple perspective angles to evaluate scale and layout
• Time-of-day visualizations to assess lighting, shadowing, and overall outdoor ambiance
• Design structured to support long-term maintenance planning, including mulch cycles and EcoGuard surface protection

This project highlights the importance of construction-informed design—where experience in the field directly influences planning decisions—resulting in a landscape that is not only visually cohesive, but structurally sound and built for long-term performance.

Full Landscape Redesign & Water Management Design – Auburn, NY

This landscape design project in Auburn, NY was driven first and foremost by severe and destructive water management issues threatening the home and surrounding property. The homeowner was experiencing consistent water intrusion from neighboring properties, with standing water reaching 4–6 inches near the foundation and routinely entering the garage while flowing down the driveway during heavy rain events.

After consulting with multiple contractors and reviewing a previously completed design, the homeowner was left without a clear or confident solution. It became evident that the prior design did not fully account for the scale or complexity of the water issues and would likely result in costly change orders and performance failures if implemented.

Elegant Estates was selected to redesign the project from the ground up, bringing decades of job site experience, certified installation knowledge, and a college-educated design perspective to the planning process. The design approach prioritized three key objectives: first, to fully resolve the water management challenges; second, to create a usable and enjoyable outdoor living space regardless of seasonal conditions; and third, to deliver a solution that instilled confidence through proven, battle-tested methods.

Through a construction-informed design process, all critical elements—groundwater, roof runoff, neighboring property flow, grading, and infrastructure—were accounted for upfront. This ensured that the final design could be executed in a single phase without unexpected revisions, protecting both the project timeline and the homeowner’s investment.

Design Considerations & Planning Highlights:

• Comprehensive site evaluation identifying sources of groundwater, surface runoff, and roof discharge
• Redesign of entire outdoor space with water management as the primary design driver
• Integration of a full subterranean drainage network tied into existing roadside culvert system
• Incorporation of open-graded stone drainage zones along key perimeter areas
• Use of semi-permeable pavement systems to assist with infiltration and surface water control
• Strategic grading plan engineered to direct water safely away from the home and across the property
• Inclusion of cleanouts and inspection ports for long-term serviceability and maintenance access
• Structural planning for outdoor kitchen to support granite countertops and future pizza oven installation
• Design of concealed infrastructure for future pavilion installation, integrated below finished pavement elevation
• Integration of outdoor living elements including wood-burning fire feature and gathering spaces
• Adaptation of design to accommodate limited site access while maintaining constructability
• Development of detailed 3D design renderings including flyover views and multiple perspective angles to evaluate layout and scale
• Time-of-day visualizations to assess lighting conditions and overall outdoor ambiance
• Design structured to eliminate change orders through upfront problem-solving and real-world installation foresight

This project demonstrates the value of experience-driven design—where anticipating challenges before construction begins leads to a more efficient build, a more reliable outcome, and a finished space that performs exactly as intended under real-world conditions.