The backyard design revolves around one clear move: let the pool lead.

With the pool as the main feature, the entire layout was shaped around how the client would actually use the space day to day. Where you enter, where you walk, where you pause, where you host friends, where you disappear into the garden for a minute. The goal was simple: make the space feel effortless to navigate and generous to live in.

Because the property lines sit on an angle, the pool was aligned parallel to the rear fence line rather than forcing it into an awkward square layout. That decision did a lot of heavy lifting. It improved circulation, reduced dead space, and created a more functional backyard overall. Once that angled geometry was established, the surrounding zones followed naturally.

Behind the pool, a layered planting backdrop was introduced to help frame the space and soften the perimeter. This planting zone also plays an important role in privacy, screening sightlines from neighbouring windows and an elevated deck. Multi stem deciduous trees were used to create a light, garden-like enclosure without making the space feel closed in.

One of the most acute corners of the yard, where space is usually wasted, was reworked into a concealed pool equipment area. It stays accessible and practical, but visually disappears into the landscape.

Most importantly, the garden planting was shaped around the client’s reference point: an English garden feel that brings a sense of home. The result is a backyard that supports entertaining and lounging, but still feels like a garden first. Not a sterile pool yard. A space that matures, softens, and gets better each season.