Relaxing Poolside Retreat

Pool surrounds are one of those projects where every detail shows. There's no hiding uneven cuts, poor drainage planning, or sloppy transitions between materials. So when we take on a pool deck build, we treat the whole space as one cohesive design - not just a bunch of separate parts bolted together.

Here's what we were working with: a backyard pool that needed a full hardscape surround, a raised deck section with steps leading down to the lower patio level, and planting beds that had to tie everything together visually. The paver field on the lower level uses a multi-size cobble pattern in a charcoal and gray blend. It's a clean, timeless look that holds up well in wet conditions around a pool.

The raised pool deck itself is finished in a lighter travertine-style paver, which creates a natural contrast against the darker lower patio. Those steps connecting the two levels aren't just functional - they have built-in step lighting tucked into the risers. That kind of detail matters a lot when you're using the space at night. It adds safety and keeps the whole area looking intentional after dark.

On the landscape side, we layered in river rock beds along the house foundation to handle drainage cleanly and cut down on maintenance. The planting beds along the pool perimeter use ornamental grasses and low shrubs set in pine straw mulch. It frames the pool without competing with it. The tall pine canopy behind the property gives the whole space a private, tucked-away feel that's hard to manufacture - we just made sure our hardscape worked with it rather than against it.

This is the kind of full-scope backyard work we do regularly in the Hixson area. Pavers, grading, drainage, planting - it all has to work together for the finished product to actually hold up and look right years down the road.