4 Min Read
Welcome to your guided tour of Deckscapes of Virginia’s recent backyard makeover in Ashburn, Virginia. This breathtaking full-scale backyard remodel was designed and built to be lived in, every day, in every season. What began as a wide-open lawn and a vision scribbled on paper napkins evolved into a multi-functional outdoor environment that flows effortlessly from zone to zone.
This project strings stunning showpieces into a collection of purposeful spaces that work in harmony. And, as a recent award-winner in the NADRA hardscape category, we're confident this backyard is objectively awesome. Whether hosting football Sundays in the fall, unwinding in the spa under winter skies, or harvesting flowers from the cutting garden in spring, every detail was thoughtfully planned with daily life in mind. Deckscapes of Virginia guided this family through a complex but rewarding design-build process, transforming a blank canvas into a personalized retreat that feels both expansive and intimate.
From Concrete Slab to Outdoor Sanctuary
The core of this design is a beautifully integrated rectangular pool, framed by large-format pavers in a cool neutral tone. At one end, a shallow sun shelf invites loungers to dip their toes under striped umbrellas, while water jets arc in elegant symmetry, adding motion and a touch of resort flair. At night, soft LED lighting gives the water a glowing ambiance.
Adjacent to the pool, a raised spa sits neatly within the same material palette, wrapped in stone and finished with custom coping. Just beyond the pool’s edge lies a pavilion with a covered outdoor living room with a fireplace and mounted TV, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a louvered pergola over a dining space that easily seats eight.
The structure is grounded by a black standing seam metal roof and crisp white trim, creating a modern farmhouse silhouette that complements the home without competing with it. Wide walkways and framed garden beds help transition from pool deck to lawn and from kitchen to fire pit, all while maintaining clear sightlines and an open, breathable layout.
A Kitchen That Competes with the Indoors
This isn’t your average grill station. The outdoor kitchen in this project is a fully realized culinary hub that allows for simultaneous hosting, cooking, and relaxing without compromise.
Encased in stone veneer and topped with sleek granite counters, the kitchen includes a premium grill, a built-in smoker, a pizza oven, a sink with prep space, refrigeration, storage drawers, and trash compartments. A raised bar faces the cooking zone, offering casual seating for guests to gather without crowding the workspace.
Overhead, a massive ceiling fan keeps the air moving on hot days, while recessed lighting ensures visibility after sunset. The structure’s louvered roof can be adjusted based on sun or shade preferences, making the entire space flexible for every season and occasion. Nearby wood storage and integrated design elements tie back to the living area’s fireplace, creating continuity from flame to flame.
Relaxation Zones That Invite You to Stay Awhile
Stepping away from the kitchen, the backyard opens into multiple lounging areas, each with a distinct vibe, yet perfectly in sync with the overall layout. Just past the pool’s sun shelf, a row of chaise lounges with navy mesh backing and bold striped umbrellas creates an effortless resort aesthetic. The symmetry is intentional, enhancing the visual calm of the space while offering guests a place to unwind in or out of the sun.
Tucked into the far corner of the lawn is a dedicated fire pit zone, an intentional retreat from the poolside energy of the pool. Here, a circular seating arrangement of deep blue Adirondack chairs wraps around a sleek, gas-burning fire pit, flanked by built-in stone benches that double as wood storage and surface space. It’s a quiet counterbalance to the lively center of the yard, ideal for cool evenings or stargazing with a drink in hand.
Trust, Timing & a Team That Delivers: Why Deckscapes Was the Clear Choice
In a neighborhood where high-end outdoor projects are the norm, choosing the right design-build partner becomes primarily about trust. With multiple backyard transformations underway on their street, this family took their time. Over the course of a year, they interviewed several local firms, compared outcomes, and listened closely to neighbors’ feedback.
Time and again, one name stood out: Deckscapes.
What ultimately tipped the scale wasn’t just a portfolio of beautiful projects; it was how we showed up. Responsiveness. Transparency. Communication. From the first conversation, our team prioritized listening, educating, and elevating their vision beyond what they thought possible.
The testimonial video says it best: this family didn’t just feel like clients. They felt heard. They were kept in the loop at every stage, from napkin sketches to the final walkthrough. They came in with a vision and left with a complete experience: collaborative design, proactive project management, and seamless execution. And perhaps most importantly, they were able to enjoy the process, not just the result.
Details That Make the Difference
Material transitions are seamless, with charcoal paver inlays outlining walkways and framing each functional zone. Composite decking on the rear steps is laid in a chevron pattern, bordered with clean white fascia, reinforcing both durability and design.
Custom stonework carries through from the fire pit to the kitchen, fireplace, and planter walls, unifying the visual language across the entire yard. The fireplace is capped with a chunky mantel and styled for comfort, flanked by deep seating and a built-in TV that turns the pavilion into a second living room.
Built for All Four Seasons
While most backyards in Northern Virginia go dormant after Labor Day, we engineered this one to thrive through every month of the year. We included smart climate features from the spa and heated pavilion to the louvered pergola and adjustable lighting, ensuring that entertaining doesn’t end with summer.
Fall brings football watch parties with guests moving between the pool, spa, and covered living room. Winter invites quiet evenings by the fireplace. Spring offers time in the cutting garden, with newly blooming perennials ready to be clipped for arrangements indoors or on the outdoor dining table. And by summer, the entire yard transforms into an all-day, every-day gathering space.
Ready to Build Your Own Custom Outdoor Retreat in Northern Virginia?
Deckscapes of Virginia designs and builds outdoor spaces completely customized to how you live and want it to look. If you’re thinking about transforming your backyard with a deck, patio, outdoor kitchen, or multi-functional retreat, we’re ready to guide you through every step of the process. Let’s connect today to talk about what’s possible.
