Macungie, PA | 16 weeks

Macungie Residence

This professional couple and their young family needed a backyard where they could combine their need for therapeutic relaxation and entertainment into one comprehensive and seamless plan. With an existing failing pressure treated deck and underwhelming backyard, this was a challenge that MasterPLAN was ready to accept!

Designer Comments

This project was fun to image and to create because the site space was very tight and the homeowner’s wish list was ample.  After tearing away the old, worn out pressure treated deck, the first feature to be constructed was its replacement!  The deck area had to be spacious enough for grilling, dining and relaxing and the new low-maintenance composite deck provided just that!  Being constructed to be flush with the first floor of the home and with enough space to sink the new hot tub in the deck itself, this therapeutic water feature became easily accessible while still granting adequate privacy for the homeowners to truly unwind after a long day.

To keep the hot tub available for year-round enjoyment, and to tame the intense summer sunshine, we incorporated a hip-style roof over the deck.  This roof provides shelter from Mother Nature no matter the weather, and incorporates dimmable recessed LED lighting as well as a ceiling fan to keep the breeze going when its needed most.  Under the protection of the roof system, an outdoor rated television and speaker system was installed, sweetening the spot and taking it to another level!

Being that this home sits a little higher on a corner lot, the rest of the property had to be designed in a way that would bring more privacy from passing traffic and neighbors walking their dogs.  The solution was to take the patio and pool area to the lowest point we could for this property, resulting in a natural yet “sunken in” feeling.  To further maximize this goal in the seating area of the patio, we installed a beautiful low-maintenance vinyl pergola accompanied by a taller retaining wall at its back to block the view from the neighboring property.  The homeowner’s addition of the lovely patio furniture and fire table really bring a charming feeling to this space.

Wanting a more naturalistic look in the backyard, the homeowners opted for a curvilinear pool shape complete with rounded steps.  A diving board, color-changing LED lights and heat pump were installed to further personalize this swimming pool.  Exposed aggregate concrete was selected for the patio surface which also doubles as the seamless pool coping; this kept the control cuts in the concrete very clean throughout.  The exposed aggregate offers an uncomplicated feeling to the space, as to not detract from the beautiful surrounding features and landscaping.

Generous plantings were installed around the back of the pool to provide an amazing backdrop to the space.  This landscape plan provides many colors and textures to balance out the hardness of the concrete and the fluidity of the water.  The plantings continue onto the deck in the form of large rectangular planters.  Two of the planters on the deck-space incorporate seasonal plants and flowers which soften the space and provide organic definition.  The third planter gives life to all the herbs this family needs to create their own culinary concoctions…all within reach of their outdoor grill and indoor kitchen!

This property, as a whole, was finished with warm LED lighting to bring everything together.  Not only does this landscape lighting provide safety to everyone’s footsteps, it also creates an ambiance drawing everyone outside to enjoy.  Who said the party needs to stop once the sun goes down?

Client Wish List

  • Backyard shade
  • Low-maintenance deck
  • Hot tub
  • Swimming pool with heat pump
  • Pergola
  • Patio
  • Landscaping
  • Landscape lighting

"We truly appreciate the "thinking outside the box" approach taken in the design of our backyard oasis. We spend more time outside now and love every moment!"

Affiliates & Partners
Lehigh Valley Style
Lehigh Valley Business Association
Pennsylvania Builders Association
Qualified Remodelers
The Designer