The existing paver pooldeck before construction began.

At the first meeting with these homeowners we were somewhat suprised to learn that they wanted to remodel their existing paver pooldeck and patio- an area that was already aesthetically and functionally in great shape. They wanted to "take their backyard from an 8 to a 10". The goal was to add more space and accommodate a new covered grilling and entertainment area & more seating / lounging. We were also at the beginning phases of planning a new children's splash pool for the grandchildren. Once the site plans came together, it was decided that the new kiddie pool would spill over into the existing pool in a similar way as an integrated hot tub or jacuzzi. This tied everything together and added a nice ambiance of the lighted flowing water.

During the pool deck & children's splash pool construction — During the pool deck & children's splash pool construction

The project started with the demolition of the existing pool deck pavers & expansion of the raised area to accommodate more seating and the new outdoor grilling area. The posts to the pergola were set and the new children’s splash pool began to take shape. The pool then got new pavers, tile, coping, and interior finishes setting the tone for a warm tropical grotto feel. Stonehurst was the style used for the new pooldeck, these pavers feature a soft stone-like texture on the surface and have subtle hues of sandstone, tan and charcoal blended throughout the mix. Stonehurst is made up of three pieces together in the field- a small 6"x9" paver, a 9"x9" square paver, and a larger 9" x12" paver. The three pieces are laid randomly alternating in size and direction.

The new Stonehurst pavers have a subtle texture on the surface of the the stones.

The outdoor kitchen is situated under a dark brown stained cedar pergola, covered with marine grade Sunbrella fabric to keep it shaded and out of the rain. Inside the covered area is a grill, refrigerator, outdoor flatscreen TV, overhead fan, lighting, storage, and plenty of counter space for preparing food and accommodating guests seated at the counter height bar stools.

The completed jacksonville outdoor living project.

The homeowners started their project by constructing a typical glassed in Florida Room- a room designed to bring you closer to the outdoors. The room is climate controlled, lets in lots of light and suited a excellent purpose. But the Florida room didn't quite bring them close enough to their wonderful Florida outdoors and Jacksonville backyard area.

The next phase of the project was creating a new space- the Outdoor Room. Outdoor living as a concept has grown extensively in Jacksonville and North Florida over the last decade. The new vision of the outdoor room is the transition from a simple concrete slab or wood patio with a few folding chairs and a picnic table to a more elaborate outdoor living space with a kitchen, pavers, walls, fire pit... limitless possibilities.

The homeowner approving the final layout before the paver construction begins.

Before we got started the backyard was pretty basic, with a small wood deck off to one side. The homeowners gave us a list of the features and amenities that they wanted to include and shared with us that they wanted to be able to gather in a larger group, but also have several quaint areas that would accomodate smaller, more intimate groups of people.

The first thing to get installed was the pergola. A rough cut cedar structure built with large posts and accents to suite its large scale size. The pergola was pre-stained to reduce future maintenance and prewired for ambient and grill lighting and an outdoor ceiling fan.

The kitchen components were set- including gas, electrical, plumbing etc. and we were ready for the brick pavers. We used a product called Mega Olde Towne which is a three piece cobble paver, meaning the sides and corners of the pavers are pillowed slightly to give a cobblestone like appearance, though the surface of the paver is still flat and smooth. The color chosen was Sierra, a blend of Sandstone, Tan, and Charcoal- accenting the home, pergola, and kitchen. These brick paving stones are manufactured locally in Jacksonville.

The three tiered seat wall is also constructed in the Sierra color, providing permanent seating for the fire pit on one side. The seating wall utilized a five piece landscape wall system called Country Manor, which is both textured on the surface and tumbled for an old world, antiquated look.

The completed outdoor room construction project.

After the brick pavers were installed and finished, the outdoor kitchen could be built on-site complete with a grilling station, refrigerator, lots of storage and counter space for food preparation, and a bar.

Here is the conceptual design from Creative Design Space and the finished product. — Here is the conceptual design from Creative Design Space and the finished product.

Upgrading a Paver Pooldeck in Jacksonville with Video

Creating an Outdoor Room in Jacksonville