Maximizing potential
The yard measured a snug 72- by 30 feet, but Bret Shallenberger and homeowner Frank Wiedner made the most of it. “One goal was to create a lot of gathering areas in a relatively small space without having it feel crowded,” says Shallenberger, owner of San Diego Fiberglass Pools in San Diego. This was accomplished with optimal placing of the pool, a five-person spa and a fire pit that provides seating on three sides.

There’s a unique geometry to the scene as well. “We wanted to incorporate different elevations,” Wiedner explains. “That’s a theme that fits into the surrounding mountains. So it was a lot of straight lines, but there are also soft edges to blend the environments together.”

In order to establish harmony between the design and home, Shallenberger mimicked the stucco exterior of the house with a wall he constructed to encircle the back and side yard.