Spaces: Make a Splash

Photograph by Richard Mandelkorn

The Problem

Plenty of yard, but nowhere to play: A shabby pool surrounded by uninspired landscaping rendered this sprawling Sudbury outdoor space practically useless.

The Solution

To create the relaxing hideaway his clients envisioned, Mike Coutu, president of Sudbury Design Group, first repaired the pool’s outdated systems, then outfitted the patio in all-new granite decking. By revamping the yard’s hillside with specimen plantings and a lighted fieldstone waterfall, he created a dreamy backdrop for swimmers day and night. A flower bed cut into the patio softens the edge of the pool while adding a pop of seasonal color to the space. The hot tub, meanwhile, spills into the water, transforming the yard into a place where you “just sort of feel like you’re in paradise,” Coutu says. “You’re away from it all.”