JUNE 2025
Transforming Backyards into Luxury Retreats: How Homeowners Are Redefining Outdoor Living
Today’s luxury homeowners aren’t just upgrading their homes—they’re reimagining what it means to live well at home. One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen over the last several years? The transformation of the backyard into a full-scale, resort-inspired retreat.
From tennis courts and yoga studios to natatoriums with retractable glass roofs, outdoor living spaces are being elevated with the same level of intention, craft, and comfort typically reserved for interiors. It’s no longer just about simply having a pool or patio—it’s about curating a multifunctional escape just steps from your door.
The Rise of the Private Resort
The post-pandemic lifestyle shift has placed renewed emphasis on wellness, privacy, and connection to nature. For many homeowners, that means creating dedicated zones for recreation, relaxation, and entertaining—all without leaving their property.
Here are a few of the standout trends shaping these next-generation outdoor sanctuaries:
- Multifunctional pavilions with kitchens, lounge space, and year-round usability
- Integrated wellness features like hot tubs, yoga studios, and steam showers
- Retractable walls and glass enclosures that bridge indoor/outdoor boundaries
- Custom materials and finishes that elevate the experience of everyday leisure
Project Spotlight: Making a Splash
True luxury means optimizing the way you live—inside and out.
In our Making a Splash project, a striking enclosed pool and recreation building (natatorium) redefines what a backyard structure can be. Nestled into a tightly constrained neighborhood site, the structure was carefully assembled using craned-in materials and manual site work to protect the surrounding environment.
Inside, the 40 x 22-foot gunite pool is finished with hand-laid glass tile. Accordion glass doors open wide in summer or seal tight in winter, while motorized screens and a retractable glass roof allow the space to adapt across seasons. The interiors are finished with teak, beachwood, and custom cabinetry—creating a warm, refined space designed for year-round luxury living.
And it’s not just beautiful—it’s efficient. The space is fully climate-controlled using geothermal heating and cooling, proving that sustainability and sophistication can go hand in hand.
Project Spotlight: Backyard Resort
For this family in West Newton Hill, “home” now includes a full-scale recreational resort.
Centered around a two-story pavilion, the Backyard Resort project includes an in-ground pool, a tennis court, and expansive landscaping that frames every zone with thoughtful flow. Custom timber pergola and fencing provide structure and privacy, while a wall of sliding glass doors connects indoor and outdoor spaces effortlessly.
The pavilion itself is constructed for year-round living. The first floor features a full kitchen, dining area, bath, and shower—all finished with rich woods and sleek, contemporary lines. Upstairs boasts a light-filled yoga studio with garden views, offering calm and connection just steps from the action.
From morning swims to evening dinners and weekend matches, this backyard is no longer just a yard—it’s a curated lifestyle.
These resort-style retreats are more than additions—they’re seamless extensions of how each family lives, gathers, and recharges. Whether it’s crafting a year-round natatorium or an entertainment-ready pavilion, we approach each project with a commitment to craftsmanship, comfort, and New England practicality.
