3 Beautiful Outdoor Spaces

Reviving the Rooftop

Load bearing, drainage and utilities should all be considered before embarking on your own rooftop renovations. For decades, the boards in New York’s Coney Island boardwalk were made from ipe (Brazilian walnut) like this. Despite their constant use, they allegedly only needed replacement once every 25 years.

To give homeowners who live in the mountains part time a distinctly Floridian space at their Davis Islands property, the Argentine Group created a tropical getaway right in the home’s backyard with lush palm trees and greenery, colorful lighting, and a modern, resort-like pool deck. The true star of this outdoor upgrade is the rooftop terrace (above), specifically built with the elements in mind. Brazilian walnut (also called ipe) was chosen for both the flooring and the custom bar because of its supreme durability and insect resistance, while the synthetic turf, planted succulents and retractable awning hold up to Tampa’s intense sunlight and frequent storms. LED lighting and built-in audio complete the space.

Tip from the Argentine Group: Whether it’s a simple backyard enhancement or complete renovation, it is vital to have a cohesive plan where all elements function properly with each other. It will help avoid unwelcome surprises and costly mistakes commonly seen in installations lacking a well thought-out plan.

Argentine Group 3220 S. MacDill Ave. | (813) 837-8023

Pooling Your Resources

This Sunset Park home’s unusually large lot size gave Robert Sicignano and his team at FLA Pools plenty of room to turn what used to be just dirt and a trampoline into a multidimensional entertaining and living space. After raising the land and leveling it to prevent standing water, the team began work on the all-travertine lounge area, outdoor kitchen and pool deck. To make the Marquis Quartz-finished pool as simple to maintain and eco-friendly as possible, it features a salt chlorine generator that makes the pool’s chemicals and uses commercial floor returns, a technique that saves energy by allowing the chemicals and heat to come from the bottom of the pool — the coldest part — and rise. A propane system heats the pool, grill and fire pit and is controlled, like the lights and sound system, by an app on the homeowners’ phones.

Tip from FLA Pools: Building a pool is the easy part. Taking care of it is harder. Invest in high-quality equipment, like a salt chlorine genera-tor, to make your life easier in the long run.

The outdoor kitchen features a Delta Heat grill, refrigerator and sink, along with a full countertop and bar

Instead of a screen, the homeowners chose to protect the backyard from bugs through hidden built-in deterrent sprayers along the roof’s edge

Tip: Be sure to find a contractor who is familiar with South Tampa’s unique construction challenges, like high groundwater and small lot sizes.

FLA Pools 1212 N. Parsons Ave. | Brandon, FL | (813) 839-7665

Secret Serenity

Thanks to the space’s already dense foliage, a full-scale renovation completed this Beach Park backyard’s transformation into an outdoor hideaway. Mike Loomis and his team at Landscape Fusion kept things simple yet elegantly modern with a custom-built pergola and furnished lounge area, an ocean-blue travertine deck, an illuminated pool, overhead string lights, and new planters and landscaping. To make the most effective use of the home’s small backyard, a small spa was built in to the pool, eliminating the need for a separate construction.

Tip from Landscape Fusion: Design your outdoor project as a whole rather than doing it one piece at a time. That way, you’ll know the whole cost up front and can complete the project as effectively as possible.