CLIENT CASE STUDY
JAMIE’S JEWEL:
How a luxury lighting engineer and an accountant were able to light up their own life with their ultimate entertainment environment.
The Before
When I first met Kent and Nick, they had a myriad of Pinterest board inspirations that needed to be threaded together elegantly.
With a half-acre lot, they certainly had the space for all the puzzle-pieces that inspired them — but plenty of space can be a two-edged sword…
On one hand, you have a huge canvas to express creativity.
On the other, it’s imperative to ensure every puzzle-piece flows into the other or the space will feel very disconnected — both visually and how you internally feel in the space.
As a designer with a strong appreciation for the arts, Kent didn’t want a cookie-cutter environment.
The inside of Kent & Nick’s home was tailored to a capital “WOW” factor with custom lighting and beautiful furniture pieces, and they wanted nothing less for their outdoor environment — while at the same time, keeping the accountant partner (and the budget!) happy.
The Desires
To have a yard that maximizes their real estate without wasting space
To be able to bring their friends together for resort-like relaxation and entertainment
To have a striking wow-factor focal point through their 15’ stacking doors from the moment you enter the home that makes you want to explore the outdoors
Achieve an outdoor aesthetic that naturally flows from the indoors, making their yard an extension of their beautiful home. Not overly modern or traditional, but transitional.
Tastefully design a sunken area so that it feels integrated into the poolscape instead of a trendy add-on.
Have their yard look and feel like a showpiece
Create moments that felt unexpected in a residential yard
Exceptional lighting design for elegant evening entertainment
To have layers of discovery from the moment you walk through the front door
Original Hesitations
Kent and Nick were concerned about ensuring that their curated vision would come to fruition the way they imagined.
Next to their home, it was one of the largest investments they ever made, and didn’t want it to feel like it fell flat or short on the “wow factor” and entertainment value they wanted. Otherwise, all their inspiration would be for nothing.
It was also an absolute must for them to be able to partner with someone truly invested in their outcomes from beginning and through to the end — rather than just a salesperson — and in the current way the outdoor living / pool industry is run, this felt daunting to them (until they met me).
“We couldn’t possibly have dealt with someone who was just a salesperson. We really needed someone who was invested in the process, and part of that is a trust you establish. Not only the design trust, but also, as a human being.”
The Process
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Step 1: Site & Lifestyle Analysis
With their extensive inspiration from Pinterest, we had all the ingredients to work with, but needed to dial in the Why’s and How’s.So, we had a fun conversation dreaming about how they wanted their yard to feel, how they wanted to use their yard, and most importantly, the entertainment value they wanted to bring to themselves and their guests for a memorable experience each time they stepped outdoors.
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Step 2: Tailored Design Direction
We walked through the interior of the home first and experienced first-hand their daily patterns together and what their guests would experience. What it’s like to step through the front door, to stand at the kitchen island, and waking up each day to experience the space naturally, not just from a plan view perspective.On the exterior, we experienced where the natural flow paths were, felt where we’d want to congregate with friends, and where we’d want to relax to unwind after a busy day.
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Step 3: Streamline Design™ Development
After thoroughly compiling the notes from our experiences, I drafted a master-planned HD 3D rendering. But, I made a distinct choice to design their requested sunken area first and then the pool so it didn’t feel like an afterthought. Instead, it was placed carefully between two pillars to feel integrated with the home and protected, but still in an ideal location to relax and take in the stunning center-piece focal point. -
Step 4
Then, the pool was tailored to wrap around the sunken area to make guests feel embraced and immersed in the poolscape experience while outside the pool.
My masterplan not only included their custom poolscape, but all their supporting elements, such as curated landscaping and shaded outdoor living spaces to ensure every element complemented one another as one cohesive design.
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Step 5
To streamline their project’s process (my secret sauce!), I provided their detailed masterplan to a network of vetted craftsmen aligned with the specializations required for their bespoke plan to secure pre-negotiated and detailed pricing to make informed, finalized decisions.
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Step 6
As their project began, I was with Kent and Nick every step of the way as their advocate to ensure each trade delivered what was promised — rather than simply sending them on their way to deal with these details themselves.
As with any complex project, I noticed a few details under my watchful eye (not to the pool company's convenience!) in need of fine-tuning, and they were promptly handled under my guidance as their ally.
The Renderings
The Reality
Kent & Nick now have a curated space they’re excited to entertain in — a yard perfectly tailored for the natural flow and architecture of their home's interior and exterior
They enjoy a deliberately composed outdoor environment with layered sightlines and distinct focal points that create a series of unfolding moments as you move through the space, and
They have the tastefully designed sunken retreat area that they desired.
Kent and Nick achieved the “WOW factor” luxury environment to create memorable experiences for them and their guests — and one that perfectly reflects their sense of whimsy & their unique personalities.
The Results
“Once the design phase was complete, we knew exactly where the project was going because Daniel listened to our vision in a profound way and knew how to get from A-Z to ensure all the trades delivered what we agreed to.”
Key Takeaways
With careers rooted in design, coordination, and exacting attention to detail, Kent and Nick knew firsthand how difficult it is to find truly exceptional talent. With a multi–hundred-thousand-dollar investment woven directly into their everyday home life, they were understandably cautious about entrusting their vision to anyone who couldn’t execute at the highest level.
By guiding them through a methodical, collaborative process — my proprietary Streamline Design™ framework — we created a clear roadmap long before any shovel touched the ground.
The result: complete confidence that every element would come together exactly as intended — without stress, uncertainty, or second-guessing. And yes, with a sense of enjoyment throughout.
After living with and enjoying their poolscape and landscape, Kent and Nick chose to expand the experience by adding a motorized, louvered StruXure® pergola to extend shade and functionality over their patio. Because the original design and coordination were handled with foresight and precision, the addition integrated seamlessly into the existing environment.
With a clear understanding of the “ingredients” they wanted — and an openness to experiencing the space collaboratively — Kent and Nick were able to fully grasp the intention behind every design decision.
This shared clarity ensured a cohesive result, grounded in logic, beauty, and long-term satisfaction… all while keeping the process engaging and genuinely enjoyable.
When you’re ready to discuss your project, I’d love to meet you.
Click below to choose and date and time convenient to you, and we’ll discuss your ideas and options.