Community Showcase
Real Homes,
Real Results
See what your neighbors have built — backyards, driveways, pools, and more across Southern California.
Jessica's Pools & Backyard
Irvine
We finally built the pool we always dreamed about. Pebble Tec finish, LED color lights, and a spillover spa. The decking is travertine coping with a large baja shelf for the kids. Our backyard went from a dead grass lot to a full resort. Best investment we ever made.
All Projects
21 projects from SoCal homeowners
Mike's Driveways & Pavers
Replaced our cracked concrete driveway with travertine pavers. The whole project took about 4 days and completely changed the look of our home. We went with a herringbone pattern and added a border in a darker shade. The contrast is stunning. Neighbors keep stopping to ask who did the work.
Carlos's Artificial Turf
Pulled out all the dead grass and installed premium artificial turf throughout the backyard. We added a putting green in the corner and a decomposed granite border along the fence. No more watering, no more mowing. Our water bill dropped by $180 a month and it looks green year-round.
Sarah's Deck
We added a 400 sq ft composite Trex deck off the back of the house. It features a built-in bench, solar post caps, and cable railing for an open view to the hills. The cedar-toned boards blend perfectly with our siding. Perfect for entertaining and completely maintenance free.
David's Outdoor Kitchens
Built a full outdoor kitchen with a 36-inch built-in grill, side burner, kegerator, and concrete countertops. The pergola covers the whole setup with string lights and a ceiling fan. We use it every weekend and it has completely replaced eating inside during the summer months.
Amanda's Hardscaping
Transformed our slope into a beautiful tiered garden with natural stacked stone retaining walls. We added a flagstone path, drought-tolerant plants, and low-voltage landscape lighting throughout. The slope was always a maintenance nightmare. Now it is the best feature of the property.
Rachel's Driveways & Pavers
Finally replaced our cracked concrete driveway with travertine pavers. We extended it all the way to the side gate and added a small patio apron at the entry. The contractor matched the stone to our existing pathways. Total transformation — the neighbors keep stopping to ask who did it.
Tom's Jacuzzi
Installed a 7-person Sundance Optima spa with LED lighting and a WiFi control panel. We leveled a 12x12 concrete pad first and added a pergola overhead for shade. The whole setup is connected to our main pool equipment. Best investment we've made — we use it 4 nights a week.
Linda's Landscaping
Full front and backyard landscaping overhaul. Removed dying lawn, regraded for drainage, and planted California-native drought-tolerant plants. Added a drip irrigation system on a smart timer. Water bill dropped 40%. The design is low-maintenance and looks incredible year-round.
James's Patio
Poured a 600 sq ft stamped concrete patio with a Ashlar slate pattern. Added a built-in fire pit in the center and string lights overhead. We extended the covered area with a louvered roof system that opens electrically. Tripled our usable outdoor living space.
Sofia's Outdoor Kitchens
Built a full outdoor kitchen with a 36-inch Twin Eagles grill, a Lynx smoker, concrete countertops, and a 15-foot island. We ran a gas line and added a wet bar with a kegerator on one end. The whole thing is covered by a cedar pergola with retractable shade panels.
Kevin's ADU
Converted our detached garage into a 480 sq ft ADU with a full kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance. Used LP Smart siding to match the main house. The unit is now rented out at $1,800/month — it paid back the construction cost in under 3 years.
Maria's Pools & Backyard
Built a 14x28 saltwater pool with a Pebble Tec finish in Ocean Blue. Added a baja shelf, 3 jets, and LED color lighting. The surrounding deck is travertine pavers with a cool-to-the-touch finish. Finished with drought-tolerant landscaping and a cedar privacy fence along the back.
Brian's Hardscaping
Redesigned our hillside backyard with retaining walls, terraced planting beds, and a flagstone seating area. Used Santa Barbara sandstone throughout to match the region's natural palette. Added built-in benches and low-voltage lighting along the paths.
Ashley's Artificial Turf
Replaced 2,400 sq ft of struggling Bermuda grass with SYNLawn artificial turf. We used the pet-friendly infill with cooling technology. No more brown patches, no more weekend mowing. Our dogs love it and the yard looks green every single day without a drop of water.
Eric's Deck
Built a 900 sq ft Trex Transcend composite deck wrapping two sides of the house. Added cable railing for the view and built-in LED strip lighting under the fascia. The deck has two levels connected by wide steps with built-in planters. Used Trex hideaway fasteners for a seamless surface.
Natalie's Patio
Covered a 400 sq ft concrete slab with large-format 24x24 porcelain pavers in a light grey finish. Added a motorized louvered pergola for weather control and privacy screens on two sides. The space went from unused to our main entertaining area in about 3 weeks of work.
Mark's Landscaping
Hired a landscape designer to redo our entire backyard after years of neglect. Added a drought-tolerant garden with agave, lavender, and ornamental grasses. Built a new pathway with DG and boulders. Topped it with a programmable irrigation system. Complete transformation in under 6 weeks.
Jennifer's Outdoor Kitchens
Added an outdoor kitchen to our existing covered patio. Went with a Blaze 32-inch grill, side burner, refrigerator drawer, and marble-look porcelain countertops. The cabinet frames are aluminum with teak-look fronts. Hired a local welder to fabricate a custom stainless hood vent.
Chris's Driveways & Pavers
Replaced a stained concrete driveway with 3,200 sq ft of charcoal slate-look porcelain pavers. Extended the driveway to include a motor court that fits 4 cars. Used a permeable base layer for drainage compliance. The finished look elevated the entire curb appeal of the property.
Diane's Hardscaping
Redesigned the side yard into a garden path with Pennsylvania bluestone flagstone. Added a dry-stack boulder wall along the slope and planted Japanese maples and boxwood hedges. The path connects the front entry to the backyard gate — now the nicest part of the property.
Robert's Pools & Backyard
Renovated an existing pool with a new pebble finish, added a negative edge on the canyon-facing side, and rebuilt the surrounding deck with Jerusalem limestone. Installed a new automation system for heating, lighting, and water features. The negative edge gives it a resort feel at sunset.
Have a project worth sharing?
Submit Your ProjectReal Projects, Real Homeowners
Every project on this page was built by a Southern California homeowner — no staging, no stock photos. From Pasadena backyards to Irvine pools, these are real transformations with real costs and real contractors.
How to Get Featured
Finished a driveway, deck, turf install, or outdoor kitchen? Submit a photo and a short description. The best projects get featured as our daily spotlight — seen by thousands of homeowners planning their own projects.
Project Types We Cover
Pools & spas, driveways & pavers, artificial turf, hardscaping, outdoor kitchens, ADUs, decks, pergolas, and more. If it improves your outdoor space in SoCal, it belongs here.