Outdoor Pool and Pergola Oasis Transformation

Brian and Michelle have a lovely house, but their back yard is bare, housing only a children's playhouse and an outdoor kitchen that is completely exposed to the elements and is seldom used. They call on Donna and Ashley to transform the space into a functional, inviting area that the whole family can enjoy, and which will be great for entertaining. To accomplish this, Donna and Ashley undertake a major construction project. They install a stunning, contemporary style swimming pool featuring clean, straight lines. They run the pool parallel to the house, which gives the area a more expansive look and feel. On the pool's shallow end, shimmering metallic tiles cover a gentle step-in feature that is very pleasing to the eye and allows easy access. Smooth limestone coping surrounds the pool, which also features a stunning firebox along one side. Donna installs a bank of trees against the wooden fence at the end of the pool farthest from the house, and in front of that, at pool's edge, she places an antique wooden canoe she has turned into a large planter and filled with colorful flowers and plants. The outdoor kitchen area is totally transformed by the construction of a massive limestone and timber pergola. The pergola shades the stainless steel grill, sink and countertops, which were previously exposed to the relentless Texas sun. Donna and Ashley have turned the area under the pergola into a luxurious and comfortable outdoor dining spot with an attractive weathered wood table and chairs. They have also added much-needed lighting by installing wall sconces and a low-voltage wrought iron chandelier specifically designed for outdoor use. Another couple, Kristin and Brandon, has a dated fireplace with a surround and over mantel made of heavy timbers, giving the room a more masculine feel than they would like to have. Donna and Ashley meet in the boutique to go over ideas for what they can do to give the fireplace a lighter, more feminine touch. They come up with a design to remove the timber and surround the fireplace with a large, single piece of onyx. The plan is to put lights in the recessed area behind the onyx so that when the lights are turned on, the backlit onyx will give the fireplace and the room a warm, inviting glow. However, upon installation, the crew discovers that the large piece of onyx does not perfectly fit the space, and in the process of trying to make it fit, they crack the surround in two places. This presents the homeowners with the difficult decision whether to replace the onyx, which will delay the project by several weeks, or attempt a repair. In the end, the project is a great success, and the accessories Donna and Ashley choose give Kristin and Brandon's living room exactly the feel they were going for.