Joan Grabel

Don't forget to breathe with this breathtaking view while you relax poolside. This tiled pool designed by Joan Grabel offers a stunning view while you relax by the water feature, swim or soak in the hot tub!

This small urban landscape design for the entry of a 1920s hillside house incorporates an eclectic mix of plantings with contemporary hardscape design using bluestone and pebbles. A custom-designed interpretation of the old carriage house doors updated the look while respecting the integrity of the architecture. The space is completed by a fountain which provides a welcoming presence for people as well as hummingbirds.

Along the side of this home, a narrow outdoor space is turned into a haven of meditative calm. Geometric pavers are surrounded by pale stones and rambling vines, and a bench finds a peaceful home between two large planters with succulents.

The custom water wall behind this backyard's swimming pool does double duty: It's a gorgeous water feature and a stylish screen to hide pool equipment.

A white pergola lets sunlight sneak through to illuminate the long, contemporary dining table with bright, summery table settings. Bold orange accents pop against the industrial furniture and neutral floor. A grill is surrounded with counter space for additional seating or prepping.

A pretty tile backsplash brings Mediterranean panache to this porch and grill area. The bright yellow pergola is a cheery way to shade the space.

This beautiful home features a tasteful and timeless design. Black roof shingles add texture to the gray siding. A small stone stairway leads through the neatly mulched garden from the the sidewalk to the driveway.

A small meditation room looks out on a colorful perennial bed. It's easy to spend a few hundred dollars on plants when outfitting a garden room, so stick with long-lived perennials.

Square pavers make intriguing paths through this green lawn, leading back to a secluded patio.

Stone pavers with grass create the courtyard floor underneath black cast iron patio furniture. With flowering shrubs and privacy trees all around, this courtyard is a quiet, beautiful place to enjoy nature uninterrupted.

A pergola perches above a flagstone patio to form an outdoor living space adjacent to a hillside. The flagstone creeps up the walls of the grill to create an organic yet contemporary look appropriate for updating this 1920s-era farmhouse.

A darkly stained pergola provides shade for guests and a jungle gym for climbing vines on this stone patio. The wooden patio set is adjacent to a tiled countertop grill.

A home exterior designed by Joan Grabel features Asian ferns, stone footpath and wide concrete stairs at this home's two-tiered front exterior.

This gorgeous contemporary porch provides comfortable seating around a fire pit embellished with a black tile surround. Striped cushions echo the movement of the flooring and are brightened with red floral throw pillows.

Bamboo gives this charming patio a tucked-away feel. Just add the soothing trickle of the fountain and watch worldly worries disappear.

You can choose to rock or sit stationary on this contemporary back porch. Black and gray striped cushions are accented with red floral throw pillows, adding bright pops of color to the natural setting. A circular fire pit is decorated with black tile that reflects the flames.

Huge arched windows fill the front facade of this home and perfectly complement the Spanish design. A lapis blue front door makes a rich counterpoint to the neutral exterior and ties in gracefully with the colorful garden.

Tall plants and shrubs can make the best privacy screens, adding dense lushness to a backyard or patio.