One afternoon, over a cocktail, on our client's back porch, Ryan Gainey and I listened to the wishes and dreams for a new pool, pool house and gardens.  However, there was one major problem.  A very large fireplace separated us from the expansive back yard.  It had to go!  Needless to say, the fireplace was removed and we redesigned the back of the house to accept the new gardens.  The yard had a very steep terrain and was nothing but grass.  Our solution was to build up the yard for the pool, so that it was almost at the same level as the house.  We would use the pool house and flanking pergolas to make the elevation change disappear.  Within the pool house is a full kitchen, living room, bathroom and laundry room.