Back Yard of the Week

This couple spends about half the year at their home in Florida and the other half in the North. They wanted to install an infinity pool in their relatively small Miami backyard, along with a lounge area, a shaded seating space, an outdoor shower and a spa. Contractor Alfred Scheer helped them find a way to not only squeeze in a 12-by-22-foot pool, but incorporate all the elements on their wish list in a pleasing way. He even managed to find a clever use for a favorite elephant statue they had.

Yard at a Glance

Who lives here: A couple

Location: Miami

Size:1,350 square feet (125 square meters)

Designer: Alfred Scheer of Scheer Construction Group

The backyard already had most of the plantings seen here. Scheer had some of the messier little sprouts cleaned up while preserving the spectacular existing palm trees. Through thoughtful planning, Scheer was able to fit everything the couple wanted into their compact backyard. The pool measures 12 by 25 feet. To the left and off the great room is a seating area. To the right is a roof-topped pergola that offers shade. And across the pool, he made room for lounge chairs. The platform behind the chairs is a cleverly disguised spa. Scheer has a background in mechanical engineering, and he designed a system to flip open the top using shock absorbers. “They open a latch, pull the top up, and it stays put. The shock absorbers make it very easy to do,” he says.