Outdoor living design
Outdoor living space and landscape design, built around water
A backyard is not finished when the patio is poured. It is finished when you cannot wait to get out there. We design the whole outdoor living space around the sound and movement of water.
Overview
As outdoor living space designers, we think beyond furniture and patio edges. Backyard design in Kansas City starts, for us, with where the water should go: the view from the house, the way the patio is used, and the spot where moving water would make the whole space feel calmer.
From there we shape the stone, planting areas, seating, fire features, lighting and access for care, so the water feature belongs to the landscape instead of looking like an afterthought.
Watch
01How we plan it
Backyard design in Kansas City: the questions that shape it
Good landscape design here is practical before it is pretty. We walk the yard with you and work through the questions that decide where everything goes.
- Where do people naturally gather, and what part of the yard never gets used?
- Which windows and seats should look at the water?
- Do you want gentle sound, a strong focal point, or both?
- How do the slope, drainage and shade work, and where does runoff go?
- How will the feature be reached for maintenance in five years?
02In practice
Outdoor living we have designed
In Kansas City we built a waterfall into a home's design from the first blueprint, wrapping the pondless streams around the patio so the water is in view from the bedroom, the gym and the living room.
In Leawood we tucked a multi-tiered waterfall between a paver patio, a fire pit seating area and a raised patio, angling the spillways toward the downstairs bar.
In Parkville, stepping stones cantilevered over a koi pond let the Barr grandchildren stand over the water and feed the fish.
03Beyond the water
Stone, planting and hardscape that support the feature
Boulder retaining walls, natural-slab stone stairways, flagstone sitting areas, dry creek beds that manage storm runoff, and planting beds chosen for the site: the landscape around the water matters as much as the water itself.
Watch
The whole backyard vision comes together
“Friendly, informative, receptive, dealt with modifications and additions. Overall did a great job on our pondless waterfall and sitting area.”
Frequently asked
Questions we hear
Something else on your mind? Call or text (816) 720-7577.
Visit Our FAQ PageAre you a landscaping company?
We are water feature specialists who design the landscape around the water. We plan and build the stone, planting, stairways, sitting areas and drainage that make a pond, stream or waterfall belong to the yard, rather than adding a water feature to someone else's plan.
Can you work with an existing patio or a builder's plan?
Yes. Some of our favorite projects started with a patio already in place or a home still on paper. We fit the water feature and its landscape to the spaces you already use, and to the views from inside.
What does outdoor living design cost?
It depends on the scope. Our 2026 Inspiration and Pricing Guide shows complete backyard projects with waterfalls, patios and fire pits from about $45,000 to $160,000 as shown, and smaller water features start in the single thousands. A consultation gives you a real number for your yard.
Reconnect with nature
Let's create your dream backyard
Send us a few photos of your yard and tell us how you want to live out there. We will take it from there.