Backyard Pool & Deck Design
Custom Backyard Pool & Deck Design in California
Your local California team of licensed architects, structural engineers, and landscape designers. We shape every backyard pool and deck around your lot, your lifestyle, and your city's planning rules.
By the Numbers
California Trusted Architectural & Structural Engineering
Monthly Active Projects
Projects Delivered
Permit Approval Rate
Professional Team Members
Trust & Collaboration
Your Local California Team for a Backyard That's Truly Yours
Licensed architects, structural engineers, and landscape designers under one roof. We design a pool and deck shaped around your yard, your style, and the planning rules of your city. Out-of-state design firms can't match that local knowledge.
All featured projects are real, city-approved plans.
Why Choose Us
Why Homeowners Choose Cecilia Home
We’re not just another design firm — we’re the most-reviewed architecture firm on Thumbtack, completing 2–3 projects every week across California.
#1 RANKED ON THUMBTACK
The highest-rated and most-reviewed architecture firm on Thumbtack in California — 500+ verified reviews and a 4.9★ rating from real homeowners.
FIXED-PRICE, ALWAYS
We give you the complete, all-inclusive price before you commit — no lowball estimates, no change-order surprises. Just one honest number you can plan around.
DEEP SPECIALIZATION
We complete 2–3 projects of the same type every single week. That’s more hands-on experience in one month than most firms accumulate in a year.
TRUSTED CONTRACTOR NETWORK
We connect you with vetted, licensed contractors we work with repeatedly — no vetting required on your end, no coordination gaps between design and construction.
COMPLETE QUOTE UPFRONT
Share your project details and we respond within 1 business day with a complete, all-inclusive quote. No ‘I’ll need to come see it first,’ no hidden fees added later.
CALIFORNIA PERMIT EXPERTS
Licensed architects and structural engineers with deep knowledge of California codes, city-specific requirements, and a 99% permit approval rate across the state.
Why Custom Design Matters
Why a Custom Pool & Deck Project Needs One Expert Team
Most pool projects fail at the seams between pool contractor, deck builder, and city permits. We close those gaps.
Common Problems
- Cookie-cutter pool designsOut-of-state design firms use generic templates that don't fit your yard, your sun, or the way your family actually lives.
- Disconnected landscape and poolPool contractor builds the pool, someone else does the deck, another person does the landscape. The result is a patchwork, not a unified backyard.
- Permit delays from unfamiliar reviewersFirms without local California experience miss city setbacks, HOA rules, and plan-check preferences. That means weeks of correction cycles.
What You Get
- A design personalized to your yardNot a catalog pool dropped in. Our architects, engineers, and landscape designers collaborate on what fits your lot and lifestyle.
- One unified package submitted to your cityPool, deck, landscape, and structural work in a single permit set. No back-and-forth between separate consultants.
- Local California planning knowledgeWe know setbacks, HOA review boards, and city plan-check quirks from the Bay Area to SoCal. Fewer corrections, faster approvals.
Why Cecilia Home
- Architects, engineers & landscape designers in-houseOne California team handles architectural design, structural engineering, and landscape. No coordination gaps between separate consultants.
- Local experts who know your city's planning desk2,000+ projects across California. We know Bay Area and SoCal cities' setback rules, HOA guidelines, and plan-check reviewers by name.
- Personalized design, never a templateEvery pool and deck is drawn from scratch around your lot, your family's lifestyle, and how you actually want to live in your backyard.
What We Design
Pool, Deck & Backyard Integration
Full-service design for your entire backyard, not just the pool.
Personalized Pool Design
Architect-led design built around your yard's shape, sun exposure, and how your family actually lives. Every pool shape, depth, and finish drawn from scratch, never a template.
Deck & Patio Layout
Concrete, pavers, travertine, or wood composite. Deck design engineered for drainage, slip resistance, and a smooth flow from your house to the water.
Landscape & Outdoor Living
In-house landscape designers shape planting beds, fire pits, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens around the pool, so your backyard feels like one unified space instead of a pool dropped into a yard.
Structural Engineering & Local Permits
PE-stamped structural drawings for decks, retaining walls, and pool shells, plus local expertise submitting to your specific city. We know each California plan-check desk.
Book a free consultation. We'll review your backyard, discuss budget, and show you what's possible.
Designed to Fit the Rest of Your Backyard
A backyard pool rarely lives alone. Many clients combine pool design with a home addition or pool house, or add a seismic retrofit for older homes before construction. If you're opening up interior walls to match the new outdoor flow, we also offer load-bearing wall removal engineering. One Cecilia Home team coordinates all of it.
Our Process
Our Process
Our process is designed to be transparent and efficient, delivering a complete one-stop service from design to final permit approval.
Guidance for your project
- 01Free Consultation
Free Consultation
Share your project details and we'll assess your needs, timeline, and budget to prepare a clear proposal.
Step 120% - 02On-Site Assessment
On-Site Assessment
Precise measurements and site evaluation for accurate project planning.
Step 240% - 03Design Development
Design Development
Creating detailed plans and visualizations to bring your vision alive.
Step 360% - 04Permit Acquisition
Permit Acquisition
Navigating complex approval processes to ensure code-compliant construction.
Step 480% - 05Construction Support
Construction Support
Ongoing guidance and contractor coordination throughout the building process.
Step 5100%
Client Testimonials
California Homeowners Who Trusted Us With Their Backyard
Pool and deck projects across the Bay Area and Southern California, engineered, permitted, and built to last.
We wanted a custom pool that flowed into a wraparound deck without it looking pieced together. Cecilia Home handled both design and structural engineering with one set of drawings and one permit. The Walnut Creek planning department approved on the first submission.
Our lot slopes pretty badly and every pool contractor wanted to send us to a separate engineer. Cecilia has engineers in-house who handled retaining wall design alongside the pool. Saved us weeks of back-and-forth.
The city asked for a structural revision mid-way through our design phase. Mason's team updated the plans the same week and resubmitted. No delays, no extra charges. That's the level of service we were looking for.
We wanted a custom pool that flowed into a wraparound deck without it looking pieced together. Cecilia Home handled both design and structural engineering with one set of drawings and one permit. The Walnut Creek planning department approved on the first submission.
Our lot slopes pretty badly and every pool contractor wanted to send us to a separate engineer. Cecilia has engineers in-house who handled retaining wall design alongside the pool. Saved us weeks of back-and-forth.
The city asked for a structural revision mid-way through our design phase. Mason's team updated the plans the same week and resubmitted. No delays, no extra charges. That's the level of service we were looking for.
We had a rough sketch of what we wanted: pool, spa, fire pit, outdoor kitchen. Cecilia turned it into a permit-ready plan that respected our budget. The drainage design they did around the pool coping was especially impressive.
The barrier fencing requirement was confusing to us, since every city seems different. Cecilia knew exactly what Burlingame required and designed the pool gate into the landscape seamlessly. No ugly compliance fence.
Built a pool house addition along with the pool itself. Having architecture and structural under one roof meant the pool house foundation was coordinated with the pool excavation from day one. Clean execution.
We had a rough sketch of what we wanted: pool, spa, fire pit, outdoor kitchen. Cecilia turned it into a permit-ready plan that respected our budget. The drainage design they did around the pool coping was especially impressive.
The barrier fencing requirement was confusing to us, since every city seems different. Cecilia knew exactly what Burlingame required and designed the pool gate into the landscape seamlessly. No ugly compliance fence.
Built a pool house addition along with the pool itself. Having architecture and structural under one roof meant the pool house foundation was coordinated with the pool excavation from day one. Clean execution.
Our HOA in Irvine has strict design review, so we needed an architect who knew how to present plans to the review board. Cecilia's package sailed through approval. They speak the HOA's language.
Got three quotes for pool deck design. Cecilia was the only one who offered fixed-price design fees upfront. No hourly billing surprises. Final invoice matched the quote to the dollar.
Ripped out a dated 1990s pool and rebuilt the entire backyard. Cecilia coordinated demolition scope, new pool, deck, and retaining walls into one permit set. Construction start went smoothly, and the contractor said the drawings were the clearest he'd seen.
Our HOA in Irvine has strict design review, so we needed an architect who knew how to present plans to the review board. Cecilia's package sailed through approval. They speak the HOA's language.
Got three quotes for pool deck design. Cecilia was the only one who offered fixed-price design fees upfront. No hourly billing surprises. Final invoice matched the quote to the dollar.
Ripped out a dated 1990s pool and rebuilt the entire backyard. Cecilia coordinated demolition scope, new pool, deck, and retaining walls into one permit set. Construction start went smoothly, and the contractor said the drawings were the clearest he'd seen.
Our Services
Our Range of Services
Comprehensive design and construction solutions for residential and commercial projects, delivered with expertise and attention to detail.
ADU Design
Custom Accessory Dwelling Unit designs that maximize your property value while maintaining aesthetic harmony.
Wall Removal
Remove load-bearing walls to create more space in your home.
Home Addition
Add extra space to your home with a new room or extension.
Home Remodeling
Transform your home with expert kitchen, bathroom, and living room remodeling.
Building Permit Service
Secure your building permits with our 100% approval rate and complete regulatory compliance guidance.
Foundation Inspection
Expert foundation inspection with detailed structural reports to ensure safety and long-term stability.
SB 9 Subdivision
California SB 9 lot split and two-unit subdivision design for maximum property value.
SB 721 Balcony Inspection
Professional SB 721 balcony and deck inspections to ensure compliance with California safety requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pool & Deck Design Questions, Answered
The questions California homeowners ask most before starting a pool project.
Haven't found what you're looking for?
Yes. Any in-ground pool and most above-ground pools over 18 inches deep require a building permit in California, along with barrier (fencing), electrical, and plumbing permits. We handle the full permit package (structural drawings, energy compliance, and city submission), so you don't need to coordinate with multiple consultants.
Custom design fees typically run $4,000 to $12,000 depending on pool size, deck complexity, and whether grading or retaining walls are needed. That covers site analysis, engineered drawings, structural calculations, and permit coordination. Construction is separate and handled by your preferred pool contractor. We coordinate closely so the build matches the design.
Design typically takes 3 to 5 weeks from consultation to permit-ready plans. Permit review varies by city, and most California cities turn around pool permits in 4 to 8 weeks. Plan for 2 to 3 months from first meeting to shovel-ready. We submit correction responses within 48 hours to keep things moving.
That's our specialty. Designing pool and deck as one integrated project avoids the common mismatch between separate contractors. You get unified grading, proper deck drainage away from the pool, matched materials, and a single permit package. The result is a cohesive backyard, not two projects stitched together.
Yes if your deck is elevated, cantilevered over a slope, or attached to the house. California requires PE-stamped structural drawings for any deck above 30 inches or attached to a structure. Cecilia Home has licensed structural engineers on staff, so the same team handles both design and engineering.
We serve homeowners throughout California, primarily the Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose, Palo Alto, Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek) and Southern California (Los Angeles, Pasadena, Irvine, Newport Beach). Our team is familiar with local setback rules, HOA requirements, and each city's plan-check process.
Custom Backyard Pool & Deck Design in California
Your local California team of licensed architects, structural engineers, and landscape designers. We shape every backyard pool and deck around your lot, your lifestyle, and your city's planning rules.