When homeowners in St. James, North Carolina, purchased the vacant lot adjacent to their home, they saw potential. The couple spent years envisioning what the space could become—a swimming pool, a gathering area for family, perhaps a place to entertain friends after tennis matches. What they needed was a team capable of transforming ideas into reality. Over the next ten and a half months, Tim McAuliffe and his team turned an undeveloped side lot into a luxury outdoor living environment complete with a custom pool, pool house, outdoor kitchen, entertainment spaces, extensive lighting, and a landscape plan designed to look as though it had always belonged. The result is more than a backyard. It's an extension of the home itself.
Before a single shovel touched the ground, McAuliffe focused on understanding how the homeowners wanted to live in the space. "They wanted a pool house with a full bathroom, storage, garage space, an outdoor kitchen, and a pool area that felt like it belonged to the house," he explains. The project began with surveys, zoning reviews, Homeowners Association (HOA) approvals, and permitting. Because the lot had been purchased separately from the original home site, the team first had to combine surveys and navigate multiple layers of approvals before construction could begin. While many contractors focus first on design renderings, McAuliffe takes a different approach. "When I meet with clients, I listen to everything they want, and then I put myself in their place," he says. "What would I do if it was my house based on their needs?"
One of the project's earliest challenges became one of its defining design features. Community regulations treated a standalone pool house on the adjacent lot almost like a second home unless it was physically connected to the existing residence. Rather than fight the restriction, McAuliffe used it as an opportunity. The solution was a pergola connection that visually and functionally tied the new structure to the house while satisfying local requirements. The completed 24-by-30-foot pool house includes a full bathroom, outdoor shower, storage space, motorized screens, premium finishes, and a fully equipped entertainment area. Large openings and sightlines create a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, while carefully matched materials ensure the addition feels original to the property.
"The subtlest details matter," McAuliffe says. "The trim work, the paint, the finishes—everything had to match the existing house. When people see the finished project, they know it looks right, but they don't always realize how much detail went into making it look effortless." The swimming pool may be the visual centerpiece, but the project's success comes from the way every element works together. The team installed synthetic turf to create a durable play area for visiting grandchildren. A small putting green provides additional recreation space. Integrated drainage systems are disguised within decorative landscape features. River gravel and dry creek beds help manage water movement while contributing to the overall aesthetic.
More than 80 fixtures were incorporated throughout the property, including pathway lights, uplighting, under-cap lighting, and accent fixtures that transform the space after sunset. The nightscape creates a dramatically different experience while preserving the clean, contemporary character established during the day. "We wanted every area to be functional," McAuliffe says. "The drainage has a purpose, the pathways have a purpose, the lighting has a purpose. Everything works together." Like many coastal projects, plant selection required balancing beauty with practicality. Working closely with the homeowners, McAuliffe developed a planting plan that blended new specimen material with the existing landscape while accounting for environmental challenges, including deer pressure.
"We created opportunities to add things they loved while also educating them about what would perform well in the environment," he says. Container-grown specimen plants allowed the landscape to establish quickly, helping the finished property feel mature from day one. The lawn installation followed the same philosophy. Rather than simply laying sod, the team amended the soil, added topsoil, and incorporated fertilizer to encourage stronger root development. "It's doing a couple extra steps in the process," McAuliffe explains. "Those extra steps are what create the difference in the final result." While the finished project highlights craftsmanship and design, it also reflects another core component of McAuliffe's business philosophy: collaboration. Unlike many landscape firms that rely entirely on in-house crews, McAuliffe intentionally builds teams of specialized subcontractors selected for their expertise. "I want to put the best people in front of the client for each section of the project," he says. "I'm using the same people I'd use at my own house."
For McAuliffe, managing subcontractors isn't about outsourcing responsibility. It's about assembling the right experts for every phase of construction. That approach allows him to maintain quality while scaling operations and delivering highly specialized work. "You have to vet people, look at their work, talk to their clients, understand how they operate," he says. "When you build those relationships, everybody wins—the subcontractor, the client, and the project.” Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the project isn't the pool, the pool house, or even the craftsmanship. It's what happens after completion. McAuliffe plans to host client appreciation events at the property, inviting past clients, current clients, and prospective homeowners to experience the finished space firsthand. The concept transforms a completed project into a living showroom.
Guests can walk the property, meet the homeowners, see construction photos, and hear directly about the experience of working together. "People buy from who they know, like, and trust," McAuliffe says. "When you can bring someone to a completed project and let them talk to the homeowner, that's trust in real time." The strategy has proven highly effective throughout his career. Prospective clients gain transparency into both the process and the outcome, while homeowners have the opportunity to showcase a space they're proud of. It's a simple idea that reflects a larger philosophy. Construction projects are ultimately about relationships. The pool, the landscape, and the structures are the physical result. Trust is the foundation that makes them possible.
The once-empty lot has become one of the most talked-about properties in the neighborhood. What was once unused space is now a destination for family gatherings, tennis team celebrations, and everyday outdoor living. For McAuliffe, the project represents more than a successful installation. It demonstrates what happens when design, construction, craftsmanship, and communication are aligned from the beginning. "We wanted it to feel like it had always been there," he says. Looking across the finished property—from the pool house and pergola to the lighting, landscapes, and gathering spaces—it's difficult to imagine the site any other way.
Tim McAuliffe
The Outdoor Living Designer
Wilmington, North Carolina
theoutdoorlivingdesigner@outlook.com
https://www.theoutdoorlivingdesigner.com/about-the-designer