The questions people actually ask us.

Investment depends on the property and the scope. Our published planning ranges run from $25,000 to $75,000 for a single focused addition such as an outdoor kitchen, $30,000 to $150,000 for the renovation of an existing pool and its surround, $150,000 to $300,000 for a new pool and the environment around it, and $250,000 to $500,000 and above for the complete reworking of an outdoor property. Estate-grade work runs higher. These are planning ranges rather than estimates, and the figure for your project is confirmed in the written proposal after the site walk.

Most engagements take 4 to 12 months from first site walk through final installation. Full estate projects, and any project in a neighbourhood with a design review board, run longer: typically 9 to 15 months, and 12 to 24 months in Port Royal. Every project includes weekly progress contact with the principal.

Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Pelican Bay, Mediterra, Grey Oaks, Olde Naples, Marco Island, Park Shore, Bonita Bay, Bonita Springs, and Estero. We focus on Southwest Florida coastal estates.

Both. Knäak Design Group specializes in new-build estate landscapes AND renovation of existing properties. The portfolio includes coastal new builds, mid-century restorations, and historic district revivals.

Rob Knäak, Registered Landscape Architect, personally leads every engagement from first site walk through final installation. There are no junior project managers handed off after the kickoff.

Knäak Design Group is based in Naples and serves homeowners throughout Southwest Florida, including Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers.

It begins with the property, not a product list. We survey what is there, what is failing, what is worth keeping, and how the house actually wants to open onto the site. On most Naples renovations that means the pool and its deck, drainage and grade, hardscape, planting, lighting, shade structures and outdoor cooking are all reconsidered together. Renovating them one at a time over several years is what produces a property that reads as assembled. Reworking them as one composition is what makes a finished property look inevitable.

Renovation is the harder discipline. On new construction the site is open and the sequence is yours to set. On a renovation there is a mature landscape to protect, an existing pool shell and equipment run to evaluate, established grades and drainage that may or may not be working, and a family living in the house while the work happens. Much of the skill is in deciding what to keep. An existing pool is often structurally sound and worth reworking rather than demolishing, and that single decision can change the shape of the entire budget.

Our published planning range for the complete reworking of an outdoor property is $250,000 to $500,000 and above. A renovation limited to an existing pool and its immediate surround typically plans between $30,000 and $150,000. A single focused addition such as an outdoor kitchen generally plans between $25,000 and $75,000. These are planning ranges rather than estimates. The property, the condition of what exists, and the scope of the reworking determine where a specific project falls.

Yes, and often that is the right call. A pool renovation can be scoped on its own, including finish, tile, coping, deck, equipment and lighting. What we will not do is treat it as a standalone object. Even a contained pool renovation gets designed with the sightlines from the house, the surrounding grade and the planting in mind, because those are what make the finished pool look like it belongs to the property rather than sitting on it.

Design and documentation generally run a few months, because the drawings are what keep the build honest. Construction depends entirely on scope. A contained pool and deck renovation is measured in weeks. A complete outdoor property reworking, staged around permitting, equipment lead times and a family in residence, is measured in months. We would rather give you a realistic sequence at the start than an optimistic one you find out about later.

Both. Our pools are designed by our principal landscape architects, and our team manages the construction from start to finish. We work with select specialty trade partners as needed, but the pool is never handed off to a separate company to take over. We remain involved throughout construction to ensure the design intent, details, and quality are carried through exactly as envisioned.

From first site walk to swim, typically six to twelve months.

Bespoke to the project. The honest answer comes after a site walk.

Yes. We re-tile, re-deck, re-equip, and re-light older Naples pools.

For most patios, pool decks, and outdoor living spaces in Naples, we recommend installing pavers over a reinforced, 4-inch concrete slab. This creates a stable, long-lasting foundation that helps prevent settlement, reduces weed and ant intrusion, and properly supports heavy structures such as pergolas and outdoor kitchens. After the concrete cures, we apply a waterproofing and crack-suppression membrane before installing the pavers in a dry-pack mortar bed. Natural stone pavers can often be installed with tight, butt-jointed seams for a clean, grout-free appearance. Porcelain pavers are installed similarly to an interior tile floor, with consistent grout joints for proper alignment and durability. Sand-set installation is also available, but we generally reserve this method for driveways and select smaller hardscape projects. Our installation method is determined by the paver material, site conditions, drainage requirements, and the intended use of the space.

Travertine and shellstone are gulf-coast classics for their feel underfoot and tolerance for salt. Large-format porcelain is gaining ground for hurricane-resistance and stain control. We specify per project.

We handle everything below the surface too. Naples soil and rainfall require properly engineered base prep — geotextile underlayment, graded base, drainage integration. The work you do not see is what makes the work you see last.

Every joint, every cut, every transition is set by hand on a Knäak project. Machine-set is faster and cheaper but you can see it ten years later. We do not work that way.

Depends entirely on scope. A patio replacement is weeks. A full estate hardscape installation runs several months and stages with the broader project.

Porcelain pavers, natural stone, travertine, shell stone and precast — chosen for slip resistance, heat and salt tolerance, and how they sit against the architecture. We spec the material to the property, not from a stock catalog.

Sandy soil, high water table and heavy rain mean a hardscape is only as good as what's under it. We engineer the base and the drainage first — that's what keeps pavers from settling, heaving or pooling water years later.

Yes — paver driveways and motor courts, pool decks and coping, terraces, walkways, and retaining and seat walls. All engineered for the load and the climate.

That's the advantage of one design-build team — the paving, walls, planting, pool and structures are drawn together so the whole property reads as one design.

We specify and source. We have working relationships with the high-end appliance lines (Fire Magic, Summerset, Blaze, Alfresco, Twin Eagle, Lynx) and we sequence appliance selection with the design — so the cabinetry fits the appliance, not the other way around.

Honed granite and large-format porcelain are our go-to surfaces for Southwest Florida — they handle UV, salt, and stain better than marble or quartz outdoor. Marine-grade cabinetry below.

Yes — our team includes licensed gas and electrical subcontractors who work on every Knäak build. No separate contractor handoffs.

Typically four to nine months from site walk to final fire. Permitting in Naples can add time on gas-line work specifically.

Always. The kitchen, the dining zone, the lounge, the shade structure and the fire feature are drawn as one composition — so the flow, the sightlines and the shade all resolve together instead of being bolted on.

Honed granite and large-format porcelain for counters, marine-grade cabinetry, and paver or shell-stone patios — all chosen to handle UV, salt air and Florida humidity.

Yes. Licensed gas and electrical subcontractors work on every Knäak build, and we carry the Naples permitting through ourselves — no separate contractor handoffs.

Typically four to nine months from the first site walk to the final reveal, depending on scope and permitting.

Yes. We design and install premium Azenco aluminum louvered pergolas for patios, pools, lanais, and outdoor kitchens across Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, and Marco Island.

Powder-coated aluminum for our motorized louvered systems and solid-roof structures, and custom cedar or teak where the architecture calls for warmth in wood. Every material is chosen to handle Florida UV, salt air and humidity.

Yes. Every structure is engineered and permitted to Florida wind-load code and anchored to engineered footings — not a dealer-grade kit dropped onto a slab.

An aluminum roof of adjustable blades that rotate to control sun and airflow and close watertight against rain, all at the touch of a button. We integrate lighting, screens and heaters so the space works year-round.

Typically two to five months from the first site walk to the final reveal, depending on scope, engineering and Naples permitting.

Depends entirely on how you want to use it. Gas is instant, controllable, low-maintenance. Wood is ritual, smell, sound, and the kind of evening you remember. We design either or both.

When designed properly, yes — setbacks, fire-rated materials, draft engineering, and code-compliant gas lines are all part of our standard process.

Yes. Most of our gas fire features include remote-control ignition, smart-home integration, and weather-aware shutoff for gulf storms.

Standalone fire pits typically six to eight weeks. Integrated fireplace structures two to three months. Custom commissioned sculpture pieces longer.

Often it is the whole point. Fire bowls flanking a spa, a flame edge along an infinity pool, a fire wall reflected in still water. Because we design and build the pool, the water lines, and the fire together, they are planned as one composition rather than added on later.

Linear gas firepits, freestanding and built-in fireplaces, fire bowls and fire tables, and wood-burning surrounds — all custom, designed in relationship to the patio, pool and seating rather than dropped in.

Yes. Licensed gas subcontractors are part of our team on every build, and we carry the Naples permitting through in-house — no separate contractor handoffs.

That's the point of a single design-build team. Fire, water, kitchen and seating are drawn as one composition — fire bowls on the spa wall, a linear pit anchoring the lounge, a fireplace framing the view.

Most Naples builds are gas for convenience and clean operation in the climate, but we build wood-burning surrounds where the client wants the real thing. We'll walk you through the trade-offs for your property.

Both. We design and install landscape-only projects, and we also fold landscape into larger pool-and-hardscape work.

Our work is led by Registered Landscape Architect with twenty-plus years of practice. We design from site analysis, not catalogs.

Landscape work is usually scoped as part of a wider project, so the range depends on what it is folded into. Our published planning ranges start at $25,000 to $75,000 for a single focused addition and run to $250,000 and above for the complete reworking of an outdoor property. These are planning ranges rather than estimates. An inquiry call clarifies whether the project fits the studio.

Yes. The work is led by a Registered Landscape Architect — which means the design is drawn to grade, drainage and code, not just planted by a crew. It is the difference between a landscape that looks good on day one and one that holds up for decades.

Both, under one roof. We design and build — planting, irrigation, drainage, lighting and hardscape — so there is no handoff between a designer and a separate installer.

We design with salt-tolerant, wind-tolerant tropical and native palettes — palms, foundation plantings and specimen material chosen for Southwest Florida's heat, salt air and storm exposure.

That's the whole point of a single design-build team. The planting, hardscape, water, lighting and structures are drawn as one composition rather than added on separately.

We are an authorized Coastal Source dealer and certified installer — fully weather-sealed, marine-grade fixtures and one of the most durable outdoor lighting and audio systems built for the coast. The same platform carries discreet, high-fidelity landscape audio, so light and sound are designed as one system, not added on after.

LED across the board — color-tunable, dimmable, low-voltage. Halogen and fiber optic only where the project specifically calls for them.

We design and install the lighting itself, not the control systems. If your home runs on a control platform, we work alongside whoever manages it and hand off clean, properly zoned circuits for them to program.

Standalone lighting projects typically two to four weeks. When folded into a larger build, lighting installation is the final phase before walkthrough.

Yes — we offer ongoing maintenance contracts for fixture replacement, transformer servicing, and re-aiming as the landscape grows.

Yes. We have worked through Port Royal's review process repeatedly over the past two decades. Submittals, revisions, hearings — we know what the board expects and we prepare drawings accordingly.

Yes — and we treat it as a hard requirement. Mature banyans, royal palms, and live oaks are protected with root-zone barriers, canopy assessments, and arborist consultation during demolition and excavation. We design around the trees.

From first site walk to final installation — typically twelve to twenty-four months on a full estate project. Permitting in Port Royal can be longer than in newer neighborhoods. We plan for it.

Yes. Waterfront design is its own discipline — drainage, salt exposure, view-corridor planning, dock integration, hurricane mitigation. We have designed and built waterfront pools and landscapes throughout Port Royal for over two decades.

Yes, repeatedly. We prepare submittals in the format the board expects and we navigate revisions on the homeowner's behalf.

Yes. We specify salt-tolerant species and design plant placement for prevailing wind and salt exposure. Native dune integration when the property opens to the beach.

Yes. All gulf-facing exterior lighting is specified for turtle compliance — wavelength, intensity, and shielding all considered from the start.

From first site walk to final installation, typically ten to eighteen months on a full estate project. Design review adds time.

Yes, on every Olde Naples project. We prepare submittals in the format the board expects, document existing conditions carefully, and design for first-pass approval.

Yes — restraint is the discipline Olde Naples teaches. We design more carefully on a smaller lot, not less.

Always. The character of the neighborhood is the most valuable thing about it. Our work supports it.

From first site walk to final installation, typically nine to fifteen months. Historic review adds time on the front end.

Yes, on every Grey Oaks project. We prepare submittals in the format the ARB expects, document existing conditions carefully, and design for first-pass approval.

Yes - it is one of the most valuable assets the property has. Our hardscape and irrigation strategies are built around root-zone protection.

It shapes the buffer planting, the lighting strategy, the species selection (stray-ball tolerance), and the views we open and close.

From first site walk to final installation, typically twelve to twenty months. ARB review adds time on the front end.

Yes, on every Mediterra project. We prepare full submittals - material samples, plant schedules, and architectural drawings - and design for first-pass approval.

Always. The community's coherence is the most valuable thing about it. Our work strengthens it, never fights it.

Yes - and recommend Florida-appropriate varieties that produce well in Naples climate while reading as authentic Mediterranean tradition.

From first site walk to final installation, typically twelve to eighteen months. Design review adds time on the front end.

Yes - every outdoor structure we build is rated for current wind codes, and our plant selections account for salt loading and recovery time after storms.

Yes. Marco design starts at the waterline. Our work handles the full transition from house to dock to water.

Native and salt-tolerant species that have always grown on barrier islands. We do not fight the climate - we work with it.

From first site walk to final installation, typically nine to fifteen months. Permitting can add time depending on water frontage.

Yes. Our work runs the full Southwest Florida coast, from Fort Myers and Cape Coral down through Naples to Marco Island. River, canal, and gulf-access properties are all familiar ground.

Yes. Fort Myers design is shaped by the Caloosahatchee - seawall transitions, dock landscapes, and plantings that handle both river frontage and the salt that moves upriver on the tide.

We do. Much of Fort Myers rebuilt its outdoor spaces in recent years, and we design landscapes that recover well - wind-rated structures, resilient species, and layouts that protect the investment.

From first site walk to final installation, typically nine to fifteen months depending on scope and permitting.

Yes. Registered Landscape Architecture-led design and construction under one roof — pools, pergolas, kitchens, landscape, hardscape, fire and lighting. No handoffs between a designer and a separate builder.

That's our core work — whole-property outdoor environments where the pool, planting, hardscape, structures, fire and lighting are all drawn and built as one composition.

Since 2005 — with eleven consecutive Best of Houzz awards and an HGTV People's Choice Award along the way.