Case study: a turn-key outdoor resort for a seasonal Fort Myers residence.
For many seasonal residents in Southwest Florida, the ultimate luxury is not just owning a beautiful home, but arriving to find it perfectly prepared for the winter season. The transition from the freezing temperatures of the Midwest or Northeast to the sun-drenched coast of Southwest Florida should be effortless. However, when a property’s outdoor living space is outdated, uninspired, or incapable of hosting family for the holidays, that seamless transition is broken.
This was exactly the situation facing our recent clients. After purchasing a sprawling estate in Fort Myers, they quickly realized that while the interior of the home was stunning, the lanai and backyard were fundamentally lacking. The existing space featured an aging, heat-trapping paver deck, a visually unappealing pool, and zero architectural shade. It was a backyard, but it was certainly not a destination.
In this case study, we explore how Knaak Design Group executed a comprehensive outdoor overhaul, completely transforming a dated patio into a turn-key resort retreat. From the initial 3D conceptual designs to the final installation of the solid roof pergola and custom pool, every detail was engineered to ensure that the estate was fully ready the moment the clients arrived for the high season.
The Brief: A Vision for Winter Entertaining
Our clients, a snowbird family who split their time between the Midwest and Fort Myers, had a clear and uncompromising vision. They wanted their winter estate to serve as the ultimate gathering space for their adult children, grandchildren, and extended network of friends during the holidays.
Their primary pain point was the inability to use their outdoor space comfortably throughout the day. The afternoon sun made the lanai unbearable without proper shade, and the lack of an evening focal point meant that guests retreated indoors as soon as the sun went down over the Gulf. They needed a space that could transition flawlessly from a bright, active morning by the pool to a sophisticated, warm evening lounge.
Furthermore, because they were spending the summer and early fall up north, they needed a firm that could handle the entire project remotely. They did not want to spend their time searching for an outdoor remodeler near me or trying to coordinate schedules between a half-dozen different specialized subcontractors. They required a single-source team capable of designing, permitting, and building the entire project before their November arrival. They needed a true turn-key solution.
Overcoming the Challenges of a Remote Build
Undertaking a property transformation that came in just under $600K from more than a thousand miles away requires an immense amount of trust. In the traditional construction model, a homeowner would have to hire a landscape architect to draft the plans, and then seek out separate patio remodel contractors fort myers to handle the hardscaping, a pool company for the excavation, and a shade specialist for the pergola.
When these distinct teams operate independently, miscommunication is inevitable. Timelines clash, materials do not align perfectly, and the homeowner is often left playing referee from a different time zone.
Knaak Design Group’s design-build methodology eliminated these risks entirely. Because our registered landscape architects, project managers, and construction crews operate as a single unified entity, the clients had one dedicated point of contact. Through high-fidelity 3D architectural renderings, the clients were able to virtually walk through their new backyard via Zoom, approving the exact placement of the fire feature, the texture of the travertine, and the lines of the pergola roof long before a single shovel hit the dirt.
By handling the stringent local HOA approvals and city permitting in-house, our team ensured that the heavy site work commenced exactly on schedule, keeping the project on track for a spectacular pre-season reveal.
The Build: Integrating Shade, Fire, and Water
The success of a luxury outdoor living space relies on the harmony between its primary elements. To achieve the resort-like atmosphere the clients desired, the design had to expertly balance shade, fire, and water. Here is a deep dive into the architectural features that defined this transformation.
The Custom Resort Pool and Flush Spa
The original pool was structurally sound but visually dated, with outdated waterline tile and a restrictive layout. As a premier custom pool designer fort myers, our team completely reimagined the water feature. We stripped the shell down and expanded the footprint to include a massive, shallow sun shelf - perfect for the clients’ grandchildren to play safely, or for placing in-water loungers to soak up the morning sun.
We integrated a flush, 360-degree spillover spa that creates a soothing, acoustic water feature when not in use. The pool interior was finished with a premium pebble aggregate that reflects a brilliant, deep azure blue, contrasting beautifully against the new, cool-touch Turkish travertine decking that was laid in a seamless, large-format French pattern.
The Solid Roof Pergola
To solve the issue of the blistering afternoon sun, the design called for permanent, architectural shade. We designed and built a solid roof pergola: a substantial structure that turns the lanai into a true outdoor room. The solid roof delivers what Southwest Florida afternoons demand, deep and reliable shade at the hottest hours of the day, and complete protection from the sudden rain showers that can roll through in minutes. The outdoor dining table and lounge furniture beneath it never need rescuing. As one of the leading custom pool and pergola builders near me, we specified a heavy-duty, powder-coated aluminum system engineered to withstand coastal winds and salt air, and we paid careful attention to placement and proportion so the structure shades the lanai without darkening the adjacent interior living room. We also integrated flush-mounted LED lighting into the pergola beams, providing soft, ambient downlighting for evening dinners.
The Sunken Fire Pit
While the daytime experience was anchored by the pool and pergola, the evening experience required a different kind of magnetism. Winter nights in Southwest Florida bring a crisp, refreshing coolness that makes outdoor gathering incredibly pleasant - if you have the right heat source.
We designed and built a sunken fire pit lounge: a conversation pit set below deck level, wrapped in built-in seating and open to the water beyond. Stepping down into the space instantly changes the mood of the evening, pulling guests together around the flame while the pool glows at eye level behind them. Because the fire feature is direct-plumbed to the estate’s gas line, there is no hauling wood or cleaning ash. A simple turn of a key ignites a brilliant, warming flame, transforming the patio into a cozy, sophisticated lounge for enjoying a glass of wine after dinner.
Coastal Contemporary Landscaping and Lighting
To soften the extensive hardscaping and tie the entire project into the natural Florida environment, our landscape architects layered the perimeter with lush, tropical plantings. We utilized mature clusia hedges for instant privacy from neighboring estates, accented with sculptural Sylvester palms that are dramatically up-lit at night. The low-voltage architectural lighting system operates on an astronomical timer, ensuring the entire estate glows warmly the moment the sun sets, without requiring any manual intervention from the homeowners.
The Result: A Turn-Key Arrival for High Season
The true measure of a successful remote design-build project is the moment the clients finally see it in person.
In early November, just weeks before Thanksgiving, the clients flew down to Fort Myers to open their home for the season. They did not arrive to a construction zone, a punch list of unfinished tasks, or a yard full of contractor debris. Instead, they walked through their front door, looked through the sliding glass walls, and saw a fully realized resort sanctuary.
The pool water was heated and crystal clear. The solid roof pergola was casting perfect, geometric shade over the newly placed outdoor dining table. The travertine was pristine, the landscaping was vibrant, and that evening, they ignited their custom stone fireplace for the very first time.
By trusting a single-source design-build firm to execute their vision from start to finish, these homeowners reclaimed their time, avoided the immense stress of remote project management, and secured a spectacular outdoor living environment that will host family memories for decades to come.
A turn-key estate, ready the moment the client arrived for high season.
Experience the Transformation
Reading about a luxury outdoor remodel is one thing; seeing the scale, the finish quality, and the architectural harmony in motion is another. We invite you to step inside this stunning property and see the KDG difference for yourself.
Watch the full video tour on YouTube to see exactly how the custom solid roof pergola, resort pool, and sunken fire pit came together to create this turn-key Fort Myers estate.
If you are a seasonal resident looking to upgrade your property before the next winter season, do not wait until you arrive to begin the planning process. Contact Knaak Design Group today to discuss your seasonal property and learn how our remote design-build process can deliver the outdoor retreat of your dreams.
Your seasonal property, turn-key.
See the full project in the portfolio, or start a conversation about your own seasonal residence. Rob personally reviews every inquiry.
See A Modern Retreat