See Which Stunning Outdoor Spaces Wowed Our Pros
Dive into the award-winning spaces our editors loved from the 2017 Ultimate Outdoor Awards.

Hundreds of the nation's top pros entered their best outdoor designs, but only 36 made the cut. We then chose our favorites from each of the six categories. Learn more about the award-winning spaces that won over our editors from the 2017 Ultimate Outdoor Awards.
Editors' Pick and Overall Winner: Water + Design

Rodger Wade Photography
Both our panel of expert judges and team of editors fell in love with this waterfront home where nature and architecture are perfectly in balance. Architects Tom Ward and Mitch Blake took inspiration from the surrounding aspen grove and protected wetlands when designing the home and outdoor spaces that tie the contemporary indoors to the home's rugged environment.

Rodger Wade Photography
An ingenuous series of sluices move water through and around the home's many decks, porches and raised walkways, contributing the calming sound of running water. The property's native aspen trees not only form the scenic backdrop, the designers also incorporated them into the decking to create a living pergola and dramatic focal point.
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See All PhotosEditors' Pick: Gorgeous Gardens

Stephen Govel Photography
Lush and lovely is how this Pennsylvania backyard grows. Hess Landscape Architects set the scene with a backdrop of mature conifers and deciduous trees for privacy, while hydrangeas and other seasonal bloomers add colorful interest.
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See All PhotosEditors' Pick: Outdoor Escape

Matt Vacca
This spacious backyard lounge, designed by Kathryn Prideaux, features multiple zones for entertaining family and friends. To take a break from the relentless Arizona sun, guests can shelter under the ramada, an open outdoor structure with a solid roof, or if they'd like to catch a few rays, dine under the adjacent pergola. The nearby pool beckons with a built-in hot tub and in-water lounge chairs.
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See All PhotosEditors' Pick: Curb Appeal

Lazyeye Photography
Nestled in New Orleans' historic Garden District, this gem of a home is surrounded by perfectly manicured plantings. Reflecting the area's rich European influence, Mullin Landscape Associates gave the property massive curb appeal with a traditional parterre, or a formal garden consisting of symmetrical beds which are separated and connected by paths. Boxwoods create the framework, while showy annuals bring on the blooms.
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See All PhotosEditors' Pick: Outdoor Architecture

Westphalen Photography
Constructed away from the main house, this rustic poolhouse and entertaining space was sited to make the most of the property's unobstructed mountain views. Landscape architects Keith Wagner and Jeffrey Hodgson kept the landscaping simple with symmetrical plantings of ornamental grasses. The low plantings not only mirror the poolhouse's streamlined aesthetic, they also don't detract from the surrounding mature trees and distant mountain views.
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See All PhotosEditors' Pick: Art of Outdoor

George Dzahristos
Corten steel sculptures, that double as a water feature, add an artistic focal point to this serene outdoor lounge. Corten is a weathering steel that's corrosion-resistant and, when exposed to the elements, develops a deep rusty patina over time. So, these artful elements, designed by AguaFina Gardens International, will durably add both form and function to this backyard for many years to come.