14 Patios With Water Features That Wow

Take a deep dive into these ideas for fountains, spas, waterfalls, pools and ponds on patios.

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September 29, 2015

By: Lori Johnston

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Photo By: Troy Thies Photography

Photo By: Arizona Chapter, ASLA

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Photo By: Gunn Landscape Architecture

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Photo By: Peter Kowler

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Photo By: George Cott

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Overflowing With Options

Multiple water features combine in this Minnesota patio with a pergola: a water fountain, hot tub and an outdoor shower. The fountain, which has underwater lighting, and flooring are made of New York bluestone. The pergola is made of fiberglass columns, cedar timbers and wood beam rafters. The outdoor shower was added by Southview Design in the second phase.

Arizona Award-Winner

A water channel creates a visual axis from the entrance of the patio to the homeowner's prized Kaneko ceramic sculpture. The award-winning landscape design by Steve Martino brings a water feature to the land-locked Arizona property.

Contemporary-Style Channel

You'll have to step over the stone in the middle of the channel to get from one side of the patio to another in this modern Minneapolis side yard by Southview Design.

Rooftop Relaxation

A modern waterfall adds to the city sights on a rooftop garden in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. The project, by Aaron Andrew McIntire and the Gunn Landscape Architecture team, won a gold award in the 2015 Association of Professional Landscape Designers' International Landscape Design Awards.

Basalt Bubbler

A basalt column, called a bubbler, is inset into the paver patio with seating in a wooded backyard in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Waterfront Appeal

The lake is the natural water feature for this backyard in Edina, Minn., where Southview Design also added a small round fountain and pond.

Fountain Trio

A bubbler fountain made of three basalt columns has a striking presence in this patio and backyard in Minneapolis.

Small Space

This urban Minneapolis backyard is only 27-by-64 feet, but the landscape plan by Southview Design carved out space for a water fountain created with slabs of stacked New York bluestone. The overall yard won an award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

On the Side

A fountain doesn't always need to be the center of attention in a patio. A small fountain or pond can be added to a corner and enhance the ambience with its soothing sounds. The landscape plan for this backyard in Edina, Minn., is by Southview Design.

Vegas Chic

A zero-edge pool and spa are among the resort-like outdoor amenities of a 13,255-square-foot  home in Las Vegas, called Cavu. The homeowners, Jon Sparer and John Klai (designers of casinos such as the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas), used architect Eric Strain for the home's design.

Beachfront Luxury

A luxury estate in Miami Beach incorporates key water features into a level open landscaped area that ends at the beach. Miami landscape architect Orlando Comas' award-winning design created a captivating outdoor space with pool, spa, tanning areas and large lawn surrounded by lush vegetation.

Clean Lines

Landscape architect Colwell Shelor transformed an exposed, conventional brick house on a hill into a bold, modern residence and garden united with the prairie in Dodge City, Kansas. The water feature brings another calming element to the award-winning outdoor space.

Fieldstone Waterfall

Water is the focal point of this Florida patio. The pond was cut into an existing deck, and the waterfall was made of Tennessee fieldstone. Backyard Getaway designed the space and built the foot bridge.

Round and Round

Concrete blocks and stucco are joined for a raised pond created by Backyard Getaway, a Florida company. The pond is topped off with tumbled flagstone to match the flagstone and mortar patio.