For our June/July Outdoor issue, we asked local design professionals their opinion on outdoor water fountains. Are they a classic or a craze? Here’s what the professionals had to say.

Four years ago when Mark Kalk set out to create the garden that would surround his Lafayette Square home, he found himself between a rock and a hard place. Literally. He and his partner Mark Lammert had just purchased four parcels of empty land grouped together to create a .3-acre site. On that space they planned to design and construct a new home in the style of the surrounding historic homes and a garden that would complement the beauty of the house. Following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, who were avid gardeners, the landscaping of the property fell to Mark Kalk.

Soak up the sunny summer weather in outdoor lounge furniture that is stylish and comfortable.

Millbrook chaise, available at Ethan Allen.

Beautiful, practical and easy to change positions as the sun moves across the sky, available at LuLu Belles Fabrics.

Luna lounger, by Gloster, available at KDR Designer Showrooms.

Take one step inside the Gifted Gardener and you will be surrounded by inspiration for both your home and your garden. Jim Heeter, owner, will help you fall in love with your garden all over again with products and accessories to create a well-done space. From fountains and pots to garden adornments, the Gifted Gardener has everything you need to create the perfect outdoor oasis.

The challenge for this Clayton back yard was to create an outdoor living space within a very constrained footprint. The final product is a masterpiece. A pool, Jacuzzi, deck, grill, fire pit and lush landscaping combine gracefully on the plot with, what feels like, plenty of room to spare, thanks to Baker Pool design team.

“We had no plan,” says homeowner Larry Malashock, who purchased a rundown three-seasons home during his transition into retirement. The whole place was a fixer-upper, and the overhaul started in the main home. After expanding and remodeling there, Malashock turned to the ramshackle pool house. “It was basically a toilet and sink when we started,” he says, explaining, “It was built on stilts, and the support was giving way.”