In keeping with their chic minimalist style, Atlanta landscape architect John Howard and designer Barbara Howard create a lush design that’s carefully edited

Both Howards (who are not related) tend toward the restrained and always tasteful, with the intention of letting the bones of the architecture and the natural landscape take center stage. They each applied that same philosophy here, choosing furniture and plants so that “nothing was fighting for dominance,” says John. “Together, it all creates balance and synergy. There is something quite comforting in symmetry.”

The space they designed is centered on the back of the house, with plantings, parterres, and furniture arrangements organized in rooms radiating out from the central pool. In fact, the pool is designed as a garden element that just happens to be something you can swim in and enjoy. Large box planters soften indented corners and customize the blue expanse. The team gave the surrounding spaces flexibility, allowing them to serve different purposes.

French doors open to an octagonal porch with minimal furnishings to preserve the view of the pool terrace and landscape. While the design is simple, natural elements keep it from feeling austere -- fig vines, parterres, and hydrangeas soften the angles and keep tones mellow. Custom-designed ironwork supports the roof over the porch. “The back of the house just needed something to give it character,” says Barbara. “The design evokes the 1930s, and it complements the furniture we selected.”

A variety of seating areas, including a sectional on one side of the pool, can accommodate large or small groups. “I like to see a large piece of furniture like that, something that is all about relaxing,” says Barbara of the sectional. The dining table and chairs on the other side of the pool balance the large piece and offer a separate dining space within the overall plan.

As for the colors of the fabrics and plantings, the designers felt that less was more. Barbara avoided patterned fabrics, instead opting for neutral, solid-color upholstery. “When designing an indoor room, there should be a focal point, or ‘star’ of the room, whether it’s the architecture, art, or antiques,” says Barbara. “In an outdoor space, the serene and soothing beauty of the outdoors -- the lush greenery, the hydrangeas, the peacefulness of the pool -- is a natural focal point. Keeping things simple, without too many different fabrics and finishes, is very pleasing to the eye.”

The terminus of the space is a cabana that was designed as a destination as well as a backdrop. “It’s an outdoor living room with a fireplace,” says John. Its shape reflects the smaller porch just outside the house, maintaining the sense of balance.