Custom Centennial Backyard with an Outdoor Kitchen and Water Feature

The Marks Project in Centennial brings together two very different elements of outdoor living: a functional entertaining area close to the home and a natural-style waterfall and stream tucked into the mature landscape. The result is a backyard that offers space for cooking and gathering while preserving the established trees, lawn, shade, and natural character of the property.

FRSR incorporated a built-in outdoor kitchen, masonry seat walls, patio space, custom stone and brick details, a cascading water feature, natural boulders, river rock, and landscape lighting into the existing backyard. Each feature was designed to fit the property instead of overwhelming it.

The finished landscape creates several distinct destinations. The covered patio and outdoor kitchen handle cooking and entertaining, the masonry walls define the main gathering area, and the waterfall creates a quieter landscape feature farther into the yard.

Built-In Outdoor Kitchen

A custom outdoor kitchen was incorporated into the patio immediately beside the covered portion of the home. Its location keeps outdoor cooking close to the main entertaining area while providing plenty of counter space for food preparation and serving.

The kitchen includes a large built-in stainless-steel grill, lower storage cabinets, and an additional stainless-steel side burner. These permanently installed components create a much more functional cooking space than a freestanding grill placed on the patio.

The grill surround was constructed with red brick masonry to coordinate with the existing brick architecture of the home. A substantial stone-style countertop runs across the top of the kitchen and provides durable preparation and serving space on both sides of the grill.

Combining the stainless appliances with traditional brick and stone creates an outdoor kitchen that feels like a permanent extension of the house rather than a separate appliance station.

Brick Masonry and Custom Countertops

Brick is repeated throughout the outdoor living area to visually connect the kitchen, seat walls, and existing architecture. The warm red masonry creates a strong contrast with the lighter patio surface, green lawn, and surrounding mature landscape.

The stone-style caps and countertops soften the brickwork and create durable finished surfaces on the kitchen and walls. Their irregular natural edges add texture while helping the built structures blend with the rock and water features elsewhere in the backyard.

Repeating the same materials throughout the space is what allows the individual features to feel like one coordinated outdoor living design.

Custom Curved Seat Walls

Curved brick seat walls were constructed around the edge of the patio to help define the primary outdoor gathering space. The walls provide additional seating while establishing a clear transition between the patio and lawn.

A broad stone cap creates a comfortable finished top and follows the curved layout of the patio. Instead of building a tall wall that would visually separate the yard, the lower seat-wall design maintains views into the surrounding landscape.

Built-in seating also reduces the need to fill the patio with extra chairs and gives guests another place to sit during larger gatherings.

Covered Patio and Outdoor Entertaining

The home’s existing covered patio creates a protected area directly adjacent to the outdoor kitchen. This arrangement keeps dining and seating close to the cooking area while providing shade during the warmer parts of the day.

The kitchen sits along the outer edge of the covered space, allowing the grill to remain accessible without dominating the main seating area. The surrounding patio provides additional room for chairs, tables, and circulation between the home, lawn, and landscape.

Together, the covered patio, built-in grill, masonry counters, and seat walls create a complete outdoor entertaining environment rather than simply a place to cook.

Natural Rock Waterfall and Stream

A custom water feature creates a completely different experience along the outer edge of the backyard. Large natural boulders, flat stone, cobble, and river rock were used to build a series of cascading waterfalls and shallow stream sections beneath the mature trees.

Water moves through several elevations, spilling across broad stone ledges before continuing into the lower portions of the feature. The different falls create movement and sound while allowing the water feature to follow the natural grade of the property.

Instead of constructing a formal fountain in the middle of the lawn, the waterfall was placed within the existing landscape where trees and vegetation help it feel like part of the yard.

Multiple Cascades and Elevation Changes

The water feature was designed with several individual drops rather than one large waterfall. This creates a longer visual experience and allows the water to move naturally through the landscape.

Flat slabs form the primary waterfall lips, while larger boulders hold the surrounding grades and frame the stream. Smaller river rock and cobble fill the channel and help conceal the liner and mechanical portions of the system.

The variety of rock sizes keeps the feature from looking overly constructed and gives it a more natural Colorado appearance.

Boulders and Natural Stone

Large boulders were carefully positioned throughout the waterfall area to create structure and hold elevation changes. Their irregular shapes and colors help the water feature blend into the established property.

Additional flat rock was used around the edges and within the stream to create transitions between the larger boulders and smaller river cobble.

Using several types and sizes of natural stone creates depth and helps the finished water feature feel established rather than newly installed.

Landscape Lighting Around the Water Feature

Low-voltage landscape lighting was incorporated around portions of the waterfall and surrounding planting areas. These lights help highlight the rock formations and moving water after sunset while improving visibility through the backyard.

Lighting a water feature from different angles allows reflections and moving water to become part of the nighttime landscape. It also extends the enjoyment of the feature beyond daylight hours.

Existing Trees and Mature Landscape

One of the strengths of the Marks Project is the mature landscape surrounding the new improvements. Large evergreen and deciduous trees provide substantial shade, privacy, and a sense of enclosure around the backyard.

Rather than removing these established elements, the water feature was designed to work among them. The trees create a natural backdrop for the waterfalls while helping the space feel secluded from neighboring properties.

Maintaining the mature tree canopy also allows the backyard to retain the character that can take decades to develop.

Lawn and Open Backyard Space

A generous lawn remains in the center of the backyard, balancing the larger hardscape and water-feature elements. This keeps the property usable for everyday activities while providing open views toward the waterfall and mature trees.

The grass also creates a clean transition between the primary patio area and the natural stone landscape. By concentrating the more complex features around the perimeter, the center of the yard remains open and practical.

Designed as Two Connected Outdoor Experiences

The Marks Project demonstrates how a backyard can provide several completely different experiences without feeling disconnected.

Close to the home, the outdoor kitchen, covered patio, brick seat walls, and counters create a social space designed for grilling and entertaining. Farther into the landscape, the waterfalls, boulders, trees, river rock, and lighting create a quieter garden setting.

The open lawn connects these areas visually and physically, allowing the entire property to function as one complete backyard.

A Complete Centennial Outdoor Living Project

The completed Marks Project is a great example of how landscape construction, masonry, outdoor cooking, water features, lighting, natural stone, and existing landscape elements can all work together.

The built-in kitchen gives the homeowners a permanent place to grill and prepare meals. The custom seat walls provide structure and additional seating. The natural waterfall brings movement and sound into the landscape, while the mature trees and lawn preserve the established character of the yard.

The finished result is a distinctive Centennial backyard designed for outdoor cooking, family gatherings, entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the sights and sounds of a custom water feature.