Greenway Landscape Design & Build is proud to have received two 2026 San Diego Magazine Home + Design Awards.
San Diego Magazine awarded Greenway Best Residential Exterior Design for Backyard Landscaping for the Rose Residence and Best Residential Exterior Design for Pool/Spa Design for the Paul Residence.
For our team, this recognition is meaningful. After all, San Diego Magazine’s Home + Design Awards highlight standout residential projects across the region. Therefore, Greenway is honored to receive two 2026 San Diego Magazine Home + Design Awards in one year. This recognition reflects the design vision, construction quality, and client-centered process that continue to define our work throughout San Diego County.
Moreover, these two projects showcase the range of what Greenway does best. On one hand, the Rose Residence reflects the beauty of transforming a blank-slate backyard into a finished outdoor living environment filled with personality and purpose. On the other hand, the Paul Residence shows how Greenway transformed a dated and underperforming property into a cohesive, elevated, and highly functional outdoor experience.
Two Award-Winning Outdoor Living Projects in Poway
Both award-winning projects are located in Poway, California. However, each one tells a different story.
The Rose Residence earned recognition for Best Residential Exterior Design for Backyard Landscaping. This project began with a newly built home and an entirely unfinished outdoor space. As a result, Greenway had the opportunity to create the full backyard experience from the ground up. Through thoughtful planning, curated materials, and a clear outdoor living vision, the final result became a warm, artistic, and highly personalized environment.
Meanwhile, the Paul Residence earned recognition for Best Residential Exterior Design for Pool/Spa Design. In contrast to the Rose Residence, this property required a major renovation rather than a fresh start. The home had aging hardscape, drainage concerns, a deteriorating pool area, and outdoor spaces that no longer matched the homeowner’s lifestyle. Because of that, Greenway developed a complete transformation strategy that improved both appearance and function across the property.
Together, these two projects reinforce an important truth: exceptional outdoor living design is never one-size-fits-all. Instead, it requires a tailored process, strong design leadership, and the ability to align beauty with the way a homeowner actually lives.
Award-Winning Backyard Landscaping: Rose Residence
The Rose Residence shows how Greenway transformed the backyard into a true extension of the home by designing every element with purpose.
At the start, the property had no real landscape identity. There was no established planting, no completed hardscape, and no outdoor living structure to guide how the space would feel or function. Consequently, Greenway approached the project with a full design-build mindset. The goal was not simply to “landscape the yard.” Instead, it was to create a complete environment that felt refined, welcoming, and deeply personal to the homeowner.
As the design developed, several standout features helped shape the final result. These included a custom fire table, paver pathways and steppers set within artificial turf, mature strawberry trees, and an Art Deco-inspired Belgard retaining wall with an integrated water feature. In addition, a polished “wet look” dry creek bed brought movement, texture, and visual character to the space.
Even more importantly, the project succeeded because it balanced aesthetics with livability. Every feature contributed to an outdoor setting that could be enjoyed for entertaining, relaxing, and everyday use. Therefore, the Rose Residence was not only visually striking, but also practical and emotionally resonant for the homeowner.
That balance is a major reason why this project deserved recognition for Best Residential Exterior Design for Backyard Landscaping. It reflects the kind of personalized, high-end outdoor living work Greenway is known for throughout San Diego.
Award-Winning Pool/Spa Design: Paul Residence
The Paul Residence reflects a different, but equally important, strength within Greenway’s design-build process: the ability to renovate and elevate an aging property through a complete and cohesive exterior transformation.
Originally, the home’s outdoor areas were no longer serving the homeowner well. The front entry needed improvement. The backyard lacked cohesion. The pool area had become dated and worn. Furthermore, drainage issues and deteriorating surfaces were affecting both function and curb appeal. Because of these challenges, the project required more than cosmetic updates. It required a full vision for how the property could perform and feel moving forward.
Greenway partnered with the homeowner to develop a 3D landscape design and a complete renovation plan. From there, the project included major upgrades throughout the site. Most notably, the pool was resurfaced with new plaster, updated waterline tile, and new coping. In addition, the design incorporated safety handrails and a raised bond beam with an integrated water feature, which helped create a more refined and custom appearance.
Beyond the pool itself, the cracked concrete surrounding the space was replaced with Belgard pavers. This move improved both the durability and the overall visual continuity of the property. At the same time, the renovation expanded far beyond the immediate pool zone. Greenway also installed new irrigation, mature planting, artificial turf, privacy fencing, a raised wood-look paver patio for outdoor dining and living, cable rail fencing, and a redesigned sports court sized for both pickleball and basketball.
As a result, the Paul Residence became much more than a pool remodel. Instead, it became a full outdoor lifestyle transformation. That is exactly why it stood out in the category of Best Residential Exterior Design for Pool/Spa Design.
Why the 2026 San Diego Magazine Home + Design Awards Matter
These awards matter because they validate more than isolated design features. Rather, they affirm the value of a thoughtful process, quality materials, experienced project leadership, and a commitment to creating outdoor spaces that truly fit the homeowner.
In today’s market, many homeowners are not simply looking for a contractor. Instead, they are looking for a partner who can help them make confident decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and create an outdoor environment that adds long-term value to their property and everyday life. That is where Greenway continues to stand apart.
For more than three decades, Greenway Landscape Design & Build has served San Diego County homeowners with a focus on quality, communication, and custom outdoor living. Therefore, receiving recognition from San Diego Magazine adds to a long-standing track record of helping clients transform their homes through purposeful landscape design and construction.
Just as importantly, these projects reflect the trust our clients place in us. Awards are an honor, of course. However, the deeper value is found in what they represent: collaboration, craftsmanship, and outdoor spaces built to last.
Outdoor Living Design in San Diego Requires More Than Good Ideas
Beautiful results do not happen by accident. Instead, they come from a design-build process that aligns vision, layout, material selections, grading, drainage, planting, and construction execution from the start.
That is especially true in San Diego, where outdoor spaces are used year-round and where homeowners expect more from their front yards, backyards, patios, pools, and entertainment areas. Because of that, successful projects must deliver more than surface-level beauty. They must function well, age well, and support the way the homeowner wants to live.
Both the Rose Residence and Paul Residence demonstrate that principle clearly. Although the projects were very different in scope and style, both required strategic planning. As well as and a strong understanding of outdoor living design. In each case, Greenway brought together design intent, construction expertise, and attention to detail to create spaces that feel complete, timeless, and highly usable.
Explore Greenway’s Award-Winning Projects
We invite you to explore both of these award-winning projects in greater detail.
See the Rose Residence to discover how Greenway transformed a blank backyard into an elegant and personalized outdoor retreat.
See the Paul Residence to view a full property renovation that included a dramatic pool/spa transformation and an upgraded outdoor living experience.
If these 2026 San Diego Magazine Home + Design Awards winning projects inspire your own backyard renovation or pool redesign, Greenway Landscape Design & Build would love to help. Our team specializes in creating high-end outdoor environments that are thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and built around the way you want to live.
Contact Greenway Landscape Design & Build today to start your project.