In this Pelican Bay residence, the experience begins at the approach. The drive and entry center on rectangular motifs, layered greenery and palms. Straight edges organize views and create flow around the relaxed coastal contemporary home.
Landscape architect Max Gooding, of The Max Gooding Company, designs from the inside out, considering sightlines and daily circulation. Working with Kyle Vayda of BECK Architectural Group, Parker Hudson Homes and Park Shore Pools, he designed each exterior moment to correspond with an interior view. “There is a moment in every space to appreciate and connect to the landscape,” he says.
The orchestration is apparent at the rear of the home, where a fountain and spa anchor the pool. Composed of three rectangular cut-outs lined in Bisazza mosaic tile, the water feature aligns with the entry and living room. Lighting heightens the effect. By day, the fountain’s white stucco reads lighter than the stone beyond; by night, the relationship reverses as light glows through its edges. “[It] creates almost a Zen sumi-e painting effect that changes moment-to-moment,” Max says.
Photography by Dan Cutrona
max gooding pelican bay outdoor landscape design pool
Rectangular forms organize the site—from the pool’s segmented zones to the vines on exterior walls to the Bisazza-tiled fountain and spa. Every major landscape move aligns with an interior view. “There is a moment in every space to appreciate and connect to the landscape,” Max says.
Stepped outcroppings and Alexander palms divide the pool into ‘rooms’ for conversation, sunbathing or cannonballs at the deepest point. The design unfolds as a sequence of moments. From the entryway and primary bath, windows look out onto vine-covered walls and rectangular paving patterns, echoing the pool’s geometry.
Between pool and home, a lanai serves as an extension of the living room. Freestyle Interiors’ designer Stephanie Fraleigh relied on organic colors and textures to enhance the open-air flow. NatureKast cabinetry blends with Dekton countertops for a weather-resistant palette that feels refined and residential rather than utilitarian. Woven Brown Jordan furnishings soften the architecture with low silhouettes that don’t overpower the view.
Kyle’s team reworked several rooflines, adding gable ends at the front and back of the house as a nod to coastal architecture. The lanai’s vaulted ceiling is clad in stained cypress paneling, adding height and warmth. “[It] is a high-quality material that holds up well to our climate and looks beautiful,” the architect says.
Photography by Dan Cutrona
Photography by Dan Cutrona
Photography by Dan Cutrona
Photography by Dan Cutrona
For the decking, Max bypassed coral stone and travertine, which the homeowners found distracting. He landed on Natural Stone Resources’ Ocean Reef, a sandy-hued limestone with a more uniform appearance that echoes the facade and retains the tactile richness of stone.
Owners of Rise Architectural Design Group, John Gargano and Alexander Hutchinson, led the installation, planting Max’s vision for a largely monochromatic palette. Before adding new vegetation, they assessed what already existed. Max had them relocate the spindle palms, dating back about 50 years. John describes the process as laborious but essential. “The size of those spindles is incredible after so many years of growth,” he says. “It is not something you can buy from a nursery.”
From there, the team layered a mix of fine and coarse textures, balancing large leaves against smaller ones. Texture, Max explains, introduces the contrast of light and dark that shapes how we perceive scale and depth. Darker plantings stacked toward the rear of the property enhance the garden’s expanse. “This helps give the illusion that the property is larger than it is and creates a mystery of ‘What is going on deeper into this jungle?’” he adds.
Photography by Dan Cutrona
max gooding pelican bay outdoor landscape pool view
Max stacked darker plantings across the rear. “This helps give the illusion that the property is larger than it is and creates a mystery of ‘What is going on deeper into this jungle?’” he says.
Florida-friendly plantings feature prominently, chosen for their resilience and year-round presence. While the palette remains cohesive, seasonal shifts ensure continual change. “Something is always blooming on this property,” Max says. “The homeowners love jasmine and gardenias, both of which sing during the second half of our season.” Native muhly grass blooms a mist-like flower spray in October and April. Summer brings fragrant white gingers and lavender spikes of liriope.
After dark, the landscape shifts again. Uplighting animates palms and architectural elements, turning foliage into silhouettes and casting layered shadows across paths and walls. The experiences Max designed continue from day to night—a home defined as much by what surrounds it as what it contains.
Landscape Architecture: The Max Gooding Company
Landscape Installation: Rise Architectural Design Group
General Contractor: Parker Hudson Homes
Architecture: BECK Architectural Group