Who: Dave Busch of Greenview Designs

Where: Ringoes, New Jersey

In his own words: “There are so many enjoyable things we can build into an outdoor living space to provide year-round enjoyment for our clients.”

A fun, rejuvenating getaway could be as close as your own backyard. Dave Busch, who owns Greenview Designs in Ringoes, works to create luxe outdoor living spaces that let clients vacation at home. “You can lounge in your pool, enjoy a cocktail with friends and feel like you’re at a resort without going anywhere,” he says. “Your kids will be in your yard, under your watchful eye, and the family memories you create will be everlasting.”

Smiles all around. Busch’s passion for the outdoors drew him to landscape design and architecture. A resident of Hopewell, he enjoys seeing his designs come to life as well as the excitement on his clients’ faces, whether they’re lighting up their new fire pit or trying out their new grill. “I love building exquisite outdoor living spaces for our clients and their families to enjoy for generations,” he says.

An early start. Busch founded Greenview Designs a year before graduating from Princeton High School in 1988. “I had 25 guys working for me by the time I was 18 years old,” he says. He believes a well-thought-out design by a landscape architect is the key to a successful outdoor space. “Things need to be planned and laid out strategically so the backyard fits the client’s needs,” he says.

Read Busch’s tips below to enjoy an outdoor haven at home.

1. Create a Cooking Hub

Build an outdoor kitchen that caters to your family’s favorite foods. Install a side burner, for example, if you like cooking clams and marinara, Busch says. You may also want to add a refrigerator, an ice maker, a pizza oven or a pergola. He recommends choosing granite counter tops, as they stand up to citrus, condiments and grease.

A young couple in Somerset requested a “fully loaded” backyard paradise with a cooking station, built close to the house for easy accessibility. It features separate counters for raw and cooked food. “The clients are planning to raise their kids out here; this is where they’re going to have birthday parties and family gatherings,” Busch says.

2. Add Luxe Elements

Designing your own backyard offers a chance to treat your family to luxurious extras. Busch suggests installing a fireplace or fire bowl filled with glass or lava rock; it can cast a lovely glow. Some fire bowls also include a water feature for an added wow factor.

The same house in Somerset features a resort-style swim-up bar and pergola, a raised spa and an expansive sun shelf. “The sun shelf has an umbrella sleeve so the family can drop in an umbrella whenever they want,” Busch says. “They can also use the spa year-round, as it has a summer-winter hookup.” The Greenview Designs team built a custom waterfall using bluestone and boulders as well.

3. Set the Scene

The right outdoor lighting can transform your backyard, illuminating its beauty and that of your house. Use it to highlight garden sculptures, benches, and walkways. Busch recommends using long-lasting LED lights and durable bronze fixtures, and having them installed by a licensed electrician.

The team installed an array of low-voltage lighting to illuminate the Pennington home seen here. The lights deter intruders and make entering the home safe for guests. “A well-lit house is a safe house,” Busch says. The team also installed porcelain tile to ensure no one would slip or get burned feet while enjoying the yard.