Thoughtfully Built Outdoor Spaces That Belong in Their Surroundings.
From natural landscape design and custom patios to pools, pavilions, outdoor kitchens, fire features, and complete outdoor transformations, CJR helps Grass Valley homeowners create beautiful, functional spaces that complement the character of their property.
DESIGNED FOR GRASS VALLEY PROPERTIES
One of the things that makes Grass Valley special is the natural character of its properties.
Mature oaks and pines, rolling terrain, open space, established landscaping, and the quieter surroundings of the foothills can create an incredible setting for outdoor living.
We don't believe improving a property means taking away the qualities that made someone want to live there in the first place.
For some homeowners, that means creating comfortable gathering areas among existing trees, connecting the home to the landscape with thoughtfully placed patios and walkways, or incorporating a pool without making the backyard feel overly developed.
For others, it may mean transforming a larger property with an outdoor kitchen, pavilion, fire feature, natural landscape design, lighting, and other improvements that make the outdoor space more enjoyable throughout the year.
The goal isn't to make a Grass Valley property feel less natural. It's to improve the way you live outside while preserving the character that made you love the property in the first place.
That takes more than choosing attractive features.
It requires understanding the terrain, drainage, existing vegetation, access, elevations, and how each part of the outdoor space will work together.
CJR brings experience across landscape, concrete, drainage, grading, pools, structures, and complete outdoor construction, allowing us to consider those details before construction begins.
Additional custom outdoor living features and options are available upon request.
DESIGNED AROUND HOW YOU LIVE
A thoughtfully designed outdoor space should make your property more enjoyable without losing the qualities that make it special. On a Grass Valley property, that may mean an outdoor kitchen positioned to take advantage of a beautiful view, a covered pavilion that provides shade for family gatherings, or a patio that transitions naturally into the surrounding landscape. It could be a pool and spa surrounded by thoughtful planting, a fire feature where everyone gathers on cooler evenings, or subtle outdoor lighting that highlights mature trees and makes walkways comfortable after sunset. Maybe your vision is even simpler. A peaceful place to enjoy your morning coffee. Better access between the home and outdoor spaces. More privacy. A natural landscape that feels established rather than overly manicured. You don't need every possible feature to create an exceptional outdoor space. We help homeowners think through how they want to use their property, which improvements will make the greatest difference, and how those elements can work together within their targeted comfort zone of investment. For us, the design should feel intentional, the construction should be thoughtfully planned, and the finished space should feel like it belongs.
An outdoor kitchen should support the gathering happening around it—not become an obstacle in the middle of it. We consider cooking space, seating, circulation, proximity to the home, shade, utilities, dining areas, and how the kitchen relates to the rest of the backyard.
Shade can dramatically change how often an outdoor area gets used. Structures should be positioned around sun exposure, views, gathering areas, architecture, and the activities happening underneath them.
When a pool is part of the larger outdoor plan, we consider it in relation to patios, structures, landscape, gathering spaces, views, access, and the home rather than designing it in isolation.
Planting, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and landscape areas help soften the hardscape and connect the finished project to the surrounding property. For CJR, these elements are primarily incorporated into larger outdoor construction projects so they can be coordinated with the rest of the work.
Recreation areas should be placed where they can actually be used without disrupting the rest of the backyard. Turf, putting greens, sport areas, and open lawn can provide valuable usable space when incorporated intentionally.
Not every part of an outdoor project has to be built at once. But if future phases are likely, we want to understand them before the first phase begins. Utilities, drainage, access, elevations, sleeves, structures, and future connections can often be planned ahead. Good phasing begins with planning the later phases before the first one starts.
CONCEPT TO COMPLETION
Complete outdoor construction involves a lot of moving pieces.
Instead of asking homeowners to coordinate separate pool, concrete, landscape, drainage, lighting, and outdoor-living contractors themselves, CJR can plan and manage the major elements of the project through one team.
That creates clearer communication, better sequencing, and accountability for how the individual pieces come together.
Coordination isn't something homeowners should have to figure out between multiple contractors after the project starts.
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BUILT FOR REAL LIFE
An outdoor space can be beautifully designed and still feel comfortable, welcoming, and easy to enjoy.
We want homeowners to be able to use the spaces we build—not simply admire them from inside the house.
That means considering how a family will move through the property, where they'll gather, what areas need shade, how lighting will change the atmosphere in the evening, and how the landscape will look as it matures.
On Grass Valley properties, we also think carefully about how permanent construction interacts with the natural environment.
Patios, walkways, retaining elements, irrigation, drainage, landscape, structures, and utilities all need to be planned around the actual conditions of the property.
A more natural landscape design still requires thoughtful construction.
Plant selection, soil conditions, irrigation, grading, drainage, and long-term maintenance all matter. On properties with wooded surroundings, defensible-space requirements and vegetation management may also influence landscape decisions.
We believe the best outdoor spaces bring together thoughtful design, experienced construction, and the natural character of the property.
From complete backyard construction to outdoor kitchens, pavilions, concrete, pools, landscape installations, lighting, and recreation spaces, explore some of the outdoor environments CJR has built for local homeowners.
Outdoor projects become much easier to manage when the company planning them understands more than one trade. Here's what sets the CJR experience apart.
We design and build pools, concrete, hardscape, outdoor living, landscape, drainage, and more—so every element works together from the beginning.
CJR is a family-owned and owner-operated company. You work directly with owner Colton Ray from the initial consultation through construction—there isn't a salesperson between you and the person responsible for the work.
Our background in concrete, excavation, pools, and complete outdoor construction helps us anticipate challenges, plan properly, and consider how each part of the project affects the next.
We want our clients to understand what they are building, what is included, how the project will be approached, and who is accountable for bringing it together.
Grass Valley properties can present opportunities and construction considerations that are different from those of a typical subdivision backyard. Natural slopes, mature trees, existing vegetation, drainage, access, and larger areas of land can all influence how outdoor improvements should be designed and built. Our experience across landscape, concrete, pools, drainage, grading, structures, and complete outdoor construction allows us to consider the property as a whole. We understand that creating a beautiful outdoor space doesn't mean changing everything about the land. It means knowing how to thoughtfully improve it.
Our focus is thoughtful planning, proper preparation, quality craftsmanship, and doing the work correctly—not taking shortcuts to move a project along.
Colton and his team were EXCEPTIONAL in their work at our home. We had a big backyard of flat dirt and he helped turn it into a beautiful resort like feel.
— Heather A. · CJR client, via Google
The Details That Matter
CJR designs and builds complete outdoor environments, including patios, walkways, pools and spas, outdoor kitchens, pavilions, pergolas, fire features, water features, natural landscape design and installation, irrigation, drainage, lighting, outdoor audio, turf, and other improvements.
Projects can range from thoughtfully improving one area of an established property to coordinating a substantial outdoor transformation across multiple areas.
Our goal is to make the individual elements work together as one complete outdoor space.
Absolutely. In fact, a more natural approach can be particularly appropriate for Grass Valley properties.
We consider existing trees, terrain, surrounding vegetation, soil conditions, sun exposure, drainage, and how the property naturally transitions between developed and undeveloped areas.
That may mean selecting plants that complement the surrounding environment, incorporating natural-looking planting arrangements, using appropriate hardscape materials, or creating more gradual transitions between outdoor living areas and the existing landscape.
A natural landscape should still feel thoughtfully designed and properly constructed—not simply left unfinished.
In many cases, yes.
Mature trees and established vegetation can be some of the most valuable features of a property, both visually and environmentally.
We evaluate what is already there, what you want to preserve, and how the proposed construction may affect those areas.
Excavation, root zones, grading, drainage, irrigation, and construction access may influence what can reasonably remain.
Some trees may require evaluation by a qualified arborist.
We prefer to understand what deserves to stay before assuming everything needs to be removed.
Yes.
Larger properties can provide opportunities for multiple gathering areas, outdoor kitchens, pavilions, pools, patios, fire features, landscape, lighting, and other improvements.
But having more land doesn't mean every area needs to be developed.
We look at how the home relates to the property, where people will naturally spend time, how different areas should connect, and which portions of the landscape should remain more natural.
The goal is to make the property more enjoyable—not simply fill the available space with construction.
Sloped properties require careful planning around elevations, grading, drainage, access, retaining elements, steps, and how the finished outdoor spaces will connect.
Depending on the property, a slope may influence where a patio, pavilion, outdoor kitchen, or other feature can reasonably be constructed.
In some situations, elevation changes can become an opportunity to create distinct gathering areas or take advantage of views.
We evaluate the terrain before developing the construction approach.
A beautiful design still needs to make sense for the land it's being built on.
Absolutely.
An outdoor kitchen or pavilion doesn't have to feel disconnected from the landscape.
We consider the architecture of the home, surrounding trees, views, sun exposure, gathering areas, and how the structure will relate to the rest of the property.
We also plan for the construction requirements behind the finished feature, including foundations, utilities, drainage, access, and surrounding hardscape.
The goal is to create a comfortable outdoor gathering space that feels like a natural extension of the home and property.
Thoughtful outdoor lighting can make a significant difference in both the appearance and usability of a property after sunset.
Low-voltage lighting can highlight mature trees, illuminate walkways and steps, define gathering areas, and bring attention to landscape or architectural features.
On larger properties, lighting can also help create comfortable transitions between the home and outdoor living spaces.
We prefer to plan lighting early so conduit, power, fixture locations, and surrounding landscape can be coordinated before construction is complete.
Good outdoor lighting should enhance the property without overpowering its natural surroundings.
Yes.
Drainage and erosion considerations can be especially important on sloped or larger foothill properties.
Adding concrete, retaining elements, structures, or other permanent improvements can change how water moves across the property.
We consider existing drainage patterns, finished elevations, soil conditions, and how the proposed improvements may affect surrounding areas.
Depending on the conditions, additional drainage measures, grading, or engineering may be necessary.
Drainage should be part of the planning process—not an issue addressed only after the outdoor space is finished.
Yes.
A water feature can complement a natural landscape when its size, placement, materials, and surrounding planting are thoughtfully considered.
It might become a focal point near a patio, provide the sound of moving water beside a gathering area, or create a peaceful space elsewhere on the property.
The goal isn't necessarily to make the feature look as though it has always existed naturally.
It's to create something beautiful that feels appropriate for the home, landscape, and way the space will be used.
Wildfire considerations are an important part of planning outdoor improvements in many foothill communities.
Plant selection, vegetation placement, maintenance, irrigation, combustible materials, and the relationship between landscaping and structures may all need to be considered.
We can discuss how landscape design and construction may be influenced by applicable defensible-space requirements and site conditions.
Homeowners should also verify current requirements with the appropriate local fire authority and other qualified professionals when necessary.
A beautiful landscape should be planned with the property's safety and long-term maintenance in mind.
Yes.
Many homeowners prefer to complete larger outdoor projects in stages.
We recommend thinking through the complete property first, even if construction will happen over time.
A future pavilion may require foundations. An outdoor kitchen may need gas, electrical, and plumbing. Lighting and audio require conduit. Landscape needs irrigation, and drainage must work across the property.
Planning ahead helps each phase support the next instead of creating unnecessary work later.
The investment depends on the property's conditions and the scope of work.
A project focused on patios, landscape, and lighting is very different from a complete outdoor transformation involving a pool, pavilion, outdoor kitchen, extensive hardscape, drainage, irrigation, and multiple gathering areas.
On some Grass Valley properties, slopes, access, excavation, or other site conditions can also influence construction costs.
We prefer to understand your priorities and targeted comfort zone of investment before helping you determine what makes sense for the property.
Because the finished appearance doesn't tell you everything about the construction.
Site preparation, grading, drainage, excavation, foundations, utilities, concrete specifications, irrigation, materials, access, and construction coordination can all affect the scope.
Two proposals may show similar outdoor features while including very different work beneath and around them.
Ask detailed questions about what's included, what's excluded, which materials and specifications are proposed, and how the contractor evaluated your property.
Compare the construction scope—not simply the final price.
You'll meet directly with CJR owner Colton Ray—not a salesperson.
Colton will discuss your vision, evaluate the property, and consider the construction details that may influence the project before the design and scope are developed.
For Grass Valley properties with natural terrain, mature landscaping, access limitations, or drainage concerns, that hands-on construction experience is especially valuable.
We want to help you make informed decisions about your property and create an outdoor space that makes sense for your family, the land, and the investment you're planning.
Planning an outdoor project comes with a lot of questions. We’re here to help you understand your options, what may make sense for your property, and the right next step.
More than just your average outdoor living contractor. We specialize in complete outdoor construction, including decorative concrete, structural concrete foundations, landscape installations, artificial turf, outdoor living, and more. One point of contact. One seamless experience thoughtfully designed and built by one experienced team.
Explore All ServicesBuilding your dream backyard may be more attainable than you think. Through our trusted financing partners, Lyon Financial and HFS Financial, we offer flexible financing options for custom pools and outdoor living projects. Get pre-approved today with a soft credit inquiry and explore financing that fits your budget and goals.
Explore FinancingTrusted Partners & Suppliers
Take a look at a few of the trusted suppliers and local businesses we rely on for quality products and professional services.
Local Suppliers & Partners →CJR's Local Picks
Mario's Early Toast is one of our favorite places to stop for breakfast or brunch when we're heading to or from Grass Valley. Although it's located in Auburn, it's worth the stop along the way. Whether we're heading out for a project meeting or making our way back home, it's a great place to grab something to eat.
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South Pine Cafe is one of our favorite breakfast and lunch spots in Grass Valley. It's a great place to enjoy a good meal in a relaxed atmosphere, whether we're stopping in before a busy day or taking some time to enjoy the area.
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Humpty Dumpty Kitchen is one of those classic local spots that feels like part of the Grass Valley community. We appreciate its casual, longtime neighborhood atmosphere. It's a great place to stop for a familiar, laid-back meal while we're in town.
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Whether you're creating a comfortable outdoor gathering space, incorporating natural landscape design, or planning a complete transformation across a larger property, we'd love to hear what you have in mind.
We'll start with your property, your priorities, and your targeted comfort zone of investment, then help determine how to bring the project together.
