More Than a Backyard. A Place to Enjoy Being Home.
From custom homes in Winchester Country Club to established Meadow Vista residences and larger countryside properties, CJR designs and builds outdoor living spaces that complement the home, the property, and the way your family enjoys spending time together.
DESIGNED FOR MEADOW VISTA PROPERTIES
Meadow Vista offers a beautiful mix of custom homes, established residences, wooded countryside, and properties shaped by the surrounding terrain.
In communities such as Winchester Country Club, custom architecture, hillside lots, changing elevations, and beautiful views create opportunities for outdoor living spaces that feel like natural extensions of the home.
A pavilion overlooking the surrounding landscape. An outdoor kitchen connected to a spacious entertaining area. Concrete steps and walkways that bring different elevations together.
The possibilities are exciting, but the construction behind them requires thoughtful planning.
Finished elevations, grading, drainage, access, utilities, and foundations can all influence where features should be placed and how they should be built.
On established Meadow Vista properties, existing concrete, landscape, irrigation, drainage, and outdoor structures may also need to be incorporated into the design.
And on larger countryside properties, homeowners may have the opportunity to create multiple outdoor gathering areas while maintaining the natural character of the land.
At CJR, we consider the entire property before developing the project.
We believe the best outdoor spaces are designed around how homeowners want to use them, with the construction details carefully considered from the beginning.
The goal isn't simply to add features to a backyard. It's to create an outdoor space that feels like it belongs.
Additional custom outdoor living features and options are available upon request.
DESIGNED AROUND HOW YOU LIVE
The most enjoyable outdoor spaces are the ones that make it easy to spend more time outside. Maybe you're imagining a custom pavilion with an outdoor kitchen where family and friends can gather for dinner. Maybe you'd love a fire feature surrounded by comfortable seating, landscape lighting that brings the backyard to life in the evening, or beautiful concrete patios that connect different outdoor areas. Or perhaps you're starting with a larger vision that includes a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, pavilion, landscape, irrigation, drainage, and everything in between. We help homeowners think through how those features will work together. An outdoor kitchen needs the right layout and utility connections. A pavilion may require engineered foundations and electrical. Concrete patios need to connect with the surrounding elevations. Lighting, irrigation, and drainage should be considered before permanent improvements are installed. For Meadow Vista's hillside and countryside properties, these details can be especially important. Our goal is to create an outdoor space that feels cohesive, functions for everyday use, and gives your family more opportunities to enjoy being home.
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
A great outdoor living space should make everyday life a little more enjoyable.
It's having a comfortable place to sit outside with your morning coffee. A shaded gathering area during the warmer months. An outdoor kitchen that makes hosting family and friends easier. Or a fire feature that brings everyone together on a cool evening.
For Meadow Vista homeowners, the surrounding countryside and changing seasons can make those moments even more special.
We consider how you want to use your property throughout the year, not just how it will look when construction is complete.
Covered areas can provide shade and protection from the elements. Outdoor lighting can make gathering spaces more inviting after sunset. Thoughtful layouts can help connect cooking, dining, relaxing, and entertaining areas.
And when the property includes slopes or multiple elevations, walkways, steps, and surrounding concrete become important parts of how the outdoor space functions.
Our goal is to create outdoor living spaces that are beautiful, comfortable, and designed for the way your family actually lives.
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.
Outdoor construction on Meadow Vista properties may involve changing elevations, grading, drainage, difficult access, and the coordination of multiple improvements. This can be especially important for custom homes in Winchester Country Club, where the architecture and natural terrain influence how outdoor spaces should be designed. Our experience across concrete, landscape, grading, drainage, outdoor structures, and complete outdoor construction allows us to consider how the different elements affect one another. We understand that a successful outdoor living project requires more than selecting beautiful features. It requires thoughtful planning and the construction experience to bring them together.
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 specializes in designing and constructing complete outdoor living spaces, from individual improvements to full-property transformations.
Our services include custom outdoor kitchens, pavilions, pergolas, fire features, concrete patios, walkways, landscape lighting, artificial turf, planting, irrigation, drainage, and much more.
One of the advantages of working with CJR is our experience across multiple areas of outdoor construction.
Rather than approaching each improvement as a separate project, we consider how the different elements will work together, from the initial design and site preparation through construction.
Whether you're creating a beautiful outdoor entertaining area or completely transforming your Meadow Vista property, our goal is to bring your vision together through thoughtful planning, coordinated construction, and quality craftsmanship.
The cost of an outdoor living project can vary significantly depending on the overall scope, property conditions, materials, custom features, and level of construction involved.
A new concrete patio with a fire feature will have a very different investment than a complete outdoor transformation incorporating a custom pavilion, outdoor kitchen, landscape lighting, irrigation, planting, and extensive hardscape improvements.
It's also important to understand that the finished features are only part of the investment.
Site preparation, grading, drainage, utility installation, access, and other construction requirements can have a significant impact on the overall cost.
At CJR, we believe in having transparent conversations about your targeted comfort zone of investment early in the planning process.
This allows us to better understand your priorities, discuss what's realistic for your property, and develop a thoughtful approach to your project.
Our goal isn't to design something beautiful that ultimately falls outside your expectations. It's to help you make informed decisions about your investment and create an outdoor space that makes sense for your home, your vision, and your budget.
Absolutely.
Larger countryside properties offer incredible opportunities to create outdoor spaces that go beyond a traditional backyard patio.
From expansive entertaining areas and outdoor kitchens to pavilions, fire features, landscape lighting, and thoughtfully connected gathering spaces, we can help homeowners make the most of their property's potential.
However, having more space doesn't necessarily mean every area needs to be developed.
We believe the most successful outdoor designs are intentional, with each feature serving a purpose and complementing the property as a whole.
At CJR, we consider the property's natural elevations, existing improvements, drainage, access, and long-term plans to create a cohesive design that feels appropriate for the scale of the home and surrounding landscape.
Yes!
Outdoor kitchens can be one of the most enjoyable additions to a backyard, creating a dedicated space for cooking, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends.
Depending on your vision, a custom outdoor kitchen may include built-in grills, griddles, refrigerators, sinks, storage, countertops, bar seating, and other features tailored to how you enjoy entertaining.
There's also much more to planning an outdoor kitchen than choosing appliances and finishes.
Utility connections, layout, ventilation, clearances, drainage, and surrounding hardscape should all be considered before construction begins.
At CJR, we help homeowners think through these details early so their outdoor kitchen isn't just beautiful, but practical, functional, and thoughtfully incorporated into the rest of their outdoor living space.
Yes.
Custom pavilions and pergolas can completely change how a homeowner uses their outdoor space, creating comfortable gathering areas and extending the functionality of the home into the backyard.
Whether you're envisioning a covered outdoor dining area, a pavilion with an outdoor kitchen and entertainment space, or a pergola that complements an existing patio, we help develop a design that fits your property and how you plan to use it.
We consider the structure's placement, size, materials, architectural style, surrounding concrete, lighting, and potential electrical needs.
Depending on the design, engineering and permitting may also be required.
Our goal is to make the structure feel like a natural extension of your home rather than a separate addition to the backyard.
A thoughtfully designed outdoor space can make it easier to enjoy your backyard throughout the different seasons.
Covered patios and pavilions can provide shade during Meadow Vista summers, while fire features and outdoor lighting can make gathering spaces more inviting during cooler evenings.
Outdoor kitchens and comfortable seating areas can also help bring everyday activities outside.
At CJR, we consider how you want to use your property throughout the year, not just during the summer months.
Our goal is to help create outdoor spaces that are functional, comfortable, and enjoyable for your family in every season.
Yes.
Custom homes in Winchester Country Club can offer beautiful opportunities for outdoor living spaces that complement the architecture and surrounding landscape.
Depending on the property, homeowners may envision covered entertaining areas, outdoor kitchens, fire features, concrete patios, landscape lighting, or a complete outdoor transformation.
The property's elevations, existing improvements, views, drainage, and access all influence how the project should be planned.
We consider how the outdoor features will connect with the home and surrounding spaces so the finished project feels cohesive and appropriate for the property.
Yes, depending on the property conditions and the proposed improvements.
Sloping properties may require additional grading, retaining improvements, engineered foundations, drainage, or carefully planned transitions between outdoor areas.
A pavilion, outdoor kitchen, or patio needs more than an attractive location. The underlying construction and finished elevations need to be appropriate for the intended use.
We evaluate these conditions during planning so homeowners can better understand the scope of work involved.
Absolutely.
Landscape lighting and outdoor audio can make an outdoor living space more enjoyable and functional, especially when incorporated into the design from the beginning.
Lighting may be used to illuminate walkways, steps, gathering areas, planting, and architectural features.
Outdoor audio can also be planned around patios, pavilions, kitchens, and other entertainment spaces.
Electrical requirements, conduit locations, equipment placement, and surrounding construction should be considered before permanent improvements are installed.
We help homeowners coordinate these features as part of the overall outdoor project.
Yes.
Fire features can create comfortable gathering spaces and extend the enjoyment of a backyard into cooler evenings.
Depending on your vision, a fire feature may be incorporated into a patio, seating area, or larger outdoor entertainment space.
We consider placement, surrounding materials, clearances, utility requirements, and how the feature will connect with other outdoor improvements.
The goal is to create a feature that feels thoughtfully integrated into the design rather than added as an afterthought.
Yes.
Many outdoor living projects begin with an established backyard that homeowners want to improve rather than completely rebuild.
We can evaluate existing concrete, landscape, irrigation, drainage, and other improvements to determine what may be preserved, modified, or replaced.
Some projects involve expanding a patio or adding a new gathering area, while others may include a more extensive redesign.
We consider how the proposed improvements will connect with the existing property and what construction may be necessary to bring everything together.
Yes.
Some homeowners prefer to complete their outdoor improvements over time.
We recommend discussing the complete vision before beginning the first phase, even if certain features won't be constructed until later.
Future pavilions may require foundations and electrical. Outdoor kitchens may need gas, water, and drainage. Landscape lighting and audio may require conduit beneath concrete.
Planning for those elements early can help reduce unnecessary changes to completed improvements.
Our goal is to help each phase support the long-term plan for the property.
Outdoor construction involves many elements that affect one another.
Concrete elevations influence drainage. Outdoor kitchens require utilities. Pavilions may require engineered foundations. Landscape and irrigation need to work around permanent hardscape.
When these elements are planned separately, important details can be overlooked or discovered too late in construction.
CJR's experience across concrete, landscape, grading, drainage, and complete outdoor living allows us to consider how the different scopes will work together.
That coordinated approach can make the project more cohesive and help homeowners better understand the overall construction process.
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 design and scope of work.
Whether you're planning a pavilion and outdoor kitchen for a custom home or creating a complete outdoor transformation on a countryside property, that hands-on construction experience matters.
We want you to understand what's involved, what your options are, and how to approach your investment before moving forward.
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
The Tin Lantern is one of our favorite places to enjoy a great meal in Meadow Vista. There's something special about finding a local restaurant where you genuinely enjoy both the food and the atmosphere. It's the kind of place that makes you look forward to going out for dinner rather than simply choosing somewhere convenient. We love being able to share recommendations for local businesses that make the communities around us special, and The Tin Lantern is one we're happy to include.
Visit
One of the things we appreciate about smaller communities like Meadow Vista is the local businesses that give them their character. The Local Café is one of the places we wanted to highlight for homeowners exploring the area. We love the idea of supporting neighborhood gathering places where people can enjoy a casual stop and spend a little time in their own community.
Visit
Just outside of Meadow Vista is a beautiful regional park. One of the things we love about living and working in this area is having so many beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors, just a short drive from home. Hidden Falls Regional Park is a wonderful example. With scenic trails, rolling hills, waterfalls, and beautiful countryside views, it's a great place to get outside and appreciate the natural surroundings that make Placer County special. As a family-owned company, we appreciate places that encourage families to spend time together, slow down, and enjoy the outdoors. It's one of the many reasons we're grateful to call this area home.
Visit
Whether you're planning a custom pavilion, an outdoor kitchen, a beautiful new patio, or a complete transformation of your Meadow Vista property, we'd love to hear what you have in mind.
From the first consultation through construction, CJR brings thoughtful planning and hands-on experience to help bring your vision together.
