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The Palmerston Oasis: Setting a New Standard in Toronto Luxury Backyard Design
At M.E. Contracting, we’ve always thought that a backyard should be the most used “room” in your house, not just a patch of grass you can see through a window. Holding that concept is one thing, but having our industry’s top authority acknowledge it is quite another.
We are really pleased to report that The Palmerston Oasis, our project, has won the 2026 Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence in the Residential Construction ($250,000–$500,000) category.
This award is proof of what happens when careful engineering and creative design come together. The Palmerston Oasis is the ultimate guide for homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area who want to know what a quarter-to-half-million-dollar outdoor investment looks like.
The Vision: From Suburban Standard to Architectural Sanctuary
Many Toronto residents were familiar with the Palmerston project’s problem: a rectangular property with great potential but little flair. The clients desired a clutter-free “resort-at-home” atmosphere. They required room for upscale entertainment, a family-friendly pool, and complete isolation from the neighborhood.
We abandoned the “bits and pieces” approach to landscaping to accomplish this. Rather, we used our “All-In-One” turnkey approach. We made sure that every transition—from the back entrance to the pool’s edge—was smooth by coordinating the pool installation, the stonework, the bespoke carpentry, and the lighting design under one roof.
The Centerpiece: A Study in Blue and Grey
The pool is, without a doubt, the center of the Palmerston Oasis. In contrast to the subtle, elegant tones of the surrounding hardscape, we chose a vivid, deep-blue fiberglass shell that creates a striking visual contrast.
- The Tanning Ledge: We incorporated broad, shallow steps that serve as a tanning ledge, enabling a gentle entry that is equally suitable for swimming and relaxing.
- Precision Coping: Large, light-grey architectural pavers surround the pool. In order to highlight the sleek, contemporary lines that have come to define M.E. Contracting, we chose a “flush-mount” style, where the stone and water meet with surgical precision.
Zoning for Functionality: The Art of the Outdoor Room
One of the reasons this project caught the eyes of the Landscape Ontario judges was its masterful use of “zoning.” In a project of this scale, you cannot simply throw features at a space; you must curate them.
1. The Fire & Lounge Sector
We built a transitional lounge right off the main house. A specially designed concrete fire table serves as the main attraction. This linear feature, in contrast to a conventional fire pit, reflects the shape of the house and the pool. It is both a sophisticated social anchor and a source of warmth during late autumn in Toronto.
2. The Elevated Dining Plaza
A separate dining space is tucked away in the far corner. We kept the project cohesive by utilizing the same large-format pavers. It serves as the main “outdoor dining room” during the summer because it is big enough to accommodate a ten-person harvest table.
3. The Vertical Dimension
In Toronto, privacy is the ultimate luxury. We used a two-layered strategy to do this. In contrast to conventional vertical pickets, we first constructed a unique horizontal board-on-board fence, which has a sleek, contemporary appearance. The second thing we did was establish a thick “living wall” of emerald cedars. This creates a lush, evergreen backdrop that is lovely even in the dead of winter and softens the harsh lines of the wood.
The Technical Details: Lighting and Drainage
What you don’t see is equally as important to a $250k+ project as what you do. At dusk, the Palmerston Oasis’s advanced, low-voltage LED lighting system changes the area.
We positioned uplights along the cedar hedge and at the base of the simple black planters. This not only ensures safety but also adds “architectural depth,” illuminating the yard’s furthest edges at night, giving the impression that it is larger. To ensure that even the strongest rainstorms in Ontario leave the patio dry and non-slip in a matter of minutes, we also incorporated a high-capacity drainage system beneath the pavers.
Why an Award of Excellence Matters to You
Winning a Landscape Ontario Award is not just a “pat on the back” for our team. It is a guarantee of quality for our clients. The judging criteria for the $250,000 – $500,000 category are rigorous, covering:
- Construction Quality: How well is the stone laid? Is the pool perfectly level?
- Design Innovation: Does the space solve problems or just look pretty?
- Horticultural Choice: Are the plants suited for the local climate?
When you partner with M.E. Contracting, you aren’t just hiring a “landscaper.” You are hiring an award-winning firm that understands how to manage a six-figure investment to increase your property value and your quality of life.
Start Your Own Award-Winning Transformation
The Palmerston Oasis serves as a reminder that having a world-class backyard doesn’t require a large acreage. All you need is a team that can carry out your vision.
We urge you to visit our North York showroom if you have visions of a new fiberglass pool, a bespoke outdoor kitchen, or a complete home makeover. Let’s examine your blueprints to see how we might create the next great work of art in your garden.
Call 416-238-6700 to arrange your first design consultation with M.E. Contracting.
Author Profile
'M.E. Contracting is one of Toronto’s premier outdoor solutions company. Founded by owners Keren and Eitan Abu, with a desire to change the face of Toronto through the revitalization of outdoor living space, M.E. Contracting was established. The “M” and “E” stand for Keren and Eitan’s daughters, Mika and Emma; from the start these two girls have inspired the vision of innovation and creativity that M.E. embodies today. Want to see for yourself? Our 7,000 square foot landscaping showroom is the only showroom in Ontario dedicated to landscaping and outdoor transformations'
