Nestled near the base of Piestewa Peak, this immersive desert oasis was born from what was once an underutilized, underdeveloped, and uninspired backyard. While still maintaining an intimate atmosphere ideal for the family’s daily use, this cohesive garden expanse provides seamless adaptability for entertaining both large and small groups.

With the goal of nurturing a connection with the surrounding desert and mountainside as well as maintain privacy from the prying eyes of hikers on the adjacent trail, this once lifeless backyard was transformed into a botanical sanctuary. A sprawling flagstone patio area was added, lined with lush planters that span the perimeter of the newly remolded pool. The addition of a beautiful garden space beyond the planters, complete with towering new mesquite trees, provides a resort-worthy backdrop for any poolside entertaining.

A forgotten expanse of natural wash at the North side of the pool was redesigned, widening the backyard by a massive 12 feet. Beyond the wash, visitors are transported via a spectacular bridge to a contemporary music studio (complete with parking). Follow the polished flagstone stairs to the base of the studio, where the boulder, cacti, and agave-lined wash is complemented by the colorful desert-adapted plants we strategically placed enhancing its natural beauty.

The combination of color, form, and textures in this modern desert hideaway make for a truly breathtaking garden experience, most notably at night when multi-colored lights set the entire garden aglow.

Blanketed on all sides by a rich desert landscape, this mountainside contemporary home needed a stronger connection to the adjacent landscape. To enliven the backyard garden, surface select boulders were brought in and the contour of the yard vastly improved. A mix of granite and native rock was laid over all exposed spaces adding dynamic texture to the ground plane. Vibrant boulders were then set in place, providing mass and textural interest to the yard while also creating more cohesion between the yard and the mountainous terrain that engulfs it.

Spend some time with the homeowners in their new, beloved, low-maintenance garden, made richer with a pallet of agaves, succulents, and cactus placed throughout. This touch of desert foliage along with vivid desert plant material was thoughtfully layered into the garden to bring further texture while offering year-round color.

This unique and timeless residential home—perched just high enough for a specular city view—needed a transformation to take full advantage of the expansive sights. Using both existing structures and novel features, we fully redesigned this backyard into a charming entertainment space suitable for both children and adults. The garish, institutional-feeling 14-foot wall at the east side of the property was fully redesigned into an elevated patio seating space. Follow the adjoining natural rock steps to a special seating area above the pool—the perfect place for taking in the picturesque views.

Reminiscent of a refreshing lagoon, the fully renovated pool is oriented towards the back of the property, providing lots of space for a roomy flagstone patio area. A combination of impressive boulders, vibrant flagstone, eco-conscious synthetic turf, and lush plants were thoughtfully placed to provide both contrast and cohesion between the individual spaces.

For an added special touch, the flagstone edges were left with natural joints between the stones—perfect spaces for brimming dichondra, creeping thyme, and seasonal color. These lush and dramatic forms bring a lovely country charm to the surrounding tranquil aesthetic.

To make the space functional for both adults and little ones, we not only built a large wooden trellis to provide interest to the barbecue area and surrounding poured concrete countertops, but we also added kid-friendly, synthetic turf, towering shade trees, and a shiny new playground to the far side of the property. This secluded kids’ oasis, hidden away from the adult entertainment space, makes this already luxurious backyard exceptionally suited for all-ages events.