Planning the Perfect Outdoor Living Environment
When the homeowners of this Chandler property contacted California Pools & Landscape, they had a pure grass backyard and a plethora of inspirational pictures to help articulate their vision. Their goals were to extend the living area of their house, have a negative-edge pool leading up to the lake, and to be able to make lasting family memories through hosting parties and barbecues.
“I suggested creating multiple seating and gathering areas for various types of entertaining, while making sure to maintain a unified and cohesive design,” says Darren Tamburrelli, sales manager. “The first sitting area is centered around a travertine and Marbella stone fire pit. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine at sunset or a morning cup of coffee.”
The negative-edge pool is particularly stunning when standing inside the home, looking out — it appears to drop off right into the lake beyond.
The swim-up bar provides convenient access to refreshments without having to miss a minute of fun. The pool is flanked by two Marbella stone columns topped with copper fire pots. When lit at night, the flames dance off of the pool and lake to set a romantic ambiance perfect for more intimate gatherings.
“Since shade is so important in Arizona, we built a tiled-roof gazebo to house another seating area, which contains a second fire pit and a built-in barbecue,” says Tamburrelli. “We used Alumawood above the barbecue because of its ability to withstand extreme temperatures and created a seat wall designed for a relaxing day of fishing off the lake.”
Guests entering the backyard from the house are treated to a desert flower garden off the patio. Its rainbow of colors provides a breathtaking pathway to the seating area — and each plant was chosen carefully to ensure year-round blooming while taking into account its need for sun or shade.
While the overall design of this space is modern, Tuscan materials were used to soften the look and make it a bit more rustic.
Brick pavers were chosen for the hardscaping and great attention was given to consistency of the custom materials — for instance, the travertine tile used on the top of the fire pits matches the coping around the pool.
“Without the white travertine coping, the blue of the swimming pool wouldn’t pop so vibrantly,” says Tamburrelli. “Each design element, color, plant, and material was specifically chosen to create a seamless space. The homeowners and their two young boys are extremely pleased with their new backyard.”
