Pool Design Ideas: Scottsdale Botanical Garden
Our Pool Design Ideas series was created to help spark ideas of what might be a good fit for you in your backyard. When you’re starting the process of building a pool, there are numerous decisions to make. A great place to get started is with the pool design and design elements. Whether it’s a freeform or geometric design, with modern, tuscan, or retro design elements; it’s really about the look that fits your home.
At California Pools & Landscape, we’ve been creating custom pools in the valley of the sun for more than 35 years. We’ve designed thousands of modern geometric pools of all shapes and sizes, to meet the desires of every client.
About This Scottsdale Home
These Scottsdale customers were looking for a long geometric pool that would maximize the space in the yard with an attached spa. These Arizona transplants previously lived in the Silicon Valley and wanted to be immersed in the desert. A desert path that wove around the yard with several species of desert plant life was a large desire for these homeowners.
This backyard design is a natural desert beauty, incorporating 60 different desert plants throughout this Scottsdale garden. The large geometric pool with the raised water wall is the focal point of the yard, with natural color tones that lead from the home. Functionality was a focus for our design team, taking advantage of the sun’s path over the yard and the mountain views.
A Geometric Pool & Spa Design
The geometric pool and at level spa are the stars of this backyard design, running 40ft from end to end. The pool has a 50ft long raised wall with a water feature and fire bowl that add elegance to the natural design. There is a large baja shelf that sits 15” under the water and offers 75sf of space to relax in the cool water.
The pools’ Sapphire Sea Glass Pebble interior creates an oasis in this desert environment, with a sparkling blue interior. The Aurora Arctic Glacier waterline tile adds a darker shade of blue that pairs beautifully with the pool’s interior. The baja shelf connects to the wall of the at level spa and offers a great entry option into the pool with a step down off of the patio.
The at level spa adds a design pop with the Aurora Arctic Glacier waterline tile sitting on the top face of the spa that connects with the pool. The spa is 8ft x 6ft and offers different depths of seating with a spa-wide bench that doubles as a step in.
The 50ft long raised water wall adds balance to the geometric design as well as some elegant design features. The wall is covered in Philadelphia GM stacked stone and topped with Boulevard Lite travertine cappers. The 36” Copper Smooth Flow Radius Scupper provides a wide waterfall into the pool and adds an ambiance with the natural sounds. Our design team also built a bench under the waterfall for the ultimate refreshing seat. The Copper Round Metal fire pot sits just above the scupper adding another beautiful design element.
Incorporating Design Elements Throughout The Yard
The design of the yard is tied together with Boulevard Lite Tumbled travertine and over 8,000 sf of Madison Gold granite. The travertine starts at the edge of the home for a large patio and is continued with geometric travertine step pads to the pool. The travertine decking around the pool adds a natural design element and offers a great surface area for relaxation. The Madison Gold granite is used in two different sizes to complete the desert walkway around the pool.
The design team focused on function when positioning the fire pit and bbq grill in the backyard. The fire pit is positioned in the best spot for the mountain views in the yard and surrounded by the natural desert landscaping. The bbq grill is out of site but not out of mind. It was positioned just outside of the kitchen window for convenience for the chef! Travertine step pads lead around the house to the outdoor kitchen which is finished with stucco to match the home.
The landscaping plays such a huge role in this natural backyard design. The pathway around the yard along with the plants chosen create a true desert botanical garden. Our design team used 8 different types of trees, 11 types of shrubs, 16 different accent plants, 15 types of cactus and 10 different groundcover plants throughout this project. The lights and boulders also add to the natural feel of the desert environment.
Designing Your Own Backyard Oasis
Hopefully, these pool design ideas helped you figure out some design elements that you might enjoy in your backyard design. Selecting pool and backyard elements as well as design features is a fun part of the process. It’s important to consider what will fit into your home’s environment and be enjoyed by you and your family.
The elements in this beautiful Scottsdale backyard are just a few of the many design options that we have available at California Pools & Landscape. We’ve built a page that houses all of the modern design ideas that could create an ultimate backyard experience. To see all more design ideas visit our Photo Galleries.
Love this pool design idea? If you’re ready to start with your dream yard design, get started with one of our talented designers.
