Open views of Camelback and Mummy Mountains, Create Livable Courtyard, Create Livable Back Patio, Individual Entertainment Areas, Ease Transitions into the Yard, Add Automatic Iron Gate to Driveway, Widen and Pave Driveway, Create Views of Kitchen, Create Shade
Custom Wood Pergola, Engineered Retaining Walls, Outdoor Kitchen, Water Feature w/Annuals Bed, Fire Pit, Travertine Pavers, Courtyard Water Feature, Side Yard Water Feature, Natural Lawn, Custom Iron Fencing, Custom Iron Automatic Gate, Concrete Paver Drivway
This piece of property sits in Clearwater Hills, the coveted community nestled into the mountains of Paradise Valley. This property was in need of a complete overhaul. There were huge Eucalyptus trees blocking the views of the mountains, there were outdated components and materials, and there was little to no shade on the main patio. What were there were mountains surrounding the property in every direction and amazing Washingtonia robusta palm trees. With the client, we designed a space focused on distinctly functional areas that are tied together with repeating materials and simple transitions. Nothing was overdone here. Simply creating a huge patio in the enclave of the home and extending a custom pergola over the top created an incredibly functional space as well as framed the view along the primary sight line. From there, a low-lying rectangular water feature pulls the eye across the yard without competing with the background. An outdoor kitchen with a raised bar counter and a fire pit with a reflection wall flank the main view. The idea is to draw you out into the space and then, in each area, showcase another spectacular vista. Allowing the lawn to carry through all of the spaces and transitions gives a feeling of continuity in what could have been an overwhelming space.
The outdoor kitchen is fully equipped with a grill, trash drawer, cocktail cooler, sink and multiple access doors. By repeating the deck material as the veneer and using a complementary slab granite counter, we were able to position the outdoor kitchen near the patio without competing with the primary sight lines.
Annuals off of the edges of the water feature add a burst of color throughout the year. This structure is designed to draw the eye off of the patio and then carry beyond the mountain views. The large pergola is designed to be tall enough to scale appropriately with the house and not impede views while still offering patterned shade that made the expanded patio space perfect for dining and entertaining.
Travertine step pads connect the front courtyard and back patio without overwhelming the space with hard surfaces. Strict adherence to clean lines creates a sense of purpose and direction. Any rigidity is eliminated through the continued use of lawn between these spaces.
Washingtonia robusta and Wasingtonia filifera dot the sky in the newly opened view of Camelback Mountain. A grand travertine staircase with massive pillars leads from the upper terraced lawn to the lower lawn area. The low wrought iron fencing helps to the separate the areas, while the use of canna lilies and other vegetation allows the green from the lawn to carry on without the disruption of the fence.
A Chilean Mesquite brings life to this courtyard. With the perfect amount of filtered shade and the soft trickle of the hand-carved stone fountain, this is the perfect place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or to linger just a bit longer with guests before they depart.
