Features and Highlights From 2021
Photo of a large backyard stone landscaping in Phoenix with a pergola.

Mid-sized minimalist backyard custom-shaped infinity hot tub photo in Orange County

Our team of Austin architects transformed a 1950s home into a mid-century modern retreat for this renovation and addition project. The retired couple who owns the house came to us seeking a design that would bring in natural light and accommodate their many hobbies while offering a modern and streamlined design. The original structure featured an awkward floor plan of choppy spaces divided by various step-downs and a central living area that felt dark and closed off from the outside. Our main goal was to bring in natural light and take advantage of the property’s fantastic backyard views of a peaceful creek. We raised interior floors to the same level, eliminating sunken rooms and step-downs to allow for a more open, free-flowing floor plan. To increase natural light, we changed the traditional hip roofline to a more modern single slope with clerestory windows that take advantage of treetop views. Additionally, we added all new windows strategically positioned to frame views of the backyard. A new open-concept kitchen and living area occupy the central home where previously underutilized rooms once sat. The kitchen features an oversized island, quartzite counters, and upper glass cabinets that mirror the clerestory windows of the room. Large sliding doors spill out to a new covered and raised deck that overlooks Shoal Creek and new backyard amenities, like a bocce ball court and paved walkways. Finally, we finished the home's exterior with durable and low-maintenance cement plank siding and a metal roof in a palette of neutral grays and whites. A bright red door creates a warm welcome to this newly renovated Austin home.

Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Houston.

Our team of Austin architects transformed a 1950s home into a mid-century modern retreat for this renovation and addition project. The retired couple who owns the house came to us seeking a design that would bring in natural light and accommodate their many hobbies while offering a modern and streamlined design. The original structure featured an awkward floor plan of choppy spaces divided by various step-downs and a central living area that felt dark and closed off from the outside. Our main goal was to bring in natural light and take advantage of the property’s fantastic backyard views of a peaceful creek. We raised interior floors to the same level, eliminating sunken rooms and step-downs to allow for a more open, free-flowing floor plan. To increase natural light, we changed the traditional hip roofline to a more modern single slope with clerestory windows that take advantage of treetop views. Additionally, we added all new windows strategically positioned to frame views of the backyard. A new open-concept kitchen and living area occupy the central home where previously underutilized rooms once sat. The kitchen features an oversized island, quartzite counters, and upper glass cabinets that mirror the clerestory windows of the room. Large sliding doors spill out to a new covered and raised deck that overlooks Shoal Creek and new backyard amenities, like a bocce ball court and paved walkways. Finally, we finished the home's exterior with durable and low-maintenance cement plank siding and a metal roof in a palette of neutral grays and whites. A bright red door creates a warm welcome to this newly renovated Austin home.

For this project the clients wanted a vacation home for frequent entertaining and family gatherings; a home that was as comfortable as a lodge for large numbers of people or as cozy as a bungalow for a couple’s weekend getaway. They also needed the house to fit an odd shaped lot situated at the end of a peninsula overlooking the lake, with a steep drop-off into the lake. The resulting home is as unique as the needs of the client. A brief list of features: - Adjacent full guest quarters over the three bay garage - Every bedroom has a walkout balcony including the second floor guest bedrooms. Second floor and guest suites have balconies with lake view. - Covered loggia connects both buildings (1 - main home and 2 - indoor pool, guest quarters, home gym and 3 bay garage) - Covered loggia contains double-sided fireplace, gourmet outdoor kitchen, and full dining and seating areas - Indoor pool and home gym exercise area - Outdoor Pool has an infinity edge waterfall that drops to a catch basin on either side of the sculpture pedestal (the furthermost point) and is recycled back up into the pool. - Sunken hot tub within outdoor pool - Exterior features copper roofing, shake siding, stone and multiple gable brackets - End roof pergola with glass panels allows sun to shine through into indoor pool area - Full basement - Wrap around deck - Built-in plant containers surrounding outdoor pool area

Luxury Paradise Valley Landscape & Pool Design: A Stunning Desert Retreat This Paradise Valley landscape and pool design seamlessly blends modern luxury with the breathtaking Arizona desert. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Camelback Mountain, this custom infinity-edge pool reflects the warm hues of the sunset, creating a serene and immersive outdoor experience. Elegant fire bowls add warmth and contrast, enhancing the ambiance of this sophisticated outdoor living space. Thoughtfully integrated desert plantings, natural stone, and high-end hardscaping ensure a seamless connection between architecture and nature. Designed for both relaxation and entertaining, this luxury outdoor retreat exemplifies the art of high-end landscape design in Paradise Valley, where every element enhances the beauty of the surroundings.

This full-property transformation in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood blends timeless structure with refined modernism across both the front and rear yards. In front, a bold axial walkway, sculptural plantings, and breeze block walls introduce rhythm and identity while honoring the home’s mid-century roots. Out back, clean geometry and a restrained palette organize the space into distinct outdoor rooms—framed by pergolas, a custom firepit lounge, and a sleek linear pool. Plantings, paving, and vertical elements repeat with the intention to create a unified, elegant feel. Balancing contrast and control, this design delivers a sense of quiet luxury, where architecture, landscape, and everyday living flow seamlessly together

Inspired by the desire to connect the cozy contemporary interior with the natural desert landscape, this project created an inviting outdoor kitchen and pool area. With split-faced limestone cladding, a gray-toned countertop, and large-format vein-cut limestone pavers, the design seamlessly bridged the indoor and outdoor spaces. Windowed cutouts on the feature wall framed picturesque sunsets, offering an open feel while ensuring privacy. Through innovative design elements and careful material selection, this desert oasis surpassed expectations, providing unforgettable moments of outdoor dining and relaxation in a harmonious and stylish setting.

Inspiration for a mediterranean courtyard stone patio fountain remodel in Phoenix with no cover

3 House Media
Mid-sized minimalist gray one-story stucco house exterior photo in Denver with a tile roof

This project was driven by a commitment to sustainability and repurposing existing materials, seamlessly blending the old with the new while minimizing waste. The goal was to transform the backyard into a lush garden oasis with a low-water and low-maintenance design. Despite challenges posed by the property's proximity to the golf course and specific guidelines, a harmonious integration of desert plant life and low-water lush plants was achieved. Reusing existing materials and replacing natural grass with synthetic turf minimized water usage, while strategic plant placement utilized run-off water for sustainable irrigation. Navigating the constraints imposed by the Country Club, the project created a cohesive outdoor space and repurposed cobblestones to bridge the gap between the golf course and the rear of the property. This project achieved a balance between ecological consciousness and aesthetic beauty, allowing the garden oasis to coexist harmoniously with the golf course backdrop, providing the clients with a serene and vibrant landscape that aligns with their vision and respects the natural resources of the community.

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean backyard stone and rectangular pool fountain remodel in Phoenix

Our team of Austin architects transformed a 1950s home into a mid-century modern retreat for this renovation and addition project. The retired couple who owns the house came to us seeking a design that would bring in natural light and accommodate their many hobbies while offering a modern and streamlined design. The original structure featured an awkward floor plan of choppy spaces divided by various step-downs and a central living area that felt dark and closed off from the outside. Our main goal was to bring in natural light and take advantage of the property’s fantastic backyard views of a peaceful creek. We raised interior floors to the same level, eliminating sunken rooms and step-downs to allow for a more open, free-flowing floor plan. To increase natural light, we changed the traditional hip roofline to a more modern single slope with clerestory windows that take advantage of treetop views. Additionally, we added all new windows strategically positioned to frame views of the backyard. A new open-concept kitchen and living area occupy the central home where previously underutilized rooms once sat. The kitchen features an oversized island, quartzite counters, and upper glass cabinets that mirror the clerestory windows of the room. Large sliding doors spill out to a new covered and raised deck that overlooks Shoal Creek and new backyard amenities, like a bocce ball court and paved walkways. Finally, we finished the home's exterior with durable and low-maintenance cement plank siding and a metal roof in a palette of neutral grays and whites. A bright red door creates a warm welcome to this newly renovated Austin home.

Features and Highlights From 2021
This is an example of a large backyard stone formal garden in Phoenix.

Features and Highlights From 2021
Photo of a large desert front yard stone landscaping in Phoenix.

Features and Highlights From 2021
Photo of a drought-tolerant, desert and full sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Phoenix for spring.

Scott Mehaffey, landscape architect
This is an example of a large traditional full sun hillside gravel formal garden in Chicago for summer.

Landscape design and photography by Melanie Rekola This lovely landscape sports a poured in place concrete slab patio with drought tolerant sedum plants between the slabs. This sedum mix is sold in sheets then cut to fit but it’s actually grown for green-roof application. It works perfectly in this hot environment too as it is extremely drought tolerant and can go a month without water. Because the water runoff is absorbed between the slabs the patio drainage works perfectly and there are no need for drains.The swimming pool is of the fiberglass variety. Though the initial investment is greater than that of vinyl pools the ROI is greater over a 10 year period. Fiberglass pools retains more heat as the pool shell is all one piece and they don’t ever require a new liner.. This fiberglass pool has cool built-in benching and steps. And there is even a swim jet built into one side great for those cardio blasting swims. The pool interior colour is grey though it shows a soft blue/grey when water is added due to the reflection of the sky and other surroundings. The pool coping is natural stone with rock face edge. The steel arbour was custom made. Metal (steel) was chosen for it’s slim strength as wood placed here would have been too chunky. The best rooms (indoors or our) have a subtle layering of textural elements. To me this landscape needed a structure here to define the “rooms” It will look even better in a few years when the vines reach the top and the Miscanthus on either side reaches its 7′ height!The 12′ x 16′ pavilion is also made of steel and houses an alfresco dining table and sofa set. The pavilions built in cupola makes the warm breezes comfortably pass through with no need for a fan. It’s also sunken 2′ from the pool/patio height and nestled nicely in the corner. I must also mention the large slim planters with “Red Shades” Canna lily within. They are the perfect boldness/balance!Step through the arbor and a linear pond with “floating” natural stone step is revealed! Two smooth flow scuppers are responsible for the quiet waterfalls either side. A wood deck overhangs the pond adding softness to the setting. A modern retaining wall with natural stone cap runs the full width of the pond and pool adding interest and dimension. In the covered outdoor living area this wall is the perfect seat wall - adding lots of extra party seating!