These homeowners were looking to up their hosting game by modernizing their property to create the ultimate entertainment space. A custom outdoor kitchen was added with a top of the line Delta Heat grill and a special nook for a Big Green Egg. Flagstone was added to create asymmetrical walkways throughout the yard that extended into a ring around the fire pit. Four rectangular trellises were added along the fence and shed, with an all metal pergola located at the back of the pool. This unique structure immediately draws the eye and adds a playful, artistic element to the rest of the space. The use of various sized rocks, gravel, and flagstone give a rough texture that creates a symbiosis with the metalwork. Silver Falls Dichondra creates a beautiful contrast to the rocks and can be found all over the property along with various other grasses, ferns, and agave. A large area of gravel rests on the side of the house, giving the client room to park a recreational vehicle. In front, a privacy fence was added along one of the property lines, leading into a drought resistant, eco-friendly section of yard. This fence, coupled with a giant boulder, doubles as a safety precaution in case drivers miss the turn and run into their lawn. This updated landscaping adds an effortless flow for guests to move from the front yard to the back while creating a very open, welcoming feel to all who enter.

Inspiration for a mid-sized and desert look contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for fall in Wellington with concrete pavers and a wood fence.

Design ideas for an expansive and desert look modern front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with concrete pavers and a metal fence.

Detail shot of Backyard
This is an example of a mid-sized and desert look backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in Austin with gravel and a metal fence.

Let the top exterior designers in Arizona create your breathtaking home, pool, or landscaping area. Call (480) 777-9305.
Design ideas for a large and desert look modern backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Phoenix with decking and a metal fence.

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home entry landscape design. Photo by William MacCollum.
Photo of a small and desert look modern front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with gravel and a wood fence.

Drought tolerant and native plantings frame the mid-century facade and provide for architectural and sculptural interest at the front yard landscape
Mid-sized and desert look midcentury front yard full sun xeriscape in Orange County with gravel and a metal fence.

Babcock Custom Pools, a distinguished company with a stellar reputation in the pool industry, is renowned for its exceptional and imaginative designs. One of the most recent and exhilarating projects undertaken by the company is the XERISCAPE, which marvelously amalgamates the allure of a desert landscape with the practicality of a custom pool. With a staunch commitment to excellence in every aspect of their work, Babcock Custom Pools’ team of highly skilled designers and builders relentlessly toil to create pools that surpass their clients’ expectations. And the XERISCAPE project is an unequivocal manifestation of the team’s unwavering dedication to excellence. The XERISCAPE project is a distinctive desert-style pool that’s designed to be both visually appealing and practical. Boasting a natural stone coping that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, the crystal-clear water in the pool is artistically crafted to complement the natural desert scenery. XERISCAPE is an innovative concept that’s ideal for those living in arid regions, and it’s conceived to be low-maintenance, sustainable, and eco-friendly. This extraordinary pool design aims to craft a space that not only looks spectacular but is also functional, pragmatic, and environmentally friendly. Babcock Custom Pools’ team is zealous about designing innovative concepts that mirror the natural environment, and the XERISCAPE project is a flawless exemplar of that. The pool features a unique design that’s ideal for sweltering summer days and frosty desert nights. The XERISCAPE pool is tailored to be the ultimate oasis amidst a harsh and unforgiving terrain. In conclusion, the XERISCAPE project is an extraordinary paradigm of Babcock Custom Pools’ pledge to excellence. The desert-style pool is impeccably crafted to be both aesthetically stunning and functionally pragmatic, and the team’s assiduous attention to detail is palpable in every element of the project. If you seek a custom pool that’s not only stunning but also sustainable and eco-friendly, then the XERISCAPE project is the ultimate choice for you. Reach out to Babcock Custom Pools today to learn more about this groundbreaking pool design.

I was initially contacted by the builder and architect working on this Modern European Cottage to review the property and home design before construction began. Once the clients and I had the opportunity to meet and discuss what their visions were for the property, I started working on their wish list of items, which included a custom concrete pool, concrete spa, patios/walkways, custom fencing, and wood structures. One of the largest challenges was that this property had a 30% (or less) hardcover surface requirement for the city location. With the lot size and square footage of the home I had limits to how much hardcover we could add to property. So, I had to get creative. We presented to the city the usage of the Live Green Roof plantings that would reduce the hardcover calculations for the site. Also, if we kept space between the Laurel Sandstones walkways, using them as steppers and planting groundcover or lawn between the stones that would also reduce the hard surface calculations. We continued that theme with the back patio as well. The client’s esthetic leaned towards the minimal style, so by adding greenery between stones work esthetically. I chose the Laurel Tumbled Sandstone for the charm and character and thought it would lend well to the old world feel of this Modern European Cottage. We installed it on all the stone walkways, steppers, and patios around the home and pool. I had several meetings with the client to discuss/review perennials, shrubs, and tree selections. Plant color and texture of the planting material were equally important to the clients when choosing. We grouped the plantings together and did not over-mix varieties of plants. Ultimately, we chose a variety of styles from natural groups of plantings to a touch of formal style, which all work cohesively together. The custom fence design and installation was designed to create a cottage “country” feel. They gave us inspiration of a country style fence that you may find on a farm to keep the animals inside. We took those photos and ideas and elevated the design. We used a combination of cedar wood and sandwich the galvanized mesh between it. The fence also creates a space for the clients two dogs to roam freely around their property. We installed sod on the inside of the fence to the home and seeded the remaining areas with a Low Gro Fescue grass seed with a straw blanket for protection. The minimal European style custom concrete pool was designed to be lined up in view from the porch and inside the home. The client requested the lawn around the edge of the pool, which helped reduce the hardcover calculations. The concrete spa is open year around. Benches are on all four sides of the spa to create enough seating for the whole family to use at the same time. Mortared field stone on the exterior of the spa mimics the stone on the exterior of the home. The spa equipment is installed in the lower level of the home to protect it from the cold winter weather. Between the garage and the home’s entry is a pea rock sitting area and is viewed from several windows. I wanted it to be a quiet escape from the rest of the house with the minimal design. The Skyline Locust tree planted in the center of the space creates a canopy and softens the side of garage wall from the window views. The client will be installing a small water feature along the garage for serene noise ambience. The client had very thoughtful design ideas styles, and our collaborations all came together and worked well to create the landscape design/installation. The result was everything they had dreamed of and more for their Modern European Cottage home and property.

MID CENTURY MODERN LANDSCAPE RENO SCOPE OF WORK • DEMOLITION • CONCRETE • POOL COPING • iRRIGATION •fENCING •CUSTOM SEATING • PLANTING + IRRIGATION

This mid-century modern home features a bench with an integrated planter and multiple lounge areas
Photo of a mid-sized and desert look midcentury backyard full sun xeriscape in Austin with concrete pavers and a wood fence.

Detail shot of front yard
Inspiration for a mid-sized and desert look front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in Austin with gravel and a metal fence.

Photographer: Colin Catron
This is an example of a mid-sized and desert look backyard partial sun xeriscape in Phoenix with concrete pavers and a metal fence.

I was initially contacted by the builder and architect working on this Modern European Cottage to review the property and home design before construction began. Once the clients and I had the opportunity to meet and discuss what their visions were for the property, I started working on their wish list of items, which included a custom concrete pool, concrete spa, patios/walkways, custom fencing, and wood structures. One of the largest challenges was that this property had a 30% (or less) hardcover surface requirement for the city location. With the lot size and square footage of the home I had limits to how much hardcover we could add to property. So, I had to get creative. We presented to the city the usage of the Live Green Roof plantings that would reduce the hardcover calculations for the site. Also, if we kept space between the Laurel Sandstones walkways, using them as steppers and planting groundcover or lawn between the stones that would also reduce the hard surface calculations. We continued that theme with the back patio as well. The client’s esthetic leaned towards the minimal style, so by adding greenery between stones work esthetically. I chose the Laurel Tumbled Sandstone for the charm and character and thought it would lend well to the old world feel of this Modern European Cottage. We installed it on all the stone walkways, steppers, and patios around the home and pool. I had several meetings with the client to discuss/review perennials, shrubs, and tree selections. Plant color and texture of the planting material were equally important to the clients when choosing. We grouped the plantings together and did not over-mix varieties of plants. Ultimately, we chose a variety of styles from natural groups of plantings to a touch of formal style, which all work cohesively together. The custom fence design and installation was designed to create a cottage “country” feel. They gave us inspiration of a country style fence that you may find on a farm to keep the animals inside. We took those photos and ideas and elevated the design. We used a combination of cedar wood and sandwich the galvanized mesh between it. The fence also creates a space for the clients two dogs to roam freely around their property. We installed sod on the inside of the fence to the home and seeded the remaining areas with a Low Gro Fescue grass seed with a straw blanket for protection. The minimal European style custom concrete pool was designed to be lined up in view from the porch and inside the home. The client requested the lawn around the edge of the pool, which helped reduce the hardcover calculations. The concrete spa is open year around. Benches are on all four sides of the spa to create enough seating for the whole family to use at the same time. Mortared field stone on the exterior of the spa mimics the stone on the exterior of the home. The spa equipment is installed in the lower level of the home to protect it from the cold winter weather. Between the garage and the home’s entry is a pea rock sitting area and is viewed from several windows. I wanted it to be a quiet escape from the rest of the house with the minimal design. The Skyline Locust tree planted in the center of the space creates a canopy and softens the side of garage wall from the window views. The client will be installing a small water feature along the garage for serene noise ambience. The client had very thoughtful design ideas styles, and our collaborations all came together and worked well to create the landscape design/installation. The result was everything they had dreamed of and more for their Modern European Cottage home and property.

Let the top exterior designers in Arizona create your breathtaking home, pool, or landscaping area. Call (480) 777-9305.
Large and desert look modern front yard partial sun xeriscape in Phoenix with natural stone pavers and a stone fence for summer.

This is an example of a desert look modern courtyard full sun outdoor sport court for summer in Los Angeles with natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Babcock Custom Pools: Transforming Backyards into Oases with Palms If you seek a swimming pool that boasts an interplay of aesthetics, elegance, and proficiency, then Babcock Custom Pools is the solution you have been searching for. Our pool-crafting experts boast an extensive portfolio of pool designs that have consistently surpassed our clients’ anticipations. A hallmark of our designs is the seamless integration of palms – an element we passionately incorporate into our custom creations. At Babcock Custom Pools, we take great pride in our unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Our process, from the initial consultation to the final construction, is a testament to our pursuit of excellence. Our team of experts consists of seasoned professionals who possess a passion for creating pools that not only serve their practical purpose but are also visually stunning. Palms are a ubiquitous choice for pool landscaping, and for good reason. They add a tropical vibe to your outdoor space, and their presence imbues the area with a lush, serene atmosphere. Furthermore, palms provide the much-needed shade on a hot summer day. At Babcock Custom Pools, we wholeheartedly embrace the use of palms in our designs, and our clients rave about the results. We appreciate the fact that each of our clients is unique, and their pool designs should be a reflection of their individuality. As such, we work closely with our clients to craft customized designs that align with their specific needs and preferences. Whether you envision a sleek, minimalist design or a more traditional aesthetic, our team will collaborate with you to create a pool that perfectly embodies your style. When it comes to constructing pools, we use only the finest materials and the most advanced technologies. Our pools are designed to be durable, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance, ensuring that you can spend more time relishing in the pool and less time maintaining it. In conclusion, if you desire a custom pool design that is both beautiful and functional, Babcock Custom Pools is the answer. Our team of experts will work hand-in-hand with you to create a pool that exceeds your expectations. And, of course, we will not forget to incorporate an ample amount of palms – because we love palms and are confident that you will too. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

Inspiration for an expansive and desert look modern front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with concrete pavers and a metal fence.

Night well-lit house lights desert landscape
This is an example of a desert look modern front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in Salt Lake City with river rock and a metal fence.