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8 Matters an Architect Will Never Say

There are certain phrases which are innately nonarchitectural. Not that phrase, naturally. However, other less wordy phrases that are direct. I mean, that phrase had the word “innately” inside, so it’s definitely architectural. However, some things you just don’t expect to hear by your designer, like,”I really don’t drink coffee,” or “We must experiment with colour,” or “I really don’t be worried about the economy”

In fact, there are some things which I would guess have not been uttered by an architect. Ever.

Like these, for instance.

Pllc, Jody Brown Architecture

Pllc, Jody Brown Architecture

Pllc, Jody Brown Architecture

Pllc, Jody Brown Architecture

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

So, what if your architect says one of these phrases? Obviously you’ve confused him or her for someone else. But don’t worry. It happens to me all of the time.

All the photos are of Le Corbusier’s Notre Dame du Haut chapel, in Ronchamp, France, that is totally something an architect would say.

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Staging vs. Decorating: What's the Difference?

Selling your house means promoting a lifestyle, but not necessarily your own. In house staging, you’re striving for a look that is welcoming and fresh yet not really taste specific. People with varying tastes will need to feel that they can make the house their own if they buy it.

This is the distinction between decorating your house and staging it to market. It can be hard to comprehend at first, but if you don’t understand the distinction, you might not sell your home as fast as you would like.

Rachel Reider Interiors

Although everybody has different tastes in decor and furnishings, the majority of people want a house that is welcoming, functional, peaceful and organized. Tailor your home so that buyers can describe it in those terms instead of by your manner of decorating. Eliminating clutter and getting fewer but bigger accessories is a wonderful place to get started.

Making sure that your home is not taste specific does not mean that your rooms should be devoid of colour. Rather, maintain color schemes simple and dose them with an on-trend neutral, like a tan that is clean, a gentle grey or a white.

The Decorologist, Kristie Barnett

The Decorologist, Kristie Barnett

If you have a distinctive decorating style — whether it’s Tuscan, shabby chic or contemporary — you’re likely to have to scale it back a bit. If you don’t, your house will appeal to the small percentage of potential buyers that adore your favorite style. Espresso is about tactical editing and depersonalizing, instead of decorating and personalizing.

Andrea May Hunter/Gatherer

Dated is dreary. Attempt to point your distance using a fresh and current feel. Use upgraded neutrals on the furnishings and walls which are clean-lined and simple. Punches of colour are great: simply use them sparingly. An area arranged symmetrically and based on the design reads as peaceful — among those important aesthetics every purchaser is attracted to.

Andrea May Hunter/Gatherer

This guest bedroom is filled with excellent staging ideas. It’s plenty of on-trend design information, but it’s sparse on accessories and other distractions. The colour palette is simple, easy on the eyes and would be attractive to both women and men. Most potential buyers would recall this appealing room long after leaving the home.

Warline Painting Ltd..

This clever arrangement draws attention to the unique structure in the area and illustrates that a wise usage for the region under the staircase: an office space. This region is well decorated, not staged.

When I had been staging this place, I’d keep the desk, lamp and chair, eliminate too personal items like family photos, and also leave a few pieces of art and an attractive notebook and pen. Straightforward accessories can help draw focus to a functional space.

HomeTech Renovations, Inc..

If you’re updating a kitchen or bath before placing your house on the market, keep the finishes impartial and timeless. This is not the opportunity to display your own personal style. You want to broaden your buying market by appealing to a wide variety of tastes and preferences. This toilet would definitely appeal to buyers with contemporary or traditional flavor, and may later be personalized with the new homeowner’s tastes for colour and accessories.

Sure, this might not be what generally sits on your countertop, but does not it seem much better than the typical bills and coupons? Bear in mind, you’re promoting an idealized lifestyle, not your reality.

The bottom line is that you have to get outside your head and within the head of a potential home buyer. It’s rather hard to be objective in your residence, but it’s crucial if you want to market it.

Tell us Do you think there’s a difference between staging and decorating? Let us know in the Comments!

More:
7 Tips To Boost Your Home Faster into a Younger Buyer

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10 Creative Fence Designs

Chalkboard walls, bubbled acrylic and perforated copper might not be the first fencing substances homeowners consider, but these bold choices add different curb appeal and style for this outdoor requirement. If updating your weapon is in your summertime to-do list, consider a unique approach. Beyond picket easy wooden slats and fences lies a range of applications and options.

Get inspired by the subsequent 10 photos to start reimagining your backyard fence.

Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Simple wooden planks take on new character when installed at various heights on a small curve.

Accent your weapon with materials. A chalkboard integrated into the fence will produce the lawn even more imaginative and engaging to your kids. And water is all it requires to keep it clean.

Randy Thueme Design Inc. – Landscape Architecture

OK, so this weapon doesn’t offer much privacy, but it will create a protective barrier around the pool out of curious little ones. Made from acrylic balls that are bubbled, an sophisticated allure is lent by the weapon.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Outdoor rock surrounds are nothing new, but this weapon — created from heaps of rock corralled with metal baskets known as gabions — feels sculptural and industrial.

Randy Thueme Design Inc. – Landscape Architecture

Think about mixing components rather than developing a fence out of 1 material. The perforated copper in this fence catches the eye with its metallic hue, while the timber keeps it from feeling over the surface.

Debora carl landscape layout

In this example, a wall fencing is divided with vertical rods. This solution is perfect if you want to have some privacy without obstructing a view.

WA Design Architects

A fencing can be more than simple wooden slats. Go glam with a rock fence and metallic gate mix, like this modern, statement-making example.

More great gates

Debora carl landscape layout

Instead of building the fence consider various heights in various spots. Go higher where you want to block a neighbor’s view, but go lower where you might catch a better glimpse of a day sunset.

David Lauer Photography

Change your wooden fencing by reversing the path of the planks. It’s an easy preinstallation design switch that lends a fresh appearance.

Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture

Are you tired with your wooden fencing, but do not necessarily want to start from scratch? Dress it up using metal panels to produce your fence an intriguing focal point instead of just a functional advantage.

More: Types of fences and exactly what they do to your own landscape

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Fantastic Design Plant: Red-Hot Poker

Do not allow the name deter you, since if your garden requires a poke in the perfect direction, Red-Hot Poker (Kniphofia spp.) May be a plant to check into. A plant with bold blossoms and foliage, Kniphofia can be seen in profuse bloom throughout the summer in temperate landscapes everywhere.

This glowing orange and yellow underused African American has seen a resurgence in cultivation recently. New hybrids and cultivars mean a fireworks display of colors and sizes that this summer and into fall.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Botanical name: Kniphofia spp.
Common names: Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Poker Plant
USDA zones: 5 to 10, based on species (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 11/2 to 6 ft tall, clumping
Benefits and tolerances: Drought and heat tolerant; blossoms attract hummingbirds; deer immune
Seasonal interest: Summer flowering
When to plant: Spring or fall

Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc

Distinguishing attributes. Grasslike clumps of long, narrow foliage produce stems topped with vibrant clustered blossoms in summer. The colors and density of the flowers give them an almost glowing appearance and quite accurately portray the common names. With colors ranging from orange to yellow, coral to red, and even green to near white, colour choices are expansive. Heights range from 11/2 to 6 ft tall, depending upon variety. Most species of Kniphofia are evergreen, but a few marginally deciduous varieties will resprout in summer after laying dormant over winter.

Revealed here: Kniphofia ‘Ember Glow’, zones 6 to 9

Ana Williamson Architect

How to use it. While Kniphofia lends itself naturally to tropical and subtropical gardens, it creates a great addition to any spot in need of color and clean texture. Lining an entry route in the backyard shown here, a huge clump of poker blossoms projects up and creates a great textural and vibrant contrast to surrounding plants. Mixed in a planter with high-textured plants and blossoms, Kniphofia picks up warm-hued accents and creates a dynamic planting profile.

Terra Nova® Nurseries, Inc

Because of its rhizomous origin system, Kniphofia is not recommended for containers or pots. Cut flowers, nevertheless, make for beautiful and exotic structures, and cutting encourages new flowering shoots.

Revealed here: Kniphofia ‘Orange Vanilla Popsicle’, zones 6 to 9

Debora carl landscape design

Planting notes. For optimum growth, plant Kniphofia within an open, sunny spot in the backyard in rich and well-drained land. While the plant is drought tolerant for the most part, it favors regular water and fertilizer during the rise and flowering weeks.

Some species will withstand frost but may die to the ground. Not to worry; the plant will resprout in early summer. After the plant has finished flowering, leave spent blossoms and leaves on the plant until late winter or early spring. You can then deadhead to get ready for new growth. And while this plant can be propagated through seed or branch, wait till it’s developed for a few years before you disturb it.

More:
Watch more amazing design flowers and plants, grasses and trees.

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Designer's Touch: 10 Amazing Master Closets

For most people, an closet seems like nothing more. However, it does not need to be that way. These tips can take you one step closer to your fantasy master closet. Add value and convenience and extend the life span of your wardrobe with a beautiful and well-organized master closet.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

1. Hot off the press. Install a pull-down ironing board on your master closet and you will never want to leave. This really is a space-saving and time-saving trick that you will love.

LA Closet Design, Lisa Adams

2. Mirror mirror. No master closet would be complete without a built-in floor-to-ceiling mirror.

J.A. Smith Construction & Design Studio

3. A affair. Getting dressed and using makeup all in the same area is really a luxury. Insert a beautiful freestanding or built-in vanity table interior of your master closet for that movie star feeling.

Leib Designs

4. Shoe therapy. Say hello to more room — which means more sneakers, of course. Install shelving around and over the whole master closet door for extra space and yet another reason to go shopping.

Monarch Renovations

5. Laundry master. A stackable washer and dryer in the master closet create laundry a snap. This is where the filthy clothes come off anyhow, and there is easy access to hang and put away clean clothes.

6. Less is more. Produce a one-of-a-kind closet with beautiful closet doors to encase your whole wardrobe. The only thing showing are the delightful elegance of cabinetry.

California Closets Twin Cities

7. Take a seat. Insert a quaint corner beneath the window interior of your master closet. It’s a great way to put on your heels and have additional storage.

Cabinet Innovations

8. Handsome closet. Organize awkward ties, belts and other accessories to a broad location. Having everything at your fingertips will make getting ready for the day easier in addition to faster.

Dave Lane Construction Co..

9. Center stage. A master closet with enough room to house a complete vanity is just wonderful, offering additional storage and a place to lay your fine jewelery and cell phone.

Harry Braswell Inc..

10. Chandelier chic. Dress up any master closet by installing a stunning chandelier for impact. This is an easy and frequently cheap way to create a change for the better.

Read more photos of inspirational closets

More Designer’s Touches:
10 Great Living Bathrooms
10 Fabulous Garages
10 Playful Nursery Bathrooms

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Steel Girder

A steel girder will be the principal framing element that supports the concentrated loads of floors or roofs. Frequent contours for steel girders are I-beams, C- or station beams and box beams. Used primarily for bridges and other commerical building jobs, steel girders are powerful over long spans despite their relatively small size.

Equinox Architecture Inc. – Jim Gelfat

Mixing horizontal and vertical steel makes a skeleton framework, making constructions like wide arches (and skyscrapers) potential.

Elad Gonen

The strength of steel girders makes this catwalk secure for walking.

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

Steel girders can be connected with welded plates and rivets, or clamps and heavy bolts.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

This steel girder allows the wood beams above to be cantilevered, taking the load off the window .

Menter Byrne Architects

Steel girders seem right at home used as supports for this house gym.

Thomas Roszak Architecture, LLC

Very similar to I-beams are structural structural element beams (HSS), painted orange .

Read more steel girder photographs

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Elegant Florida Apartment

After having a kid and upgrading to a larger apartment, interior designer Arnold Schulman’s clients wanted his aid with another new addition in their lives: a collection of fine artwork in their part-time home on Fisher Island, Florida, once a one-family island home to the Vanderbilts.

Schulman’s clients wanted to make a smooth and accumulated look whilst resisting a Smithsonian-like feel. “This is a home that needed to reflect my customers’ discerning taste,” Schulman says,”without getting away from their warmth and personality.”

in a Glance
Who lives here: Part-time home for a household of 3
Location: Fisher Island, Florida
Size: 3,800 square feet
That’s intriguing: The apartment is located on a private island accessible only by boat.

Arnold Schulman Design Group

In its previous incarnation, the apartment had a dated design with large beamed ceilings that made the room feel smaller. Schulman eliminated the beamed ceilings and replaced them with 3-inch drop ceilings, allowing the use of low-profile recessed lighting that highlighted a clean, open area.

The transition from the dining area to the terrace is created seamless with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that allow light in and provide an opinion of the surrounding palm trees and other plant.

Living room dining table, light fixture: DCOTA; sculpture: Corbin Bronze

Arnold Schulman Design Group

Schulman, an art gallery owner, felt enormous joy in assisting his customers select a few art pieces to match their own collection. “Art is a private addition to any area,” he states. “There are several key locations throughout the home in which the artwork becomes particularly important. The main hallway is a truly prime location.”

Schulman created a gallery-like feel in the apartment, devoting wall markets and surfaces to exploited photos by Richard Bluestein. Here, the mirror reflects among Bluestein’s”Lifeguard” photos in reverse; the partitions’ art pays homage to Fisher Island’s coastal setting.

Arnold Schulman Design Group

The stylish entrance is anchored by Jurgen Selleck’s oil on canvas”Connections 1 and 2,” using 2 individual elements. The topics’ bent arms soften what might have been a rigid and staid tablescape plus a static wall area. The entrance sets the tone for the remainder of the home and lets visitors know that art and exquisite pieces abound in the home. Schulman encourages his customers to mix media: oils, prints, photography and sculptural art.

“Consistency is achieved in the house’s art display when the collection reflects the design length of the area,” he stresses. In this case the design is modern with touches of art deco.

Arnold Schulman Design Group

Schulman averted framed artwork pieces in the primary living area near the sliding balcony doors. “The glass creates a glare and makes it difficult to love the piece within the framework,” he states. Instead he helped the bunch display their sculptures on shelves.

The neutral palette of creams and wood tones complements the deeper ocean colors, a refined resistance into the splashy Miami Beach lifestyle. Crema Marfil marble floors and chiseled limestone walls represent sand.

Arnold Schulman Design Group

The evocative lighting, decor symmetry, sleek and glistening curves of this table legs, and wood accents of this bar chairs hint in the room’s art deco influence, but the oversize his-and-hers art roots the interior design in modern style. Schulman’s customers love the leather club chairs fronting their bed; they are among”the most comfortable recliners in the world,” he states.

Chandelier: Boyd Lighting; club seats: De Sede

Arnold Schulman Design Group

Much to the customers’ delight, Schulman combined what used to be independent his-and-hers baths that felt obsolete to make one lavish space. He utilized chiseled limestone, honed French limestone floors and walls, and pecan wood accents to make a spalike atmosphere. A tubside still-life picture by Che Sandoval encourages meditative thoughts.

Toilet and bidet: Duravit; tub: Le Bain; place rugs: Kyle Bunting

Arnold Schulman Design Group

A backlit onyx counter bottom representing the colors of the sand and coastline heightens the modern look without overwhelming the pub, in which the homeowners can unwind and entertain.

Pendant lights: Xian, Estiluz

Arnold Schulman Design Group

One of Schulman’s favourite areas of the residence is this magnificent powder room, using a backsplash swathed in precious mother-of-pearl wall tiles. Elegant framed art deco–inspired art hangs on the wall adjacent to the mirror. “If you believe a piece could be appreciated in the powder room, then go for this,” says Schulman. “There are certainly optimal placement areas in the home for artwork, but there is no right or wrong place to display artwork that you just love.”

More: 10 Jewel-Box Powder Rooms

Mirror: DCOTA; sconce: Brand Van Egmond; wall tiles: Maya Romonoff; artwork: Jurgen Selleck, Ambiance Gallery; background: Phillip Jefferies; sink: Steel, Vitraform

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Firmly Planted Southern California Home

Outdoor accessories covered in gardening and brightly painted walls changed this 1930s home into a vibrant and energetic residence for Alicia Blas along with her loved ones. Blas, a backyard and product designer that has styled shoots for magazines, has a fantastic eye for detail and a flair for an eclectic design that embraces the outdoors. Each room in her home is subjected to natural light, and massive windows open up to views of her beautiful garden. Playful turf-covered accents made by Blas’ firm, Firmly Planted, give a unique touch to indoor and outdoor spaces.

Blas started designing products covered in faux turf if a feng shui teacher gave her some advice. “My instructor told me that if my home numbers are not loud and joyful and seen, the world won’t know where to find me,” she says.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Alicia Blas along with her two sons
Location: Valley Village, California
Size: 2,500 square feet

Alicia Blas Macdonald

Blas’ expansive backyard is her favourite part of the house. She often enjoys the lush backyard in her outdoor area — outfitted with her own designs, of course. The turf-covered frame helps define the line between the terrace and the yard but still lets in the complete beauty of the garden. “It resembles the excellent outdoors has only been framed,” says Blas.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

Blas is consistently inspired by nature, because her gardening accents and vibrant decor suggest, and is always drawn to color and texture. She utilizes turf because it’s durable, has tons of texture and is her favorite color — green.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

Almost all of Blas’ outdoor furniture has been found at garage sales, except for the Pottery Barn sofa. The mixture of styles provides the room warmth and character.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

“I’m about this inside and outside lifestyle,” says Blas. Each room in her home is full of natural light and open to the outside whenever possible. The deficiency of window coverings also maintains an airy feeling. The home is on a private lot and surrounded by landscaping, therefore there’s no need to fret about privacy.

Wall paint: Catalina paints; java table: HD Buttercup; carpeting: bought in Morocco; clock: Ballard Designs

Alicia Blas Macdonald

Much of Blas’ furniture is out of her childhood house and has been owned by her mother. All of it’s sort of a fantastic style, which she enjoys, but lots of the big pieces are extremely formal. “I’m so not formal,” she says. “I wanted my house to be really diverse. That’s why I used another wall color in every room.”

Alicia Blas Macdonald

The rest of the furniture is a small mishmash. Blas isn’t into furniture buying, but she knows what she likes and doesn’t want her furniture to totally match. “When something looks like me, chances are it will only work with my entire vibe,” she says.

Coffee table: Z Gallerie; rug: TJ Maxx; couches: Bloomingdale’s; armoire: classic

Alicia Blas Macdonald

The updated kitchen is simple but stylish, with granite counters that operate all of the way up the counter tops. Upper cabinets provide lots of storage, along with the glass cabinet doors showcase knickknacks. Blas painted and made the reddish “Delicious” sign herself as a vibrant accent.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

The home was built in the 1930s, so it’s all of the quirks and accidents of an older home. “However, the amazing old vibe is well worth the old pipes, roof and laminate flooring,” adds Blas. The black and white checkered tile in the guest bath is just one of these fun touches that Blas enjoys.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

The master bathroom has a very different vibe but nevertheless reflects Blas’ admiration for nature. Soapstone tile grounds the space, while walls in her favourite color contrast beautifully with teak accents.

Alicia Blas Macdonald

For your joint dining area and room, Blas covered the dining room chairs from her childhood home in outdoor fabric to generate cleanup quick and simple. “Messy boys will need to sit down on chairs with outside material when eating,” she says. “And I have two of these.”

Wall paint: Catalina paints; desk seat: Ikea

Alicia Blas Macdonald

A green turf doormat invites guests to wash their feet off before going back inside from the backyard. Blas’ love for turf-covered products started with the address numbers of the home. Following all those, cushions and other accessories immediately followed suit.

Photography: Shawn Cordon

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Set the Landscape: Southwestern Garden Style

The American Southwest is a land of extremes. Temperature is the most obvious intense element — there’s intense heat, particularly in the lower elevations, but with cool to cold nights and winter snow at higher elevations. The natural landscape is stark but striking, filled with bright blue skies, tan and brown sand, and also the dusty greens of the foliage. Water is rare, but where rivers pools or run form, they provide the welcome aid of an oasis of green.

Gardening in this climate demands adaptation. In some areas, the seasons are reversed — winter is your growing time, while summer is when you retreat indoors. The soil could be highly alkaline or saline. Water conservation is essential. The fantastic thing is that plants that perform well in this climate will flourish.

Here is the climate that gave us the 3 sisters: corn, beans and squash growing together. This is the house of chilies. This is also the home of several of the most amazing plants on earth: cacti.

Southwestern design is not for everybody or for each climate. Where it is appropriate, though, there are many alternatives for making the design your own.

Bess Jones Interiors

Pick Your Design

A natural or native garden is your obvious option. Not only will the plants thrive and survive, but the garden will fit in with the surrounding landscape. This design also works well with the predominant architectural styles, from adobe pueblos and Mission-inspired homes to Spanish-Mediterranean design to strictly contemporary.

Natural design includes elements like gravel trails, adobe and stone walls, wood beams and a range of desert plants. It blends with the surrounding landscape and is about as maintenance free as it is possible to get.

Here the gravel beamed with cacti, grasses and perennials is reminiscent of a dry streambed… that the notion of plain water encapsulated in a simple setting.

Gates & Croft Horticultural Layout

“Natural” doesn’t have to mean”barren,” nor does it have to be a manifestation of the landscape beyond. This garden has an almost cabin look, with masses of blossoms and perennials. The wagon wheels include an intriguing western touch and a few vertical height into the space. Even the stepping-stone path could be located in an English cottage garden.

Design tip: Look for grasses and perennials, like penstemons, that are adapted to the climate and also will provide some colour to an otherwise green and brownish-red landscape. Another option, particularly with eastern exposure, would be to plant hardy annuals. Group them together and maintain the planting area small — even a little pop of colour will go a long way.

Shannon Malone

Against the brightly colored adobe walls, this contemporary residence needs only the native plants to make an impression. In this case, even the plantings are minimal, functioning as accent pieces, while the architecture takes center stage. This landscape is also a fantastic reflection of the realities of living in the Southwest — water is rare and should be used wisely.

Exteriors From Chad Robert

The clean lines and interesting plants of contemporary style work well in this contemporary space. In keeping with the demand for water conservation, the water-thirsty lawn areas are minimal. The plantings, in place of the lawn, give a lush feeling into the space.

BOXHILL

Plan Your Hardscape

just like contemporary landscapes, the hardscape plays a massive role in the general design. Flagstone pavers in shades that suit the surrounding desert colours are a favorite choice; they make a seamless entry in the surrounding landscape into the house itself. The colour is the perfect foil for the foliage of these trees and shrubs.

Clemente style studio, llc

Adobe and tile are classic choices for paving. Combining them lets you break up the expanse of their adobe and include a pop of color. This planting space is modest but effective, and siting the seat opposite the fountain invites guests and residents to stop and relax somewhat.

Debora carl landscape layout

Another choice is gravel. In this small terrace, the soft grey of the stones is offset from the lush succulents and grasses that surround it. It’s almost like you’ve set your desk and chairs in the middle of a small, dry pond in the surrounding desert.

Design tip:Use stones and gravel within the landscape to mimic natural washes, curving them throughout the distance and then planting them. If the rains come, you’ll have a natural drainage channel.

vernardakis george – avantgarden athens

If traditional is not your style, then proceed completely modern. These bright circles of colour show the plants off in style.

Choose Plants Wisely

Native plants have evolved to survive in the desert extremes. As such, they are a natural choice for the garden. And as this garden proves, native and natural do not mean colorless. In reality, the bright colors of this desert are just one of its attractiveness.

Flea Market Sunday

This xeriscape garden might not have a large selection of plants, but the plants that are in place are so spectacular that the distance feels full. Setting each specimen in its own space instead of crowding them together allows the homeowner to enjoy the individual magnificence of each plant.

Debora carl landscape layout

If a lush appearance is more to your liking, though, it is still achievable. A cabin look is doable: simply use vibrant succulents, perennials and grasses that may still tolerate the warmth and low-water ailments.

Style tip: Look for Southwest favorites such as desert marigold, Mexican honeysuckle, native sunflowers, red-hot poker and yellow bells. More familiar favorites include cosmos, coneflowers, dahlias, gloriosa daisies, salvias and verbena. Or go , with bougainvillea, trumpet vine and trumpet creeper. You may even grow some types of roses.

Exteriors From Chad Robert

If you want some lawn to earn your landscape feel complete, use grassy areas as beams rather than as massive expanses. Group other high-water plants near them, preferably close to the home and where they could get some colour in the hottest days of the year, to cut down on your general watering.

Design tip: Consider using artifical grass. Not only will you save water, but you’ll also save on lawn maintenance, which may be tough in a desert climate where turf grass is anything but natural.

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

Create a Position to Be Outdoors

The days might be sexy, but evenings and mornings are generally cool. That is the time to be outside.

In the Southwest, this exterior space is often in the guise of a courtyard. Here, a replica of a California hacienda stipulates the significant components: enclosure on four sides, deeply shaded patios, plantings along the edges, with a fountain in the middle of everything. Any or all of these thoughts are suitable, even in the event that you have to implement them on a smaller scale.

Layout tip: developing a sense of enclosure is not only traditional, but it allows you to make a microclimate within your larger landscape. Following is a fantastic spot to put your thirstier plants.

www.KarlGercens.com

In a landscape extending for kilometers, an enclosed space also provides a human-size sense of scale as well as a feeling of security. Inside this space, the walls are large enough to provide a feeling of enclosure but low enough to allow you to take in the view.

Carson Poetzl, Inc..

An adobe wall along with a easy patio set might be all you want. The bright green stars on the corner in addition to the greens and blues of the roofline may seem modern, but bright colors are a frequent touch in traditional gardens. Notice the centerpiece of succulents and the cactus as an accent piece from the door. (make sure you place cacti far enough in the passageway that unwary guests won’t get assaulted.)

Duxbury Architects

If you have only a lot of space, then a simple wall can suffice. It also serves as an accent for the plantings it backs.

BOXHILL

Add Water

In a hot climate, water is obviously welcome, both for splashing in and also to get ambient cooling in the surrounding space. Near this house, the pool is more formal, with room for entertaining and relaxing. On the other side, the surrounding space gently blends into the landscape.

House + House Architects

A lap pool in the entry courtyard does double duty, providing a”splash” of colour to lead one to the door and a fantastic spot for cooling off or exercising. The high walls will keep heat, warming the distance in the mornings and evenings, but will shade the pool out of some of the intense afternoon sun.

BOXHILL

At first glancethis looks more like a tiny native pond as opposed to an artificial pool, with the sterile gravel streambed leading to the water beyond.

Arterra Landscape Architects

Even a little water can be sufficient. Even a recirculating fountain, particularly when it’s working, is the perfect solution for a more compact space.

Nunley Custom Homes

Fine-Tune the Details

This fireplace, according to a traditional kiva design, is both traditionally suitable and functional. As the weather cools in the evening, a bit of warmth out of a fire is a welcome addition.

Carson Poetzl, Inc..

A more formal appearance, but the exact same idea. The whitewash sides maintain the appearance traditional.

A simple fire pit will work. Add some lighting and you have the perfect spot for relaxing in the evening, particularly with the built-in seats.

Carson Poetzl, Inc..

Patio outlay with thick wooden beams might be traditional, but if you want some colour (and who doesn’t in this climate?) And do not want to add a permanent overhead construction, a simple shade sail could be magnificent.

Style tip:Plant trees around the home. It will help cool the adjacent areas as well as the home itself.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Sometimes the details can be easy. The profound terra-cotta steps turn what would be a plain flagstone terrace into something special.

BOXHILL

Of course, if you’re going to get sunsets like this, then you ought to make the most of them. This iron sculpture enhances the view. It’s intriguing through the day and magnificent with all the sky on fire because the sun goes down.

Sandy Koepke

Finish With Color

The American Southwest is not the location for light pastels and mild clogs. The bold landscape calls for equally bold colours for both walls and accessories. This is the location for bright turquoises and chili-pepper reds, whether on pots or on doors.

Elad Gonen

Pale blue won’t cut it when the sky is a deep azure. Because blues are cool tones, they are relaxing and relaxing even when the hues are this intense.

Nunley Custom Homes

If you’re not prepared to paint an whole wall, consider simply painting the gate along with the overhead.

Greg Logsdon

Navajo-inspired blankets are another fantastic option, particularly when paired with a faux-plastered wall.

Prideaux Design

Turquoise water, blue and orange walls and a bright red kettle highlight the pool area. With tan and sand outstanding in the home and the hardscape, these accents include a sense of fun and whimsy into the space.

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