Take a look at a sample of different residential landscape designs that we have done.

Do you need landscape ideas for your backyard?  Maybe something pet or kid friendly? Maybe an adult sanctuary after a hard day at work? Please check out our backyard landscape photos which we hope will give you great ideas, and a little inspiration. Each designer is also your project manager who will be your point of contact from design through construction.  We look forward to working with you and creating a backyard landscape that meets your needs within your budget, and exceeds your expectations. Let us show you our version of the WOW Factor!

Please contact us today at (602) 369 – 4198 to receive your free landscape design with approved budget.

Looking for curb appeal? Maybe a low maintenance landscape for him and color for her? How about a courtyard for additional living space?  Landscape design ideas can be a challenge, so Outside Living Concepts works with you from design through final construction to create the look you have always wanted.  The front yard landscape photos shown above we hope give you some ideas and perhaps a little inspiration. Let our experts show you our version of the WOW Factor!

Please contact us today at (602) 369 – 4198 to receive your free landscape design with approved budget.

Outside Living Concepts specializes in custom and unique water features for your backyard or frontyard landscaping.  Each piece is specifically designed to match your taste, life style, and budget.  Who does not want the wonderful look and sound of a water feature?  Spruce up your landcape with a custom water feature designed by one of our in-house experts.

Please contact us today at (602) 369 – 4198 to receive your free landscape design with approved budget

There are many choices in outdoor landscape lighting, and we recommend you consult a professional to help create one specific to your needs.

Things To Consider When Looking At Outdoor Landscape Lighting

When considering outdoor landscape lighting, homeowners need to evaluate their space and needs thoughout the yard. Some homeowners will need a comprehensive plan in order to do it right the first time. Lights need to be powered and hooked up to an electrical system and depending on how many lights you may need, it is always adviseable to have them installed by a professional.

Landscape accent lighting can be used to focus attention on details within a yard such as flowers, waterfalls or ponds, trees, plants, walkways, etc.  This type of lighting is a great way to bring attention to a yard and brighten up dark spots, as well as drastically enhance curb appeal or create the perfect party atmosphere . Outdoor landscape lighting is not only a practical solution when it comes to keeping a yard safe, it is also a great way to pull the eye to a yard and make the space both attractive in the day as well as the night.

Have you been driving around your neighborhood recently and suddenly noticed?…  Wow…that home has a lush green lawn.  It looks perfect and makes the home stand out nicely too.  Well, if you take a closer look, there’s a very good chance it’s artificial. YES! The technology is available now for what the industry calls “synthetic turf”.

When HOA’s in Arizona created their CC&R’s, as long as 30 years ago in many communities, there were strict guidelines against any form of artificial turf in the front yard…and for good reason…artificial turf was more like indoor/outdoor carpet, BUT today professional installers offer a wide variety of products that look so real, it fools even the most seasoned professional upon first glance.  As a professional landscape designer & contractor, I see and install a lot of this turf and I am a firm believer in the value, beauty, and overall quality…for several reasons.

First, the obvious…no water& no real maintenance.  Debris can be blown off artificial turf with a conventional blower, it hoses off easily and is very pet tolerant when you buy the right turf.  Most important of all, it looks green all year long, year after year. On top of that, most companies are offering a minimum 7 year warranty on their product and some even longer.

Second, I don’t know about you, but I get frustrated when I drive by what appears to be a nice home and the lawn is not being taken care of at all.  It dramatically affects the curb appeal. Unfortunately, most HOA’s have no overseed mandate, so many homes throughout the valley have dormant grass in the winter months, and many homes look way below par even in summer months.  If you are reading this article and fall into this category, I apologize if I’ve offended you, but you are not helping the property value of your home, nor your neighbors.  Take out the grass and go with a natural xeriscape plan (low maintenance/low water/native material), or go with synthetic turf.  Either choice would be a drastic improvement.  I suppose some people have a reason for neglecting their lawns by having to tighten their financial belt with these tougher economic times. This is a place to cut costs by reducing your water bill, but again, another good reason to go synthetic, you will cut your maintenance by 95 percent, and your water bill substancially.

Third….I’m throwing down the gauntlet here.  The frustrating part is that some, (not all) HOA’s still are way behind the curve when it comes to modifying their synthetic turf guidelines and allowing more homeowners to “go green” without being hassled.  Congratulations to those communities for thinking outside of the box!  The demand for these products is surging and I advise those ARC’s reviewing plans to have more of an open mind and modify your guidelines ASAP. Wouldn’t you rather have a neighbor whose lawn looks great like these photographs, or have to live with a neighbor who could care less about what his front lawn looks like?….No brainer here!

Homeowners should be applauded for wanting to give his/her property a “beauty makeover” and at the same time add to the overall value of their neighborhood.  Need I mention the savings of thousands of gallons of water yearly.  Many of us take water for granted here in Arizona at a time when we need to conserve, since annual rainfall levels have been below norm for nearly a decade.  Don’t fight it, embrace it, and realize the technology is here for all lawns to look good 24/7.

So GO GREEN in more ways than one and think about the long term, cost effective measure of synthetic turf.  Your wallet, your aching back, your kids, and your neighbors will all say thank you!

Well if you do or don’t have a spa, I want to share with you one of the more popular backyard trends…SPA SURROUNDS!  There are so many options here and I’d like to share my expertise with you.  There is a lot to think about when you install a spa, and there are numerous manufacturers of spas all over the valley.  I am a huge fan of a quality prefabricated spa as opposed to a spa attached to the pool for many reasons.

The spa built with the pool usually has one bench around the perimeter, everyone sits in the full, upright position, water is warm and bubbly, but you only have one jet concentrated at the small of your back.  Not the most comfortable seating when you are trying to relax.  If you were to have your pool company attach a spa to your existing pool, or dig you a new one from scratch, you’ll be spending a minimum of $18,000, but closer to $24,000 when it’s all done.  Here is how you can get a lot more for LESS!!!

A quality prefabricated spa with a good filtration system gives you many more choices…. comfortable seats and head rests, 30 to 60 jets wherever you need them, lighting, stereo or TV, attached seating areas…the list goes on.  The best part…you can buy a quality spa for around $6,000 to $9,000 that is much more comfortable and therapeutic.  Because most spas operate on 50 Amp/220 Volt power, electrical run and hook up adds between $750 and $1,500 depending on how far the spa is positioned from the main electrical panel.  The farther away, the more it will cost.  Please use a licensed electrician when running those lines who is familiar with the different makes and models.  The requirements vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so use your due diligence here.

Now to give that new portable spa, the “built in” look, we have many SURROUND options.  Once you decide where the spa will be located, the next thing is to think about orientation…in other words…the angle the spa is placed in the yard.  Remember, all spas have equipment that may need to be accessed, so whatever we do for a surround that access is first and foremost.  When doing your orientation, think about the views each of the occupants will have when the spa is ready for use.  You can choose to keep the spa above ground and use a variety of materials to complete the surround as seen in some of these pictures.  You may also choose to sink the spa for that “lower profile look”, but there are pros and cons here.

I do not recommend taking a portable spa that was designed to be fully above ground and installing it completely in the ground for many reasons.  The equipment for these spas is underneath, so sinking them in the ground 36 inches will usually make for tough equipment access, but most importantly, getting in and out of the spa will be very difficult because you don’t have a step entry like a pool. Think about it…it would be very awkward getting in and out at ground level.  If you do choose to sink the spa, do it about half way.  This would make the finished surround about 18 inches above ground, which is the standard chair height.  Simply sit on the edge like you would any regular chair, swing your feet around and then using both arms ease your way into the spa, safely and comfortably.  You do the exact opposite on the way out.  You can use the same type of materials to complete the surround as you would the fully above ground version.  You can add seating and a bar on one side, small columns for pots, steps & landings, inset lights, face with stone, stucco & paint… just about anything.  When you choose to sink a spa, there are a few things to keep in mind:

First, the cost to sink a spa adds at least $1,500 to the total surround cost as opposed to a homeowner who chooses to keep it fully above ground and just enclose it.  Second, you have to maintain that access we talked about earlier should you have a mechanical malfunction.  Also, make sure there is proper drainage underneath so your equipment never is immersed in water. This will instantly void any warranty!  Third, when you choose your materials and physically start construction, you may want to carefully engineer the walls and caps in a way that the spa can be totally removed from its enclosure in the future.  The cost for a surround that is fully above ground starts at about $3,500 to $5,000 depending on the materials chosen and the accessories you may want to add.  Again, if you choose to partially sink it, add at least $1,500 to that.  You can buy a quality spa and do a very artistic surround for as little as $10,000… far less expensive than the ones attached to the pool and you have so many more features and options.

I have done more than a hundred surrounds over the years and have worked with about every make and model.  Although spas and surrounds are not complicated, I have learned dozens of those “little things” that keep the construction process smooth, and I am trained to avoid those costly mistakes that I have seen others make time after time. 

If you want a brand new spa, then check out our Prestige Spas…half in-ground and built to last!
Good Luck!

In all the years I have been a practicing landscape contractor, I don’t think I have ever come across a potential client that does not like a good water feature if it’s in the budget. Even if it’s out of their budget, everyone I meet would love to have one.  There is nothing like the beauty of a custom water feature and the tranquil sounds they make. An artistic and strategically placed water feature will lull even the most restless to sleep.  Having two on my own property, I can really relate to that.  With our great weather that allows us to have the windows open for many months of the year, hearing the sound of running water as you travel from one room to another…well…there is nothing like it, especially at night when going to bed.  What a great way to relax and doze off!  They compliment any backyard recreational space and add great curb appeal if placed in the front yard.  You just can’t go wrong with a good water feature.  Each creates its own unique sound, so there really are dozens of audible options to choose from like splashing, trickling, cascading, etc.

If this is something you have thought about for a while and are ready to move forward, please keep the following things in mind.  There are two ways to go about it….cheap and prefab, or custom and more expensive.  As with just about anything in life, you get what you pay for.  You can purchase a small, pre-cast feature that you simply place in the yard, fill it with water, and plug it in.  You may be able to find something halfway decent in this department between $500 – $1000. There is no need to call a professional for this type of feature.  Just a credit card and a small pick up truck and you are good to go.  If you don’t have electric in the vicinity where you plan on placing it, there will be an additional expense here. Also, if you want to set up an auto-fill so you don’t have to manually fill it with water, this again will add to the overall cost.  I would budget $1,300 for a prefabricated feature, which includes the water & electric run. You should be able to find something that will suit your needs in this price range without breaking the bank.

The most common water features today are made from scratch using a detailed plan drawn by a good designer.  They have all the bells and whistles to keep them as low maintenance as possible, but all water features require a little bit of upkeep and TLC.  Materials available for fabrication can be block, metal, stone, tile, etc. They usually operate on a timer identical to what you would find by your pool equipment that can turn it on and off at specified times. It operates on 110V electrical power using a GFCI circuit, has a water run for the auto-fill and a pump to re-circulate the water.  You can add other accessories such as lighting and remote controls.  You are only limited to your imagination here.  Custom water features truly require a professional to be built properly.  As a landscape contractor and a person who has design & installed hundreds over the years, I have learned to avoid the pitfalls that an average do-it yourselfer would make. A well designed, custom water feature usually starts at $2,500 to about $6,000 on average, although I have done a few over the years for over $10,000.  Material options available today and the complexity of the build are what drives price.

Every water feature poses its own construction challenges and requires a little upkeep like your pool. A chlorine tablet in the pond keeps the algae down during the majority of the year; although you may need some algaecide during the summer months when the water temperature is excessively warm. If a water feature is on your landscape wish list, may I remind you to always start with a master plan, as I have talked about in previous articles. If you do things one at a time without a master plan, you will only end up with a finished product that looks like it was done in many stages and not necessarily all by the same person.  Continuity and flow are the primary components of a good plan.

If you have any questions on water features, or are looking for a quality landscape contractor for your yard makeover, please contact me personally for a complimentary and professional consultation. We offer a free landscape design on an approved budget!

So remember…when it comes time to designing & building a good water feature, sometimes you just have to go with the flow!

Gazebos offer protection from both the sun and rain because they have a solid tiled roof that matches the home.  These are free standing structures that usually are not attached to the house. The interior finished ceiling is either exposed framework, or the framework is covered using a tongue & groove high grade plywood.  Most people install a light & ceiling fan with a switch on one of the support posts, and others go as far as installing a misting system on the perimeter for additional comfort.  The support posts are built with masonry block (CMU), require a solid footing, and can be finished off with stucco & paint, or maybe a stone veneer.  A good Gazebo starts at about $10,000 for a 10×10 or 12×12, but I have built others that cost over $15,000.  It all depends on how you accessorize and the materials you choose. Because Gazebo’s usually finish off at a height of 12 feet above ground level, just about all require HOA approval and a building permit.  They are not hard to get, but that is the correct way to go about it.  Gazebos are one of the more expensive shade options, but are extremely functional and decorative.

Another shade option is the ramada, which sometimes is called an arbor or pergola. In Arizona these words seem interchangeable, but they really all mean the same thing.  A ramada or arbor offers no protection from the rain, but does offer “filtered” sunlight, as well as a very attractive decorative element.  These can either be free standing structures or attached to the house. The support posts can be wood or masonry, and the top can have anywhere between one and three layers depending on how much shade you require. Two and three layered arbors are usually the norm.  I recommend three especially if you are using wood, because the cross member building approach helps to keep the wood from twisting.  I like using a “rough sawn” fir because it holds up well to Arizona weather and stains or paints beautifully.  The three layered arbor top starts with a first course of main beams with dimensions of 6” x 12”. I like a “beefy” looking structure.  I corbel the ends for decoration and the corners are cross woven into one another.  The second course is a 3” x 6” member laid perpendicular to the first, and also has corbeled ends.  The final layer is 3’ x 3” and is laid perpendicular to the course below.  Ends are usually too small to corbel, so I’ll straight cut them or slightly round over the ends.  It’s also best that you stain or paint the wood on the ground so you can cover every inch of wood before it is assembled.  It also makes staining or painting much easier when you can place them on a saw horse as opposed to working overhead.  Wood still has a tendency to twist, so make sure the wood is as dry as it can be from the lumber yard.  Cracking in some of these beams is expected and is commonly called “checking”.  Unless severe… checking usually doesn’t effect the strength integrity of the wood.

If you don’t want the maintenance of wood, there are companies that offer an aluminum stud wrapped with vinyl and simulates the look of wood.  There are a few color choices, and when dirty, can be washed off with a hose and never require any painting.  Again, most structures like these require permits and HOA approval.  Cost for natural wood arbors or ramadas range between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the size, the number of layers, and what type of materials you will use to accessorize. Cost for the “aluma wood” structures is about 20 percent less expensive.  There is definitely a trade off between the overall look and beauty of natural wood versus the low maintenance of artificial looking wood so…pick your poison here.  Being a third generation contractor and an experienced finished carpenter….well, I don’t think I have to tell you which is my personal preference.  Pick the right materials, have a good design, get the proper approvals and finally choose a licensed contractor, and you can begin to enjoy this summer with a little added comfort as well as building some nice equity.  So long for now and STAY COOL!