Stylish Private Outdoor Design by Red Rock Contractors and Red Rock Pools & Spas. A blank slate is viewed by designers as an open canvas, a place of unrealized dreams, and an opportunity to let those dreams become a reality. And a blank slate is exactly what Rick Chafey and Brett Blauvelt of Red Rock Pool & Spa and Red Rock Contractors found when they walked onto the property in Gilbert, Arizona, and it excited them. On their initial visit, according to Chafey and Blauvelt, “nothing about the site was extraordinary, it was just a plain Jane home with an average pool on a five-acre lot … hardly the kind of place you’d find a multimillion dollar custom estate home.” It soon became clear that they were about to take on a complete recreation, not only of the home but also of the entire five-acre lot, and by combining integrated design, engineering, and construction they helped their clients realize their dream home.
A New Beginning To start the project the team brought in a local architect, because early on it was decided that the house as it was would not fit into the grand design they had planned for the outdoors. The house was not completely demolished, rather they incorporated portions of the house into a new rustic contemporary style that is found throughout the greater Phoenix area, and in the end doubled the square footage.
“Unlike some designs that stress modular geometry and industrial-inspired use of materials, this home combines contemporary lines with a rich material palette all about warmth and comfort. At first glance, the home rises from the landscape with almost a pueblo-like appearance with its rectilinear shapes and soft, mottled, leather colored plaster finish,” according to Chafey and Blauvelt.
Key Details and Features No detail was left out in their design. It starts on the approach to the house, where even the mailbox is part of the overall design, and the gate is a magnificent raw steel and gabion structure that both beckons and protects at the same time. Upon entering, the first item to be seen is the circular, all-tile reflecting pool with a series of floating limestone stepping pads serving as a bridge. This bridge leads the eye to the house where it continues on to the back where the pool awaits, which was no accident. Chafey and Blauvelt say, “That’s just one example of how we were working to create a sense of integration and harmony throughout the property.”
Inside the house, a warm color palette of earth tones, combined with reclaimed materials, and an extensive use of tile gives the family the welcoming atmosphere they asked for, and the designers continued this southwestern scheme outside. WATCH: 30 Rustic Interior Designs by Red Rock Contractors Planting The outdoor spaces are linked by a system of modular pathways that are reminiscent of the home’s interior, and are interlaced with realistic artificial turf, or “faux grass,” which was chosen based on the arid climate and the clients’ request for low maintenance. The plantings surrounding the spaces are also low maintenance and contain native plantings such as a variety of cacti and succulents surrounded by olive, Ironwood and Joshua trees.
Structures found throughout the space mirror the entry gate and are meant to rust, while stripped form concrete walls reveal the texture of the wood forms used to make them. Together they form an arbor system that is planted with flowering vines, and are combined with dozens of water chains to create a breathtaking effect. Related Articles: Swimming Pool Design with the WOW Factor! Rooftop Infinity Pool with Awesome Views Natural Swimming Pools Designed With Nature To pay homage to the area, the design team bordered the main path with flowing runnels that are meant to be reminiscent of the area’s agricultural canals.
For functionality, Chafey and Blauvelt included a massive outdoor kitchen and seating area capable of accommodating hundreds of people. For fun, they included a turtle sanctuary and chicken coup, along with a large children’s area, a massive play structure, and an in-ground trampoline. There’s also a fully functional windmill. Surprisingly, the centerpiece of the project, the pool, was one of the last elements to be completed. It is 3,200 square feet and sits against two sides of the house where floor to ceiling glass doors connect the house and the water.
“The pool is rectilinear on the near side of the house so it would feel harmonious with the architecture. And as is true of the rest of the landscape, the decking is all in geometric modular pads interspersed among the faux grass. As you move away form the house, the watershapes transition into a series of soft, intersecting arcs, the idea being that it draws your eye into the softness of the distant mountain views,” say Chafey and Blauvelt.
Finishing touches include a children’s pool, sun shelf, spa, a swim-up bar fitted with outdoor kitchen appliances, and an outdoor shower area that can also be accessed from the master bedroom.
The list of amenities does not end here, but to say the least, they are a spectacular array of comforts and intimate details that make this space truly spectacular. In the end, what started out as “plain Jane” turned into a supermodel of estates and proves to be an excellent example of what integrated design and client interaction can yield. Recommended Reading:
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