My Items

This client remodeled the inside of their home and wanted the outside to look just as good. They felt lost and overwhelmed with all the options out there and called us to help come up with a plan that worked well for their space. They had already started by addressing drainage problems with a dry creak and asked us to make it look good within the space. They also requested areas with drought tolerant grasses, bed areas to attract pollinators, as well as space incorporating edible plants.

In the front, we reworked their entry walk to be more elevated and alleviate erosion issues. In addition we removed several invasive trees and replaced some previously removed shade trees along the front and side. The walk now carries the user from the drive to the front door and around the side to the back where we added a patio space to complete the project.

This client came to us when they knew they were about to start installing a pool. They wanted to make sure the landscaping around the pool made sense and that they maintained plenty of privacy in their backyard. We had already built a tiered patio area off the back porch. We added a walkway, retained the area around the pool and regraded the landscape. Then we built trellises on both sides of the backyard and added vines to cover. We also built a fence around the area housing the new pool equipment.

Our clients were building a pool into a very steep slope on their property and were looking for a landscape that allowed for seating, native planting and walkways. One of the clients is an architect and had a clear idea of materials and look that she wanted. We took her vision and made it into a reality with a lueder patio at the shallow side of the pool, steel terracing and stone steps leading down the slope along the side of the pool, stone retaining walls at the top and bottom of the property and two custom steel fences at both ends. We finished it off with native plants and added Dripping Springs Ollas to help keep them watered during the long hot summer.

The client wanted a more cohesive yard that connected all of their doors to the yard while also creating a seating area. In addition, she wanted a fireplace, pizza oven, some places to grow food and a bit of privacy. We had seen this pizza oven at the TNLA expo and got the information from the company. The structure is a kit made in San Antonio that came with the option to add the pizza oven. It seemed perfect for what we were looking for. We formed up the fireplace and their matching kitchen kit and used the brick veneer for the exterior. It was the perfect solution for the client's needs. In addition our masons customized the pizza oven with some of the patio stone to make it look that much better. We created a trellis all around the back yard where we'll be growing vines. We added some little veggie gardens in some of the sunniest parts of her yard and designed plants for the other bed spaces. The patio ties everything together to make this yard the perfect party spot.

The builder of this ranch remodel came to us with a landscape plan by Christy Ten Eyck and asked us to make that vision into reality. We scraped and regraded a large portion of the property around the house and the outdoor living areas. We built all of the masonry patios, steps, pool decking and pathways throughout the landscape. The beautiful fire pit is constructed from boulders found on site. We also installed a few hundred feet of limestone curb along the driveway and parking to frame that area. Lastly, we planted tons of native plants, some very large trees, laid buffalo sod and seeded the remaining yard space with buffalo grass and wildflower seeds.

This property is built on a slope beginning in the backyard and becoming more significant as it flows down the front yard to the street. As with any property on a hill, the challenges were halting erosion, directing water flow, and building spaces for the homeowner to sit outside and enjoy their space. This client wanted to be able to spend time in the privacy of the backyard and described the desired style as “responsible, funky, and native.”

We began with the highest part of the backyard by creating a small seating area surrounded by raised garden beds. We then sectioned it off with a limestone chop block wall that stepped down into a grass area for pets. We terraced down another level using stacked flagstone to build a retaining wall for a bed near the back patio around a beautiful heritage oak. Between everything we worked in a dry creek to direct all the water running through the yard to move around the side of his house and let it filter down over boulders and down the hill in the front yard.

In the front yard, we extended the front porch with charcoal brick and surrounded that space with garden beds filled with grasses and flowers. We built a stucco retaining wall around the patio and used steel and the same patio bricks to build steps down another level. The walk was completed by incorporating large boulder steps down to the street. We finished the project by filling the front yard with a mix of shade friendly gra

A UT biology professor and gardener, this client came to us for help with their drainage and sloping towards the house. The Driftwood house is located on a hill and we needed to excavate and create a retaining wall along the uphill side to take the slope away from the house and direct the water around it. We excavated all along the house to slope the ground toward our new wall. Then, we built a limestone drystack wall and installed a berm with some of the excavated material uphill from the wall to slow the flow of the water. Between the wall and the berm we added good quality soil to create a native plant bed. Then around the house we installed limestone skirting under the deck and stairs down from there leading to a large stone walkway connecting the deck to the vegetable garden.

This client is an interior designer and provided pictures of a backyard that she wanted to create in her own yard. The yard is tiny so we needed to make all the components that she was looking for fit into the space. This included the tiniest patch of grass for her small dogs. We ended up with a pergola that she can hang chairs or a hammock bed from, a small fountain for a water feature, and a deck for outdoor eating. She plans to install a built in grill with a pizza oven on her back patio. It all comes together quite nicely to create an extended living space in the backyard. In her description of what she wanted it said zen and modern, like a cool outdoor restaurant. Mission accomplished!

This client came to us to add curb appeal and plantings around their newly renovated pool. They plan to stay in the house until their kids graduate from high school in about five years and wanted something functional to look good while they're in the house. They also want to keep an eye on how it would perform when selling the home. We removed the standard concrete entry and replaced it with a more modern entry that leads to a pathway to the backyard. We addressed some drainage issues of erosion due to lack of gutters and pooling in the side yard by adding large gravel where the water hits the ground and a rain garden to slow and direct the runoff. We also added plantings in the front and back that work with the sunlight and climate that really frame the entry and pool areas. We also replaced the St Augustine in the front with a more drought tolerant Zoysia grass.

This client was referred to us by a builder we work with occasionally. They were remodeling their newly purchased home and wanted a large outdoor living space complete with Ipe deck and covered kitchen. They wanted to make sure we used the full landscape so we created pathways and areas to enjoy down the slope in the wilder areas as well as away from the main living area. There is a fantastic view that you can enjoy from the kitchen, some of the deck living spaces and the fire pit area. Down the hill you can feel more secluded in a hammock or playing on the trampoline. We framed in the pool with some flowering desert willows. On the deck we created a gravel seating area in the center to separate the different living spaces. We surrounded the deck with planters to help frame it and eliminate the need for railings. In the front we created a courtyard around the entry way with a more desert style. In the existing planters along the street we added agaves and feather grasses to complete the look.

​

This client complained about their backyard being uneven. They wanted a nice place to sit, grill and throw the ball for their dog. They also wanted to up their curb appeal and add steel planters. In the front, we created a tiered steel planter as well as a bed around the electrical box to help hide it. In the back we made a wrap around bench with a large fire pit that doubles as a nice table to set drinks and snacks. We extended the patio out for a shaded area to add a table and a covered grilling space. Finally, we regraded the soil and laid out a soft zoysia grass that the dog will enjoy and feel great on barefeet!