Scope of Work:

Design and Planning:

• Worked with the homeowners to design a landscape that would maximize both curb appeal and backyard livability on a generous lot in an established Riverton neighborhood. The plan addressed water-wise goals for the front yard and full outdoor recreation for the back — pool, fire pit, covered living, and play space — all tied together with a cohesive material palette of pavers, black rock mulch, natural boulders, and organic flowing lines.

• Produced a design centered on contrast and movement — sweeping curves in the front xeriscape that echo the organic turf shapes in the backyard, creating visual continuity across the entire property.

Front Yard Xeriscape:

• Designed and installed a striking xeriscape front yard built around a flowing S-curve pattern using contrasting black and gray crushed gravel — creating a bold, graphic look visible from the street and above.

• Set natural accent boulders of varying sizes and colors throughout the gravel beds to break up the pattern and add depth, with low ornamental plantings and young trees tucked into the curves for seasonal color and future growth.

• Installed low-voltage landscape lighting at key points along the curves, uplighting accent trees and boulders to give the front yard a dramatic presence at dusk.

• Bordered the full design with clean concrete edging separating the xeriscape from the driveway, sidewalk, and park strip — keeping the gravel lines sharp and defined.

• Added a natural stone boulder feature near the center of the yard to anchor the design and create a focal point within the flowing gravel pattern.

Backyard Pool & Entertaining:

• Installed an in-ground pool with a curved slide, in-pool volleyball net, and underwater lighting — designed as the centerpiece of the backyard entertaining space.

• Surrounded the pool with a generous paver deck in a flowing, organic shape that connects to the covered back porch, the fire pit area, and the open lawn — no hard edges, no rigid geometry.

• Built a circular stone fire pit with a flagstone pad and low seat wall, surrounded by Adirondack chairs — positioned at the far end of the pool deck for evening gatherings with unobstructed views of the Wasatch Range.

• Laid black rock mulch throughout all planting beds surrounding the pool and fire pit areas, creating a clean, high-contrast border between hardscape, turf, and plantings.

Covered Porch & Outdoor Living:

• Integrated the existing covered back porch and deck into the new landscape plan, with paver walkways connecting it to the pool deck and lawn areas for seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living.

• Framed the porch with planting beds, accent boulders, and ornamental trees to soften the transition from structure to landscape.

Turf & Planting Design:

• Shaped the lawn areas in organic, flowing forms — mirroring the curves of the front yard xeriscape and the pool deck surround — with no straight edges or rectangular patches anywhere on the property.

• Planted columnar evergreens along the back and side fence lines for vertical structure, privacy screening, and year-round green against the white vinyl fencing.

• Placed accent boulders and low ornamental shrubs throughout the turf-to-mulch transitions, tying the planting zones together and giving each section of the yard its own character.

• Installed fresh sod across all turf areas with full irrigation coverage.

Recreation & Play:

• Positioned a children's playground set adjacent to the pool area, within clear sightlines from the covered porch and fire pit — keeping the play zone connected to the main entertaining space.

• Designed the open lawn areas between the pool, porch, and fence line for flexible use — large enough for yard games, kids' play, or casual lounging.

Finishing Details:

• Installed low-voltage landscape lighting throughout the backyard — uplighting accent trees, boulders, and plantings along the fence line and pool perimeter for a warm, layered glow at night.

• Coordinated all hardscape materials — pavers, fire pit stone, seat walls — in complementary earth tones that tie together with the natural boulders and gravel in the front yard.

• Installed full irrigation across all turf and planting zones, front and back.

Results:

• Neighborhood Standout Curb Appeal: The xeriscape front yard transformed a conventional lawn into one of the most distinctive streetscapes in the neighborhood — bold, water-wise, and eye-catching from the ground and the air.

• Resort-Style Backyard: Pool with slide, volleyball net, fire pit lounge, and covered porch give the family a private outdoor retreat designed for daily use and year-round entertaining.

• Cohesive Design Language: The flowing, organic curves that define the front yard xeriscape carry through every element in the back — pool deck shape, turf borders, mulch beds — making the entire property feel like a single, intentional composition.

• Mountain Views Framed: The layout positions the fire pit, pool deck, and lounge areas to take full advantage of the Wasatch Range panorama to the west and south, turning the natural backdrop into part of the design.