Photography by Christiaan Blok

GETTING THE LOOK:
1. Metal agave fire feature 
2. Canopied lounge chair 
3. Elliptical island 
4. Steppingstones 
5. Spa 
6. Patio tiled with Portuguese limestone


When Jan and David Brandon yearn for a private island getaway, they need only walk out to their backyard pool. In its middle is a spot of tranquility, reached easily by elevated steppingstones.

A collaborative design by the couple, architectural firm H & S International, and builder Platinum Homes Inc., the unusual pool-plus-island was built by Phoenician Pool Construction.  

The centerpiece of their creation is a canopied Janus et Cie Orbit lounge chair. Built for two, it provides an ideal spot from which to enjoy the desert setting, day or night. The poolscape also includes a spa and an agave-shaped fire feature made of metal. “On chilly evenings, the flaming agave gives great comfort,” Jan remarks. “The contrast of fire and water and endless evening sky is breathtaking.”

The entire Brandon residence was featured in the October 2007 issue (“Desert Retreat”).