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Photography by Michael Woodall
The centerpiece of Sara and David Lieberman’s narrow backyard is this dramatic ceramic head sculpture by Jun Kaneko. The base of the piece had to be buried in the ground to meet homeowners’ association requirements for height.
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A once-typical yard becomes
a showplace for art and
desert plantsWhen art collectors Sara and David Lieberman decided to downsize from an acre lot to a much smaller setting in a gated Scottsdale community, they knew they had to rethink the design of the garden.
For starters, there simply was not enough room for all of their outdoor art. Secondly, homeowners’ association rules made it necessary to be selective about the placement and size of the pieces the couple installed. Finally, the tiny backyard felt confined and uninviting.
“We wanted to create more space to display art and increase the spaciousness of the outdoors,” Sara explains. “We also wanted plants that were low-maintenance, low-water-use, provided maximum color and attracted hummingbirds.”
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| Metal fencing repurposed as screening for an air-conditioning unit provides a unique backdrop for three ceramic columns by artist Joseph Gower. |
The Liebermans had worked with landscape architect Nancy Wagner on previous projects over the years and had developed a close relationship with her. A love of native plants and art formed the backbone of many of Wagner’s designs, and she gladly took on the Liebermans’ new space. Along with the homeowners, she collaborated with interior designer Loren Yagoda.
“Before Sara and David moved in, the backyard was like any typical tract house with a small yard and a concrete patio,” Yagoda recalls. Existing citrus trees were the only plants that were saved. “Nancy came in and broke up the spaces, creating an organic free-form approach. Her goal was to create a vignette that complemented the art placed within it.”
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Clock-wise from top left: A custom-mixed paint that landscape architect Nancy Wagner dubbed “Shaffer Ink Blue” covers a backyard wall. Desert flora is tucked among works of art, including a steel sculpture by Kim Cridler. A second accent wall adds a blast of color to the patio’s west side and also hides a barbecue. A wood cabinet doubles as a sideboard. The ceramic birdbath is by Baba Wague Diakite. The red porcelain wall plaque is by Bobby Silverman.
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Wagner removed the concrete patio and in its place laid squares of travertine that match flooring inside the home. In addition, doors that looked out to the backyard were replaced with extra-tall sliding glass doors. “This helped open up the house and creates a seamless transition to the outside,” notes David. It also made it easier for David, who is confined to a wheelchair, to maneuver in and out of the house.
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Clock-wise from top left: On the east side of the backyard, art and plants come together in an intriguing vignette. Existing citrus trees line the back wall, which was painted a custom shade of terra cotta. David Grove, who assisted with the art installation, placed three ceramic heads by Nobuhito Nishigawara in a garden bed. The bronze figures sitting on the rock are by Nora Naranjo Morse and can be seen from the Liebermans’ bedroom. The covered back patio offers just enough room for rattan seating, a pot of grafted cacti, and a ceramic wall piece by Tom Kerrigan. “It was Nancy’s idea to add a path along the side of the house and create a secret garden,” Sara Lieberman recalls. “She had an eye for creating spaces that combine art with nature,” adds interior designer Loren Yagoda. The earthen walk is lined with an assortment of cacti and flowering desert perennials that thrive in the eastern exposure. The steel and bronze piece by Kevin Berry is titled Rock Monster. To create drama at the home’s entry, a plain front door was replaced with one bearing rows of small windows. It was painted a shade of orange called Campfire by Dunn-Edwards, and almost matches the tiny flowers of a lady’s slipper plant visible in the foreground.
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Inspired by the work of architect Luis Barragán and the vibrant colors of Mexico, Wagner constructed two boldly painted accent walls in the backyard to serve as backdrops for art and to break up the space. She then added plants with interesting shapes that harmonize with the couple’s sculpture. Colorful grafted cacti, sculptural agaves and unusual euphorbias seem to double as natural works of art.
Once “typical,” the yard is now a gallery for world-class art and striking desert flora. With the doors swung open and breezes drifting in, “It feels like the garden is a part of our home,” remarks David.
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Clock-wise from top left: Travertine flooring flows seamlessly from inside the home to the back patio. The sliding glass doors are operated by remote control. A ceramic installation by Brad Miller that “travels” from the front entry to the wall inside the house was designed to unite the indoors and out. The antique wooden bench is from Mexico. The bronze wall piece, titled Broken Wall Relief #1, is by Frank Morbillo.
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Sadly, Wagner passed away in February following a brief illness. “Her great knowledge, keen eye for color and form, and her sense of scale enlivened every project she undertook,” says Sara. “She will be greatly missed.”