A dense desert canvas transforms into a Sonoran masterpiece.

Life in a golf club community comes with many perks: unrestricted access to world-class amenities, an atmosphere of privacy and exclusivity, and perhaps most notably, breathtaking panoramic views of expansive open spaces.

But for one couple living along the pristine fairways of the Estancia Club in North Scottsdale, the abundant desert plant life in their backyard posed an obstacle to the views they cherished so much.

“When we bought the home, the grounds hadn’t been maintained or taken care of,” the husband says. “We’re on the fourth fairway, and we couldn’t see the greens from the back terrace; it was overgrown with trees and scrub brush.”

As avid lovers of landscape design, the couple recognizes the allure of the desert, finding solace in its stark contrast to their second home in Washington State. Having collaborated previously with award-winning landscape designer Chad Norris, they once again enlisted his expertise.

“We let Chad know what we were looking for as far as different plants and elevations, then we left the rest to him. But we wanted to give him the freedom to create,” the husband explains.

“I was surprised when they called me a few years after completing their first home, considering all the work put into it,” Norris recalls. “But the homeowner has a really good eye for recognizing properties that aren’t being utilized to their fullest extent.”

After seeing the dense and overgrown landscape, Norris’s vision began to take shape, blending the austerity of soft contemporary, Asian-inspired architecture with the rugged elegance of the Sonoran Desert. “To me, the lines of the home are reminiscent of Japanese simplicity and elegance,” the husband describes.

One of the more significant changes Norris undertook involved reclaiming the space between the property and the golf course, which was so dense, “you couldn’t see or walk through it,” Norris says. “Once we cleared all that out, we raised the elevation of the ground just behind the negative-edge pool, where we installed big boulders and cacti.”

Another challenge lay in delineating the home from the street. “There’s not much space in between the driveway and the main entry,” Norris elaborates. “So we mounded the dirt and added boulders, as well as trees and big specimen cactus that created layers, as well as visual separation.”

The resulting landscape design harmonizes with the architectural elements of the home, creating a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. “At the back, the glass doors fully open, allowing the desert to come into the terrace. Sometimes, we almost can’t believe it. With the sunsets, it truly is magical,” the husband says.

The journey from concept to completion was a collaborative effort between the homeowners and the landscape designer, with each element carefully selected to evoke a sense of peace and harmony. From the towering saguaros and fence post cacti that frame the pool to the multi-trunk yucca rostrata that serves as a sculptural centerpiece, every plant and feature was chosen to enhance the natural beauty of the desert landscape.

As the homeowners reflect on the transformation of their home, they speak of the joy it brings to their family and guests. “We have three adult children and eight grandchildren,” the husband says. “They love to visit—as much as we love sharing our home with them.”

Sources

Landscape designer: Chad Norris, High Desert Designs, Scottsdale, highdesertdesigns.com.