At Home in the Garden
Part of a whole-house redo, a lush landscape beckons with a series of inviting outdoor spaces.
By Marilyn Hawkes | Photography by Jill Richards
Bev and Brian Burch’s warm and welcoming Santa Barbara-style dwelling serves as a peaceful sanctuary—a calming antidote to their full and busy lives. But when friends and family visit, including the couple’s five children and many grandchildren, everyone wants to spend time outside enjoying the leafy, activity-filled grounds. “The kids love the gardens,” says Bev. “There are lots of places for them to eat, sit, play, run and jump.”
The Burches have lived in their home for close to 24 years. Located in the upscale Biltmore neighborhood, the house sits on a spacious lot that brims with an eclectic mix of mature trees, large manicured lawns and lush foliage. A semicircular driveway lined with white iceberg roses greets guests and, in the spring, hundreds of bulbs—daffodils, paper whites, hyacinths, allium and narcissus—push through the soil for an explosion of color. African sumac trees and yellow oleanders hug the wall surrounding the entry courtyard. Inside the gate, twisted pistachio tree branches provide shade next to a gurgling fountain. According to landscape architect Russell Greey, the property is reminiscent of a grand Montecito estate.
The Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award winner remodeled and refreshed the grounds as part of an extensive renovation that included the home’s interior. (See “A Sense of Place,” Phoenix Home & Garden, November 2019, Pages 128-141). The house redo helped open it up to the backyard, which was transformed into a functional and fun entertaining area with an expanded outdoor kitchen, upgraded pool area and new putting green. The couple also installed an alfresco shower by the pool that Brian uses almost daily.
Because Bev and Brian love to host large gatherings, the exterior spaces were designed to accommodate a crowd. The outdoor kitchen, which was installed beneath an existing patio overhang in order to protect it—and any chefs—from the scorching desert sun, features grills and refrigerators, a raised limestone sink, an extended bar for sitting and plenty of counter space. “We cook out here all the time,” Bev says. “I can’t tell you how much we enjoy this space.”
“The landscape offers so many wonderful spaces in which to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.”
—Bev Burch, homeowner
Nearby, a conversation pit lined with wicker chairs and cozy couches offers a comfortable area where folks can convene for an after-dinner drink or to watch TV. Bev is the owner of an Arcadia-based home decor store, and evidence of her impeccable design touches are everywhere. A collection of straw hats flop effortlessly on a weathered wood rack. Plush accent pillows with bold brown brush stokes complement the understated wicker chairs. Stone planters spill over with white flowers.
Greey created a ramada in between the outdoor kitchen and guest house, where up to 16 people can dine alfresco surrounded by olive trees. Looking north, a spectacular view of Piestewa Peak looms in the distance.
High on Bev and Brian’s wish list was ensuring that the backyard be open, low-maintenance and child-friendly. “They might have 15 kids here at a time, so it can’t be fussy,” Greey explains. The existing pool was given an upgrade with taller safety fencing and new decking, which Bev and friend, business partner and interior designer, Susan Rose, picked out. “At the tile yard, I asked Susan to lay down on the stone to see if it was hot,” Bev recounts, adding with a laugh, “We still ended up going with hot because we liked the scale and texture of the limestone pavers.” Adds Rose, “We selected the outdoor stone for the pool area because it was a beautiful contrast to the house color.” The addition of a Baja shelf lets the Burches’ younger grandchildren enjoy the pool. “They can hang out on it and pretend that they’re swimming,” Bev says.
Flowering Bradford pear trees line the pool fencing and connect the hardscape to an expansive lawn where children and adults can play volleyball, croquet or football. “Originally, there were a lot of beds and hedges, but we decided to install wall-to-wall grass and keep it very simple, like something you would see in a vintage estate,” Greey says.
“The grounds have this eclectic feel. It’s all part of the character of the house.”
—Russell Greey, landscape architect
To that end, Greey left all the mature trees intact, including towering Arizona ash and Aleppo pine trees; a massive jacaranda, Hong Kong orchid and lofty ash; several prolific citrus trees and an immense Texas mescal bean that has grown up and through a metal gazebo. He also replaced loose dirt areas with pea gravel for a fresh look and cleaned up dormant hedges and flower beds. “The grounds just have this eclectic feel, and I tried not to make anything look too prescribed,” he explains. “It’s all part of the character of the home.”
The garden’s new look is soft and ageless—and it creates a welcoming ambience that the Burches desired. No matter the season, Bev and Brian can be found enjoying their outdoor living and play areas. “This is where we entertain,” Bev says. “We’re out back all the time, even in the summer. The landscape offers so many wonderful spaces in which to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather.” π
Interior Designers: Beverly Burch and Susan Rose, Willows Fine Goods and Design. Landscape architect: Russell Greey, Greey | Pickett
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