From towering palms and vibrant blooms to intimate outdoor seating areas, this desert-tropical landscape was inspired by Beverly Hills glamour.

In the heart of Paradise Valley, a home’s landscape unfurls like a Hollywood movie—an ensemble of lush, colorful plantings set against a dramatic score of burbling fountains, rustling palms and the occasional thrum of a passing hummingbird.

The scene culminates in the backyard’s series of outdoor rooms, all situated around a glistening azure pool, where the eyes are drawn upward to a perfectly framed view of Camelback Mountain. This carefully choreographed re-creation of retro Hollywood grandeur was a coordinated effort between Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award-winning landscape designer Jeremy McVicars and interior designer Tracey Simpson.

Originally built in 1986, the stately home itself is something of an architectural enigma. While its Mediterranean and Santa Barbara influences are evident, the house resists easy categorization. Over time, its red brick exterior was softened with paint, and its sprawling outdoor spaces were refined to align with the current homeowners’ vision: a landscape that marries timeless elegance with livability. “You don’t see homes like this anymore,” says the husband. “It’s classic. The bones were there, but it needed the gardens to pop, so we built on top of that.”

In the front, McVicars replaced what was once mainly gravel with sprawling lawns, which extend around the house, and lined the driveway with Little Ollie dwarf olive hedges and flowering pear trees. “At first, we were going to throw in a few new plants,” the landscape designer says. “But once we started showing the owners our ideas, it evolved into a much bigger scope. We ended up gutting it, minus a couple of olive trees in the driveway.”

Frequent visitors to Los Angeles, the couple was drawn to the chic, vintage glamour of The Beverly Hills Hotel, which inspired the pool area. The landmark’s signature green and white stripes were reimagined in sunny yellow and white, with two-tiered umbrellas and chaise lounges that encircle the re-tiled pool. “The owners loved the palm patterns and color scheme found at the iconic hotel,” Simpson says, “but we felt that yellow was more of a color for the desert and popped against the pool’s aqua tile.”

Palm Springs also played a role in the design vision. “We wanted a tropical look but to keep it native-looking,” says the homeowner. McVicars achieved this balance by layering palm species of varying heights with agaves and desert-adapted flora. The property’s existing citrus orchard was enhanced with additional fruit trees, a nod to the homeowners’ appreciation for fresh, homegrown produce. “Instead of being too tailored with hedge upon hedge, we mixed in a little bit of the Santa Barbara look with some succulents—agaves, cardboard palms (Zamia furfuracea), ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) and Madagascar palms (Pachypodium lamerei),” McVicars explains. “It has a level of formality without being like an English garden.”

Throughout the estate, intentional spaces invite different moods and moments. Under the colonnade, a pair of chairs offers a quiet refuge for morning coffee and mountain views. A raised patio above the pool, anchored by a fireplace, creates a cozy evening retreat. Near the citrus orchard, a fire pit encircled by rocking chairs becomes the favored gathering spot for cigars and tequila-fueled conversations. And the outdoor kitchen—newly designed and fully equipped with a bar, pizza oven, refrigerators and a smoker—anchors the home’s social heart.

To break up the use of travertine throughout, Simpson specified two-tone graphic tile for the sofa seating area and men’s “cigar lounge” firepit area. “The idea was to keep the transitional concrete tile but add a Mediterranean star element,” she says. “We liked how the black and white played with the other elements.”

Handcrafted, custom-carved fountains and statuary designed by McVicars’ team create what he calls, “moments of surprise around every corner.”

“The idea was that out of every window, you can see something beautiful, whether it’s a water feature, a sculpture or a tree,” he says. “The vibrant colors and custom-carved pieces make this landscape truly one-of-a-kind. There’s a happiness to it, a brightness. Even when the plants are dormant, it’s still gorgeous.”

McVicars took the home’s gardens from what was once haphazard and “overly serious” to a meandering, lush paradise, punctuated by manicured hedges, layers of florals—from ruby reds and pert pinks to demure whites and fiery oranges—and a menagerie of palms. “It’s California meets tropical Florida,” he says.

For a couple who divide their time between multiple homes—from a steel-and-glass retreat in Santa Barbara to a mountain lodge in Lake Tahoe—this Paradise Valley estate is the perfect blend of two favorite styles, where Old-World charm meets the rugged beauty of the desert.

“When you’re in the house the landscape draws you outside,” says the husband. “When we’re in town, the doors are always open, dogs are running around—the gals can hang out by the outdoor kitchen, and the guys can be in the other end smoking cigars and carrying on.”

And like a classic film, it will never go out of style. “The layering of the plants makes it livable and approachable,” he reflects. “As the landscape grows and matures—it just gets better and better.”

• Interior Designer: Tracey Simpson, IDEA.
• Landscape designer: Jeremy McVicars, Refined Gardens.

“Strong massings of plants can make a garden come together. Some people use 100 plants on a property. I don’t think that looks the best. If you use 20, that’s plenty of variety.”

—Jeremy McVicars, landscape designer

McVicars incorporated subsurface drip irrigation, or an underground fertilization system, into this home’s landscape. Here’s why you might want to consider investing in this feature:

• Direct root delivery: Drip lines are buried underground, allowing the water and nutrients to reach the plant roots directly, maximizing efficiency.
• Water conservation: By delivering water precisely where needed, evaporation is significantly reduced, saving water compared to traditional sprinkler systems.
• Precise nutrient control: A fertilizer injector can be added to the system, allowing for controlled application of nutrients based on each plant’s needs.
• Suitable for various plants: Can be used for gardens, lawns and agricultural crops.

SOURCES

• Builder: Brett Brimley, Brimley Development, Phoenix, brimdev.com.
• Interior designer: Tracey Simpson, IDEA, Portland, Oregon, idea-interiors.com.
• Landscape designer: Jeremy McVicars, Refined Gardens, Scottsdale, refinedgardens.com.
• Pool contracting: Daniel J. Goss and Associates, Scottsdale, dgapools.com.
• OUTDOOR KITCHEN—Antique plaque above pizza oven: Amy Johanssen, Studio Ressource, Scottsdale, studioressource.com.
• Bar stools: janusetcie.com.
• Stone fountains and statues (custom): Designed by refinedgardens.com; crafted by VisionMakers, Scottsdale, visionmakersintl.com.
• POOL—Pool tile: bisazza.com.
• Umbrellas: santabarbaradesigns.com.
• Yellow and white pool furniture: janusetcie.com.
• CIGAR LOUNGE—Chairs: perigold.com.