Blog | Phoenix Landscaping Design & Pool Builders, Remodeling

June 26, 2019

5 Important Tips From A Top Phoenix Landscaper

This landscape design provides the perfect outdoor living space to enjoy the year round pleasant climate in Phoenix. Homeowners can double their living space for a fraction of the cost of a home addition

Landscaping your Phoenix property is far more challenging than simply picking some plants and getting them into the ground. The Valley of the Sun is well known as a great place for outdoor living and entertaining, and you want your landscape to provide the stage for your outdoor lifestyle. Properly blending hardscape features, plant material and other features such as a swimming pool or splash pad required a great deal of knowledge, planning, and expertise. Investing in a professional design and installation firm is always a good choice. Contact the design team at the UNIQUE Companies for a free consultation to learn about all of the services and benefits of a professional landscape for your Phoenix home.

One of the most important outdoor features of any home is the view. And protecting that view rather than blocking it with landscape and other outdoor features is very important. Your landscape should enhance any view that you have rather than detracting from it. It is the view from your yard that will offer an sense of openness and space even in a smaller yard, and you never want to block it. A professional designer will be able to offer many ideas to maximize the view from your outdoor living areas and ensure the feeling of a spacious yard.

Your Budget Is An Important Factor In Your Level Of Satisfaction

This fireplace and patio extension are the foundation of this landscape plan. These features increased the landscape budget but provide a great return on investment in additional living space and by increasing the property value.

Having a healthy budget for your Phoenix landscape will definitely have a big impact on your overall enjoyment of the project once it is completed. Look at the investment you are making as money spent to increase the functionality of your yard and to increase your overall living space. Also, remember that patios, pools and shade structures can be added after an initial landscape is completed but they will be more expensive at that point. In addition, you are likely to damage or destroy a great deal of your existing landscape to add features later. Plan carefully to include all of the features and outdoor living spaces that you want in your initial design. This will save you a great deal of money in the long run and will ensure that the project flows as smoothly as the living spaces inside your home.

Odd Numbers Are Visually Pleasing

Planting in odd numbers creates visual appeal and interest. The variety of colors and textures also make this design very pleasing and inviting.

When selecting plant material, remember that odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. In addition, even when you plant in even numbers for symmetry, plants never grow at perfectly equal rates so there will always appear to be something lacking in the symmetry. Odd numbers allow for a more random and natural look and will be much easier to maintain in the future. Threes and fives are the magic numbers for plants, trees and even flower pots. And more than five and the element will become overbearing.

Plant For Year-Round Outdoor Living

The plantings in this landscape design enhance the appearance of the home but do not block the view from windows and doors. In addition, the trees provide shade and insulation for the front of the home.

Phoenix offers a wonderful year-round climate for enjoying outdoor living spaces. Keep that in mind when you are selecting plants. Be sure to have plants that will be blooming and at their peak throughout the year. Every design will have a single focal point at its center, such as a water feature or specimen plant. If the focal point of your yard is a plant, be sure that you select a plant that does not go dormant and one that will be pleasing to look at all year long. Adding seasonal features around the focal point will draw the eye in different directions depending on the season of the year. Planting fall and winter blooming plants near a fire pit or fireplace makes more sense than locating them near the pool which would be used more frequently in the summer months.

Add Texture To Create Interest

This design offers a great variety of color and texture as well as blooming season. This yard will offer color and foliage for enjoyment throughout the year.

Especially in the case of a new landscape with smaller plants, other elements such as hardscape features of stone or stucco, fencing or even statues will add a great deal of texture and interest to your landscape. A rough wooden fence will provide a color and texture contrast to smooth green foliage. Plant material can also be used to soften the feel of large masonry features such as an outdoor kitchen. Soft vines can trail up a trellis or the support posts of a ramada to cover the sharp angles and starkness. An open pergola over an outdoor eating area can also be a great place to vines for both shade and a softer, lighter texture. When selecting plant material, variation in texture is also important. The massive leaves of a fan palm can be paired with the more delicate leaves and plumes of a fairy duster to provide contrast in color and texture. To learn more tips on landscaping or to schedule a free consultation with a designer, call the UNIQUE team at 480-969-1911.

June 19, 2019

Adding Technology To Your Outdoor Living Spaces

Adding technology to your outdoor living space means the ability to enjoy a ballgame or movie without having to go indoors on a beautiful day or night. Enjoy great outdoor living and great entertainment.

Creating a functional outdoor living space means that you also bring all of the conveniences of your indoor living spaces outdoors. This can include many many aspects of technology now that wireless networks allow for total integration indoors as well as outdoors. So before you begin selecting all of the finishes and features of your outdoor oasis, give some thought to all of the activities and technology that you would like to enjoy while outdoors. Taking the time to refine your expectations early will ensure that your new outdoor living space meets all of your needs for fun, comfort, entertainment, and function.

The mild climate in Phoenix allows residents to enjoy being outdoors year round. And this added bonus can include much more than hanging out in the pool or enjoying a great meal al fresco. Homeowners who want to be able to work outdoors or enjoy entertainment such as television, movies or music, just need to plan for these features to be added into the plans for their outdoor living space design. Extending your home network and Internet capability to your yard opens up the doors for all of the entertainment and function that you enjoy in your home theater, home office or any room in your home. To learn more about adding technology to your outdoor living design, contact the UNIQUE design team for their tips and recommendations.

Adding An Access Point For Outdoor Technology

Adding a small access point (AP) to your outdoor living space will allow you to take all of your electronics outdoors. Now you can watch movies, listen to music and even work online, just as you do indoors.

In most homes, the signal for the WiFi is just not strong enough to function outdoors. And for heavy data users such as streaming video or high-speed Internet for work purposes, boosters and signal extenders are not going to be reliable. But the addition of an outdoor access point (AP) can provide the coverage that you want outdoors as well as the capacity and reliability needed for streaming audio and video. NETGEAR offers a wide variety of AP’s that can extend your complete connectivity to an extra 2,500 square feet. And all of the outdoor models offer a weather-resistant design and easy wall mounting capability. And Phoenix homeowners will be happy to know that the Orbi Outdoor Satellite unit will handle the dust that is so prevalent in the areas as they are rated to an international standard of IP56.

Mountable Outdoor Technology For Your Outdoor Living Space

This outdoor living space provides a great place to watch the game or a movie with friends. It is also the perfect place to take advantage of the solitude when working from home.

With Internet service to your outdoor living spaces, the next important selection is for the hardware to enjoy music, sports, movies and any other entertainment that you select. Magnolia offers a great selection of outdoor televisions that are designed for the tough climate that Phoenix homeowners endure. These televisions include Enhanced Solar Tolerance which means that they will withstand the heat of a Phoenix summer as well as special glare protection and features that enhance the image for viewing even in full sun. The powder-coated aluminum and water resistant cable entry system ensure that you can enjoy sports, movies and TV shows outdoors and with great sound from the detachable, weather resistant sound bar. Now movie night can be enjoyed from the pool, in the Ramada or anywhere else that you choose to locate your outdoor big screen TV and speakers.

Add A New Twist To Working From Home Thanks To New Technology

Never miss your favorite TV show. Relax on a stool in the pool or by the fire pit as you watch this outdoor television. And Never worry that dust or hot weather will damage these purpose built outdoor televisions.

We all know and love the benefits of being able to work from home. There is no tiresome commute, the countless interruptions from co-workers are eliminated and the coffee is certainly better. And according to forbes.com, working from home is also a benefit to your employer as it has been found to be the most productive work arrangement. And what could be more inspiring than sitting in your outdoor living room while you work on that proposal or review the latest report from your boss? Outdoor living in Phoenix is not just for playtime anymore. Your outdoor living oasis is the perfect place to find the solitude and inspiration that you need to accomplish more when you are working from home. And all of this is very possible when you plan for and add technology to your outdoor living space. A UNIQUE design specialist can assist you in integrating features such as outdoor TV’s and speakers as well as subtle spaces that will be perfect for the days when you are working from home. Call 480-969-1911 today to schedule a free consultation, and in just a few months, you can be the envy of all of your co-workers and friends. Your new outdoor living space will add functional work and play space to your home as well as an unbeatable environment to recharge both physically and mentally.

June 12, 2019

5 Hot Backyard Trends For 2019

This beautiful Phoenix backyard offers many of the features that are hot for 2019. The fire pit, outdoor kitchen and outdoor living space provide the same comforts as your home but in the great outdoors.

Outdoor living is becoming more and more popular throughout the country, and few other cities offer the year-round mild climate that we enjoy here in the Phoenix area. Residents in the Valley of the Sun know that an investment in outdoor living space is one that they will be able to enjoy all year making it hard to find any reason not to add some or all of these 5 hot backyard trends to your Phoenix home. And if you are not sure about how to include these features in your outdoor living space, a member of the UNIQUE design team will visit your home for a free initial consultation to discuss your options for possible layouts and features that you will enjoy for years to come. Call 480-969-1911 to schedule a consultation or visit the online request page.

Outdoor living space is all about bringing the comforts and features you enjoy inside your home to the great outdoors. Some of this year’s hottest features enhance your ability to entertain in your outdoor living space. A fire pit, BBQ or outdoor kitchen and outdoor dining areas all offer a comfortable place to gather with family and friends for some outdoor quality time. Other features help to promote relaxation and create that calming ambiance that we all need after a long day. Pergolas, spas, and fountains create spaces for relaxing alone or with family while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful weather that Phoenix has to offer.

This ramada and outdoor kitchen are the perfect for entertaining while enjoying a day in the pool. This is Phoenix outdoor living at its best.

Hot Trends In Outdoor Entertaining Features

Even in the summer months, a fire pit is a great place to gather in the evening after the sun goes down and toast marshmallows or just chat by the fire. And the best part is that fire pit designs offer a great many options to customize this popular feature. Homeowners can choose from a natural gas fire ring or logs, propane or even a natural wood-burning fire pit. And the size, shape and finish options are almost unlimited. The next two trending features this year seem to go hand in hand for many homeowners. Outdoor kitchens and dining spaces are more popular than ever. The pleasant climate in Phoenix makes outdoor cooking and dining a great way to add very functional living space without an expensive addition to your home. A basic BBQ island with a grill and serving space is just the beginning. Homeowners can include all of the features of their indoor kitchen including a sink, refrigerator, a drink station, storage space, and even a wood-burning pizza oven.

This outdoor kitchen and dining area offer bonus living space for parties and family gatherings. And in the evening, the fireplace is a great place to gather with guests.

Pergolas, ramadas, and gazebos are also very popular this year for creating an outdoor living space that offers some shade for daytime use. Even the most dedicated outdoorsy residents need a place to escape the sun from time to time. And all of these outdoor structures offer a bit of shade without the feeling of being cooped up indoors. The open sides promote great airflow and allow those seeking a bit of relaxation in the shade to still be a part of all of the fun outdoor activities taking place throughout the yard.

Hot Trends In Features To Help You Relax

This outdoor seating area offers a bonus living space for parties and family gatherings. And in the evening, the fire pit is a great place to gather with guests.

And once the guests have gone home and it is time to relax, a pergola, ramada, or gazebo is the perfect place for some quiet time to relax and simply enjoy your outdoor living space. The area can become even more tranquil if you add one of this year’s hottest outdoor features, a fountain. The sound of moving water is very relaxing not to mention the ability of even the smallest amount of water to create grey noise to block out the sounds of traffic or just the hum of everyday life. These features can be as simple as a wall mounted fountain or as elaborate as a custom designed pond and waterfall that is home to aquatic plants and even fish. And finally, if you are ready to get into some water to relax, a spa is one of the favored features this year to relax and wash all of your troubles and concerns away. A free-standing spa can be installed almost anywhere in your yard, or you might opt to add a spa when remodeling your current swimming pool. Your options are only limited by what you can imagine as the UNIQUE team can custom design and build your dream spa featuring therapeutic jets, a cascading water scupper or even a natural boulder waterfall. To learn more about your options for all of these hot outdoor trends for 2019, contact the UNIQUE design team at 480-969-1911. We offer a free consultation to answer your questions about outdoor features, possible designs and even the cost of adding some or all of these features to your Phoenix outdoor living oasis.