Horseshoe Bay

This project was constructed in the spring of 2023 in Horseshoe Bay and was inspired by the clients’ connection to their home in Arizona. The goal was to create a landscape that felt like their vacation home while still belonging naturally within a West Coast setting. The design needed to feel calm and sculptural rather than lush or ornamental, allowing the materials and forms to speak for themselves.

A key driver of the design was the view from the home’s large front window. As an artist, the homeowner wanted the landscape to function almost like a living composition, something visually engaging to look out onto throughout the day. The space was carefully layered with texture, contrast, and rhythm so it could be appreciated both up close and from within the home. Every element was placed with sightlines in mind, creating a landscape that feels considered from every angle.

Modern wood and white stucco duplex house with front yard landscaping.
Decorative landscape boulders and river rocks in a garden bed next to a green hedge.
Concrete steps in river rock, with drought-tolerant plants, boulders, and glass railing modern xeriscape.
Purple and green garden plants surrounded by decorative gray river rocks.
Dark purple ornamental plant growing in a decorative backyard rock garden.

Low maintenance was essential, so the planting palette was entirely drought tolerant and designed to thrive without irrigation. The restrained planting scheme allows negative space, stone, and form to take the lead while still providing seasonal interest and softness. 

Large hand selected boulders anchor the space and give it a strong sense of permanence. Chosen together with the clients, these stones create a desert inspired foundation that references the Southwest while blending with coastal materials and planting. The result is a refined desert scape that bridges two landscapes, merging xeriscape principles with West Coast sensibility.

Dark purple ornamental plant growing in a decorative backyard rock garden.
Modern garden path with concrete stone pavers, decorative gravel, and large accent rocks.
Decorative landscape rock surrounded by gravel and garden plants.
Modern garden path with concrete stone pavers, decorative gravel, and large accent rocks.

Project Credits

Landscape Contractor: Jones Outdoor Living