No. 12 Backyards · Desert & Southwest
Tan Shade Sail Over Gravel Patio
Under a tan shade sail, this low-maintenance desert backyard features crushed gravel, corten steel planters with native cacti, large sandstone boulders, and a central stone fire pit beside wooden seating.
Design notes
Desert and Southwest design is shade, earth and sky. Look for stucco or adobe in earthy tones, flat roofs with deep overhangs, decomposed granite and gravel instead of lawn, and planting of agave, yucca, saguaro, ocotillo, palo verde and desert wildflowers. Corten steel, concrete and rammed earth handle the sun; ramadas, shade sails and pergolas make midday usable; and lighting stays low so the stars can compete.
What to look for
- How the space is zoned — dining, lounging, lawn, planting
- Sightlines from the back door to the furthest feature
- Layers of privacy: canopy, screening, structure
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