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No. 61 Pergolas · Desert & Southwest

Timber Pergola Shading Poolside Daybeds

In a Southwest desert setting, a rustic timber pergola shelters poolside daybeds beside a rectangular pool, surrounded by gravel planting beds with agave, saguaro, and an adobe and stucco residence at dusk.

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

  • Clearance under the beams — 8 to 10 feet feels right
  • Slat spacing and orientation against the afternoon sun
  • Posts placed outside the furniture, never through it
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