- Paul Swirski, Designer/Project Manager California Pools & Landscape
Phoenix
Yards are continually getting smaller, especially in fast-growing areas such as the Phoenix metro.
“Many of the lots are 30-by-60 feet,” says Paul Swirski, designer and project manager for Phoenix-based California Pools & Landscape. “That doesn’t give you a lot of room for a backyard space.”
Such was the case on this property, where building a pool would have meant eating up all the square footage in the backyard. Fortunately, California Pools & Landscape had recently built a pool for the client’s brother, who lived nearby. So she decided to stick with a spa.
“Her brother didn’t have a spa but he had a pool,” Swirski says. “So it worked out for both families — she could use his pool, and he could use her spa.”
The combination spa and fire feature that resulted not only fit the space constraints but also provided a stunning destination more than worth the car ride.
Shine and Texture
The spa and fire feature provided an opportunity to introduce interesting texture elements into the backyard.
On the spa itself, the exterior of the raised overflow wall is finished in iridescent glass mosaic tile.
Combined with the dark pebble and glass bead interior, Swirski was aiming for a very reflective surface.
“I wanted something dark,” he says. “You can see that, when there are clouds, the tile kind of disappears, so you only see the water.”
But, rather than using the standard 1-by-1-inch glass, Swirski opted for a 2-by-1-inch variety in a blue mix. For one thing, it made sense with the large-format deck tile.
“I’m a fan of the 1-by-2 tile — it has a subway look to it,” Swirski says.
But he also has a practical reason for the preference — namely their adherence to the substrate.
“They’re twice the size of a 1-by-1-inch, so they seem to do a much better job staying attached,” he says. “And I like fewer grout lines. All it takes is one spot of grout to come loose and the water gets in there and its going to spread.”
The raised fire feature and wall, meanwhile, is clad in a porcelain tile that has been stressed with cut lines. The concentrated grooves provide a rough texture. The 12-by-24-inch tiles are set vertically, with the grain of the cut lines going in the same direction. This way, the grout joints are harder to spot and it looks like a monolithic finish with color variegation.
“It gives a little more life and a three-dimensional feel,” Swirski says of the texture.
The fire feature, made from a base of CMU block, was kept narrow — between 3 and 4 feet wide — to conserve space and help ensure safety.
“I wanted to keep it away from the trees,” Swirski explains. “The trees are going to be 4 to 5 feet in diameter when they grow out. I didn’t want to push the spa further in the yard because it was already 4 to 5 feet away from the walls.”
The falling water comes courtesy of a stainless steel scupper.
Stepping pads set in artificial turf soften the space so it doesn’t feel eaten up by hardscape.
SUPPLIERS:
- Pump/filter/heater/controller/lights: Hayward
- Tile: Artistry in Mosaics
- Coping/deck finishes: Frontier
- Interior finish: Pebble Technology
- Water and fire features: Grand Effects
- Drain covers/fittings/Autofill/skimmers: Paramount
- Outdoor elements: Cal Select Artificial Turf
