Conscious Environments captures the clean and classic style of t…
Conscious Environments captures the clean and classic style of this backyard pool/landscaping project with the use of a natural color palette.
White Strobe Photography
When confronted with the challenge of limited space, Conscious E…
When confronted with the challenge of limited space, Conscious Environments employed another trick that appeared to add more size to this backyard project in California: the designer sank the covered Spanish-style pergola at a lower level than the rest of the area, which makes the space feel bigger.
White Strobe Photography
The natural hues of this design by Conscious Environments can be…
The natural hues of this design by Conscious Environments can be found in the project's stone and precast coping, the banding on the decorative perimeter details, and the pool’s porcelain tile interior and iridescent glass tile trim.
White Strobe Photography
A close-up of the iridescent tile captures the beauty and moveme…
A close-up of the iridescent tile captures the beauty and movement of the subtle design touch that adds an additional layer of sophistication to this project designed by Conscious Environments.
White Strobe Photography
Synthetic grass surrounds the stepping pads and pool area of thi…
Synthetic grass surrounds the stepping pads and pool area of this backyard project by Conscious Environments, an important feature to the homeowner, who was interested in a low-maintenance, drought-friendly alternative. Ceramic pottery and Mediterranean plantings provide balance to the worry-free greenery.
This backyard retreat in Southern California almost never came to life. After one company failed to create a design that would incorporate all the requested features, the homeowners turned to Conscious Environments for a second opinion. Luckily for the client, the Yorba Linda, Calif.-based design/build firm was able to deliver.
“We usually charge for our design services, but we felt badly for the client and didn’t want them to have to pay for it twice,” says Josh Duncan, president of Conscious Environments. “So we designed it for free, came up with a concept we thought would work better, and we were awarded the draw because we came up with a good solution.
In order to create a concept that included a patio, pool, spa, fireplace, second patio area and lawn, without causing users to feel cramped in the 3,000 square feet of space, they needed to get creative with the placement of the elements, Duncan says. Instead of laying everything out perpendicular to the house, the designer proposed putting it all at a 45 degree angle to extend the lines of the yard.
“It makes the yard seem much bigger because you are looking left to right instead of dead on and hitting a wall,” Duncan explains.
Flip through the slideshow for more images and details on how Duncan and his team saved the project and delivered on the homeowner’s requests.
Erin Ansley is a frequent freelancer for Pool and Spa News and Aquatics International. She has been a professional journalist since 2001. When not sleuthing the web for the latest news or calling on sources in the construction industry for the inside scoop, Erin can be found surfing waves along the California coast, challenging her athletic limits in her favorite CrossFit box, playing drums with her indie rock band, and spending time with her daughter and husband.
