- CB Stanley, Principle Designer
Brian Drury-Spires, Owner/Operator,
Marcus Tipton, Owner/Operator
Tipton Spires Design | Build
Seabrook, Texas
Every now and then, something a client didn’t even think was worth mentioning can guide the completed design.
Assessing this property, set in a rural area, started by observing the architecture — all bold geometry clad in stucco accented by crystal-laced, black onyx Lueders stone and porcelain tile made to look like wood. One thing disrupted the horizontal lines — a rounded rotunda that features a 500-gallon built-in aquarium.
In addition to noticing the contrast the rotunda introduced, the design team also picked up on something that one of the clients hadn’t thought to share.
“She loves circles,” says CB Stanley, principal designer with Tipton Spires Design | Build in Seabrook, Texas. “She never specifically said she liked circles, but … I assumed that because she was wearing a shirt with circles on it, and there were circles all over the house, like architectural elements.”
In addition to the rotunda, major examples included a roundabout at the motor court and a portico cover featuring a large circle. Right away, he knew he’d use the primary form to provide contrast and drama to an otherwise linear yard and water design.
He accomplished this to beautiful effect in the backyard, which also marries long horizontal lines with bold material contrasts to reflect the home architecture.
Jimi Smith Photography
Dramatic Contrasts
Most of the backyard is completely linear. White limestone serves as the primary finish material, covering the horizontal surfaces, while black glass tile blankets the vertical surfaces throughout.
This applies to the true show stopper in the yard — an 8-foot-tall, 14-foot-wide moon gate finished in black mosaic tile, amidst the light limestone. The large round cutout not only added a bold contrast but framed the views in the client’s favorite shape. Stanley placed the architectural element in view of the front door to draw people through the home.
On the back side, drama is layered upon drama as a rectangle, white limestone fire pit sits perpendicular to the moon gate.
Stanley provided more circular disruption by introducing a raised perimeter-overflow spa to the poolscape. Seeming to rise from three floating square concrete deck pads, the spa is finished in black mosaic, like the raised walls of the pool. It features lighting in the catch basin, under the floating pads, to add more depth at night.
“I used the two circles as anchors — the hot tub is at the front of the pool, and the moon gate is at the back,” Stanley explains.
The waterscape is layered in terms of elevation, as the spa perches at home level, while the moon gate, vanishing-edge catch basin and fire pit lounging area drop 24 inches down, and the main pool and sun shelf hover at different elevations in between.
When all was said and done, the client appreciated Stanley’s keen perception.
“After I did the design and we gave the presentation, she asked, ‘How did you know I loved circles?’” Stanley says. “I joked, ‘Well you’re wearing circles right now!’”
SUPPLIERS:
- Pump/filter/heater/controller/chemical feeder/ waterfeatures/lights/drain covers/fittings/autofill/skimmers: Pentair
- Tile/coping/deck finish: Keystone
- Waterproofing: Basecrete
- Interior finish/fire features: Pebble Technology
- Outdoor elements: Ledge Lounger; Tucci
