Boxhill Design

Jun 2014

An aging, architectural gem with dense overgrowth, good hardscape, and a problematic entrance. Clients desired to return the residence to its historic, former glory. The objectives for the client were: * Remove overgrowth and past-prime plants, and keep the existing hardscape. * Address the problematic front entrance. * Create a manageable landscape that is appropriate for the architecture of the residence. This fabulous Joesler residence was in need of some serious landscape TLC. Keeping the “good bones” of the flagstone hardscape, we removed the plants that were either past their maturity or dying, and we carefully trimmed back and pared down the existing, salvageable plants. Eliminating the overgrowth allowed the 50-year old olive and mesquite trees to emerge. Drought-tolerant, Mediterranean plants (citrus, jasmine, and pomegranate) popped against the smooth, white stucco of the curved seat walls. An outdoor kitchen and fire pit area allowed for enjoyment of the space during evening hours. Guests were prevented from seeing the house with the current driveway configuration, and parking was non-existent. We mitigated this by creating a long driveway at the front of the property with a romantic turnabout, and lined with citrus trees in huge, Turkish oil jars. Crushed pea gravel announced visitors’ arrival, directing them towards a landing pad with an apron, tiled in black and white Tabarka terra cotta. A modern, Islamic gate provided the perfect architectural EndNote to this custom design.

$100k

Tucson, AZ

Jun 2014

Historic renovation of a midtown Tom Gist residence. Avid golfers who desired a secluded backyard for relaxing and socializing. The objectives for the client were: * Conduct a color consultation to revise the existing color palette. * Create a New Modern landscape that would complement their Mid-Century Modern home. * Incorporate a putting green with a Modernist design. This breathtaking Art Brown residence originally had a large pool, which was beyond repair. After filling it in, the clients hired Boxhill Design for a new look. After refining their palette through a color consultation, our New Modern design began with defining entertainment areas. Charcoal-colored perimeter walls provided ample privacy. In keeping with the clients’ eco-friendly wishes, we chose a material that resembled wood, but was made with crushed, recycled paper and tires. Tiered level walls were painted a contrasting black which hugged the landscape and made the expansive space feel instantly manageable. Mexican feather grass, bottle tree, milkweed, and citrus plants popped against the dark, neutral hardscape. A bright, L-shaped putting green became the centerpiece of this yard, and we surrounded it with a generous spa, several lounging areas, and an outdoor entertaining space that contained a custom island barbeque with a waterfall edge. A Modernist water feature with uplighting and color contrast provided a pleasant focal point. SKILLS USED * Knowledge of Historic Design = 70% * Budget-Friendly = 30% * Color Consultation = 65% * Hardscape = 45% * Creative Stylist = 60%

$35k

Tucson, AZ

May 2013

Unexpected personality in a standard tract house. An eye-catching backyard for fun clients with a modest budget. The objectives for the client were: * Design-on-a-budget, and include one “big splurge” feature. * Incorporate bold color. * Create a space for entertaining, including a bocce ball court. Our fun, young clients lived in a tract house, yet they longed for something that would be "different from the neighbors." With a modest budget, they could only afford to splurge on a single feature, yet they were torn between both fire and water. Melding those two elements, we came up with a bold statement piece -- a gigantic outdoor fireplace, painted an electric shade of chartreuse. The wide mouth of the hearth held a crackling flame behind sheets of water that poured to the ground, caught by a bed of bright, white rocks. As a nod to their Italian heritage, we framed out a bocce ball court in their long, linear side yard. The remainder of our budget went to pedilanthus, golden barrel cacti, and a single tree. For weekend bocce ball tournaments, we made some DIY magic by painting a picnic table with chartreuse racing stripes. We added a center trough for holding the ice and cold drinks of their many guests. The clients were thrilled with their new, statement backyard, and the juxtaposition of the design in a tract house setting made it truly transformative. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 45% * Budget-Friendly = 90% * DIY = 35% * Hardscape = 75% * Creative Stylist = 25%

$12k

Tucson, AZ

Jun 2012

Santa Fe-style stucco home with classic, enviable lines and a recently-added guest house. Active family with three children that loves outdoor sports, and the natural, uninterrupted desert. The objectives for the client were: * Visually connect the newly-constructed guest house with the main residence. * Construct a pool large enough to accommodate kayak rolling and training. * Develop a harmonious natural, desert landscape design with low-water maintenance. The main residence and the guest home were connected via natural, walking pathways. Stabilized, decomposed granite combined the utility of pavement with the organic beauty of the surrounding desert. Full-sized trees, boulders, and indigenous cacti allowed us to blur the transition from our design in to the rustic surroundings. A deep, natural-style pool was surrounded with valuable, specialized desert plants. Added visual impact was accomplished through large groupings of single plant species, arranged in massive waves. Adhering to the client's low-water philosophy, this design was completely removed from drip irrigation after needing only 1.5 years of maturation. Romantic details included ethnic columns, mosaic inlays, an outdoor shower, and watering holes for quail. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 85% * Wildlife Conservation = 35% * Pool Design + Construction = 40% * Budget-Friendly = 15% * Water Conservation = 75% * Creative Stylist = 70%

$45k

Tucson, AZ

Apr 2012

A gated, residential community in the Dove Mountain area of Marana, Arizona. Luxury homes and all-amenities living against the backdrop of the picturesque desert. The objectives for the client were: * Develop a design for each residence, as specified by the builder's chosen theme. * Work with the interior designer to ensure an inside-to-outside flow of design. * Include standard outdoor features, yet making them appear unique for each home. Designing the landscapes for an entire community of luxury homes was one of our favorite projects at Boxhill Design. We began with the model homes, which were intended to be sold as residences in the near future, so we designed them with that in mind. Each home had a design theme that was selected by the Ritz-Carlton builders, and each had standard features that were mandatory for inclusion. Working with the interior design team, we used their mood boards for the residences as a starting point. This ensured that the interior design flowed smoothly into the outdoor area, and that the spaces looked purposeful in design. Outdoor kitchens, pools, fire pits, fountains, and spas were designed around themes such as New Modern, Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean Modern, and Western Ranchero. Each space was carefully considered so that it would look unique, yet also feel at home on the same block with the other homes. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 95% * Community Integration = 70% * Hardscape = 85% * Team Coordination = 50% * Creative Stylist = 20%

$1.2m

Marana, AZ

May 2011

An empty lot in the Foothills of Tucson, Arizona transforms into a modern masterpiece. A collaboration by top industry professionals. The objectives for the client were: * Design an interactive lap pool and surrounding area. * Create a design that was modern, functional, and visually stunning. * Include memorable, artistic elements. This collaboration of industry giants produced one of the most photographed residences in the Tucson Area. Our landscape plan spared no expense. The centerpiece of the design was the expansive lap pool, surrounded by cool-to-the-touch artistic pavers, and an interactive teak deck. Artful landscape lighting turned this into a large reflecting pool at night, showcasing the superior build of the home. Custom metal-on-concrete fencing wrapped from the inside to the outside of the residence. An outdoor kitchen, an outdoor shower, a barbecue, a fountain, and a golfing area were added, with specimen cacti dominating the plantscape. We added rain chains to the overhangs for a modern, artisan touch, and white trellises that cast geometric shadows along the exterior walls. Finally, we designed a horseshoe driveway with abstract inlays of metal lines that underscored the property's artistic essence. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 95% * Outdoor Entertaining = 70% * Budget-Friendly = 05% * Artistic Accents = 25% * Hardscape = 85% * Creative Stylist = 25%

$3.2m

Tucson, AZ

Aug 2010

Lavish landscape design, reminiscent of resort-living. Powerful design that holds its own against the strong, architectural bones of the residence. The objectives for the client were: • Design a comprehensive, master landscape plan that partners with the bold architecture of the home. • Integrate planting within the existing frame of the residence. • Create an elaborate outdoor entertaining area. Our aim for this project was to develop a design that thoughtfully complemented the architectural details of the main residence through symmetry and simplicity. Planting was integrated into the frame of the home with simple touches, such as planting a single species of grass in slender planting spaces. Repetition of plants as accents added restrained sophistication throughout the design, and it allowed the design flow, free of congestion. Dramatic, architectural beams extending from the roofline were punctuated with carefully-selected saguaro cacti of identical heights, which were designed to pop up between each of the beams. Favorite features of our desert Shangri-La included an Asian garden, an outdoor shower, an elaborate collection of pottery, two outdoor kitchens, two fireplaces, four patios, and four televisions. SKILLS USED • Landscape Design = 55% • Outdoor Entertaining = 85% • Budget-Friendly = 05% • Renovation = 15% • Hardscape = 85% • Creative Stylist = 20%

$800k

Tucson, AZ

May 2010

Lavish landscape design, reminiscent of resort-living. Powerful design that holds its own against the strong, architectural bones of the residence. The objectives for the client were: * Design a comprehensive, master landscape plan that partners with the bold architecture of the home. * Integrate planting within the existing frame of the residence. * Create an elaborate outdoor entertaining area. Our aim for this project was to develop a design that thoughtfully complemented the architectural details of the main residence through symmetry and simplicity. Planting was integrated into the frame of the home with simple touches, such as planting a single species of grass in slender planting spaces. Repetition of plants as accents added restrained sophistication throughout the design, and it allowed the design flow, free of congestion. Dramatic, architectural beams extending from the roofline were punctuated with carefully-selected saguaro cacti of identical heights, which were designed to pop up between each of the beams. Favorite features of our desert Shangri-La included an Asian garden, an outdoor shower, an elaborate collection of pottery, two outdoor kitchens, two fireplaces, four patios, and four televisions. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 55% * Outdoor Entertaining = 85% * Budget-Friendly = 05% * Renovation = 15% * Hardscape = 85% * Creative Stylist = 20%

$3.5m

Tucson, AZ

Mar 2010

Commercial landscape design for the Veterinary Specialty Center in Tucson, Arizona, with a memorial comfort garden for owners of beloved pets. The objectives for the client were: * Create a plantscape with all pet-friendly species. * Address the considerable drainage issues. * Design a peaceful comfort garden where owners may honor their treasured pets. This project involved a redesign of the entire landscape for a veterinary clinic. Due to the unique clientele, we had to make sure that we used only plants that were 100% safe for curious pets who choose to explore the space. The facility was constructed two inches lower than the surrounding area. It became the collecting point for all drainage water in the area, proving to be a considerable challenge during the raining season. We were able to mitigate this by digging a massive basin underneath the space, encouraging drainage water to roll away from the building instead of towards it. To beautify the spiritual comfort garden, we added charming trellises as an interactive art piece. Loving pets were memorialized by bells that were purchased by their owners, and then had engraved with their pets’ names. The bells were hung on the trellis, alighting the garden with beautiful, soft chimes whenever the wind blew. The profits from bell sales were able to fund a 501c3 charity to support pets in need. SKILLS USED * Landscape Design = 90% * Plantscape = 70% * Commercial Planning = 80% * Hardscape = 20% * Artistic Accents = 65%

$20k

Tucson, AZ