hen young-at-heart grandparents decided to breathe new life into their flat, empty backyard, a big design idea began to blossom — literally and figuratively.
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Colorful, drought-tolerant plants and an ironwood deck area add depth and distinction to a tropical motif.
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First, a dual-soak portable spa reaped big rewards for a few of the couple’s aches and pains. Then tropical trees, shrubs and perennials took root to perk up the aesthetic and aromatic appeal.
This revitalizing retreat is the brainchild of designer Jim Janis at DP Pool & Spa in Rohnert Park, Calif. Not only does he bring the L-shaped backyard back to life, but he also branches out with low-voltage path- and spot-lights, and a comfortable ironwood deck area.
What is the general concept behind your design?
When I’m designing for a spa, whether it’s a built-in or portable, I like to surround it with garden, as opposed to just setting it on a concrete pad. I like to use a cool, natural plant environment — something that’s relaxing and friendly. I also like to add low-voltage lights. Basically, I’m creating an environment that extends outside the spa.
How did you come up with the concept?
It was based on what the clients visualized for their yard. I looked at their budget and tried to design around it. The family has traveled to the Caribbean and Mexico, so I tried to give it a tropical look. They don’t entertain much, so I scaled everything down.
Why did you decide to install a new sod lawn in the backyard?
I wanted to create a nice garden atmosphere. The lawn they had was in a bad state of disrepair. When you’re sitting in a spa, you’d like to look at something picturesque, as opposed to an old, torn-up lawn. That’s why I put most of the money into the backyard.
Why did you decide to place new hedges outside the bedroom window?
You can’t bring the lawn up against the house because it’s harder to cut. You can’t water next to a house either, so I put in a little hedge to soften the area and add some green.
What kind of landscape lighting are you using?
I’m using low-voltage path- and spotlights around the deck, along the pathways, under trees and in the garden. If it’s a do-it-yourselfer, you can put a complete system in for about $600.
What kind of portable spa did you choose, and why?
I chose a spa that’s got a nice configuration of seats and jets. There’s a lot of room in it. Five people can fit in it comfortably.
It’s virtually a spa within a spa. It actually has a separate alcove, so you can do two soaks at the same time. You can have a whirlpool system or jets for back and neck therapy in the little alcove, while the rest of the spa can be a different type of therapy or calm. It’s designed for families or couples who want to have different soaks at the same time.
Is the spa set at ground level?
Yes, it’s on a concrete pad to keep it level and dry, and to provide access to the equipment bay.
Tell us about the concept behind the deck you created.
The clients mentioned that they wanted a deck, so I considered the social aspects. I created an area for people who may not want to go into the spa while they’re socializing. It’s a nice area for people to sit around and talk to each other.
In addition, the wood in the deck gives it a nice feeling. They have a lot of concrete, so I wanted to give the backyard a natural look. It also creates another elevation to the yard, as opposed to being flat all over.
I designed the deck with ironwood, which is a hardwood that comes from Brazil, with a pressure-treated wood substructure. It requires no maintenance.
Is the deck area between the spa and patio elevated?
Yes, by six inches. It’s a step up. I wanted to keep it low to the ground. I didn’t want to create any hazards.
What kind of plants did you use?
I used drought-tolerant plants with lots of color, like azalea, golden breath of heaven, sage leaf citrus, winter flowering daphne, fortnight lily, hydrangea, day lily, dwarf pink oleander and red flax.
I also added some trees, like purple leaf Japanese maple, western hackberry, flowering cherry and locust tree.
Looks like you added a storage area.
I figured the family might want a shed for garden equipment in the future, so I put in a concrete pad. They can build one or have one installed at a later date when their budget permits.
Why did you decide not to replace the arbor?
Their budget prohibited it at this time. It’s about a $9,000 project. It would have consumed most of their dollars. I just felt that the yard was a little more important than the arbor.
The arbor actually didn’t look that bad. It looks pretty well-constructed and designed, so I figured a good scraping, pressure-washing and paint job would make it look a lot better.
Did you envision some kind of stylistic motif for this project?
I wanted to create a lush, semitropical, colorful, fragrant and visually appealing environment.
What struck you about this property that affected your design?
I think it all hinges on the location of their sliding glass door, which is leading out to the patio from the living room. It was important to keep the proximity of the spa to the house.
I also wanted the family to have better access to the house if they’re using the spa in rainy weather. If I put it on the other side of the yard, they would have a long run to get into the house. Plus, I liked the visual effect of looking at it from the living room.
What did you notice most about the client that affected your design?
I tried to make the design based on the fact that they are private people. They want quiet time together in the evening, and they also want to use the backyard for family events and therapy. To get more value for their money, I placed more emphasis on function and aesthetics.
I tried to keep it simple. They’re not going to be entertaining a lot of people at any one time, so they’ll be using it for more intimate gatherings. They said they prefer smaller groups.
What were the main challenges you encountered while working on this project?
Maximizing the value of their dollar to beautify the entire yard. I wanted to get the main part of the yard completed and still come within budget rather than only do one little section for a lot of money.
What would you have done differently if you were dealing with actual people?
Had I been able to sell the job, I might have gotten a little more creative. Since I wasn’t able to meet with them, I didn’t get too outlandish on the design and kept it pretty conservative.
How does this budget compare with what you’re normally used to for a portable spa?
We’ll do the deck and concrete work, but we normally don’t design landscapes. We’ll subcontract out the landscaping because we don’t have the people, but we do have a deck and concrete crew. Depending on the design, we typically install a spa, pad, deck and concrete for less than $20,000.
What weren’t you able to do on this budget that you normally could?
Replace the existing arbor and concrete, and add a sliding glass door in the bedroom. I also like the idea of adding bigger windows for a more panoramic view.
