Project: Pool and spa, pergola and pavers, landscaping
Why: They love water and wanted to create a natural oasis for their home.
Extreme Exteriors services used: Design and construction, maintenance
What do you do when you can’t get away to enjoy nature? You bring nature close to home! Especially if you love everything about water as much as the Guillens do, from the sound of it cascading over rocks to soaking in the spa or jumping into the deep end. Phillip and Alexa love living in West Texas, but they miss the trees and water that were so abundant where they grew up in Seattle and Northern California. They were inspired by their love of the outdoors and were both involved in helping design their dream backyard.
Alexa in particular was a strong voice for keeping the trees close to the pool, even if it meant a little more cleanup during fall. They both wanted a lot of natural stone and worked closely with their project manager, Scott Littlejohn, as the design progressed from paper to production. Phillip said, “I think we were very blessed to have Scott as one of the leaders here. He has this artistic eye and even if he couldn’t explain it to you he could visualize it and say, this boulder needs to go here, this boulder needs to go there. I’ll be honest, while it was being constructed, every week we were mixing and matching different items and ideas. A lot of that I have to attribute to Scott’s vision.”
Backing up a little, Phillip and Alexa reviewed how they chose to work with the Extreme Exteriors team. First of all, they were impressed by what they saw and heard. They had a recommendation from a close friend and then they visited the showroom. Phillip saw a grotto in one of the photos on the wall and decided that was something he would like also. After meeting with their designer, both Phillip and Alexa were confident that the Extreme Exteriors team could deliver a total backyard transformation. For example, they wouldn’t have to find a pool builder and then a landscape architect. They both liked that they would have the full design in their hands from day one and know how things would look upon completion.
Probably one of the most noteworthy compliments that Phillip gave the Extreme Exteriors team was that the backyard actually feels bigger than it did before the pool, hot tub, and landscaping were added. It’s almost antithetical to consider that going from a bare backyard to a space with a pool and spa, pavers and pergola would actually look bigger, but it really does.
Is it okay to be proud of your work? We hope so. We as a team are proud of how the Guillen’s backyard turned out. It really looks amazing and it wouldn’t have been as successful without the vision and diligent effort that Phillip and Alexa put into the project themselves. Their project is an outstanding example of how homeowners, designers, and project managers can work collaboratively to take a backyard from ordinary to extraordinary.
Project: Outdoor kitchen, landscaping, irrigation
The 336-unit apartment complex and clubhouse was built by McDougal Construction, so the team worked very closely with McDougal on the look and feel of all the outdoor spaces. In speaking with Jennifer Colvard, property manager at Pavilion Park, she told me how much the residents love the pool as well as the other outdoor amenities. “Prospects and residents LOVE our pool! It is one of the biggest features at our community,” she said. On a beautiful, quiet night, we stopped by and visited with the Naylor family. Lindsay Naylor loves how kid-friendly it is. “There’s plenty of space, lots of seating, and we love the ledges for the kiddos. I’m also happy that I don’t have to worry about them going off a diving board!” Many safety concerns and regulations were an important aspect of the job, but a challenge. Chris Cantu, project manager, explained how commercial pools have strict rules and regulations that must be followed in regards to depth markings, hand railings, and much more. The Extreme Exteriors team met the challenge and made a fun, safe pool area for residents and guests. 
Another important challenge that the Extreme Exteriors team met was in planning and implementing the landscape for such a large community. Project coordinator Jeanie Russell explained, “We had hundreds of trees, plants, and shrubs to order, some of which were uncommon plant species and not easily obtained. I worked with team member Jessica Lee to track down the plants we needed so the landscape plan could be followed as precisely as possible.” As evident by the community’s name, “The Oasis at Pavilion Park,” the plan was to make a desert oasis with beautiful landscaping that welcomes and gives life to an otherwise barren landscape. The Extreme Exteriors team worked very hard to bring all of the elements together to make this possible. 
One other element worth mentioning is the dog park, a “mini oasis” for all the furry friends in the community. Dog owner Michael Littrell, a facilities engineer with Chevron, brings his two dogs Ellie and Ziva out at about the same time every night. “We come down here about the same time each night, which is fun because a group of us end up being here about the same time. We get to see each other and the dogs get to play.” This shared space helps strengthen the bonds of community and definitely keeps the dogs happy! 
Once the dogs are worn out from playing, Michael will head down to the pool and lay out – not every night, but whenever it sounds good. The option to lay out, swim, play, or just hang out with friends makes the Oasis at Pavilion Park true to its name. Helping make this beautiful community a reality was definitely a challenge, but we’re proud we were able to be a big part of it.
