GO Designs boldly grounds this Franklin foothills terrace in a quilt of chihuahuan gravel and broad, saw-cut concrete pads that seem to hover above the earth. Twin steel pergolas, shaded by corrugated panels, cast linear shadows that stretch toward the purple Franklins while a sleek ribbon fire basin flickers beneath tidy Italian cypress. Breezes carry the faint scent of creosote as agave parryi and barrel cactus gather in artisanal clay jars, their forms lit from below by low-voltage LEDs. The stone retaining wall, hand-stacked from regional cantera, doubles as a windbreak and frames long views across the Rio Grande valley—an essential move in El Paso landscaping where elevation and exposure govern comfort. Gravel-set joints absorb monsoon runoff, directing water to a concealed French drain and safeguarding the home’s stucco façade. A subtle grade shift allowed the team to tuck a planting trench along the iron railing; drip emitters feed sotol and desert spoon without overflowing the narrow bed. Chairs in weather-white resin invite conversation around radiant heat, and textured rugs temper the cool concrete underfoot. After dark the scene becomes an intimate stage: ember glow, soft uplighting, and the distant hush of city lights. Behind the scenes, a smart controller synchronizes lighting and fire features with seasonal timers, reducing manual upkeep. Powder-coated steel resists the region’s abrasive dust storms, and the pergola’s sloped roof sheds rare snowfall. Every design call balances durability with polish, proving that desert modern design can feel both refined and rugged. In the end GO Designs delivers a twilight haven that celebrates mountain silhouettes, native texture, and year-round usability while standing as a showcase for the forward-thinking craftsmanship that distinguishes the firm in the Southwest market.
