A Look at Kaibab Landscaping’s Outdoor Stone Design
How natural materials transform outdoor spaces into serene retreats.
This inviting Flagstaff, Arizona, patio features paving stones and monolithic rock, combining curves and organic shapes. Steel and wood beams support a large balcony overlooking the forest. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
Kaibab Landscaping takes its name from a Native American word meaning “mountain lying down.” This is fitting, given that the company is known for its majestic stonework—from monolithic mossy rock fireplaces to sandstone stepping stones.
Why do people admire the flagstone floors of Scottish castles and the limestone layers of the Great Pyramid of Giza? Because there is something undeniably romantic about rock. Ridgway, Colorado-based Kaibab Landscaping taps into that ephemeral quality, turning homesites into outdoor wonderlands.
Founder Hugh Pressman pays attention to material. “I source from well-known quarries, choosing pieces based on size, composition and color,” he says. In fact, Pressman and his team take great care to source quality materials from locations specifically known for their stone, including Ash Fork, Arizona—”The Flagstone Capital of the World.”
The contours of the landscaping echo the undulating forms of the mountains in the distance. This built landscape in Ridgway, Colorado, includes plants and pond, and blends into the local terrain. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
Landscape designer C. Price, who works alongside Pressman, agrees that good design starts with great stone. “When you’re talking about designing with rustic elements, you have to think about where materials come from,” she notes.
Because the designers work throughout Arizona and Colorado, Kaibab Landscaping enjoys the best of both geological worlds, so to speak. Pressman and his team not only work with world-famous Arizona limestone but also incorporate the mineral splendors of Southwest Colorado. For a recent patio project overlooking the San Juan Mountains, Pressman constructed built-in seating and a fire pit using local rock called Telluride Goldstone, quarried near the Telluride airport.
A cozy spot for stargazing, this patio in Telluride, Colorado, combines rocks and stones of various shapes and colors. In the shadow of an aspen tree, the table for two is surrounded by built-in seating welcoming guests to the outdoor escape. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
Of course, rock is only one part of what the company does. The Kaibab team likes to consider all the elements—earth, air, water and fire. Landscape projects manage wind so people can enjoy sheltered outdoor living spaces. Kaibab designs incorporate water features, providing ponds and waterfalls that benefit animals and plants; the sound of falling water is also calming. Fire comes in through outdoor kitchens and fire pits, to light and warm winter nights. And the earth element is what Kaibab revels in: everything mineral and geologic, plus all the beautiful plants and trees that take root in the soil.
Besides stone steps and natural rock fire pits, the company builds fences, walls, paths and outdoor kitchens. Designer Price believes their landscaping projects complement the existing landscape: “Using natural materials requires an artistry; we hand-select boulders that suit what we’re designing—we can’t make those.”
Kaibab Landscaping loves to create monolithic rock fire pits. The flames flicker and dance above the rock, illuminating its contours. Rock seating completes the patio, and the landscaping recedes into the native environment. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
Pressman feels lucky to work in the Mountain West, where the environment itself is awe-inspiring. “My favorite projects are the ones with captivating views, where what we build complements the natural backdrop,” he explains.
If rustic design is about seeing the hand behind the creation, then Kaibab Landscaping accomplishes this on multiple levels. First, the materials are created by nature, through sedimentary processes and mineral conglomerations beyond human control. “We use rough materials to create an unpretentious aesthetic,” Pressman says.
On top of that, Pressman and his team aim to mimic the complexities and imperfections of the landscape itself. “Our work is not very symmetrical: our patios have curves … no straight lines,” he emphasizes. Last, Kaibab Landscaping borrows its palette from the earth and its elements. “The tones we use are rustic and earthy—browns and oranges and grays—beautiful warm colors.”
Rocks flank flagstone steps in a meandering path. Scattered in asymmetrical arrangements, native grasses and flowering bushes surround the walkway with color. When the wind moves through the plants, they create a beautiful sound. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
An outdoor kitchen illustrates how gourmet outdoor dining can coexist with the natural landscape. A grill, griddle and wood-fired pizza oven provide various cooking methods, so the homeowners and their visitors can enjoy anything from grilled trout to Margherita flatbread. | Photo: Joshua F. Johnson
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LANDSCAPING — Kaibab Landscaping
