That far wall is just painted an ugly copper like color, i prefer to drywall it up, there are no doors on that wall, it doesnt go to anywhere. The front door is that wood door where the boxes are in the picture. That is a swimming pool outside of those patio doors, that area is where the dining room will be though. Those sliding glass doors will be french door sliding doors soon. I would like to make the space a more formal living area, I do like the idea of a bar and then 4 chairs with a cocktail table in the middle, should I also maybe included a rug in the space? The problem that I'm having is how to actually layout the formal space, meaning where do I place everything in the room so that it looks clean, modern, and not out of place. The new front door will be white with glass, when that is installed the door that will open will be further away from the copper looking wall and the doors open outward not into the house, so maybe I should put some type of long modern buffet type piece against that copper looking wall?

you could put a simple screen in the corner to hide the pumps. the "Improvements" catalog has some nice screens. You certainly need some plants to screen them, and in those planting areas. You could also paint your "boring wall" to add some color and interest. You say you have planted many things without success. What things? Are you planting native and adapted plants, or are you trying to plant east coast things which don't do well in the climate. What do you think is causing your failures? Not a good watering system? Is there caliche under there? what? You might ask for some plant recommendations here in the Arizona Gardening forum. YV, I think "steel cactus" is . . . exactly that. Garden art made of steel in the shape of a cactus -- saguaro I presume. Lots of steel garden art in the desert.

These might be artificial boulders made from a concrete product. If you see any evidence of aggregate from the broken pieces that would confirm it. Or they could be a mortar product with just sand hence your description of sandstone. Esthetically, I don't particularly like the look. In any case, you should only use a DENSE, REAL stone for features like this and never use a concrete decorative product around salt water (or any pool). All concrete products such as artificial stone, which is made from a lightweight concrete, will absorb some water and salt water will react with the mixture to some extent. I'm only coming from my brief experience selling artificial stone products for walls etc. I would never use them on a pool.

Comes in 8 x 10 and 9 x 13