Sometimes the perfect location isn’t exactly perfect. Such was the case for a Colorado- and California-based couple looking to build a retirement home in Arizona. They zeroed in on a parcel with jaw-dropping views of Pinnacle Peak and the golf course below. But, while the vistas were unbeatable, the overgrown, boulder-strewn land itself posed significant challenges. Fortunately, architect Tor Stuart had a plan. “Tor was amazing and had a phenomenal vision,” the husband says.
The architect brought on general contractor Emilio LoCascio, whose first step was relocating the massive boulders and grading the lot, cutting into the side of the hill and using the dusty desert soil to fill in low spots. Then it was time to implement Stuart’s design. “We wanted something contemporary with nods to our home in Colorado, which has dark stone and cabinetry,” the wife says. “Modern, but not over the top.”
With the clients’ requests in mind, Stuart created a sprawling contemporary abode sporting a stone exterior, metal roof and a 25-foot swimming pool along the ridge. To take advantage of the stunning surrounds, the architect employed something he calls serial vision. “You’re drawn to a point and then you realize there are views that lead you in another direction,” he says. “Every turn is memorable and purposeful.” As such, each room is positioned to face a slightly different scene. The roof’s angled overhangs also play to the geometry, drawing the eye toward the vistas. “It really makes you realize the artistry of Tor’s work and how he creates these positive and negative spaces using rooflines,” adds designer Amy Klosterman.
For the interiors, Klosterman incorporated more traditional elements such as dark wood that would remind the couple of their Colorado abode, but she also encouraged them to lean into a look distinguished by lighter desert-inspired colors and clean, minimalist details. “It seemed more aligned with the architecture,” the designer says. “When you have such an expansive connection to the views, the interior should be quieter.”
Outfitted with dark oak cabinetry accented by white quartz countertops, the kitchen exemplifies this combination of influences. Its large-scale porcelain tile flooring flows into the living space, where a neutral sofa and two pairs of armchairs create a convivial conversation area in front of the double-sided floating fireplace, for which Klosterman selected a veiny taupe-colored marble that complements the earthy color scheme. “It’s a style defined by livable luxury and a natural desert palette,” she says. On one side of the room, a modern ring chandelier illuminates a black baby grand piano located near tall corner windows that perfectly frame a giant boulder just outside. “The boulders look like they might roll into the house,” Stuart muses. “It creates an incredibly dynamic scenery where you’re really drawn toward the gravity of the situation.”
Just as impactful was the blend of materials and textures that create “layers of complexity that aren’t one note,” Klosterman says. The waterfall-style bar in the living area, for instance, features a mix of leathered marble countertops, porcelain backsplash tile, and glass shelves suspended from the ceiling by brass tubes. Outfitted with cove lighting and illuminated shelving, “it glows,” the designer notes.
Flowing outside through a wall of sliding glass doors, the living area connects to the poolside patio, which includes a double-sided floating stone fireplace, covered outdoor kitchen and an adjacent sun room with corner glass doors that can be opened fully or closed depending on the strength of the warm mountain breezes. But perhaps Klosterman’s favorite place to take in the views is the office, where corner doors are employed once again to truly immerse the space in the landscape. There, a pair of midcentury chairs covered in a mustard velvet coexist peacefully with a brass-framed wooden desk, while a sculpture that resembles stacked stones adds a touch of whimsy that befits the desert surroundings.
Overjoyed with the result, the owners are looking forward to spending winters in their new abode. “They often said, ‘This is a home we want to live in. We’re not trying to impress people,’ ” Klosterman notes. “They wanted to relax and feel comfortable. That’s what we gave them.”
