With its weather vane-topped cupola and shake shingle roof, this stone-accented cottage is the kind of fabled structure you might spy in the English countryside, caressed by a blanket of heather. Pan out, though, and you’ll glimpse the unmistakable sight of desert palm trees. And from late winter to early spring, when the wind blows just so, the faint scent of citrus laces the air—all telltale clues you’re in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood, which was developed as an orange grove in the early part of the 20th century.
Interior Design and Home Builder
Austin King, Rafterhouse
Landscape Architecture
Russell Greey, Greey|Pickett
The patio lies just steps from the primary bedroom via French doors by Sierra Pacific Windows. A table lamp from Pottery Barn illuminates the Crate & Barrel bed, dressed in linens from the same brand.
Suzanne King grew up a few blocks from the house and knew it well: Its storybook garden gate and board-and-batten visage had beguiled generations of women in her family over the years. When her husband, Austin, a local custom builder, learned the property was coming to market, he toured it and sent her a video, half-jokingly proposing they buy the place. “I showed the video to my mom, and she said, ‘Your grandma always drove past that house because she loved it so much,’” Suzanne relays. Feeling the pull of fate, she emphatically said yes. “It was definitely one of those zero-to-60 moments,” Austin notes.
Safeguarding the 1951 rambler’s distinctive shell became the builder’s chief priority. “We do a lot of new construction, and so much of the neighborhood has become teardowns,” he observes. “It was important for us to preserve as much of the exterior character as we could, though it also needed a bit of a hug.”
Sensitive like-for-like changes were key to the abode’s rebirth. “We pulled a lot of inspiration from the old house while modernizing it and essentially redoing everything,” Austin says. To the untrained eye, alterations to the façade might appear minimal, but nearly every surface was deconstructed and built back better. The core of the dwelling was razed and rebuilt with new vaulted trusses to increase interior volume. On the exterior, fresh siding faithfully replicates what was there before, a new shake roof mimics the previous version, and all doors and windows were replaced, including the original leaded glass ones, which had become too delicate to stay. “We loved them, but sadly they were bowing,” he says. “It felt like if you sneezed, they might break.”
For the interior finishes, the couple hewed to a classic mix of white oak floors, nickel gap siding and custom wainscoting. “When you’re in the industry, people expect your home to be elevated,” Austin notes. “We wanted something that reflected us and would stand the test of time, not have a date stamp on it.” The large vaulted sitting room features its original rough-sawn paneling, which the couple painstakingly took down, preserved and reinstalled. In the same room, custom bookshelves with a library ladder, built by carpenter Randy Bitzer, showcase an array of family keepsakes.
While crisp white walls bring a calming, modern sensibility to the home, the use of moodier saturated hues channels a Cotswolds vibe befitting the cottage exterior. Inky marine paint swaddles the dining room and ties it to the walk-in pantry cabinetry. Shades of blue and sage also coat the wainscoting in the children’s bedrooms, which they had a hand in designing.
For this Phoenix rambler, landscape architect Russell Greey designed a cottage-style garden with a coastal Mediterranean plant palette to withstand desert temperatures. Because the homeowners love roses, he wrapped the garden gate’s existing steel arch in the Pink Iceberg variety.
In the end, the family’s favorite spot might just be the built-in breakfast nook, where the kids love to watch the neighborhood bunnies, woodpeckers and quails frolic on the front lawn. Many homeowners might have been tempted to blow out the back of the house for a cavernous great room with an outsize cooking space, but Austin and Suzanne treasured the kitchen’s original location at the front of the residence. “One of the more unique features of Arcadia is that there’s a lot of front yard living,” she says. As such, Austin worked with landscape architect Russell Greey to create more spaces to congregate on the street-facing side, including a new patio, while amping up the curb appeal along the way: The front garden gate’s arch is now wrapped in a romantic swag of Pink Iceberg roses, making the setting even more idyllic.
The changes haven’t gone unnoticed. Several former owners have stopped by to admire the work and share their memories. Says Austin, “It’s pretty great when multiple people who’ve lived here prior go out of their way to tell you how much your house meant to them.”
A library ladder glides along custom millwork by Rafterhouse carpenter Randy Bitzer in the sitting room. Dunn-Edwards’ Milk Glass paint establishes a blank canvas for the family’s collectibles and accessories, like the vintage chair.
Explore The Home
Builder and homeowner Austin King had a European antique limestone feed trough, purchased at Antiquities Warehouse, retrofitted to serve as both a fire pit and beverage tub. The patio enjoys views of the cottage’s preserved 1951 stonework and original cupola.
A library ladder glides along custom millwork by Rafterhouse carpenter Randy Bitzer in the sitting room. Dunn-Edwards’ Milk Glass paint establishes a blank canvas for the family’s collectibles and accessories, like the vintage chair.
The antique game board on the wall, scored at Antiquities Warehouse, ties into the sitting room’s neutral palette. A brown leather sectional from Article underscores the subdued color scheme.
Natural elements, such as the wood finish on a pair of Four Hands armchairs and the discreet Anthropologie desk, provide a design through line in the sitting room. The leather ottoman is also by Four Hands.
At the sun-drenched custom kitchen banquette, Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn chairs from Design Within Reach and a Four Hands table afford the family unobstructed views of the front yard. A gallery wall with art sourced from Anthropologie adds a playful touch.
A custom leaded glass window by Powers Stained Glass serves as the focal point of the walk-in pantry. Calacatta Umber marble from Arizona Tile and a Brizo faucet top cabinetry by Public House Creative.
In one of the children’s bedrooms, a Crate & Kids spindle-style bed stands out against wainscoting coated in Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray. With its charming wallpaper and petite pendant, both from Anthropologie, the cozy nook encourages reading well past bedtime.
Whimsical and wild, the powder room’s Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper depicts a riot of flora and fauna. The coordinating navy beadboard sets off a wall-mounted Brizo faucet, while Calacatta Umber marble from Arizona Tile crowns custom cabinetry by Rafterhouse.
The patio lies just steps from the primary bedroom via French doors by Sierra Pacific Windows. A table lamp from Pottery Barn illuminates the Crate & Barrel bed, dressed in linens from the same brand.
An RH dining table and CB2 chairs give the King family plenty of elbow room for alfresco meals on the rear patio. Outdoor dining is made melodious thanks to an artisan wind-bell from Cosanti Originals.