Explore An Arizona Family Abode With A Casual Yet Edgy Vibe

Long before she became a designer, Jaimee Rose was just a child when she was introduced to her future client—a fellow student in her kindergarten class. The two girls grew up together in Gilbert, where the friend met and later married her high school sweetheart. “He was the quarterback; she was a cheerleader—and I was, too,” Rose recalls. A few years and children later, the trio reunited to build the family’s dream home in Queen Creek, a project layered in memories, trust and companionship. “We were able to approach this from a place of deep understanding of each other,” the designer reflects.

Living near relatives, the owners envisioned a residence that would serve as a hub for friends and family, especially their three teenage children. They desired a casual yet edgy and stylish environment with a funky bent. “The wife believes in doing things most people would say no to,” Rose says. “Whenever I have a crazy idea, she’s the one who lets me do it.”

Surrounded by a pecan grove, the owners’ lot made way for an L-shaped structure by general contractor Jason Check. “We were going for a Napa Valley heritage estate that felt like it had been added onto over time,” Rose explains of the white brick façade with black siding, copper gas lanterns and a shake roof. The house wraps around a vast outdoor area encompassing grounds by landscape designer Wayne Gardner, three pools tiled in black and white as well as covered dining and living spaces.

The exterior’s old-meets-new charm continues inside with steel-and-glass partition walls and factory windows that feel reclaimed. This look is particularly evident in the entry, which features two sets of iron-framed doors: one at the front, the other leading to the rear. The space doubles as a formal sitting room with woven armchairs, a chandelier that mimics a floating candelabra and a grand piano with a wood stool shaped as a pair of hands. “You’d never think they go together,” Rose muses. “The piano is formal, and the chairs are relaxed, but together they tell the story of the house and these clients, which is eclectic.”

Here and elsewhere, the designer reached for forgiving materials like leather and mohair, which join light-stained floors that hide daily wear. The one exception: the kitchen, where the marble countertops and hood will patina with natural etches and stains. “We wanted the kitchen to feel very hand-tooled,” she says, noting the wood millwork and a faucet that resembles an old-fashioned wagon wheel. Then there’s the island, crafted like a piece of European furniture on wheels and free of seating to act as a buffet station for Sunday dinners. Additional storage is in the smaller back kitchen, outfitted with black cabinetry and Nero Marquina marble. “More wood would have been too much of the same thing,” the designer says. “We got excited about the idea of black stone tracing up the wall.”

A dining table separates the kitchen from the vaulted great room, where twin armchairs and sofas sit beneath an 8-foot handwoven chandelier. At the opposite end is a cherished space: the hearth room, where four club chairs meet before a fireplace. After covering the ceiling in a swan-patterned wallpaper, the designer seized the opportunity to bring in color by painting the walls and cabinetry green-black. “We added a glass partition from the hallway so light could filter in,” she notes. “This was meant to feel like a gentleman’s library in London and pull everyone together for intimate conversations.”

But the home’s capacity for fellowship doesn’t end in the public spaces, as the primary suite includes ample areas for the family to convene privately. To conjure a soft, calming atmosphere, Rose leaned into a coastal feel in a sandy palette. “Texture is the whole game of the bedroom,” she says, pointing to the velvet bed, abaca mirror, chandelier with linen tassels and coffee table made from petrified wood. Following the same welcoming ethos, the adjoining bathroom consists of two areas: one with a freestanding tub and shower; the other a beauty salon with a two-chair vanity for the wife and her daughters.

In reconnecting with her childhood friends, Rose helped create a site for the next generation of memories, from holidays to prom photos. “It’s a place where everyone comes together to spend the best parts of life,” she says. “I see it being the family headquarters for many years to come.”