A Design Team Configures A Rustic Arizona Retreat

Upon entering this rustic Mediterranean-style residence perfectly poised on its 2-acre site with unparalleled views of the golf course, Camelback Mountain and downtown Scottsdale, Arizona, most people don’t think about the incredible talent and tenacity required to capture a unique vista through every window; they just enjoy the view. (“We needed to reframe and even move windows to make that happen,” recalls builder Scott Edmunds.)

Guests likely do not give much thought to how the network of reclaimed timbers was installed in the ceilings, either. (“The beams are irregular in size and have to be adjusted constantly as you go,” adds Edmunds, noting that one center beam was 2,300 pounds.) Or how architect Jeffrey Berkus managed to meticulously place a main residence, cantina, guesthouse, several water features and two garages across the property. (“I took compass settings for all the views before determining the placement of the buildings,” he explains.)

And then there’s the thought process enacted by designer Jamie Hedstrom, who was tasked with “taking those powerful rustic components and spinning them with sophisticated softer lines.” (Her plan of attack? Adding flowing drapes with subtle floral patterns, incorporating silk and chenille fabrics on the furnishings, and opting for Venetian-plaster walls in the private quarters.)

But then again, that’s the goal for any successful design project: to provide a cohesive space where the homeowners and their guests can simply put their feet up and escape. At this couple’s Arizona vacation home, which offers a near-seamless indoor-outdoor transition, it’s safe to say the mission was accomplished.