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A Family Says Goodbye To Farmhouse Style With A Bold Refresh

A seating are with two gray couches and two curvy armchairs surrounds a fireplace, above which hangs a black-and-white abstract artwork.

In the living room, a Palecek chandelier hangs over chairs covered in genuine shearling from Moore & Giles and sofas upholstered in a Perennials velvet. Artwork by Loren Yagoda is mounted over the fireplace.

A California family had one word in mind for the renovation of their part-time home in Paradise Valley: fun. “They wanted it to be lighthearted, bright, colorful—nothing boring,” says interior designer Jaimee Rose. “And to have unexpected moments anywhere we could possibly fit one in.” Unsurprisingly, that also made the project extra enjoyable for Rose and her team as they reimagined the house to fit the client’s vision. But that didn’t mean that practicality went out the window—this was a family with four kids and three dogs, after all. 

As it stood, the original home, designed by architect Scott Carson and general contractor Erik Tinker, had a more traditional farmhouse aesthetic. The couple wanted to infuse some more contemporary vibes into the space, so Rose, working with Tinker, began by incorporating sleek plastered, painted and wallpapered surfaces.

In the living room, black beams set a striking contemporary tone against the white ceilings. As the family HQ, not only did the room’s furnishings need to stand up to the antics of kids and canines, but also, since the space opens out onto courtyards on both sides, they needed to be weather resistant. “You see the room when you walk up to the house, so, being front and center, it had to be very chic,” Rose recalls. “We were told in no uncertain terms: absolutely no leather, no boring upholstery, no boring sofas.” Oh, and it needed to feel “sexy.” With that in mind, she aimed for a high-end hotel ambience, with sophisticated gray sofas and sculptural armchairs. “They invite you to cozy up to the fireplace, linger and chat—and maybe not turn on the television,” Rose says. 

In the name of keeping things relaxed, the designer took every opportunity to bring unconventional shapes into the home—through light fixtures, chairs, side tables, artwork and wallcoverings. “The wife has an artist’s eye, so we were trying to balance the really traditional farmhouse lines of the dwelling with more organic forms,” Rose explains. Texture-wise, she focused on tactile surfaces such as shearling, alpaca, concrete and woven grass. 

To enliven the relatively black kitchen, the design team brought in fresher, more organic California-inspired pieces, like the white rope stools that line the island. They also removed many of the more ornate details, such as the wood trim onthe glass cabinetry and design flourishes on the range hood. 

Over in the dining room, one requisite piece of furniture is noticeably absent—a dining table. “That’s how we really knew that they wanted their house to be fun,” Rose laughs. “They said, ‘Let’s make this a pool room.’ ” So, Rose brought in a custom pool table and a neon sign dictating the spirit of the household: Good Vibes Only. When the family does commune for meals, the outdoor tables and kitchen islands are the eating areas of choice. 

But the dining-turned-pool room isn’t even the most vibrant space in the abode. That accolade belongs to the “teen room,” which opens out onto the pool and provides a space for the kids to hang out away from their parents. A custom graphic wallpaper provides an emphatic backdrop to a cluster of cheerful artworks, tying in with the bold accent pillows and playful furnishings. “We chose things that made the room feel fun, bright and happy,” Rose explains. “The woven light fixture grounded it with a heavy, organic moment to balance all the crazy color.” 

And when the siblings tire of one another, their individual bedrooms are equally appealing. In the room of one son, an avid skateboarder, wooden decks and skateboard wheels line the walls, complemented by bright yellow industrial construction lights that evoke the sunshine of California. And for the 4-year-old daughter, Rose crafted a fairy tale-like room with a custom four-poster bed and hand-drawn wallpaper, along with a feather chandelier that Rose’s mother created during the install. “The one that we purchased wasn’t large enough, so we ordered more feathers and got our craft on,” the designer says. 

While the design of that bedroom was meant to inspire the young daughter to sleep in her own room rather than that of her parents—a moody space with luxe textures and a dark palette—that hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. “The parents love their bedroom, and they sleep great,” Rose says. “But unfortunately, the daughter loves it too!” 

Home details
Photography
Isaac Bailey
Interior Design
Home Builder
Erik Tinker, Tinker Development
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