Sedona is famed for many things—its spiritual significance, wellness offerings and hiking trails among them. But perhaps more than anything, the city is known for its breathtaking red rocks. So, when architect Nancy S. Weinman and general contractor Bill Brann began designing a hillside residence with stunning vistas of this natural beauty, strategic deference was key. They focused on clean lines, a neutral palette and a layout centered around the surrounding environment.
“When you walk into a house, you should be able to see the greatest view immediately,” Weinman explains. “So, I always try to make the front door opposite the view.” To this end, the foyer opens to a 15-foot-high great room complete with sliding glass doors topped by clerestory windows. A canopy over the modern Italian kitchen brings the ceiling down to a more intimate scale. The sleekness of the cooking space is balanced by a warm bleached-wood trim along the top of the base cabinetry and a coordinating paneled ceiling that runs throughout the great room.
Home Details
Architecture
Nancy S. Weinman, Weinman Architectural Services
Interior Design
Stephanie Larsen, Stephanie Larsen Interior Design
Home Builder
Bill Brann, Creekside Enterprises LLC
An emphasis on a continuous visual connection to the outdoors led the architect to opt for lots of glass throughout and no enclosed hallways. “If I have a hallway, I create it into a gallery space or make it really wide,” she adds. It was these types of design choices that drew her clients—who were coming from a heavier Tuscan-style residence—to the home.
Then came a twist. Though intrigued by the sleek, white palette, the clients desired primary colors. Could it all hang together? Interior designer Stephanie Larsen was confident it could. Her vision: layering in rainbow hues with the use of multicolored art, accents and accessories. “We wanted to keep things clean, but we needed to warm the home up and create more of a wow factor,” she explains. Larsen selected a muted, light shade of the ceramic Spanish tile Weinman had planned for the floors—both inside and out—and the neutral color scheme became the backdrop for the views and artwork. “The wife asked me for the colors found in a crayon box,” the designer says.
While gathering sources and inspiration, Larsen encountered the colorful metal sculptures of W. Thomas Tuberty. “Tom will customize his pieces, so we went to his studio and picked the brightest yellow, green and blue,” she recalls. The resulting works—multicolored vertical metal strips near the kitchen and a cobalt-blue installation by the fireplace—inject just the right amount of energy. Other artworks and accents throughout nod to Tuberty’s sculptures, such as a selection of ceramics from Iggy Sumnik’s “Jellybean” series, an R. John Ichter piece in the entry and a red throw in the primary bedroom.
In the primary bedroom, an upholstered Adriana Hoyos bed layered in luxurious bedding from The Linen Tree faces Bontempi Casa swivel chairs from Alexander Sinclair and the red rocks beyond. A selenite crystal from Town adds to the Zen atmosphere.
In the entry, a metal-and-glass door by general contractor Bill Brann opens to reveal a Hubbardton Forge pendant composed of glass orbs that contrasts with the rectilinear architecture. A colorful R. John Ichter piece hangs above a Roberta Schilling bench and faces a wood-framed mirror from Mostly by Nature.
Stunning Sedona views form the breathtaking backdrop of this contemporary abode.
A W. Thomas Tuberty wall sculpture off the kitchen is complemented by Iggy Sumnik ceramics in the living area. The artworks are an unexpected contrast to the muted Interlude Home sofa, Taracea coffee table and Organic Looms rug.
Porcelanosa floor tile carries through the great room and up to the hearth. In a niche beside the fireplace wall—clad in porcelain stoneware tiles by Ergon—hangs a blue metal sculpture by W. Thomas Tuberty. The ring chandeliers are by Sean Lavin for Visual Comfort & Co.
Doors by Fleetwood Windows & Doors flood the kitchen with light. Lucenti Interiors cabinetry wraps around the Sub-Zero refrigerator, while a Brizo faucet from Central Arizona Supply adorns Arizona Tile’s Della Terra Quartz countertop. Above are Kuzco Lighting pendants.
In the primary bedroom, an upholstered Adriana Hoyos bed layered in luxurious bedding from The Linen Tree faces Bontempi Casa swivel chairs from Alexander Sinclair and the red rocks beyond. A selenite crystal from Town adds to the Zen atmosphere.
Concrete-like ceramic tile by Porcelanosa covers the walls in the primary bathroom. The taupe vanity by Lucenti Interiors features a Calacatta Capella quartz countertop and Lacava sinks with Graff faucets. Modern Forms pendants from CAI Designs complete the streamlined look.
With the house abutting Coconino National Forest, infinite solitude unfolds to the east, providing ideal privacy for the pool by Sunsplash Pools and Spas. The lounge chairs are from Abbyson Home.
“Perched high in the sky, this home gives the owners the sense of being elevated in the landscape.”
–Nancy Weinman
With the house abutting Coconino National Forest, infinite solitude unfolds to the east, providing ideal privacy for the pool by Sunsplash Pools and Spas. The lounge chairs are from Abbyson Home.
Larsen continued to work in warm neutrals, layering shades of gray, beige, taupe and white while selecting furnishings to round out the architectural edge. “It was a lot of straight lines,” she says. “I wanted to soften the living room with the light-gray curved sectional, hanging ring lights and swivel chairs.” This softness threads through to the primary bedroom’s upholstered headboard, the curved frames of the outdoor furniture, the assortment of spherical pendants in the entry and the selection of ceramics.
In the couple’s room, Larsen played to the rejuvenating power and serenity for which Sedona is celebrated. A selenite crystal watches over the homeowners as they rest in their private retreat, taking in the spiritual energy of the red rocks through floor-to-ceiling windows. “I love to add crystals to my designs,” Larsen explains. “It adds a high vibration to the room.”
Now, as the sun moves from east to west, the experience of each room continuously evolves, reflecting the changes in light and energy. “Perched high in the sky, this home gives the owners the sense of being elevated in the landscape,” Weinman muses. “It’s a beautiful thing when you feel at one with nature.”
Doors by Fleetwood Windows & Doors flood the kitchen with light. Lucenti Interiors cabinetry wraps around the Sub-Zero refrigerator, while a Brizo faucet from Central Arizona Supply adorns Arizona Tile’s Della Terra Quartz countertop. Above are Kuzco Lighting pendants.