This Arizona Home Puts A Modern Spin On Santa Barbara Style

Downsizing has become a rite of passage for many empty nesters, including one Arizona couple who intended to build a scaled-down residence for themselves in Paradise Valley. Before they could even break ground, the pandemic struck, causing the couple to reevaluate the home’s size. “Our grown daughter returned to live with us for a few months, and we had lots of family gatherings with all three of our children,” the husband recounts. “We decided that we didn’t want to build a smaller house.” So, working with designers Holly Ogden and Jana Parker Lee, architect Erik Peterson, landscape designer Jeff Berghoff and builder Jeff Sapanaro, the couple developed a new plan—an abode that felt intimate for just the two of them but expansive enough to accommodate visiting family. 

“Our previous home was Santa Barbara style, so we wanted to stay within that realm,” the husband explains. But this time around, the couple desired a sleeker version with a modern open floor plan that would take advantage of the Camelback Mountain views. “They lean toward a traditional aesthetic, but we updated it with clean lines,” Ogden notes. While the dwelling’s stucco exterior, classic terra-cotta tile roof and warm wood ceiling beams are characteristic of the style, the presence of floor-to-ceiling windows and angular interior detailing offer a contemporary take on the look. “Santa Barbara architecture typically has big rounded corners and a molded feel to it,” Peterson says. “Here, the lines are crisper. It’s a nod to the historical detail with a modern twist.”

Ogden and Parker Lee took a similar clean-lined approach when selecting new furnishings, but not entirely at the expense of tradition. In the dining room, an elegant credenza and vintage Japanese screen make for classic touches, but a modern linear fixture feels fresh. “One way we updated the clients’ classic look was through decorative lighting,” Parker Lee explains, citing the sculptural foyer chandelier as another example.

An even more eclectic assemblage resides in the adjacent great room, whose spacious size can accommodate a greater range of styles, not to mention the entire family when gathered. Contemporary elements, like a sleek grooved wall finish and crisp upholstery, mingle with traditional ones, including an antique chinoiserie chest, an Oushak rug, a bergère chair and artwork that the couple moved with them. “Jana and Holly were so good about implementing the existing pieces we had,” the wife muses. “So, right away, this felt like home.”

There are numerous secondary bedrooms to accommodate visitors, but by relegating them to a separate wing, the owners’ primary living spaces are concentrated in a manageable portion of the house. In fact, the couple spend much of their time in their bedroom suite, which is more like a luxurious wellness retreat. In addition to their sleeping quarters, there is a cozy sitting room as well as a wood-and-marble bathroom, whose centerpiece is a soaking tub positioned in front of a window wall that captures majestic mountain views. An exercise room, steam room and cold plunge complete the space.

The outdoor areas are equally enticing, with a yoga lawn, pickleball court and a wet-edge infinity pool. Considering that the lot had no plantings prior to construction, the grounds’ lushness represents a remarkable transformation. “Working with Jeff, our idea was to create this parklike setting with grass, tree-lined walkways, courtyards and walled-in areas,” Peterson says. A mix of cypress, palms, succulents and native specimens—such as mesquite trees and Texas mountain laurel—were planted with both the architecture and the desert setting in mind. For softness, Berghoff also introduced a peaceful blue-and-white plant palette of Iceberg roses, lavender and agave. Altogether, “The grounds feel like they’ve been there a long time,” Berghoff describes. 

Ogden has similar thoughts about the home itself, which feels connected to the owners’ past while also embracing this new chapter in their lives. “That should always be the goal,” she says. “It wasn’t like they were saying goodbye to the past—it is a story that is continuing.”