Striking Lighting Brings An Edge To This Serene Scottsdale Retreat

"I love you and will go with you anywhere. But if you want me to be happy, we’ll move back to Scottsdale.” These words, passed from wife to husband, were what prompted Mike and Tammy Dalton to sell their Florida home and put down roots out west again. When the opportunity to purchase in a golf community they once loved living in manifested, they jumped at the chance to create a bespoke holiday home, tapping their longtime designer, Emily Marek, for the task.

“Our last Arizona house was very Tuscan-inspired. Here, we wanted a more modern feel,” Tammy reflects. Other than this directive, the Daltons gave Marek carte blanche to bring a lived-in sensibility to the striking new-construction residence designed by Encore Design Group and built by general contractor Brad Leavitt. Working with Leavitt, Marek employed strategic tweaks to the architectural interiors, including painting ceiling beams white and trimming them with black end caps as well as framing case openings in a thin band of black metal, to establish a clean, high-contrast setting that allows the Daltons’ eclectic art collection to shine.

Amid the restrained palette, Marek looked to textural materials and muted patterning to kick up the design. Take the kitchen, a mash-up of warm wood, white quartz and patinated brass that manages to read both timeless and fashion-forward. Quiet pops of pattern, from the abstract fabric swathing the island stools to the swirling tops of the marble coffee tables in the adjoining living area, add further layers of interest. And in the bedrooms, subtly detailed wallpapers give each space its own distinct vibe while adhering to the home’s confident visual flow.

Much like her approach to texture, Marek’s lighting program brings forward an edgy, elevated perspective. “Lighting played a huge role throughout,” the designer affirms. “We really wanted to take things to the next level.” Choices like swagged alabaster lariats in lieu of predictable pendants above the kitchen island and a sparkling crystal chandelier in the primary bath deliver on that dictum.

While the interiors are undeniably inviting, the most used space of all might be the covered terrace. There, Marek commissioned a pair of iron sofa swings as both objets d’art and functional furniture. The 1,200-pound pieces entailed reinforcing the ceiling to support their frames, but the bigger challenge lay in getting the Daltons on board. “Those took some convincing, as the clients thought they might distract from the views,” Marek admits. “I assured them they would actually draw the eye outdoors.” She was right: “Now it’s everyone’s favorite little gathering spot.” Beyond, a pristine pool and grounds enhanced by landscape designer Adrian Javalera give way to the golf course, and, further afield, the majestic sweep of desert landscape.

The finished product speaks to the ease and excellence that go along with a time-honored client-designer relationship. Says Mike, “This house makes people say ‘ahhhhhh.’ ”