Peek Inside An Arizona Abode Inspired By Tree Houses

Some years ago, architect Jessica Hutchison-Rough was commissioned to design a residence on a Flagstaff lot bordered by a golf course on one side and a national forest on the other. While that house remained unbuilt, when the property eventually changed hands, Hutchison-Rough’s name was passed along as well. Soon, she found herself atop general contractor Jon Poindexter’s scissor lift, surveying the site for its new owners. The Scottsdale-based couple wanted to build a home that would fully take advantage of the location in a climate that offers four-season living. To do so, Hutchison-Rough recalls, “We thought of a tree house metaphor.”

The architect’s take maximizes views while ensuring privacy. Positioned above the natural grade, the main living level overlooks the golf course and mountains as well as their own property planted by landscape designer Joseph Lowe. “The clients wanted something easy to care for and a natural look,” he notes. In addition to the generous, open-layout public spaces, this floor also contains the primary suite, which Hutchison-Rough situated to look out to the forest—protected land that will remain undeveloped—creating the feel of an isolated tree house high above the earth. “This afforded us the opportunity to create those floor-to-ceiling windows,” she explains, pointing to the sliders in the bedroom unobscured by draperies and the window behind the tub that frames a spectacular ponderosa pine.

Besides capturing the views, Hutchison-Rough’s clients wanted their home to have a mountain vibe with a few surprises. She obliged by choosing rustic-feeling materials both inside and out. Rubble stone wraps around the exterior and faces the fireplace, while Douglas fir graces the interior and exterior ceilings. The wood appears yet again in the columns, trusses, kitchen cabinetry frames and even the homeowners’ headboard. “They make it feel more like a cabin,” the architect says of the monumental timbers. Cold-rolled steel accents, including the tie rods, fireplace surround and kitchen hood, lend a more industrial edge.

Interior designer Amy Weber’s approach to the mountain aesthetic was similarly expansive, giving the clients the cozy and inviting yet luxurious indoor spaces they desired. Weber’s long relationship with the couple—they met in 2011 when she was just starting her career—meant she was uniquely positioned for her role since they could skip over the usual getting-to-know-you phase and get straight to work. “Friendship,” she says, “is at the root of this project.”

To fulfill the cozy and inviting elements of the brief, Weber opted for generously scaled silhouettes in rich materials. Leather on the living room’s sofa and club chairs as well as nubby bouclé on the lounge chairs encourage sophisticated relaxation. In the primary bedroom, the large channel-stitched headboard is recessed into the wall for an enveloping feel.

The desire for luxury, on the other hand, was met with touches such as the pair of agate lamps on the living room’s bleached-oak pedestal side tables. The kitchen’s Shaker-style cabinetry, painted a crisp white, features brass pulls and knobs. “The wife wanted a white kitchen to keep things vibrant and fresh,” the designer observes. “It’s unexpected in a mountain home.” More gold tones appear in the pair of simple, geometric light fixtures above the island and the countertops’ dramatically veined stone. And in a nod to the mountain locale that still reads as chic, the primary bedroom’s chandelier is composed of crystals that resemble icicles suspended from branches.

The design team’s willingness to weave different ideas serves an important lesson. “It’s always possible to mix styles to create your own because there are many different materials and ways to combine them,” Hutchison-Rough muses. “No one should have to stick to one aesthetic, and don’t discount something just because it might be outside of your general stylistic vocabulary. That’s what makes a custom home a custom home.”