Timeless Design Meets Fearless Modernity In This Arizona Home

From the outside, this Paradise Valley family home appears grounded in tradition, despite being a new build. There are pitched rooflines, dormer windows and the kind of classic symmetry that suggests a long-established residence rather than one just recently completed. But step through the foyer and the illusion gives way to something unexpectedly nuanced.

“We didn’t want the house to feel like just a bunch of massive spaces with very little character. We wanted it to feel cozy and inviting,” recalls homeowner Kerrie Addante-Jacobs of the vision for the sprawling dwelling that she shares with her husband, Geoff Jacobs, and their two children. That desire became the emotional backbone of the project for designer Janet Brooks, who knew the house needed to honor its traditional silhouette by architect Jim Blochberger without pushing the interiors into formality for formality’s sake. So, while they embraced crown molding and wall paneling in spaces where they wanted to emphasize the tall ceilings, they loosened up a bit in other rooms: “Instead of installing paneling everywhere, we steered to other vertical treatments, such as wall upholstery in the dining room and wallpaper in the breakfast room,” Brooks says.

This willingness to let each space claim its own personality became a guiding principle. “What makes this house so interesting is that every room is a little different, yet together they all feel cohesive,” the designer notes. In the great room, that came in the form of a pair of oversize wall sconces set with green gems on either side of the fireplace. “They influenced the direction of the room with their color, which we then pulled into the rug, accent pillows and the green table by the piano,” she adds. Indeed, the lighting choices set an effervescent mood throughout. “In each space, unique fixtures set the stage for the vibe of the room,” Brooks says. An elegant chandelier adorned with ceramic leaves peacefully swirls above the primary bedroom, while on the fixture in the foyer, crystals appear to drizzle like honey to dramatic effect.

The architecture required thoughtful negotiation with the site itself, featuring grounds by landscape designer Jeremy McVicars. “The façade was intended to feel timeless rather than trendy,” Blochberger says of the structure, built by general contractor Austin King. “I focused on classical proportions, restrained detailing and a balanced composition so that the home would feel as relevant in 30 years as it does today.” Because the team wanted generous ceiling heights, the dwelling “had to sit a few feet below street level,” Brooks says. Blochberger responded with grand limestone staircases that descend to the entry and from the pool terrace to the lower level, creating a ceremonial sense of procession.

Perhaps the most transportive chapter lies below ground. While many designers might have tried to brighten a subterranean space, Brooks went in the opposite direction with a palette of deep blues and browns. “The client wanted to evoke the feeling of the Man Wah restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong,” she says. “The dark hues, in a way, embrace the lack of windows, creating visual depth through layered lighting.” The lower level’s speakeasy corridor—a moody, low-arched walkway linking the bar and wine room—might be Brooks’ most theatrical touch. “It has very low lighting and ends at a small wooden door, which is the back entrance to the wine room,” the designer describes.

The true test for the clients came less than a month after moving in, when they hosted Kerrie’s 50th birthday celebration for upward of 120 guests. “We hadn’t even had the time to experience all of the cool spaces that we had created,” Kerrie says, “but at that party I got to see our friends and family discovering and enjoying the entire house. Seeing that really made me feel like it was something special.”