A split-face limestone surround and Taj Mahal quartzite hearth draw attention in the living room. The Alfonso Marina sectional and Verellen stool, both from The Collector’s House, join a teak Chista coffee table atop a Suri alpaca rug from Organic Looms.
Wellness Is Top Of Mind For The Design Of This Arizona Retreat
Upon meeting at a kundalini yoga retreat, interior designer Stephanie Larsen and entrepreneur Kat Norton immediately felt a synergy. “I was manifesting that she would design my house one day,” Kat recalls. At the time, the would-be client and her partner, Mike Golub, were digital nomads, living in different cities for a month at a time and feeling out which one called to them the most. “Sedona just kept drawing us back, and synchronicities would occur when we were there,” Kat says.
One such moment was when Kat’s real estate agent presented her with the perfect property before it hit the market. The home was ideally situated, with iconic views of the Three Sisters, Coffee Pot Rock and Thunder Mountain on all sides. And it just so happened that Larsen had completed the interior design for its previous owners. In no time, the couple purchased the residence and enlisted the designer to update the interiors to better suit their personalities.
“This is an organic, modern home, and we kept everything quiet and neutral, so the views were able to pop,” Larsen explains. With the help of general contractor Paul Aguirre, the team set to work envisioning a fresh and inviting space, removing an entry column that interrupted the flow and updating the fireplace to a limestone inspired by the dwelling’s earthen materials. The team strategically pinpointed which elements could remain and which would require an update. The kitchen got the biggest overhaul, including a new island, cabinetry and windows. In the primary bedroom, the designer kept the high-quality wool carpeting that matched perfectly with the warm, neutral palette; however, she removed a built-in TV console that truncated the views outside and swapped the existing heavy drapery for motorized Roman shades to let in more light.
Home Details:
Interior Design:
Stephanie Larsen, Stephanie Larsen Interior Design
Home Builder:
Paul Aguirre, QC Quality Construction Inc.
Christopher Boots’ Abacus chandelier lights up the dining room, suspended above Baker’s Huxley dining table. A wool area rug from Organic Looms rests beneath a set of Eno side chairs by Bright Chair.
The kitchen was revamped with Neolith Abu Dhabi White porcelain for the countertops and backsplash and a sculpted hood by general contractor Paul Aguirre. Alfonso Marina stools pull up to the island, above which hangs a Christopher Boots chandelier.
A split-face limestone surround and Taj Mahal quartzite hearth draw attention in the living room. The Alfonso Marina sectional and Verellen stool, both from The Collector’s House, join a teak Chista coffee table atop a Suri alpaca rug from Organic Looms.
A neutral palette defines the bedroom, outfitted in an Adriana Hoyos bed, Roman shades by Hunter Douglas and walls in Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster. Punctuating the space with darker tones are a painting from John Brooks showroom, Currey & Company lamp, Verellen sling chair and Kelly Wearstler side table.
The Kohler tub provides a spa-like experience in the secondary bath. Crema Vosscione limestone from Arizona Tile surrounds the tub, accented in fluted honed Calacatta Amber marble from Marble Systems and matte black Watermark Designs fixtures from Reece.
Designed as a calming oasis, the backyard features an existing saltwater pool, silver flagstone patio and outstanding views. Designer Stephanie Larsen turned to Inside/Out Showrooms, Inc. to furnish the area with a round rope rug, Trident side table, Ambient Ray lantern and Zenith lounge chairs, all by Gloster.
Thanks to their shared passion for wellness and high-vibrational living, Larsen and Kat were able to dive deep into the crystal selection. The homeowners had a Vastu reading that Larsen referenced to help orient each stone, including amethyst, citrine and jasper. Crystal quartz makes appearances throughout the interior, embellishing the handmade Australian light fixtures that illuminate the kitchen, dining room and bathroom. “It’s like functional art, because you’re getting energy vibration from the crystals,” Kat points out.
Textiles, too, were selected for their vibrational and tactile qualities. “Fabric holds a frequency, so we stuck with organic, natural options like linen, cotton, wool and alpaca,” Larsen explains. A fluffy alpaca rug in the living room tends to draw guests with its cloudlike texture and provides the client a peaceful place to meditate.
The energy flows to the back patio, where Kat catches the sunrise. Adjacent a saltwater pool and spa, a wraparound deck built by Aguirre for the previous owner provides expansive red rock views. Letting the surroundings shine, Larsen selected low-profile furniture to populate the outdoor lounge, where guests gather after dinner. Because the couple likes to pay forward the friendships they made when first moving to Sedona, they often host dinner parties and invite new acquaintances. Almost every time, guests compliment the indoor and outdoor table settings, which were also curated by Larsen. “I helped them select every detail, and so when I did that final installation and it was time for them to come in, it was magical,” Larsen says. Since, the home has done exactly what it was designed to: foster good vibes, celebrate the outdoors and provide an energetic respite where the owners can thrive.
A neutral palette defines the bedroom, outfitted in an Adriana Hoyos bed, Roman shades by Hunter Douglas and walls in Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster. Punctuating the space with darker tones are a painting from John Brooks showroom, Currey & Company lamp, Verellen sling chair and Kelly Wearstler side table.