Given this home’s spacious layout, minimal lines and contemporary neutral palette that simultaneously draws from and defers to views of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, it’s hard to believe it was, until recently, a dark, closed-off Tuscan-style abode. But designer Lindsay Kadlick and her clients had a vision: “They wanted something clean and kid-friendly with traditional leanings,” she says. “They didn’t want to be super careful with everything.” The result is a reimagined open layout with a casual dining table in the heart of the living space. Combined with a blend of durable leather and high-performance fabrics along with low-key mixed finishes, the refreshed dwelling now exudes an air of relaxed polish.
Kadlick walked into an advantageous situation when she came on board. Her clients, Dr. Jay Turner, a neurosurgeon, and Ashleigh Turner, a nurse, had already been living in the house as renters when the residence went up for sale, so they had a strong sense for what improvements it needed. Aside from a cosmetic overhaul, the couple wanted to open up the space to better suit the needs of their three young children, maximize sight lines to the outdoors, and be able to host and entertain. The designer tasked builders Avi and Sheri Azoulay with the renovations. Together they updated the exterior, removed interior walls and reoriented the main entrance. They also increased the height of the covered patio, which includes a well-appointed outdoor bar, kitchen and living area.
When it came to devising the Turners’ desired neutral palette, Kadlick started with material selections, allowing light, earthy elements to take the lead. European oak floors throughout; rift-sawn oak cabinetry and veined marble in the primary bath; and pale gray quartzite kitchen and bar countertops lay the foundation. The designer then layered mixed finishes for an informal feel. The open living-and-dining area sees nickel lighting and kitchen fixtures comingling with bronze-toned stools and side tables with black metal bases. Brass lighting appoints the adjacent sitting room as well as the foyer.
Kadlick worked with her clients to choose furnishings that were both family-friendly and elegant in their simplicity, such as the loungy ivory sectional, greige leather dining chairs and sculptural side tables. “The house has a lot of fresh elements, but then there are some traditional touches incorporated throughout,” the designer says. Light fixtures in particular draw from classic influences—think lanterns, tiered chandeliers and torch sconces—but their minimal framework looks more contemporary.
The primary suite extends the sophisticated, neutral themes with a restful palette of off-white, beige and greige mixed with high-contrast accents, like black metal and marble. The bed faces French doors that open onto the covered patio, while the suite’s marble-clad bath leads to a private courtyard. A pane of privacy glass installed in the shower centers the space in nature.
Though the layout created a more spacious sense of flow, the team maintained some delineation by function. At the new main entrance, for example, just beyond the pair of large, steel-framed, glass-paned entry doors, Kadlick designed a geometric ceiling element that extends over the sitting room, rendered in drywall by the Azoulays. Moving toward the great room, a floor-to-ceiling black cabinet carves out space for a bar and wine storage, while a pair of pocket doors conceal a playroom, creating entertainment areas for all ages. Sliding glass doors invite procession from the great room to the patio, which offers views of the landscaping and pool designed by Rick Chafey as well as the mountains beyond.
The result is a space that the Turner family has been able to use more fully. “They love the kitchen and how open the great room is,” Kadlick notes. “They can all hang out in the same room and lounge.” And, just as they wanted, Jay and Ashleigh have been able to host friends and colleagues, opening the sliding doors wide to the stocked outdoor bar and grill. Whatever the occasion, “It’s nice after a stressful day to be able to just relax and unwind out there,” Kadlick says—especially true now that this once-dark rental has become their very own forever home.
