A Contemporary Scottsdale Home With a Front Row View of the Desert Landscape – Ravalli Republic

Houzz at a Glance

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

My clients are parents and grandparents who love spending time with family and love life," says architect Mark Tate. Thus, they planned their dream retirement home in Desert Mountain, Arizona, to include three guest rooms so everyone could come stay with them.

This stunning desert home opens up to views that extend 40 miles, while careful orientation and overhangs protect the interiors from the relentless desert sun. Outdoor living was a priority as well, so there's an outdoor kitchen, a lounging patio, a pool and a hot tub.

"I wanted to bring the desert into the house for my clients to enjoy," says Tate. "We very carefully integrated the house into the landscape and treated the site as gently as possible."

Houzz at a Glance

Who lives here: A retired couple with a big family who loves to visit

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Size: 5,600 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, office, exercise room

That's interesting: The home has solar panels that generate electricity the power company buys; the pool is also heated by solar energy.

The home sits on a 5-acre lot, overlooking a riparian corridor that animals move along. While some grading was required for the house, Tate was able to balance the cut and fill within the site.

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

"I wanted to create an inviting entry that didn't show you everything at once," Tate says. A large steel beam draws you toward the front door, and a small fountain draws you in with a gurgling sound that echoes through the entry. What lies beyond is an enticing mystery.

The front entryway is all glass yet does not reveal the views; one discovers those after entering the house. The bottom two-thirds of it is flow glass, which provides light as well as privacy. "The glass creates a beautiful glow," says Tate. "It has iridescent dichroic flakes in it that make it shimmer and change color throughout the day."

Landscape design: Desert Foothills Landscape; entryway glass: Meltdown Glass

A small fountain sits between two of the cacti in the middle of this photo. "Javelinas love to come up and drink from the small fountain," he says. "That window you see here is in the dining room, so the family enjoys watching them while they eat dinner."

The stucco wall here is part of a long, curved wall that extends the length of the house; sandblasted concrete blocks make up the wall on the right. The design of the square openings repeats throughout the house.

Related: Outdoor Fountains to Decorate the Entry

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The plan reveals how the curved wall extends through the house. Windows frame the vast landscape, while walls mask views of the road and neighboring houses.

Related: Floor Plan Lingo 101

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

Beyond the front door, suspended reclaimed barn beams create a rhythm down the gallery.

To the left, the open fireplace is repeated outside on the patio. To the right, the end of the gallery becomes part of the master bedroom; the reclaimed barn doors slide across to enclose it.

Beams: K.P.Holt

Looking back toward the front door, Alpaca limestone continues from indoors to out, as does the Arizona brown schist seen around the fireplace. Large windows bring in the expansive desert views; the bottom windows are operational and let in the breeze from the valley.

The open fireplace divides the living room from the hearth room. Snapped-edge limestone makes up the hearth and mantel; copper covers the uplit fireplace.

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

"We combined some traditional and contemporary touches in the kitchen," says Tate. White oak Shaker-style cabinets and brown schist stone lend a warm, contemporary feel. Behind the range wall, you can see how the roof floats, providing clerestory windows that let in additional daylight.

Related: Why Shaker Cabinets are Still a Classic Today

"The clients love to have everyone gather in the kitchen; the wife loves to cook, and everyone can gather at the granite bar," he says. Better yet, they can walk right outside to the outdoor kitchen and the TV lounge on the patio.

Cabinets: Cabinetry Essence

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The master bath combines several beautiful textures. The tile in the shower stall is a mix of stone and shell, the tub surround is concrete and the sandblasted block wall continues from inside to out. Three niches next to the bathtub echo the openings out the window.

"The bathtub has the live-in view, while the framed view of the mountain leads you into the shower stall," Tate says.

All stone and tile fabrication and installation: Imperial Tile Imports

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The form of the house follows the terrain, stepping down the hillside. The neighborhood was built in a way that does not deter the natural movement of local deer, javalinas, mountain lions and coyotes.

The patio has a series of outdoor rooms. "My client wanted to be able to sit outside in the shade while the pool was sunny, so all of the overhangs were very carefully designed," Tate says. The overhangs also protect the house itself from direct sunlight.

The far edge of the pool has an 8-inch-deep area with two lounge chairs. Toward the back is the outdoor kitchen and TV lounge; to the right is the riparian corridor. "You can lean on the infinity edge of the pool and watch the deer and other animals in the wash below," Tate says.

A large open fireplace echoes the one indoors; there is another small fire feature at the end of the patio next to the hot tub.

"This house was quite a departure from what my clients were used to, but they love the contemporary lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren here," Tate says.

Excerpt from:
A Contemporary Scottsdale Home With a Front Row View of the Desert Landscape - Ravalli Republic