Lookout Mountain, Phoenix
A refined interpretation of desert modernism, grounded in the Sonoran landscape.
Completed ResidenceThe Brief
The homeowners wanted a home that felt more open, polished, and effortless—without erasing the character their family had loved for years. That meant looking beyond finishes to rethink circulation, accessibility, sightlines, and the relationship between public and private spaces.
We reworked the floor plan, opened the kitchen to the living spaces, created a hidden path to the speakeasy, moved the laundry, added a powder room, and gave every bedroom and patio a clearer purpose. Through it all, the original beams remained the emotional center of the house.
What the family said
“How did you create a brand-new home that is so beautiful and still feels exactly like my house?”
The Transformation
Each original beam was removed, numbered, labeled by side, and returned to its exact position. Weeks of sampling led to a custom five-step finish with the aged character the client envisioned; new tongue-and-groove and custom steel mounts completed the restoration.
Before · Original beams
After · Restored in placeAfter walking the space, two proposed islands became one generous centerpiece. The kitchen was flipped, the refrigerator wall extended, and the palette distilled to slate cabinetry, warm wood, quiet stone, and brass. The result is open, grounded, and easy to live in.
Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry turns a hardworking passage into a richly layered destination. The butler’s pantry connects the kitchen to the speakeasy, while warm lighting, natural wood, and collected objects soften the dramatic black millwork.
Moving the laundry near the bedrooms freed the existing bath to become larger and more useful. The finished pool bath can be reached from the butler pantry and garage, the speakeasy, or directly from the pool—without sacrificing its graphic, playful point of view.
The Speakeasy
Hidden behind a Murphy door in the kitchen, this unexpected speakeasy is the home’s best surprise. Deep charcoal walls, warm fluted wood, oxblood leather, copper penny tile, collected art, and low lighting give it the energy of a tucked-away cocktail lounge—the kind of room guests always ask to see again.
Custom artisan steel doors open the office and guest bedroom onto a private patio. Cantilevered steel awnings provide shade without interrupting the architecture, while the locally fabricated doors and windows give this quieter side of the home a crisp, intentional identity.
Every black steel-and-glass door and window was custom made by a local artisan. Outside, a public north patio supports alfresco dining while a private south patio serves the office and guest suite. The original pergola concept became shorter custom steel awnings—cleaner, post-free, and thoughtfully engineered.
Every Detail Matters
Original character was protected wherever it gave the home meaning.
Sightlines, circulation, and level changes were resolved as one continuous experience.
Every room and route now works harder for the way the family lives.
The hidden speakeasy door and jewel-box pool bath add moments of delight.
Before the reveal, there’s a little dust.
Next Project
A golf-course townhouse completely reconsidered through a full-gut renovation, open planning, and a restrained material palette.
Explore Valle de Luna →