While I'm the editor for our beautiful new Anthem City Lifestyle magazine, one of my other passions is Interior design. Since starting my interior design business in 2018, I have learned from some of the best and created beautiful spaces. Allow me to share with you one of my favorites, aptly titled the Desert Legend Project.
The new homeowners were looking for the perfect seasonal home. They instantly fell in love with the view of Pinnacle Peak Moutain from the south-facing windows. The interior was another story. The existing palette was dark beige, red and turquoise, a popular palette anyone in the valley long enough knows very well. Barbed wire encircled the kitchen pendants, and the kitchen island was wrapped in leather and embellished with bullet shells. The overall look was kitschy southwest.
Our aesthetic goal was to preserve the southwest feel with a light touch. I wanted the home to be cohesive with the region while maintaining a modern look. The style is Southwest Contemporary.
The Southwest style can be many different things. It can be tranquil monochrome geometry popular right now; sort of a mid-century Joshua Tree meets Greece meets Georgia O'Keeffe.
Yet, for the Desert Legend house, we wanted to find that sweet spot between desert contemporary and historical southwest. Think railroads, canvas wagons, brick, wood, copper mines, buffalo, and cattle. The challenge was to weave together old with new to imply the American southwest in a sophisticated non-theatrical language.
To begin, we neutralized the foundational palette by painting the majority of the interior Alabaster White and staining the natural yellow pine vigas and latillas dark walnut. Everything immediately began to feel calm and spacious. Next, we replaced the original floor tile with solid Hickory planks in varied widths to create a draftsman look.
From here, I was able to build everything on top of this well-defined base. Starting in the kitchen, I went with two-toned black and white color scheme to get that shock of white while remaining integrated with the style. The soft-white perimeter cabinets infused a modern lightness while the distressed black island anchored the look adding handsomeness. Because the island is on the smaller side, we topped it with 4" of solid walnut to lend it an authoritativeness. Polished Dakar quartzite caps the perimeter cabinets for a touch of modern elegance and contrasted well with the texture of the limewashed brick backsplash.
The furniture styling for the common area became the personality of the home. Custom and vintage pieces blend for a truly unique display. The sofa and chairs are designed with hand-selected fabrics and constructed by the talented team at the Furniture Ranch. Leather, hide, ceramic, wood, neutral textiles, and pops of red and black present a rustic and inviting aesthetic.
From start to finish all the details of this design came together to create a one-of-a-kind southwest home. The mix of materials, colors, and textures, all work together to present our Southwest Contemporary look. For myself, the best part of this project was witnessing the joy the renovation has brought to homeowners. I can say without a doubt, this work is about enhancing the lives lived within.
Special mention to Citywide Builders who did an incredible job on the construction. And a big 'thank you' to the talented tradespeople who made this vision come to life: Master Marble, Affinity Cabinetry, Tabor Designs, Restoration Hardware, Ferguson Plumbing, Az Tile, Villaggio Tile, Bedrosians, The Furniture Ranch, and more. If you have any questions about this project or would like to schedule a consultation, please visit www.alexandrajamesdesign.com