Tucked away above the Las Vegas Strip is Henderson’s luxury enclave, MacDonald Highlands. MacDonald Highlands belies its desert address with rolling landscapes, lush greenery, and dazzling views, making it one of the most sought-after places to live in the valley.
Sitting atop MacDonald Highlands, overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and exclusive DragonRidge Golf and Country Club, is The Jewel of the Desert. Custom-built in 2015, the palatial home is ideally positioned to maximize space and privacy. The 14,005-square-foot home boasts a home theater with seating for 12, private wellness spa, two pools, a wine cellar grotto, chef's kitchen, and private guest suites.
Listed for $18 million, the property quickly began enticing buyers from Asia, Europe, and the United States, said listing agent Amelia Keene. Amelia, a Las Vegas-based luxury real estate agent with The Keene Team and Keller Williams Southern Nevada, named the home The Jewel of the Desert.
The Jewel of the Desert was completed by interior designer Stephanie Styles, who has designed mega homes in Beverly Hills, Cabo, Colorado, and beyond. She is known for her glamorous approach to design, unexpected touches, and light-filled livable spaces. Pulling her inspiration from art and fashion, Styles creates sumptuous spaces that provoke creativity and enrich homeowners' lives.
A design expert and fashion connoisseur, Styles looked to legendary Italian fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli for inspiration. As with Cavalli, Styles is known for her iconic use of color and prints. She wove her design magic into The Jewel of the Desert by bringing her distinctive eye to everything from architectural details to decorative touches.
“I love designing lavish homes that evoke the timeless glamour of Las Vegas and have big, sunny spaces swathed in elegant color. I’m all about creating a magnificent custom home and The Jewel of the Desert is no exception. It’s Vegas luxury at its finest,” Styles said.
Transforming more than 14,000 square-feet into a stylish space, while still maintaining a sense of intimacy, is no easy feat. Yet that is precisely what Styles accomplished. She unified the home by seamlessly incorporating rich elements of the color sapphire blue. Associated with royalty, the sapphire gemstone is believed to attract blessings and calm the mind and strengthen intuition. Styles incorporated the deep and velvety shade throughout the home creating a sense of timeless elegance.
Working directly with artists and vendors, Styles created fresh design approaches. Breathtaking features include custom art panels from internationally sought-after artist Alex Turco, whose work is featured in luxury boutiques such as Christian Dior, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton. Styles further dialed up high-end luxury by incorporating sophisticated tile floors from Roberto Cavalli throughout the home and a variety of magnificent stone and glass tiles from Sicis and Bisazza - world leaders in the production of luxury materials and mosaics.
All the marble, granite, and stone were hand selected by Styles from Modul Marble and Nala Imports. Additional elements include custom cabinetry designed by Styles and Jeff Tobler from Artesia Kitchen and Bath. The custom lighting designs throughout the home were designed by Styles in collaboration with deluxe lighting brands Luna Bella, Nick Alain, and Santangelo. The custom furniture was designed by Styles in conjunction with Encore Upholstery and Design, Hammer Furniture, and Rene Cazares.
“I work very closely with my vendors. Each showing me the latest materials and designs from around the world,” Styles said. “The faux finishes in the home were created in partnership with Las Vegas artist Barth White and the murals were painted by Katz Tats - another of my favorite local artists.”
Additional features include 16-foot ceilings, two master bath suites and sitting areas featuring a fireplace, and floor to ceiling pocket doors that open to the romantic views of the valley. There are two separate home offices for the virtual work experience. The main office has views of the Strip, a custom desk, fireplace, tin-box tray ceiling, and custom cabinets.
A full game room with a fabulously fun candy bar has everything needed to host a party and the private wellness wing features a massage room, sauna, steam room, and hot tub. The two guest quarters feature private bathrooms and courtyards.
Indoor/outdoor living is perfected with resort-style grounds including two pools, two spas, seven waterfalls, and a bridge connecting the yard to a large putting green. The full outdoor kitchen area is ideal for entertaining and includes a pizza oven and wine cellar grotto.
This home would have been perfection on its own but combine it with the prestigious location, glittering view, and glamorous style effect of a world class luxury home designer and you get a jewel indeed.