A Luxury Home Designed by Someone With Very Strong Opinions

Overview

Project Desert Dream is a multi-step renovation of an Arizona second home for clients who moved from Chicago. The brief: create an Arizona “dream life” house with lots of horses and horse art, and comfortable luxury for vacationing and entertaining.

Key design & lifestyle tips (actionable)

• Live in a space before remodeling critical rooms to learn what you actually need.
• Kitchen
  • Add a pass‑through window to improve connectivity between rooms.
  • Prefer full‑height cabinetry over outdated upper cabinets when possible.
  • Create a dedicated appliance/coffee zone hidden behind pocket doors for a cleaner look.
  • For a marble look without real marble, use Sapien Stone “Calacatta Macchia Vecchia.”
  • With Ilve ranges, choose the door option without glass if you want a cleaner appearance (glass can look messier).
• Open / floating shelves
  • Use floating shelves only when they are the best functional solution.
  • Style with everyday, usable items (daily dishes, cookbooks, olive oil, water bottles), not just faux plants.
  • Always incorporate art on open shelves to fill negative space and add personality.
• Hardware and detailing
  • Double knobs (two pulls) can read as more custom and tailored—place them about 4–5 inches in from each side.
  • Prefer warm bronze / oil‑rubbed bronze over matte black for long‑term appeal; avoid orange‑toned bronze from older Tuscan eras.
• Bar styling
  • Stock plenty of alcohol, functioning glassware, and cocktail books—form should follow function.
• Lighting and contemporary design
  • Thoughtful lighting is essential—use fixtures as “jewelry” (like earrings or a necklace) to complete a contemporary look.
• Furniture and room layout
  • Don’t match end chairs and side chairs at a dining table—mix materials for more interest.
  • Place a loveseat or small sofa at the foot of the bed for functional seating and a pillow landing zone.
  • Create small corner seating arrangements (two swivel chairs) to enjoy views and provide cozy conversation spots.
• Soft furnishings & window treatments
  • Roman shades should sit slightly down when lowered so you can see the fabric; drapery positioning matters.
• Floors
  • Carpet can be appropriate in certain rooms; patterned carpet can be a sophisticated choice for guest rooms.

Renovation highlights (room‑by‑room)

• Kitchen
  • New custom cabinetry by Distinctive Custom Cabinetry.
  • Countertops: Sapien Stone Calacatta Macchia Vecchia.
  • New fridge wall; relocated dishwashers and microwave.
  • Concealed coffee/appliance area behind pocket doors.
  • Blue Ilve range in anthracite/steel blue used as a playful focal point.
• Great room
  • Granite fireplace plastered over and a new beam added.
  • Custom TV wall with a thick countertop, built‑ins, and layered lighting.
• Theater
  • Dark, moody room featuring walnut thin‑panel walls and a Philip Jeffries wood marquetry ceiling.
• Primary bedroom
  • Feminine seafoam Philip Jeffries wallpaper.
  • Loveseat at the foot of the bed and a corner seating area.
  • Large graphite portrait by local artist Trent Alver.
• Powder bath
  • Pierre Frey desert‑scape wallpaper.
• Doors
  • Custom white oak channeled panels for a clean, traditional‑meets‑modern rhythm.
• Guest suite
  • Double queen beds with benches to maximize sleeping capacity for a vacation home.
  • Patterned carpet used successfully to elevate the space.

Notable locations, products, people & brands

• Location: Arizona (Project Desert Dream); clients from Chicago
• Countertops: Sapien Stone — Calacatta Macchia Vecchia
• Cabinetry: Distinctive Custom Cabinetry
• Range: Ilve (steel/anthracite blue)
• Hardware: Mingei (referenced for knobs)
• Wallpaper / ceilings: Philip Jeffries (wallpaper and wood marquetry)
• Powder bath wallpaper: Pierre Frey
• Furniture / brands mentioned: Moss Studio (sectional), Palacek chairs, Hickory Chair (stools), Kelly Wearstler (fabric), Banana Republic BR Home (discontinued favorite), CB2, Lulu and Georgia
• Contractor: Calvin Swint
• Local artist: Trent Alver
• Designer/host product: JRI candle (personal brand)