MODERN EUROPEAN

The Modern European is a prime example of luxurious living in Scottsdale, Arizona. From the immaculate grounds to the spacious, contemporary and technologically savvy interior, the residence feels more like a resort than a mere house.

As Calvis Wyant started designing this wood-framed home, we were guided by the homeowners’ desire for a family friendly space that can easily evolve as their children move from adolescence to adulthood. At the same time, they wanted an elegant open design, conducive to entertaining clients and guests for professional and social purposes.

To accomplish the first goal, we created a retreat area for their small kids that can later transition to accommodate adult children, and even grandchildren. The space currently exists as a kid-friendly family room, where the young people can play and do homework freely and without worrying about disturbing other household members. Their toys and personal belongings can be contained in the family room, rather than cluttering other spaces in the house. However, when the time comes, the retreat area can be easily transformed into a private guest area or en suite apartment for hosting visitors.

 

The entire custom home is built on one level, with no interior steps. This floor plan allows traffic to flow seamlessly from the interior to the exterior, conducive for entertaining guests and hosting large gatherings. However, the household members also benefit on a daily basis from the balanced approach to indoor-outdoor living. With the exception of the children’s retreat space, all rooms in the home open to the backyard. Meanwhile, the main living wing was angled to capture a narrow corridor of city lights that is visible from the location of this home site in Scottsdale. At the same time, 360-degree mountain views can be seen from every window, establishing a strong sense of connection to the home’s exquisite desert surroundings and gracing the interior with plenty of natural light. Even the master bathroom incorporates tall windows that allow you to enjoy the gentle colors of sunset while relaxing in a large, standalone tub.

 

In developing plans for the Modern European, our design-build team sought to create cohesion when blending an updated exterior and modern interior with the strict community guidelines that require traditional architectural design styles. From the outside, the home embodies a distinctly historical look that meets community standards and enables the structure to harmoniously blend with the surrounding neighborhood. Stepping inside, however, the extravagant home assumes a contemporary vibe by virtue of an open design concept; clean, straight lines; and a wealth of modern-style amenities, light fixtures, wall treatments and construction materials.

The kitchen, which features a Sub-zero and Wolf steam oven and large central island with bar seating, flows smoothly into a large sitting area. Other amenities that enhance the comfort and function of the home include a spacious, walk-in pantry and designated laundry area with dual washer and dryer units. The residence also incorporates energy efficient Windsor windows and cutting-edge Creston home lighting and home automation systems. The smart home system enables household members to control electronic features from a single network, which helps simplify everyday tasks and makes connecting significantly easier.

In terms of outdoor living, the property hosts a sprawling, multi-tiered yard with luscious greens, reclaimed brick, shaded seating areas and other hardscaping and landscaping elements that support a variety of uses. Relaxing, reading a book and enjoying solituded is just as easily accomplished in the backyard as large family cookouts, elegant soirees and other social events. An in-ground pool sits in the middle of the backyard, accompanied by outdoor furniture for basking in the plentiful Arizona sunshine.

Although you wouldn’t know it from looking at the completed house and grounds, the lot’s natural topography created initial challenges as we were designing and building this custom luxury home. The home site in Scottsdale abuts a major wash, which required extra effort and creativity to ensure there was an efficient way to channel drainage form the property. Additionally, the home site possesses a significant slope, making the construction of a one-level home more complex. In the end, our team effectively handled both challenges to create the Modern European. The only steps in an otherwise one-level property were placed in the backyard lawn area and add a sophisticated, tiered look to the land that complements the traditional-style architecture dictated by community guidelines.

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