MOUNTAIN SHADOWS - Calvis Wyant | Arizona Luxury Custom Home Builder Scottsdale, Phoenix

When your children move out of the house and your lifestyle begins evolving, there often comes a point when you realize you don’t have the same housing needs that you did before—particularly when it comes to the size of your property. However, just because you are ready for a smaller home doesn’t mean you want to sacrifice quality and comfort.

That was the position the owners of this sophisticated home in Mountain Shadows Resort found themselves in several years ago. Their kids had graduated and left home, and they realized they no longer had a need for a large house, or even an expansive backyard with a pool. They wanted to stay in Paradise Valley where they had established roots, and enjoy the same luxurious lifestyle, but on a smaller scale. Our team at Calvis Wyant knew exactly how to help them make that dream come true.

The process began with acquiring a small parcel of land in Mountain Shadows, a gated community nestled among the foothills of the majestic Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley where residents can enjoy resort-style living and numerous amenities.

The house itself provides 8,000 square feet of living space – about half the size of the couple’s former residence, which was exactly what they wanted. As a jewel-box home, the interior of the structure features a treasure trove of custom finishes, high-end materials and upscale detailing.

In terms of architectural design, the home’s massing borrows from several different genres. You can detect strong Spanish Colonial roots among a variety of other traditional, American modern and craftsman accents that endow the structure, inside and out, with a unique yet timeless appeal.

As with all new builds that take place in a gated community in Paradise Valley, one challenge was adhering to the community’s height restrictions and ensuring the home complemented the traditional character of the surrounding neighborhood. Our goal was to create a luxury home that, though smaller in terms of height and width, didn’t feel cramped, cluttered and dark. During the design-build process, we settled on a transitional style, which gave us latitude to be creative with architectural and design elements while incorporating enough attributes from the traditional style for the home to blend well with other buildings in the Mountain Shadows community.

For the exterior, we used painted brick—brick to reflect the traditional style while the paint gives it a bright, modern touch. Working within community guidelines, we also integrated metal awnings, a stunning front door made from glass and steel, and traditional-style roof massing. Although the property is more compact, we were still able to create luxurious outdoor living space, with a small courtyard in the front and a backyard that includes various sitting areas, a fire pit and elegantly simple landscaping. From the backyard, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Paradise Valley that extends the length of approximately two football fields, or 200 yards.

Moving inside, you are greeted with a bright, airy atmosphere that obscures the home’s small stature. We accomplished this fresh, modern vibe by incorporating a lighter color palette, from the cream-colored shaker-style cabinetry to a pale hardwood flooring. We also made liberal use of porcelain synthetic slabs and white quartz countertops.

The kitchen is fully outfitted with upscale cooking, refrigeration and dishwashing appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero and Cove. A center island offers prep and storage space, as well as a place to sit, while the glass panels used for the upper cabinet doors contribute to making the kitchen feel light and airy. From the kitchen, you can access the main living area, which is set up with comfortable furniture around the fireplace. Traditional wood beams featuring a modern furniture finish add a sophisticated touch to the space.

Another space where we mixed modern and traditional styles was the master bathroom. The space includes custom-built wood cabinetry and an industrial-style mirror, while the thin-profile wood window structures, suspended stone countertop and polished fixtures provide contemporary accents. Stone is also used for the flooring. Combined with an elegant, white standalone tub, it creates a truly opulent environment where serenity and relaxation are easily attainable. As with other areas throughout this stylish custom home, space is at a premium but luxury abounds, thanks to the sophisticated layout and high-end materials, fixtures and features at play.