Clyde and Margaret's Home

In the context of Arizona’s White Mountains, we were commissioned to design a home for a forest retreat from the heat and hustle of Metropolitan Phoenix,with all modern conveniences.

Our design team collaboration included the wisdoms of Dan Finch(contractor of many fine homes throughout Arizona) and his daughter Jenny(kitchen  and cabinetry design expert/consultant).

• On the slope of a heavily wooded site, sun filters into the home from the south through a  grove of Aspen Trees.
• Interior spaces are arranged to work with the site.  Five floor level are a design response to  the sloping terrain. A winding stair, which initially wraps the guest bathroom sink, terminates at the upper guest bedroom landing, where the exposed structural roof truss offers a the tree top experience for  guest bathing and sleeping.
• Traditional gable roof forms and exterior walls finished with rough sawn wood sideing, embrace  this mountain home along the border to the Sitgreaves National Forest. Locally gathered Malapi stone define the foundation. Laminated bender board and galvanized wire mesh provide handrail comfort and optimize visual access from both the south patio and interior study loft.
• Gabled roofs are composed to allow the structural ceiling within to blend one space to another.
• Interior walls (finished with painted drywall) and laminated cabinetry provide contrast to an interior perimeter finish  of wood siding and exposed structural ceiling of tongue and groove wood decking. Pocket doors and corner windows provide vista from space to space and ever changing views outside. Exposed truss assemblies of wood and steel express the upward sprawl of tree top pine branches.
• Referring to the name of a rare orchid which grows naturally on their site, this couple named their special place in the mountains as the "Lady’s Slipper”.
• Respected architect,George Christiansen FAIA, commented in regard to this home,  "when are we going to submit this one for awards?"
• images above published in book "Dream Homes Southwest, An Exclusive Showcase Of The Southwest's Finest Architects, Designers, and Builders" by Pinache Partners, LLC(photography by  Anderson)