Inside a Candelaria Design Santa Barbara-Style Home in Arizona

The couple purchased the home in 2016 with the intention to remodel it, but waited until 2020 when timing and finances aligned. Little did they know that a worldwide pandemic would force their plans to change, causing significant material inflation and supply shortages throughout the remodel. However, their home needed not only aesthetic changes but also mechanical, electrical, plumbing and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity, so they moved forward despite the challenges

The clients were originally working with a different architect, but were connected with Candelaria Design Associates through a mutual friend’s recommendation. After meeting with principal architect Mark Candelaria, the clients instantly felt aligned with the firm’s plan for their home.

They also eliminated the arched doorways throughout, painted all the wood-beamed ceilings white and refreshed all the rooms with new flooring, cabinetry, countertops and finishes selected by design firm Earth & Images.

“Custom millwork became a defining feature throughout the home,” principal interior designer Isabel Dellinger-Candelaria explains. “Mark and I used it to bring architectural structure into otherwise simple spaces through built-ins and integrated storage. These elements gave the home a sense of longevity and refinement.”

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Another impactful change was eliminating the old Saltillo tile and dark wood floors throughout the home and replacing them with lighter wood flooring. All the doors and windows were also replaced with modern steel frames.

​“The renovation was very extensive, with every corner of the house and property touched. But Mark and Isabel Candelaria were able to capture the client’s vision into organized documents for our team to get in there to execute our job accurately,” recalls Max Hunt, the general manager of Hunt Builders.

“To avoid the interiors feeling repetitive required a disciplined approach to variation, subtle shifts in tone, texture and form helped each room feel distinct while still part of a larger narrative,” Dellinger-Candelaria states. “Some of the most successful moments are also the most restrained. The way the blues and creams move seamlessly from space to space creates a sense of continuity that’s both subtle and impactful.”

The architect and interior designer worked together closely to ensure they created spaces that could flex between everyday family life and more curated moments. The kitchen and main living areas were opened and connected to be highly functional, expansive spaces with clean sightlines, allowing for both connection and ease of movement. A large island was added as a central gathering space, and double dishwashers and a La Canche oven were installed to keep up with the growing family. The client says the elevated yet livable kitchen is a favorite feature of their remodeled home and has become the center of daily family life.

Additionally, the home’s office was expanded for more work-from-home use, and a bathroom was added so that the room could easily be converted into an extra guest bedroom. The laundry room was expanded to add double washers and dryers, and the garage was updated with a gym, electric car chargers and organized storage. Lastly, the house was rewired for high-speed connectivity and whole-home audio.

“On the exterior, it was more about editing versus adding. Forms and shapes were simplified, and the home was de-arched for a more modern feel. The old tile roof was replaced with a new subtle multi-colored tile roof, and the exterior blue fascia and rafters were changed to a soft brown, all staying true to the Santa Barbara style,” architect Candelaria shares. A large steel-and-glass front door replaced the original arched, solid-wood door, and an on-axis back door framed views of the new pool and Piestewa Peak.

The clients wanted the backyard to be a place the family, friends and dog could really enjoy, so the pool was modernized and relocated to enlarge the usable grass and play space and to put it on view within the home’s common spaces. Candelaria’s firm expanded and designed an updated gabled, covered patio for alfresco dining and bar seating, which connects to the inside through a large sliding door. A grilling area and putting green were added, and a new retaining wall along the back of the property allowed for more lawn space, completing the beautifully revamped backyard.