Photo by Bradley Wheeler
Bring top talent together on one luxury project, and success is achieved before the homeowners even moved in.
When a couple purchased a 1.5-acre homesite in real estate success story Silverleaf, an exclusive enclave in Scottsdale, Arizona, they had in mind creating a setting that was elegant, yet able to withstand daily family life with two teenagers and family pets. To create their vision, the owners put together a dream team that included builder Anthony Salcito of Salcito Custom Homes, architect Dale Gardon of Dale Gardon Design, interior designer Rebecca Salcito and landscape designer Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design—Scottsdale Berghoff Design—Scottsdale talents who are well-known locally for their approaches to luxurious estate homes.
Photo by Roehner + Ryan
“They wanted a good-sized house,” recalls Anthony Salcito of the couple’s early conversations with the builder about what became their 9,500-square-foot residence. “Their lot was flat, with views of mountains to one side and city lights on the other, but the challenge was building a house that offered privacy from the three surrounding streets.”
“The placement of the buildings creates privacy for the family,” says Gardon, “but the gaps between the structures still let you see the views.”
Photo by Bradley Wheeler
Architect Gardon met the privacy challenge by designing the home as a compound that opens up to the back yard and pool. The main home features a L-shaped plan with the great room in one wing, and the master suite and children’s bedrooms in another. A separate garage structure forms another “wing” around the pool and has a second story that includes a bar and two guest suites. Gardon also strategically placed a freestanding cabana at the end of the pool, effectively blocking views of a neighboring house. “The placement of the buildings creates privacy for the family,” says Gardon, “but the gaps between the structures still let you see the views.”
Photo by Roehner + Ryan
In keeping with Silverleaf’s Mediterranean-themed design guidelines, architect and builder collaborated on the use of materials and details that signaled a simple, rural Mediterranean motif for the home’s exterior, juxtaposing smooth stucco planes with mortar-washed stone accent walls, and reiterating the theme with cut stone lintels above windows, a carved limestone entry surround, slate gray shutters, shed roof structures, fabric awnings for the windows and a clay tile roof. “This is not a heavy, rustic look,” Gardon points out. “It’s cleaner architecturally, and the interior has a light palette with a lot of natural illumination.”
Photo by Bradley Wheeler
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: STEP INSIDE THIS CONTEMPORARY MASTERPIECE
Indeed, the interior is awash with desert sunshine, thanks to elements such as a bay window off the kitchen, clerestory windows and telescoping glass walls that open onto the back patio, linking indoors and out. Italian oak flooring adds warmth underfoot, while ceilings in each room also received special attention—such as the open trusses and beams that add a sense of scale for the great room and the dining room’s barrel-vaulted brick ceiling, which imparts a sense of intimacy to the space.
Against this airy backdrop, interior designer Rebecca Salcito guided the owners in choosing custom cabinetry and millwork, finishes and furnishings. “The owners wanted the house to work for their casual lifestyle and the way they entertain,” she explains. “They wanted a simple—not fussy—look for the interiors where their teens and friends could feel at home.”
The design details continued outdoors, where patios were furnished for dining, conversations and lounging.
Photo by Bradley Wheeler
The design details continued outdoors, where patios were furnished for dining, conversations and lounging. Landscape designer Berghoff suggested a traditional look for the garden areas, surrounding swaths of pet- and family-friendly lawn with neatly arranged beds of desert natives and other drought-tolerant plantings, keeping trees to a minimum so that views were not blocked.
“The house is light and refreshing,” summarizes Anthony Salcito. “You walk in the front door and see right into the back yard. What could be better than that?”
©2023 ICONIC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
