The Guide: Scottsdale Arizona
03/01/2007
Living in tents in the desert, the eager apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright learned that architecture is inspired by nature, yet produced in a bustling workplace. Look around Scottsdale and you’ll see this convergence of urbanity and naturalism. “Scottsdale is like several cities,” says architect Vernon Swaback, who served as Wright’s apprentice during the last few years of the master’s life, attending Taliesin West, Wright’s school of architecture that’s set on 600 acres of Arizona’s preserved Sonoran Desert. “As you go north into the mountains you see large custom homes, while the south is anchored by high-end mid-rise condos, a recent phenomenon for Scottsdale.”Scottsdale, dubbed “the West’s most Western town,” is multifaceted. It’s a place for horse lovers, with WestWorld serving as a Mecca for some of the country’s most prestigious horse shows. This desert is also a Garden of Eden for golfers who come to play and live at the many golf-driven communities. While summer temperatures can hit the triple digits, Scottsdale’s climate is ideal for outdoor living—it is virtually free of bugs, wind and humidity.
Realtors
This swath of a city stretches for 184 square miles and harbors 230,000 residents, with those who want to build big heading north, where communities such as Silverleaf are allowing larger homes on their generously sized lots. “It’s hard to find a decent piece of property to build a large house,” says Bob Hassett of Russ Lyon Realty, explaining that preservation laws require that owners keep a specific amount of their property as open space. For those who pre-fer a more vertical lifestyle, Scottsdale has also embraced the antithesis of the desert estate home with its multiple mid- and high-rise condominium projects currently underway in the city’s downtown district.
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Jane Blacker (480.283.3009, www.scottsdalefineliving.com). “We are a fast-growing city,” says Blacker. Specializing in the high-end condo market in Scottsdale’s up-and-coming downtown area, Blacker holds a listing for a three-bedroom, 3,400-square-foot penthouse ($2.2 million) at Main Street Plaza, one of the many mid-rise projects that will open next summer.
Bob Hassett (602.750.1000, www.bobhasset.com). Responsible for brokering the most expensive resale in Scottsdale’s history at $10 million, Hassett says the upper-end market is doing well. “Buyers looking in the $5 million to $15 million range want to be in North Scottsdale at DC Ranch, Desert Mountain and Silverleaf.”
Cynthia Penwell (480.502.6902, www.silverleaf.com). Situated in the master-planned community of DC Ranch, Silverleaf has quickly become Scottsdale’s most sought-
after high-end community. “We currently have five homes listed in the $10 million to $12 million range,” says Penwell. Silverleaf boasts lot sizes twice the norm for Scottsdale; recent transactions include a new 11,000-square-foot home priced at $9.5 million.
Mike Sweeney (480.282.5656, www.dmbrealtynorthscottsdale.com). This firm specializes in real estate in the North Scottsdale communities of DC Ranch, Whisper Rock, Grayhawk and Desert Mountain.
Architects/Designers/Builders
Mediterranean, ranch and contemporary homes rule in Scottsdale, but no matter what the style, the most important aspect for homeowners is to have a design that allows them to move easily from indoors to outdoors. “We can live outside if we do it right,” says Cathy Hayes of Hayes Architecture/Interiors. Outdoor living rooms and sleeping rooms as well as accents such as fire pits and pools with water features allow Scottsdale homeowners to entertain on their terraces throughout the year.
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Vernon Swaback (480.367.2100, www.swabackpartners.com). This Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice is responsible for planning some of Scottsdale’s most exclusive communities, including DC Ranch and Silverleaf. “My homes celebrate the desert and the indoor/outdoor connection,” says Swaback, whose firm’s mantra is “design never stops.”
Cathy Hayes (602.840.2553, www.hayesstudio.com). “There are a lot of homes in town worth renovating,” says Cathy Hayes. Her architectural and design firm specializes in custom homes of all styles, paying close attention to historical accuracy. “I took my clients who wanted a Spanish Colonial to Montecito and Santa Barbara and encouraged them to go to Spain.” She also urges her clients to use green recycled materials.
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Neal Jones (602.264.2941, www.jonesstudioinc.com). “The desert is a harsh climate, so the building materials have to be durable—no wood or paint because the sun will eat them up,” says Jones. He works with concrete block, rusted metal and titanium zinc, but not stucco.“Stucco is fragile—it cracks and it needs paint.” Rainwater harvesting is also important to Jones. “We try to design our roof structures to collect rainwater so it can be stored for landscape irrigation.”
Craig Wickersham (480.609.6766, www.craigwickersham.com). Specializing in high-end custom homes, Wickersham caters to couples with diverging lifestyles. “Bedroom design is based on their sleeping schedules, with a living room and two adjoining retreats,” says Wickersham. Minikitchens are also big in the bedroom. “In the morning they get up, push a button and start making espresso.” His most current project is the clubhouse at the Sereno Canyon community.
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Don Ziebell (480.443.4904, www.ozarchitects.com). Known for incorporating antique building materials to help give a property a sense of place, Ziebell designed some of Scottsdale’s most notable resorts, including the Royal Palms and the clubhouses at Silverleaf and Superstition Mountain.
Camelot Homes (480.367.4300, www.camelothomes.com). This family-run business has a 35-year history of building high-end homes in Scottsdale. Current projects include homes at the Verandah at Silverleaf and the Villas at Desert Camp.
Monogram Builders (480.513.9600,www.themonogramcompanies.com). Founders and native Arizonans Don Allison, Russ Hermann and Dan Hellman created Scottsdale’s Turquesa Equestrian Estates. The company specializes in developing and building infill residential communities.
Landscape Designers/Craftspeople
Ensuring that your home is properly oriented and shaded from Scottsdale’s intense sunlight is an important issue for home design. “I like to get a landscape architect involved with the project as soon as the client hires me,” says designer Cathy Hayes. In addition to choosing the proper plants for outdoor appeal, Scottsdale homeowners rely on local craftspeople to add unique accents to their home interiors.
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Jeff Berghoff (Berghoff Design Group, 480.481.3433, www.berghoffdesign.com). This company offers comprehensive residential landscape design and garden services.
Enchanted Garden Landscape (480.483.7289, www.enchantedgardenaz.com). This full-service landscape design firm specializes in high-end residential arid-region landscaping.
John Francis Manufacturing (480.563.3945, www.johnfrancismfg.com). Specializing in both custom built-in and freestanding furniture, John Francis says Scottsdale homeowners want custom home offices, closets and dressing rooms. “Secret doors and panels are also becoming popular,” he says, as he has designed several hidden doors that lead to secret rooms where residents can store valuables or exit the home.
Robb & Stucky (480.922.0011, www.robbstucky.com). “Our clients want one-of-a-kind pieces,” says Kris Kolar, vice president of interior design for Robb & Stucky. In addition to calls for rugged handcrafted furniture that matches the Tuscan- and Spanish-style homes in the area, Kolar says that she has received requests for smaller-scale, classic pieces that work in the new high-rise residences in town.
Cavalliere’s Blacksmith Shop (480.945.6262). This longstanding family-operated business specializes in handcrafted stairways, railings, gates, lighting, hardware, furniture, accessories and artistic pieces.
Bob Berg (Chanikva Studio, 480.443.1668, www.chanikvastudio.com). The artist specializes in custom leaded-glass windows, doors and lighting, as well as bronze sculpture, gates and door pulls.
Shopping
In Scottsdale, shopping is sport. One of the best ways to learn the ins and outs of Scottsdale’s many malls and districts is to book a limo-chauffeured Home Chic Home tour with Spree (480.661.1080, www.azshoppingspree.com). By previewing the more than 150 shops in her portfolio, Spree’s founder Nancy Shina is able to customize shopping trips for her clients. “If you like Old World, we’ll handpick the stores for you,” she says. Shina’s must-see areas include the Scottsdale Marketplace, which holds a collection of high-end antique and home decor vendors, and the Scottsdale Arts District, home of the Thursday evening art walk.
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Bungalow (15330 N. Hayden Rd., 480.948.5409). This store features an eclectic mix of imported furniture, including a private teak line, upholstery, lamps and accessories.
Chiaroscuro Gallery (7160 Main St., 480.429.0711, www.chiaroscurogallery.com). Specializing in contemporary art, Chiaroscuro exhibits established and emerging
artists from the United States and Europe and holds monthly exhibitions.
The Conservatory (4167 N. Marshall Way, 480.946.1300). This collaboration of two interior designers features a collection of antiques, furniture and accessories.
FeriArte (7101 E. Stetson Drive, 602.309.0558). Specializing in antique Spanish ironwork from the late 1400s to the early 1900s, including crosses, swords, candleholders, andirons and early hand-forged pieces.
Fiesta Furnishings (15320 N. Hayden Rd., 480.951.3239). Specializing in one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories from Spain, Mexico and South America. Design services available.
Larsen Gallery (3705 N. Bishop Lane, 480.941.0900, www.larsengallery.com). This gallery features contemporary artists as well as consigned artwork from private collections on the secondary market. Featured artists include Anne Coe and Fritz Scholder.
Tierra Del Lagarto (15530 N. Hayden Rd., 480.609.1289, www.tierradellagarto.com). Direct importers of furniture, lamps, architectural elements and accessories from places such as Indonesia, Morocco and Turkey.
Events
Scottsdale’s busy annual calendar of events kicks off with college football at the Fiesta Bowl (480.350.0900, www.tostitosfiestabowl.com). More than 1,000 classic cars roll into town for the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction (January, 480.421.6694, www.barrett-jackson.com), known as one of the world’s premier automotive lifestyle happenings for its collection of galas, charity events and fashion shows. For the golf-crazed, the FBR Open at the Tournament Players Club (480.585.4334) draws big crowds and big names, such as Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. In February, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (February 16–25, 480.515.1500, www.scottsdaleshow.com) caters to the equestrian set by attracting more than 2,000 horses, along with top owners, breeders and trainers.