Client Brief:
The client approached us with a unique request: to design a new home as a surprise for the homeowner’s wife. After starting and stopping with other professionals twice, the client wanted to create a two-story, multigenerational family home that would accommodate their growing family and include a wheelchair-accessible guest house for the grandparents. The home needed to reflect their lifestyle while offering spaces for both privacy and connection.
Location:
The project site is located in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona, where the original ranch house had been outgrown after the family expanded with three children over the past eight years. The challenge was to create a contemporary family home that maximized indoor-outdoor living, particularly around the existing pool, which was preserved during the design process.
Design Solution:
We designed "Charmed" as a two-story contemporary home with a clear distinction between the black-brick volumes of the first floor and the white-stucco box of the second floor. The first floor features large sliding and pocketing glass doors that open to both the front and back yards, creating seamless indoor-outdoor transitions. Wood accents were used to highlight key openings in the home, such as the front door and the pocketing doors to the outdoor spaces. The first floor was designed with the main living spaces, including the primary suite, guest bedroom, and gym, while the second floor accommodates the children’s bedrooms, a den, homework area, and a laundry room. The layout allows for easy flow and functionality, offering both shared spaces and private areas for the family. The detached, wheelchair-accessible guest house is positioned on the east side of the backyard, forming a courtyard around the existing pool and creating a welcoming, private retreat for the grandparents. The guest house ensures that all family members, regardless of mobility needs, can comfortably enjoy the home’s spaces.
Result:
"Charmed" fulfilled the client’s dream of a multigenerational family home that balances privacy, functionality, and connection. The design reflects the family’s personalities and lifestyle while providing ample space for the children to grow. The seamless indoor-outdoor transitions and inclusion of a wheelchair-accessible guest house create a home that is both flexible and inviting, tailored to all the family’s needs.
