For Arash Hoss, owner of Phoenix’s Two Hawks Design and Development, and his wife, Larissa, a real estate agent for Scottsdale’s Launch Real Estate, purchasing a double lot on Lafayette Boulevard in Arcadia in the spring of 2018 was a personal project. While the Hoss family aren’t strangers to building, buying and selling luxury homes, this time the pair were looking for themselves.
A pivot door by the Pivot Door Company and lush surroundings by landscape architect Jeff Mandel of Landscape Resources welcomes guests.
“Having built homes in Arcadia for quite some time, Arash knew he wanted his home to be unlike anything the neighborhood had seen,” says Adrienne Pilchard, lead designer of Two Hawks. “While the couple is drawn to a modern architectural style, they desired a home that denied the common constructs of a modern interior—cold, stark, harsh—and rather wanted a home that felt inviting immediately upon entry and that continued to evoke a sense of warmth at every turn.” A few more requests came in—a functional floor plan, a modern aesthetic that didn’t lose the feel of a family home and a front patio where the couple could admire the view of Camelback Mountain. Naturally, Arash’s company took on the building and interior design of the home, while Ed Scheletsky of Phoenix’s Design Lab Architecture and Jeff Mandel of Scottsdale’s Landscape Resources were tapped to tackle the architecture and outdoor aesthetics.
Chic CB2 bar stools and a Tech Lighting chandelier from Circa Lighting add contemporary touches to the sleek kitchen.
The Hosses’ distinct perspective on their new digs began with the home’s curb appeal. “Building on such a recognizable street in Arcadia, our initial goal was to design a structure that would make passersby slow down and stare. Part of this inspiration came from a desire to disrupt the infamous ‘Arcadia farmhouse’ that has become a staple in the neighborhood,” notes Pilchard. “While we love and certainly have contributed to the growing style, Two Hawks always tries to push the envelope, staying at the forefront of trend patterns. The architecture for the home was further developed with views in mind—we wanted sleek architectural forms that captured the view at every opportunity. The home is situated on the south side of Lafayette, with views facing north, which provided the perfect opportunity to capture the quintessential front-yard living that Arcadia is known for.”
Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide a seamless transition from the indoors to the multiuse backyard.
Landscape architect Mandel utilized greenery, pops of pink flowers, towering palm trees and rock features to draw the eye while a pivot door from Pivot Door Company provides an unexpected yet chic touch to the home’s main entry. The wow factors continue in the backyard. “Designing bespoke details unique to the home is something we are passionate about at Two Hawks. One of our favorite features is the negative-edge pool—there’s not anything inherently unique about the concept, but it’s definitely something you see more of on the hillside homes in Arizona,” says Pilchard. “When designing the landscape for the home, we originally envisioned a long pool with a fire pit at the opposite end, but the grading and drainage required us to build up the front of the lot, which gave us the opportunity to create different ‘levels’ in the backyard. We used this to our advantage and made a feature out of it!”
Benjamin Moore paint in Vintage Pewter brings a calming ambiance to the master bedroom.
Inside, the master bedroom, master bathroom and kitchen are among the home’s most beloved spaces. “The master bedroom was one of my favorite spaces to design in the home,” shares Pilchard. “Inspired by ornamental Parisian architecture, the paneling adds a piece of character that I think most would find surprising in a modern home, but when paired with a corner window with views to the backyard, it feels like it belongs.” Serenity was also found in the use of Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Pewter paint on the walls. “The continuity of the gray paint on the walls and ceiling eliminates distraction from the eye, making it an incredibly calming space to be in—perfect for a master retreat,” she adds.
Negro Marquina black slab walls create a dramatic effect in the glass walk-in shower.
Off the master bedroom lies the exquisite master bathroom. “I wanted the aesthetic to feel rich, elegant and modern. As you step in you’re greeted by soft white marble, a classic claw-foot tub with a picturesque window behind and sleek his-and-her vanities,” says Pilchard. “The surprise comes a few steps later as you catch a glimpse of the bold slabs of Negro Marquina that encompass the shower.” As established throughout the rest of the home, contrast was a cornerstone of the design. “This space displays that beautifully,” she continues. “I love the play between a classic claw-foot tub and a spunky modern chandelier above; warm walnut vanities that complement the dark, sexy shower; and touches of gold that make it all seem so luxurious.” Custom routed pulls by Rysso Peters—teamed with complementary tones in the plumbing and lighting—enhance, rather than take away from, the graining of the walnut cabinetry.
Tech Lighting’s Strada chandelier catches the eye above the Radford freestanding tub by Victoria Albert.
In the main living area of the home, the tile feature wall in the dining room became a crowd favorite. “The Ann Sacks Itai tile is a molded cement tile that comes in a number of three-dimensional pieces. I wanted the wall to be dramatic but not distracting from the view out of the corner window,” explains Pilchard. “This tile, which we elevated with customizable LED lights, is exactly that.” The nearby kitchen was also a focal point of Pilchard’s design. “The kitchen was unlike anything I had designed before. The organic movement of the marble, paired with the linear grain in the walnut cabinetry, was the perfect centerpiece for the range wall, and was anchored by the sleek paneled Dacor fridge and freezer columns,” she says. “Part of what I think makes the entire home feel so warm and inviting is its connection to the outside. With scenery as captivating as Camelback Mountain, it was imperative to capture that at every opportunity, and you see that in the kitchen.”
Another surprise came as the custom build took shape—Arash and Larissa decided to sell. “While of course the decision was a personal one, when you’re a real estate developer and realtor, building and selling homes is just what you do!” says Pilchard. “Some of the home’s most defining features were designed with the Hosses in mind, but it was those same characteristics—the floor plan, the privacy, the modern design—that attracted a wide range of clientele. In the end, a young single professional now calls the space home.”
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Arcadia
ARCHITECTURE
Ed Scheletsky, Design Lab Architecture
INTERIOR DESIGN
Adrienne Pilchard, Two Hawks Design and Development
BUILDER
Two Hawks Design and Development
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Jeff Mandel, Landscape Resources
RESOURCES
RYSSO PETERS
Walnut kitchen cabinets in custom stain and matte black; custom routed pulls in master bathroom
CIRCA LIGHTING
Tech Lighting Viaggio linear chandelier in kitchen; Charlton Grande chandelier in master bedroom; Tech Lighting Orbel sconces and Strada chandelier in master bathroom
CB2
Rake brass bar stools in kitchen
VICTORIA + ALBERT
Master bath Radford free-standing tub
G3 GLASS GRANITE GROUP
Negro Marquina slab walls in shower in master bath
ARIZONA TILE
Master bath Bianco Venatino countertops, installed by G3 Glass Granite Group; and flooring, installed by Sheahan Tile and Stone
arizonatile.com; g3az.com; sheahantileandstonellc.com
BENJAMIN MOORE
Vintage Pewter paint in master bedroom
PIVOT DOOR COMPANY
Dina pivot door in entryway
CAYMAN POOLS
Saltwater pool in backyard
