Paradise is found in a transformed vacation home made for entertaining family and friends.
The formal living room’s statement lighting offers a range of dimming settings to create the appropriate mood for entertaining. Photographed by Scott Sandler
Looking for a beautiful space to host holiday memories, clients sought out Arizona’s award-winning designer Athena Vigil of Interiors Remembered (interiorsremembered.com) to refresh their recently purchased vacation home in Paradise Valley. Hailing from Coronado Island, Calif., the family gave Vigil the challenge of completing the redesign in a month’s time for a Thanksgiving feast. “Tight timelines are usually nerve-racking given the various schedule alignments needed and product availability. But we were able to leverage our amazing contact list of vendors and deliver something we are very proud of,” says Vigil.
Built-in bench seating makes the breakfast nook easily accessible for young children. Photographed by Scott Sandler
Areas to entertain—whether that be formally or informally—were necessary for the family-friendly home while Vigil followed its requested palette of blues and natural wood details. “This is a great example of a sophisticated, casual home style,” says the designer. “The color palette is elegant and approachable using white and linen foundation colors with touches of blue and dark wood accents.” Wide-plank warm natural wood floors were installed throughout the home and are broken up by rugs tinged with blue accents from Alyshaan Fine Rugs (alyshaan.com).
In the family room, textured wallcoverings teamed with coffered ceilings enhance the ambiance the space. Photographed by Scott Sandler
The living room began as a stark white, so impact was added through hand-planed, dark walnut-colored beams replacing prior white fixtures and darker accent pieces. Patterned wall treatments above the wainscotting created visual texture and warmth. “An organic loomed wool and silk rug rests underneath a tree-trunk coffee table and contrasts nicely with the elegant fabric of the seating, large enough to fit eight comfortably,” says Vigil. Abstract art by Randy Hedden (facebook.com/randallheddenfineart) adorns the walls and ties in all the colors of the space while statement lighting from John-Richard (johnrichard.com) offers dimming settings to build a variety of moods.
“Outside of the living room on the front patios, we changed the windowsill color to a dark onyx and added fresh awnings continuing the white and black color palette,” says Vigil. “What better contrasting color is there than black!” White and black garden benches with bright fuchsia colors were added for a pop of color that coordinated beautifully with the outdoor landscape.
A dinosaur-themed bedroom is a toddler’s dream. Photographed by Scott Sandler
“The kitchen felt bland at the beginning, so dark onyx textured wallcoverings with a hint of shimmer were installed on the coffered ceilings,” she says. “As a focal area of the home, the kitchen needed to feel comfortable without losing any ambiance, so pairing natural wood accents with the darker ceilings gave the room a more layered feel.” The kitchen has abundant counter space to entertain, with a center island for additional seating, as well as more space to prep dishes for the whole family.
Family-centered design was of the utmost importance for the client, as their two children are ages 2 and 5. Performance fabrics were used on the counter stools in the kitchen to account for inevitable spills, and a nearby breakfast nook features child-friendly low-rise bench seating underneath a stunning light fixture.
A shagreen wallcovering serves as a warm backdrop to the primary bedroom. Photographed by Scott Sandler
Behind the bench in the dining room are windows that overlook the patio meant to host guests during the cooler months. Big enough for six, the outdoor dining area offers comfortable seating and is a continuation of the indoor style. “The black and white color palette combined again with natural elements and sleek mirrors gives the patio a feel of comfort and an elevated sophistication,” shares Vigil.
In the open-layout family room, a warm Italian leather sofa anchors the space. “The special piece here is the natural wood credenza with an aged metal wood frame, which sits like an art piece within the niche,” notes Vigil.
The spacious bathroom is adorned with fixtures from Kohler (kohler.com). Photographed by Scott Sandler
The sophisticated yet comfortable design carries through to the master bedroom, which rests between a fountain garden and a rose garden. Clean lines within the furnishings were desired, but depth and texture were added through the addition of custom floral arrangements. “Florals and well-appointed greenery add incredible depth to any space,” says Vigil. Major accents in the master bedroom include the shagreen wallcovering and elegant fireplace complete with a seating area that make the room extra cozy.
For the little ones, Vigil took a playful approach. “For the son’s room, we created a dinosaur theme. We were requested by the young gentleman to have it be really realistic and ferocious,” she says. The room features a handpainted dinosaur mural, a detailed ceiling and a reading nook next to a twinkling banyan tree. For the daughter’s room, soft colors and patterns create a whimsical garden party. “We felt it important that the design reflect innocence and a sweet femininity,” Vigil explains.
With abundant counter space, the kitchen is ready to entertain. Photographed by Scott Sandler
Further, hosting guests was a crucial part of the home’s detailing, so the guest room was adorned with comfortable bedding and double-layered window treatments. The oversize bed frame became the statement piece of the room, and drawered night tables allow guests to unpack and make the space their own. “We had a lot of fun with this project, as we do with all of the work that we do,” says Vigil. A home away from home would be an understatement for this family and their lucky guests.
The daughter’s garden-themed bedroom is a sublime spot for a tea party. Photographed by Scott Sandler
