IMI Design, Candelaria Design and Brimley Development collaborate on a peaceful home filled with earthy elements, chic touches and an overall powerful presence.
The entryway features a bench with louvers that separates the kitchen dinette and pottery by Nicholas Bernard from the 1950s.
THE CLIENT
When Anita Lang met her client out and about one evening, she knew she connected to a kindred spirit. The clincher? He was dressed in a costume to celebrate his birthday. “I knew he was my kind of person because I have a whole costume closet at my house just for fun,” shares Lang, founder and principal of IMI Design. After becoming friendly, he began the process of building his family home in Paradise Valley with Brimley Development and Candelaria Design. Lang was then brought on to handle the interiors.
A custom wood integrated sink and vanity by Peter Thomas Designs with a suspended faucet by Fantini Rubinetti makes a striking statement in the powder bath.
THE INSPIRATION
“The client wanted a modernist style home with clean lines, copper accents since we live in Arizona, and a home that would capture the views from the site,” Candelaria shares. The client also requested that the home feel grounded and connected to the earth. “The guiding light for the house is something we called dwelling,” Lang explains. “He explained to me what dwelling meant to him—of the earth, a place that will feel grounding for himself and his family.” He wanted to avoid anything too trendy and instead desired a unique space that felt true to its provenance. “We wanted to create something innovative for them, but also classic and timeless that would be connected to the Sonoran desert,” Lang adds. The client also desired an open-concept home with indoor-outdoor flow, hidden storage and one equally equipped for family living and entertaining guests.
A rammed earth fireplace by Otto Pappa draws the eye in immediately. It acts as a central art piece in the living room, where a leather Cierre sectional and vintage Brazilian midcentury modern Sheriff armchairs by Sergio Rodriguez from ISA Bergamo surround a custom Canyon coffee table by Anita Lang. Accents include vintage pottery by LuAnn Tafoya and a Morrocan-inspired wool rug from David E. Adler.
THE ELEMENTS
Lang always had the dwelling directive at top of mind, something that very heavily influenced the home’s materials. “Even though there’s a porcelain craze right now, we chose to use limestone throughout the home,” she explains. “If you look closely at it, it almost has lines that you’d picture on a sandy desert floor.” Wood was another important material used throughout, with cerused oak on the walls and hemlock fir on the ceilings. A mix of vintage and new pieces—many designed by Lang and fabricated by Peter Thomas Designs—plus Guatemalan ceramics and decor to proudly celebrate the homeowner’s heritage rounded things out.
The Orion dining table by Randolph & Hein in cerused white oak is crowned by the Macchina della Luce fixture by Catellani & Smith. The black and white abstract artwork is by Janet Lippincott circa 1957.
THE LIVING ROOM
The centerpiece of this open space is the rammed earth fireplace, built in place by Otto Pappa with actual dirt and soil in different colors. “It just created the most beautiful finish,” says Lang. Adds Candelaria, “It is basically an organic work of art in the hub of the home.” The furnishings are an eclectic mix of old and new. The Cierre leather sectional is paired with vintage 1960s Brazilian “Sheriff” armchairs by Sergio Rodriguez from ISA Bergamo, and the custom Canyon coffee table was designed by Lang. “The leather of the chairs has a patina that you can’t find in a new piece,” Lang shares, adding that the custom table recalls the layers of the Grand Canyon. “It’s done in an organic shape because there are so many linear moments in the room,” she adds. “I wanted something to soften that and be very organic.”
The client’s favorite rum from Guatemala takes centerstage at the bar, which opens up to the outdoor area and includes sleek bar stools from Vondom.
THE KITCHEN
Lang notes that her health-conscious client craved a farm-to-table experience in the kitchen, something the team was able to provide with a unique feature. “We built an inner solarium with herbs and lettuces she can use for her family’s dinner,” she explains. Because the kitchen opens to the great room, Lang created a streamlined look with appliances hidden behind doors. “That makes the kitchen look more like it’s integrated into the architecture of the space.”
The kitchen dinette is separated from the entry by stylish wood louvers.
THE POWDER ROOM
“This is one of those things that thank goodness the client had faith in me,” says Lang of the powder room’s unique features. But the unconventional elements—a custom wood sink, a suspended faucet from Fantini Rubinetti and a mirror across from the sink area—were worth the risk. “If you think about it, boats were made of wood for thousands of years and didn’t sink,” Lang says. “It’s all about treating the wood correctly.”
The kitchen looks out to a living wall in the solarium, which also houses a herb garden.
THE OUTDOOR SPACE
One of the home’s most beautiful features is its openness and indoor-outdoor flow. “When these doors open, a lot of this furniture, especially on the higher patio, feels very interior,” says Lang. “We used a lot of beautiful brands like Paola Lenti, Vondom and Kettal.”
A Wolf grill and furniture by Kettal, Paola Lenti and Vondom mingle on the limestone patio.
THE OUTCOME
Due to COVID-19 setbacks and the project’s overall scope, the home took 16 to 18 months to design and about two years to build. But it was worth the wait. “One of the biggest compliments is when people tell me how they feel in my spaces and how that evokes an emotion of warmth,” says Lang. “I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest here and see how happy it makes people.” As for the homeowners, they couldn’t be happier. “They were especially appreciative of being able to settle in,” Lang adds. “They now have a space to ground their family with a great sense of connection. It really did live up to their expectations.”
The light and airy kitchen features cabinetry by Rysso Peters and a Cambria countertop in Brittanica Warm Matte. The appliances are by Sub-Zero, and the hardware is by Emtek. The ceramics display is from the homeowner’s personal collection and includes pieces from his home country, Guatemala.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Paradise Valley
INTERIOR DESIGN
Anita Lang, IMI Design
imidesignstudio.com
ARCHITECTURE
Mark Candelaria, Candelaria Design
candelariadesign.com
BUILDER
Brett Brimley, Brimley Development
brimdev.com
The guest bedroom’s Elitis wallcovering backs a bed and nightstand by Pianca. The artwork by RC Gorman belonged to the client’s grandfather, and Lang gifted the 1970s vintage lamp to the client as a thank-you.
RESOURCES
CAMBRIA
Kitchen countertop
cambriausa.com
CATELLANI & SMITH
Dining room light fixture
catellanismith.com
DAVID E. ADLER FINE RUGS
Living room rug
davideadler.com
LUTRON
Window coverings throughout
luxury.lutron.com
PETER THOMAS DESIGNS
Custom woodwork in powder room; living room coffee table production
peterthomasdesigns.com
PREMIERE WOOD FLOORS, INC
Wood flooring throughout
premierewoodfloors.com
RYSSO PETERS
Cabinetry and wood paneling
@ryssopeters
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
Shoji White paint throughout
sherwin-williams.com
SOLSTICE STONE
Limestone tile throughout
solsticestone.com
