Having outgrown their Arizona abode, a Chicago couple enlists the same power team—David Michael Miller Associates, PHX Architecture, Salcito Custom Homes and Berghoff Design Group—for an elegantly layered Silverleaf retreat.

Architect Erik Peterson of PHX Architecture primarily used stone and stucco with reclaimed wood accents on the exterior for this Silverleaf at DC Ranch home. Landscape designer Jeff Berghoff of Berghoff Design Group created a relaxed, rich feel outside with desert trees and a variety of flowering plants and ground coverings.

THE CLIENT

When a beautifully designed home by David Michael Miller Associates, PHX Architecture, Salcito Custom Homes and Berghoff Design Group proved slightly too small for a Chicago-based couple, they enlisted the same team to tackle their next project. “The homeowner’s tastes are refined with very good style instincts,” says David Michael Miller, who notes that the dog-lovers required a space large enough for their adult children, who come to visit during winter months.

Covered in Phillip Jeffries’ Chevron Chic wallcovering and grounded by a hand-knotted Stark rug, the den features A. Rudin’s 2634 sectional opposite Rose Tarlow’s Emile swivel club chairs. The custom Left Bank lantern is by Formations.

THE PRIORITIES

“They wanted a warm, welcoming house to live in with extra space for guests to relax and enjoy when they visited,” says Miller. “They did not want the house to feel too formal, but did want some spaces to be more elegant and refined than others.” The couple also desired a home rich in texture and details. Another vital consideration, capturing views of the surrounding peaks, was something Anthony Salcito knew he could deliver. “[For their first home, the couple] was so in love with the peaks of the McDowell Mountains; however, with the orientation of their prior lot, the views... were only secondary,” Salcito explains. “I knew the day they called me about this lot that we could accomplish all they wanted—views of the highest peaks of the McDowell Mountains from the moment that you entered their home, that were clearly visible the entire time.”

Darker details, including pre-cast concrete countertops on the island from The Stone Collection, Pendeen pendant lights from Urban Electric and Vespa counter stools from Mattaliano pop against light wood flooring by Duchateau from Premiere Wood Floors and pale plastered walls by Star Plastering Inc.

THE PLAN

“In our early meetings about the house, it was agreed that the architecture context would be rural Mediterranean in nature,” Miller says. “It fell under the Mediterranean style for Silverleaf—you can call it old world charm as well—but definitely with a modern twist interior,” explains Erik Peterson of PHX Architecture, who primarily incorporated stone, stucco and reclaimed wood accents on the exterior. Inside, the team elected to use a warm neutral palette via limestone, wood flooring, a specialty interior color wall plaster finish, reclaimed beams and more. “The combination of all of these finishes together with the architectural volumes of the house made for a welcoming and warm home,” shares Miller.

Furnishings and decor from Gregorius Pineo, Rose Tarlow and Paul Ferrante help define the living room’s elegance.

THE DETAILS

There are abundant gathering spaces, including the living room and family room. “The main living room has a unique, elegant feel afforded to it by how the room is furnished and is anchored by two large sets of steel sash windows at either end,” says Miller of the space, which houses reclaimed wood beams on the ceiling and an antique, reclaimed French fireplace facade. “Art and artifacts, along with selected fabrics of linen velvet and waxed linen, affords the space a rich and elegant feeling,” he adds. The cozy family room, combined with the kitchen and dining area, is where daily life is centered and has stunning views of the mountains to the east. “The kitchen is spacious and filled with light,” says Miller. “The cabinetry is a combination of painted and stained elements; a large window at the main sink allows plenty of light into the room; the hood for the range is built in plaster; and the tile backsplash is finished in handmade Spanish glazed tile.”

Arizona Custom Cabinets crafted the DMMA-designed cabinetry and desk in the home office, where a Louis XII chair from Dennis & Leen and Mark table lamp by Jasper reside.

With pale wood floors, creamy textiles, Paul Ferrante and Formations lighting and furnishings from Gregorius Pineo, Rose Tarlow and more, each bedroom exudes layered elegance, while the primary bathroom, awash with reclaimed limestone tile, leathered marble vanity tops, custom millwork and antiqued glass mirrors, is welcoming while still feeling grand. The home seamlessly flows from indoors to outside. “The family room can be opened to connect to [an outdoor dining and lounge] patio when the weather is ideal,” Miller says, noting that the space is covered by a roof canopy built from reclaimed beams and wood planking.

The primary bathroom is awash with rich neutrals, from the French limestone tiles from Studio Ressource to the Jasper Trumeau mirrors from Michael Smith Inc. The Pavilion stool is by Rose Tarlow, and the sconces are by John Saladino of Saladino Style.

THE CHALLENGES

“One of the most challenging finishes to get right was the mortar wash on the limestone wall cladding for the house,” Miller explains. “I think we easily did 10 different mortar wash samples until we found our winner!”

The Cello Oak Leaf iron mirror by Cox London for Rose Tarlow—hung above a circa 1780 Gustavian chest found at Lief gallery—welcomes the homeowners into their primary bedroom.

THE OUTCOME

After a three-year process, the team accomplished what they set out to do. “The materials and their colorations feel natural and organic. The interior styling ranges from elegant to casual, depending on where you are in the house. The furnishings, art and objects in the house feel collected and unique [and] there is a tranquil elegance to the interiors,” says Miller. And the homeowners couldn’t be happier. “The clients were so pleased with the outcome,” Miller shares. “They love their house!”

A combination of luxuriously layered pieces—including a canopy bed and nightstands from the Kerr Collection and the J. Leigh Carpets Jagra rug from The Floor Collection—make the guesthouse bedroom as memorable as the primary.

DESIGN DETAILS

TYPE
Single-family home

LOCATION
Silverleaf at DC Ranch

INTERIOR DESIGN
David Michael Miller Associates
davidmichaelmiller.com

ARCHITECTURE
PHX Architecture
phxarch.com

BUILDER
Salcito Custom Homes, Ltd.
salcito.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Berghoff Design Group
berghoffdesign.com

Limestone pavers from Craftsman Court Ceramics surround the pool, where double chaise lounges by Amalfi Living from Inside/Out Showrooms Inc., square umbrellas from Santa Barbara Designs’ Riviera collection and Kubrick side tables from Formations mingle.

RESOURCES

CRAFTSMAN COURT CERAMICS
Limestone pavers throughout
craftsmancourt.com

FORMATIONS
Furnishings throughout
formationsusa.com

GREGORIUS PINEO
Furnishings and lighting throughout
gregoriuspineo.com

PAUL FERRANTE
Lighting throughout
paulferrante.com

PREMIERE WOOD FLOORS
Wood flooring throughout
premierewoodfloors.com

ROSE TARLOW
Furnishings throughout
rosetarlow.com

STUDIO RESSOURCE
French limestone flooring throughout
studioressource.com