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How a Young Family in Arizona Built Their Dream Home From the Ground UpView 10 Photos

How a Young Family in Arizona Built Their Dream Home From the Ground Up

Derek and Venea Meyer used desert-inspired design elements and indoor/outdoor architectural details to envelop the energy-efficient space.
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For Derek and Venea Meyer, building a new house was never part of the plan.

The young couple, who was looking to move back home to Arizona after a 10-year stint in Manhattan Beach, had been searching and searching to buy a turnkey home, but quickly realized any property they vaguely liked would require massive renovations. However, a random marketing email from Zillow about a plot of land changed everything: "They had an aerial view of the lot, and you could see the sunrise, the mountains," says Venea. "So I had this crazy idea: What if we build?"

Nestled at the heart of Ahwatukee Foothills, a small community on the southernmost part of Phoenix, Arizona, they started constructing a 3,000-square-foot home with sustainability at its core. If they had to build, they decided they were going to do it with as much care as possible. "Our builder, Andrew Tuttle at Beckett Construction, was instrumental in bringing forward those sustainable features, as well as the building science and high performance of a home," says Derek.

The 3,000-square foot home is nestled at the heart of Ahwatukee Foothills and is surrounded by drought-tolerant landscaping. Venea is a photographer and designed the pool house to also operate as her at home studio.

The 3,000-square foot home is nestled at the heart of Ahwatukee Foothills and is surrounded by drought-tolerant landscaping. Venea is a photographer and designed the pool house to also operate as her at home studio.

The couple opted for wool interior insulation and ZIP System R-sheathing for exterior insulation, which are more sustainable and reduce the amount of lumber and chemicals used to keep the home protected from the Arizona heat. Other simple external shifts involved the use of drought-resistant plants in the landscaping to save water, as well as a built-in, self-cleaning system in the pool that uses jets of water to push dirt and contaminants toward a vacuum that sucks the debris up.

There are 12 arches in total throughout the home, playing up the desert modernism vibes. "I feel like they bring a very soft, timeless, and creative aspect to such simple parts of the home—like as simple as a walkway or a window," says Derek. In the kitchen, and throughout the home, there is no natural gas consumption; every appliance is electric. 

There are 12 arches in total throughout the home, playing up the desert modernism vibes. "I feel like they bring a very soft, timeless, and creative aspect to such simple parts of the home—like as simple as a walkway or a window," says Derek. In the kitchen, and throughout the home, there is no natural gas consumption; every appliance is electric. 

"For us, sustainability means maximizing comfort and longevity of a home, while minimizing the impact and use of earth resources and footprint," says Derek of their three-year build process.

That eco-conscious mindset continues throughout the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, which the Meyers designed with the help of Joel Contreras and Amy Williams at Joel Contreras Design. In addition to features like a heat pump water heater and energy recovery ventilator (ERV), using sustainable and organic materials was paramount to that ethos, especially in the bedroom, and the natural colors within bring about a subdued, calm feel.

In order to achieve ample daylighting, artful windows were imperative—but all that light can also come with lots of heat. Thick glass and overhanging arches were key to the design scheme so that the home was insulated from the harsh Arizona climate. The main living area also features a 20-foot tongue-and-groove ceiling that extends to both patios. 

In order to achieve ample daylighting, artful windows were imperative—but all that light can also come with lots of heat. Thick glass and overhanging arches were key to the design scheme so that the home was insulated from the harsh Arizona climate. The main living area also features a 20-foot tongue-and-groove ceiling that extends to both patios. 

For the mattresses in all the bedrooms, the couple decided on certified organic Avocado Green Mattresses due to their environmentally conscious and sustainable business practices, as well as how luxe and relaxing they are to touch. "Avocado ties into our house beautifully from a sustainability perspective, and they’re really paving the way for other mattress companies," says Venea. "Their entire mattress is certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard, which I loved as well, and it honestly feels like you’re sleeping on a cloud." 

When designing the bedrooms, Venea stressed that it was very important for the family to feel like they were one with the earth, and she used organic materials and warmer colors to emulate that feel. Behind the bed is a ledge created with Zellige tiles to mimic a tiled headboard. "It is beautiful, but it’s perfectly imperfect as I tell people," says Venea of the hand-cut tiles. "I really think it goes well with the desert. It’s an earthy material. We incorporated tile in a lot of places that people don’t normally do." 

When designing the bedrooms, Venea stressed that it was very important for the family to feel like they were one with the earth, and she used organic materials and warmer colors to emulate that feel. Behind the bed is a ledge created with Zellige tiles to mimic a tiled headboard. "It is beautiful, but it’s perfectly imperfect as I tell people," says Venea of the hand-cut tiles. "I really think it goes well with the desert. It’s an earthy material. We incorporated tile in a lot of places that people don’t normally do." 

The Meyers didn’t just consider the surface level when designing their primary bedroom. "You don’t really think about the look of a mattress, but there are so many times when you’re taking your sheets on and off. And to do that and be able to look down at a mattress that is beautiful, it’s definitely a plus," says Derek. "Obviously, comfort is paramount and it checks that box, but to have something that’s also aesthetically pleasing is a definite bonus."

The Meyers didn’t just consider the surface level when designing their primary bedroom. "You don’t really think about the look of a mattress, but there are so many times when you’re taking your sheets on and off. And to do that and be able to look down at a mattress that is beautiful, it’s definitely a plus," says Derek. "Obviously, comfort is paramount and it checks that box, but to have something that’s also aesthetically pleasing is a definite bonus."

The terracotta floors and wooden drawers in the bathroom all tie to nature, and mix well with the desert views peeking through the window.

The terracotta floors and wooden drawers in the bathroom all tie to nature, and mix well with the desert views peeking through the window.

 "Green" living from the ground-up was especially important for the couple as they share the home with their two young children, five-year old Abigail and two-year-old Mason, as well as Lady, their dog. "I think it’s so important to have those conversations with your kids and provide them the information so as they get older, they can make their own decisions around the products and goods that they decide to use," says Derek. In addition, Venea often takes the kids to their outdoor garden, where she teaches them the importance of planting and composting.

While the playroom was a last-minute addition to the home, it’s the one the couple is most glad is there. "We can kind of keep ears on what the kids are doing up there, but they feel like they have their little privacy," says Derek.

While the playroom was a last-minute addition to the home, it’s the one the couple is most glad is there. "We can kind of keep ears on what the kids are doing up there, but they feel like they have their little privacy," says Derek.

All the lighting used in the home was handmade by artists from around the world, including Mexico and Canada. "It adds this element of art within a light," says Venea.

All the lighting used in the home was handmade by artists from around the world, including Mexico and Canada. "It adds this element of art within a light," says Venea.

The large .73-acre hillside lot also leaves ample space for a garden, where the couple takes the kids to implement some eco-friendly activities into their day. "They just say, ‘This tomato is the best tomato I’ve ever tasted,’ and it's because their little hands help grow it," says Venea. "And it’s so cute because as they’re getting older, I see them taking pride in going to the garden and helping grow their own food."

The large .73-acre hillside lot also leaves ample space for a garden, where the couple takes the kids to implement some eco-friendly activities into their day. "They just say, ‘This tomato is the best tomato I’ve ever tasted,’ and it's because their little hands help grow it," says Venea. "And it’s so cute because as they’re getting older, I see them taking pride in going to the garden and helping grow their own food."

In addition to sustainability, the Meyers knew that indoor/outdoor living would be the other cornerstone of their design—especially coming from California. 

The one element the couple wanted to emulate from their time living in California was the ability to add in more opportunities for indoor/outdoor living. "Living in Manhattan Beach, we would be obsessed about some of the houses on the strand near the beach that would just have these massive rooftop decks," says Derek. "Since this lot offers beautiful mountain views, the rooftop deck is a great way to be outside and maximize those views."

The one element the couple wanted to emulate from their time living in California was the ability to add in more opportunities for indoor/outdoor living. "Living in Manhattan Beach, we would be obsessed about some of the houses on the strand near the beach that would just have these massive rooftop decks," says Derek. "Since this lot offers beautiful mountain views, the rooftop deck is a great way to be outside and maximize those views."

An expansive rooftop deck at the foot of the primary further encompasses this, with a hammock put in for good measure. "I like that we didn’t really put stairs to it from outside, so we only access it from our primary bedroom," says Venea. "It feels like a sacred space."

Learn more at avocadogreenmattress.com.

Project Credits:

Design: Joel Contreras and Amy Williams, Joel Contreras Design

Architect: Brock O’Neill, The Design Office

Construction: Beckett Construction

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