Gardens

In the back, ferns and other shade-friendly plants thrive beneath the home’s deep overhangs.

“This house is actually quite demanding; you have to be committed.”—Resident Nathalie Vandemoortele

Southwest: Steve Martino Phoenix-based landscape architect Steve Martino has unlocked the secret to successful gardening in dry desert environs: “The backbone of my career has been celebrating the desert rather than making apologies for it,” he says. His drought-tolerant designs relate to the southwestern climate and feature native plants—like the whale’s tongue agave, compass barrel cactus, and ocotillo in front of a Scottsdale midcentury house.

The 1912 Craftsman bungalow appears unchanged from the street, part of Cheng and Snyder’s strategy to maintain the neighborhood’s existing architectural character and appease local preservationists. A dark-gray finish from Glidden custom matches the home’s original color and contrasts with the bright interiors.