Kitchen

A double-height glass atrium connects the chef's kitchen with the landscaped backyard.

Exposed beams stretch across the main level, connecting the living areas and kitchen.

The hot tub is a highlight of the home. “It was worth the investment,” says Kara. “Especially late at night when you can see the stars.”

The white countertops are made from concrete and the wooden cabinets have been painted a subtle shade of sage. The floors are white oak hardwood.

"Light is the most important part of a successful living space," Naughtin says. "We utilized double-height glazing with operable windows and large doors to maximize the intake of light and achieve a strong connection to the outdoor space." European oak storage in the living space matches that in the kitchen for a continuous flow.

The large primary bedroom frames striking desert views and offers direct outdoor access.

White oak cabinetry dots the new hallway outside the main bedroom, as does a new skylight to bring in more light.

The room benefits from much more natural light, thanks to the open plan and new windows.

For the built-in bar, the white oak cabinetry frames the same quartzite slab that’s used at the island.

The rebuilt “Idea House,” designed by Holly Freres and David Horning of JHL design. The driveway is permeable to encourage good drainage: crushed granite gravel is installed over a stabilization mat. James Hardie exterior siding is painted in Benjamin Moore ‘White Dove,’ with reclaimed wood used for the entry and garage.

The once-sloping space now has climbing vines, a slatted fence, and foxtail agaves.

"The idea for the shower room is that it would be like a retreat," Eric says. "There is a long hallway between it and the bedroom, so it becomes an intentional procession every time you want to get there." The floor is a large-format tile in a geologic-inspired pattern. "It almost looks like it's full of fossils," Eric says. He and Emily populated the room with green plants for a natural layer of color.

The original ceiling, made from old-growth pine, adds warmth to the living room, balancing out the white walls and salvaged white oak flooring.

"We worked closely with the chef of the family, Mike, to fine tune the requirements for adjacency, surfaces, and lighting,

“Cocktail hour is sacred,” says Roberta. So, in a storage wall (shared by the living area on one side and the kitchen on the other) Bjorngaard tucked in an elegant bar (with a French Pyrolave lava stone counter and backsplash) that has everything she needs for drink service.

The living room has a gray rug by Tai Ping Carpets, rust-colored B&B Italia sofas, a pendant by David Weeks, and a frieze of butterflies by artist Kirk Maxon inspired by birds that flutter in the treetops outside Roberta’s balcony. Blinds, pocketed in the soffit above the doors, come down automatically when the sun is too bright.

After: The architects updated the millwork in the living room for a more subtle look, which serves as a cohesive background for the original Art Deco fireplace and a collection of midcentury-style furniture.

Virtue Joinery built the custom cabinetry, composed of plywood stained a soft grey.