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Homepage / Architecture  / Four Generations, One Home: A Modern Farmhouse Rooted in Family

Four Generations, One Home: A Modern Farmhouse Rooted in Family

In the heart of Gilbert, a fourth-generation family farmhouse is transformed into a bold, modern retreat—without letting go of its agrarian soul.

By Lauren Tyda | Photography by Melissa Valladares

Everything about Justin and Dawnie Stewart’s home tells a story—from the restored 1965 Ford pickup truck in the driveway to the many pieces of repurposed furniture inside. Once a working cotton farm, the property has been in Dawnie’s family for four generations. Now, thanks to a thoughtful reimagining by architect Erik Koss and interior designer Tony Williams, it’s been transformed into a modern legacy home that honors the past while embracing the present.

“Dawnie’s Uncle Hugh used to drive that very truck around the farm,” Williams says. “We wanted to bring that same spirit into every corner of the home.” Even before stepping inside, guests are greeted by furniture in the entry court made from recycled milk jugs—a nod to the couple’s agricultural heritage as dairy farmers.

The design itself tells a tale in three parts: the historic brick farmhouse, rebuilt on its original footprint; a sleek, modern wing joined by a transparent glass bridge; and a freestanding barn. At the center, a courtyard ties it all together—visually, emotionally and functionally. “It’s the place where everything meets and where the family lives and gathers,” Koss says.

Planning the house was no small feat. The Stewarts spent more than a decade dreaming, sketching and saving before bringing their vision to Koss. “It was a true labor of love,” the architect notes. “They knew what they wanted: something that felt personal, practical and permanent.”

To unify the structures, Koss chose a palette of materials that reference the land’s agricultural history—oxidized steel, shiplap, tongue-and-groove ceilings and brick matched to the original farmhouse masonry. Large-format limestone walls, vaulted ceilings and expansive glass windows bring light and flow into the interiors. “Each element represents a different phase and a piece of the history of the site,” Koss notes. “That’s what I love about this house—it’s a mix.”

Inside, Williams curated a mix of family heirlooms, custom furnishings and playful details. “There was so much heart in every decision,” he says. A former changing table became a sitting room ottoman. Thrifted church pews now line the barn lounge, reupholstered in a fabric both Dawnie and Williams loved. “I spent a whole day going through their storage unit, finding pieces to bring new life to,” the designer recalls.

The kitchen features a showstopping 72-inch-wide turquoise gas range, a personal favorite of Dawnie’s. And in the dining room, a monumental 14-foot table by artisan Chase Warren hosts both family dinners and holiday feasts. Even the barn was designed with versatility in mind—it now houses a guest suite, gym, archery lane and RV storage.

Color was key to the design. “Dawnie loves bright hues, and so do I,” says Williams. “We didn’t want a muted, tonal house. We wanted it to feel alive.” Potted plants fill windowsills. Custom pieces sit beside family antiques. And everywhere, there’s a sense of warmth and welcome.

Outdoors, a raised negative-edge pool reflects the desert sky by day and glows with embedded lights at night, mimicking a starry sky. A fully equipped outdoor kitchen—complete with a beer tap and generous prep space—caters to the couple’s love of hosting.

“Owning a dairy, we can’t travel much,” Justin says. “So we created the kind of place we never want to leave.”

For Dawnie, the true joy is in seeing their grandchildren play on the same land she did. “We always joke that the houses around here are our final crop,” she says. “We may not grow cotton anymore, but we grow relationships. And that’s what really matters.”

A bold cantilever marks the entry to Justin and Dawnie Stewart’s modern addition. Dawnie’s uncle’s restored vintage pickup truck stands as a tribute to the land’s agricultural roots. “We originally parked it there as a joke, and it’s been there ever since, right where her Uncle Hugh would have parked it,” says interior designer Tony Williams. “It’s a piece of art.”
At night, the pool becomes a mirror for the desert sky, its embedded lights creating the illusion of stars rising from below.
Dubbed “Nordic cowboy” style by the interior designer, the guest room blends Scandinavian simplicity with Western charm. A suspended cowhide headboard anchors the space, while a custom wood ladder leads to a loft built for visiting grandchildren. Framed vintage mining maps salvaged from the original farmhouse were reimagined as wall art, and a propeller-style ceiling fan is an homage Justin’s former life as a pilot.
Designed as the nexus between the home’s three volumes, the courtyard balances crisp lines and organic textures. The outdoor kitchen—composed of architectural block and sheltered by a 7,000-pound cantilevered roof—aligns with the great room for seamless flow. A raised negative-edge pool doubles as a sculptural water feature, while a convertible ping-pong table offers playful versatility.
A glass-enclosed hallway—called “the bridge” by architect Erik Koss—connects the modern great room to the original farmhouse-inspired bedroom wing. “This element allows the two sides of the home to each have their own personalities, with one side a reference to the past and the other a nod to the future,” Koss says. Echoing the ceiling in the kitchen, wood slats above resemble an actual bridge, while brick masonry and limestone block mark the transition between eras. Blown-glass art adds a touch of softness.
In the historic wing, a replica of Eero Aarnio’s iconic hanging ball chair pairs unexpectedly with a bison bust—one of Justin’s hunting trophies—creating a moment that’s equal parts modern and rugged. The couple’s Yorkshire terriers, Ringo and Dottie, lounge nearby. “Dawnie is a maximalist and Justin is a minimalist,” Williams says. “He likes super modern, and she is more traditional. So my task was to blend that all together cohesively.”
Just outside the primary suite, the “setting room”—as the owners affectionately call it—invites relaxation with an eclectic, cheerful palette and heirloom pieces. A custom rocker and reupholstered furnishings from Dawnie’s grandmother reflect the couple’s fondness for family and comfort-driven design. The ottoman was once a changing table for their now-grown sons. “It had a frilly, very traditional design,” Williams recalls. “We reupholstered it with a bright, floral fabric, so Dawnie can have that as a reminder of when her kids were young.”
In the primary closet, a curated wall of hats—each hand-decorated by Dawnie—offers a stylish glimpse into her creative spirit and lifelong love of fashion.
The modern, minimalist kitchen features a cantilevered countertop, designed for seamless interaction between the owners and their guests. “When we’re entertaining, we usually stand, which gets tiring after a while,” Justin says. “The cantilevered bar allows us to pull up a chair between cooking and cleaning.”
“I love the heart and energy of the home’s design, which is truly a manifestation of the genuine, loving people who live there.”

—Tony Williams, interior designer

Just beyond the kitchen windows, a working garden brims with fresh produce, including wild tomatoes and celery. Drawing on their industry knowledge, Justin integrated a weather station to monitor wind and precipitation, ensuring every drop of water is used wisely.
The aquamarine-hued range adds a vibrant pop of color to the kitchen, reflecting Dawnie’s love for turquoise jewelry.
Designed for gathering, the custom 14-foot-1-inch-long wood dining table seats up to 16 guests. “We added the 1 inch to ensure it would be the biggest table to date for the wood craftsman, Chase Warren,” the interior designer says. “I have never spent more time discussing the proper size of a dining table than I did with this one. If it was too small, the space would dwarf it, but if it was too big, it would impede on the function of the space and become a distraction.” Williams reupholstered the end chairs—family heirlooms—in fur, a subtle nod to the home’s rustic accents.
Anchoring the great room, a custom floating sectional provides generous seating for family and guests. A playful replica of a midcentury “fried egg” chair adds sculptural interest. Overhead, the longest single-span steel beam ever fabricated in the U.S., according to Koss, runs from the cantilevered entry to the heart of the living room.

SOURCES

  • Architect and builder: Erik Koss, Koss design + build, Phoenix, kossdb.com
  • Interior designer: Tony Williams, Anthony W Design, Phoenix, anthonywdesign.com

COURTYARD

  • Pool: Phoenician Pool Construction, Scottsdale, phoenicianpool.com
  • Steel firepit (custom): Bang Bang Designs, Phoenix, (602) 367-1173
  • Fire feature: Arizona Fireplaces, Phoenix, arizonafireplaces.com
  • Outdoor kitchen: danver.com

GUEST ROOM

  • Headboard: anthonywdesign.com
  • Ladder: Chase Warren, Chase Warren Design, Phoenix, chasewarrendesign@gmail.com

ENTRY

  • Entry court outdoor furniture: lolldesigns.com
  • Glass wall sculptures: Newt Grover, Newt Glass, Scottsdale, newtglass.com

SETTING ROOM

  • Rocking chair: chasewarrendesign@gmail.com

PRIMARY BEDROOM

  • Closet designer: classyclosets.com

KITCHEN

  • Cabinets and counters: bulthaup, Scottsdale, bulthaup.com
  • Faucet: deltafaucet.com
  • Range: frenchranges.com
  • Built-in coffee station: mieleusa.com

DINING ROOM

  • Table and chairs: chasewarrendesign@gmail.com
  • Light fixture: stickbulb.com

LIVING ROOM

  • Interior/exterior large-format limestone: Solstice Stone, Scottsdale, solsticestone.com
  • installed by Randy Gregory Masonry, Phoenix, (602) 757-3112
  • Custom upholstery: Prospect Division, Phoenix, (480) 404-4258
  • Lamp: dwr.com
  • Sectional and coffee table: chasewarrendesign@gmail.com
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