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Sublime Intervention

Architect Joanna Noonan and builder Dan Noonan used a minimal approach to update the 1970s home. To keep the entry’s garden walls, they matched new block to the original mortar-washed walls.

Subtle updating maintains a Phoenix home’s midcentury style.

By Nora Burba Trulsson | Photography by Jason Roehner

Architect Joanna Noonan and builder Dan Noonan instantly knew the circa-1970 Phoenix house was a design gem, with a modernist touch that was ahead of its time. When the husband-and-wife design/build team was asked to update the four-bedroom residence, they suggested a respectful approach and a light touch. Luckily, the homeowners, Radha and John Pappas, agreed. “When we first saw the place, it was still owned by the original family,” remembers Radha. “We loved the property and liked the fact that it was more yard than house. We really didn’t want to change it much.”

While the home’s architectural provenance remains slightly murky, hallmarks seem to point to the work of the late architect Bennie Gonzales, known for using mortar-washed Queen Creek adobe for walls, creating angled floor plans and featuring foyers elevated above the main living spaces.

“The main focus here was updating the kitchen,” says Joanna Noonan. “We took it out of the corner and placed it where the original dining room was located, then enclosed some of the back patio to make room for the new dining area.” The kitchen and dining area were in the center of the home’s two wings. As the homeowners and their two children camped out in the house during the renovation process, Dan Noonan built temporary, insulated walls on either side of this core to minimize construction disruption. The laundry room became the makeshift kitchen. “We could cook and wash our clothes at the same time,” quips John.

Other areas were also updated. The living room’s fireplace was modernized with a sleek concrete hearth, while the primary bathroom was reconfigured and the adjacent closet got a ceiling lift to add skylights and more rows of hanging rods. Outside, the flood-irrigated lot was updated with new patios, a pool and a cantilevered shade structure. 

Back inside, one original element was downplayed. “We love the block walls,” explains Dan Noonan, “but the block was everywhere, and a bit overwhelming. We added drywall to some areas, which lightened the interior and helped smooth out corners where we had to cut the block for new openings.”

All told, only 300 square feet were added to the house, creating an open kitchen with a large island and a spacious dining area. New lighting and plumbing fixtures also contribute to a fresh interior, without minimizing the midcentury architecture. “We did the renovation in phases,” says Joanna Noonan, “which allowed us time to be thoughtful about the project. We wanted to maintain the character of the house.”

A new pool, patio and barbecue create an outdoor room, shaded by a cantilevered metal canopy.
A new pool, patio and barbecue create an outdoor room, shaded by a cantilevered metal canopy.
Architect Joanna Noonan and builder Dan Noonan used a minimal approach to update the 1970s home. To keep the entry’s garden walls, they matched new block to the original mortar-washed walls.
Architect Joanna Noonan and builder Dan Noonan used a minimal approach to update the 1970s home. To keep the entry’s garden walls, they matched new block to the original mortar-washed walls.
New cladding for the living room fireplace replaced the original heavy wood mantel. New black-framed windows and porcelain tile flooring update the space without diminishing the midcentury modern appeal.
New cladding for the living room fireplace replaced the original heavy wood mantel. New black-framed windows and porcelain tile flooring update the space without diminishing the midcentury modern appeal.
The architect and builder enclosed part of the back patio to create an expanded dining room that is still in scale with the home’s original dimensions. “Because we removed a load-bearing wall and added a glass wall to expand the dining room, we added a steel beam across the space for structural support,” explains Dan Noonan. “The original wood beams were white, but we painted them black to match the new steel beam.” At upper right, linear steel AC vents replaced the old standard single vents, reiterating the interior’s horizontal lines.
The architect and builder enclosed part of the back patio to create an expanded dining room that is still in scale with the home’s original dimensions. “Because we removed a load-bearing wall and added a glass wall to expand the dining room, we added a steel beam across the space for structural support,” explains Dan Noonan. “The original wood beams were white, but we painted them black to match the new steel beam.” At upper right, linear steel AC vents replaced the old standard single vents, reiterating the interior’s horizontal lines.
The reimagined kitchen was moved front and center from the original corner space on the right, where new cabinetry fills the void. The kitchen’s placement below the foyer keeps it out of the line of sight from the front door. The subtle black bands beneath the countertops disguise numerous electrical outlets and USB ports. The kitchen hood is part of a black ceiling detail, keeping the view open to the front windows. “When we designed the cabinetry, we thought about adding a walk-in pantry,” says Joanna Noonan. “With a walk-in, you actually lose space because of the floor. Pantry cabinets have more storage.”
The reimagined kitchen was moved front and center from the original corner space on the right, where new cabinetry fills the void. The kitchen’s placement below the foyer keeps it out of the line of sight from the front door. The subtle black bands beneath the countertops disguise numerous electrical outlets and USB ports. The kitchen hood is part of a black ceiling detail, keeping the view open to the front windows. “When we designed the cabinetry, we thought about adding a walk-in pantry,” says Joanna Noonan. “With a walk-in, you actually lose space because of the floor. Pantry cabinets have more storage.”
The primary bathroom was reconfigured to include a new shower and bench, with a floating double vanity. The original window was replaced with a black-framed, etched-glass version. “The old layout was choppy,” says Joanna Noonan. “We removed a privacy door that hid the old tub and toilet.”
The primary bathroom was reconfigured to include a new shower and bench, with a floating double vanity. The original window was replaced with a black-framed, etched-glass version. “The old layout was choppy,” says Joanna Noonan. “We removed a privacy door that hid the old tub and toilet.”

“The main focus here was updating the kitchen. We took it out of the corner and placed it where the original dining room was located, then enclosed some of the back patio to make room for the new dining area.”

Joanna Noonan, architect

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