The thoughtful renovation of an aging Pueblo-style home preserves its architectural integrity.

Homeowners Margaret and Ken Barnes had long desired to move from Chicago to the West when they retired, but they weren’t quite sure exactly where they’d land. They looked at houses in California, where they had once lived; in Colorado, where a son resides; and in Arizona, where Ken spent time as a child. When a realtor showed them an adobe residence designed and once occupied by the late Arizona artist and architectural designer Bill Tull, they knew their search was over. 

“We were looking for a home that had some architectural significance,” notes Margaret. Tull, a 1990 Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award winner, was renowned for his classic designs, which remain in demand today. “We’ve always loved hacienda-style homes because of our California roots and knew that we wanted to live in one,” says Ken. “We adore the thick walls, the high ceilings and the scale of the space.”

While the Tull-designed adobe captured the couple’s hearts, there were a few things they wanted to change. Originally built in 1976 and remodeled over the years by previous owners, the house needed a number of updates to better suit Margaret and Ken’s needs. For example, the kitchen was small, and its layout didn’t function well for modern-day use; the master wing was too compartmentalized; and all the bathrooms were dated and dark, the homeowners recall. So they decided to modernize it and make it their own.

Enter architect Andrew Carson, whose involvement in the remodel was a matter of serendipity. It seems he had drawn plans for another client who had expressed interest in the house but had never moved forward, and the Barneses discovered them—detailed on three foam boards and left in a closet—when they were considering purchasing the home. “We realized they were for this house, found Andrew’s name and contact info on them, and decided to give him a call,” recalls Ken. An extensive redo incorporating some of the changes detailed on those plans as well as additional upgrades was soon underway. “The homeowners really liked what we were starting to do on the early plans, but they wanted to take it even further,” says the architect.

Having previously remodeled three other Tull homes, Carson was familiar with the architectural designer’s style and signature elements, including ceilings accented with vigas and latillas, sculptural fireplaces, stepped walls and rounded corners. He notes that this particular home had been added onto randomly in previous years—and in a way that was not in keeping with its original design. 

“We were looking for a home that had some architectural significance.”

––Margaret Barnes, homeowner

In addition to eliminating what he describes as a “Mr. Potato Head addition” off the kitchen, Carson removed the existing master wing, which comprised a bedroom, two bathrooms, an exercise room and a small office, and replaced it with a simpler, more functional suite. “The entire area had been added on in pieces over time; it was like a mouse maze,” he says. “We reimagined the space to keep it simple, warm and relaxing. Now it relates much more to the original architecture.” The new open master suite includes a bedroom with a sitting area, a laundry room and an expansive bathroom with oversized windows that look out to the gardens and Phoenix Mountains Preserve. 

Other changes included removing a large fireplace outside the kitchen that blocked views of the pool and courtyard, creating an owner’s entry off the garage, relocating the laundry room from this area to the new master suite, and tucking a wine room into an alcove at the rear of the living room. 

“We took our time and explored each area with several different schemes, and the design evolved into something quite spectacular,” says Carson. “It was important to keep in step with Tull’s original ideas and respect the legacy of the past while creating a more contemporary way of living for the clients.”

As the renovation progressed, Margaret and Ken decided to gut the existing kitchen and open it to the adjacent dining area. While the original space featured signature Tullian tile countertops and painted cabinets with tin fronts, the couple wanted a more contemporary feel, complete with modern amenities. The revamped space boasts a center island, rift-cut wire-brushed walnut cabinets, natural quartz countertops with a leather finish, and stainless steel appliances. Carson added a pair of windows that flank the range hood and allow natural sunlight to flood the cooking area.

In addition to being brighter, the house now boasts a significantly better flow, while new windows that match the original ones offer improved views of the surrounding landscape as well as Camelback Mountain and Phoenix Mountains Preserve. “Because of all the big windows, the light and shadows change throughout the day, and the courtyard and mountain views make you feel like you’re outside even when you’re inside,” says Ken.

Refreshing the landscaping on the one-acre lot was Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award-winning landscape architect Michael Rockwell. “We removed a significant amount of dead or dying plant material to clear the way for newly designed spaces,” he notes. “The site contained a substantial number of mature trees, large saguaros and other specimen plants, which were used as a baseline for the new design. A considerable effort was made to understand and address the views from the inside of the home to the outside.” 

In keeping with the property’s natural surroundings, many of the large boulders that dotted the yard were retained, and Rockwell added a variety of new cacti, agave and succulents for color, texture and graphic appeal. Now the gardens overflow with desert-friendly flora, including towering totem pole and organ pipe cacti, Indian fig and beavertail prickly pear, spiky Parryi truncata and Agave Americana and augustifolia, vivid Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire,’ lush Moroccan mound and Seussian Hercules aloe. 

“The Barneses are full-time residents and wanted a house that would be a good Arizona experience,” Carson says. “They fell in love with this property the way it was, and we didn’t want to take away anything that would change the way it feels. I think the editing we did helped us get back to the home’s original architectural integrity.” The thoughtful renovation preserved the home’s beauty—strengthening its heart without destroying its soul. 

Now that they’ve settled into their new lives in the Valley, the couple don’t miss their previous residence in Chicago, which was very formal. “We called it our ‘fancy pants house,’” jokes Ken. “We wanted our next home to be a lot more casual and easy-living. This one fills the bill. It lives well; it’s very comfortable, and it’s rich in architectural details.”

For more information, see Sources.