Early in our history, the majority of houses that graced the pages of Phoenix Home & Garden were of a traditionally Southwestern aesthetic, and we built our reputation as the go-to for excellence in architecture and interior design in Arizona. For a few years following that era, our features became predominantly contemporary, which was fine if that’s your thing, but the magazine presented a skewed—and very limited—representation of homes and creators in the Valley.

During the three years since I accepted the mantle of editor in chief, our team has worked hard to steer PH&G in an inclusive direction that celebrates the stellar variety of talent that thrives within our state’s borders. We showcase creative excellence in its many forms, and it makes us happy to not only pay tribute to Arizona’s enduring design forces, but to also introduce you to people, places, ideas and inspirations you may not yet be aware of.

Dream houses come in all shapes, styles and sizes—from stately mansions to studio apartments. This issue embraces that spectrum. On these pages, we take you inside grand estates, urban wonders, stately gardens and cozy nests. Each embodies the ideal of comfort, beauty and functionality for its owners, and each surprised and delighted us when we found it. We hope you feel the same.

Speaking of dreamy dwellings, don’t miss the 2021 Phoenix Home & Garden Home Tour, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13. We’ve got a stellar lineup of residences that spans Cave Creek, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. As was the rule for our recent garden tours, we will be ensuring that current health and safety guidelines and social distancing recommendations are in place. We invite you to spend the day diving deep into some of the best architecture and interior design the Valley has to offer. For ticket information, visit phgmag.com/gardentour.

John Roark
Editor in Chief