This Home Took Its Design Cues from a Stunning Collection of Art
A creative collaboration inspires a captivating oasis.
By Lauren Tyda | Photography by Eric Kruk
In this dynamic desert abode, each vignette is a confection of texture, color and sculptural beauty. Surrounded by picture windows that frame the desert landscape, the peaceful respite reflects a delicate balance between artistry, design and nature.
The homeowners, a pair of accounting professionals with a passion for art—wanted a contemporary, light-filled space to showcase their extensive collection. “It was a departure from their previous home, which was more traditional,” says Phoenix Home & Garden Masters of the Southwest award-winning interior designer Amy Klosterman. “Handmade and distinctively unique pieces had priority, with the new furnishings and finishes serving as the supporting actors.”
To achieve this, Klosterman worked closely with the couple’s art consultant, gallery owner and fellow Master of the Southwest Lisa Sette. “Our design was driven by some of their existing favorite pieces, such as the bold, golden ochre-yellow piece by Arizona artist Mayme Kratz in the great room,” explains Klosterman. “Other artworks were added throughout the design process.”
Subdued neutral hues allow the masterworks to serve as the exclamation points, with surprising chromatic leaps in the materials. “We used black, cream and walnut as a base palette and then saturated color accents in fabrics, rugs and wallcoverings,” Klosterman remarks.
Sette’s creative direction ensured that the art seamlessly melded with design, creating a visually captivating and emotionally resonant narrative. “Many of the artworks reference nature, science and philosophy, which was a natural fit for these clients,” says Sette, citing the couple’s background in the local arts and culture organizations. “We selected artists such as James Turrell, Mayme Kratz, Kim Cridler, Beverly Penn, Karl Blossfeldt, Alan Bur Johnson, Laura Spalding Best and Xawery Wolski, all of whom allude to the ephemeral quality of the natural world in their pieces.”
In addition to their personal treasures, the home also needed to accommodate the thrills and spills of the owners’ three toddler grandchildren and two golden retrievers. “We incorporated performance fabrics and leathers,” says the designer.
“We mixed linear and organic elements. I really like symmetry and simple shapes that are placed together in a graphic way.”
—Amy Klosterman, interior designer
“When a family has children and pets, we also like to have multiple avenues through the living area to make it functional—and also more approachable—for the fast-moving little bodies.” Flexibility was a key theme, with movable furniture designed to allow for spontaneous transformations—“perfect for fort-making Friday nights,” Klosterman notes.
Klosterman designed several architectural details, including a modern hearth in the great room with a heatless steam fireplace. “You can put your hand over the ‘flame,’ and it won’t burn,” says the husband. “It produces no heat whatsoever, so we can use it all year.”
Even the powder room is a wink to contemporary art. “We custom colored vinyl wall panels that look and feel like canvas, which allowed two of the walls to become immersive abstract art pieces,” Klosterman remarks.
For the kitchen, Klosterman and her design team specified dual cascading islands and a floating walnut eating counter to allow space for movement and interactive cooking with guests. “We chose the warm wood to balance the blacks and whites and also tie in with their pet’s colors,” she laughs, referencing the eating counter’s similarity to the rust-hued mane of the couple’s pups. “This is surprisingly common. Many pet owners love furnishings that hide pet hair or complement the colors of their beloved furry friends.”
The design extends into the outdoor realm, with the dining room leading to a front patio courtyard adorned with a vibrant art collection, including a radiant blue installation by Laura Spalding Best of hand-painted butterflies—which Klosterman used as a reference point for selecting peacock-hued fabrics for the lounge and dining chairs—and a graphic columnar sculpture by Pard Morrison.
Whether relaxing on a swing, lounging on river-rock-shaped ottomans, or enjoying the outdoor bed by a spa, the homeowners can revel in the fusion of art and nature. “We like to go outside at night, hang out with the dogs and just enjoy the space,” says the wife.
Now that their dwelling is complete, the couple can embrace the red neon words that flash on an art installation by Alicia Eggert that greets guests as they walk through the door: “Never Being, Forever Becoming.” The mantra, said by the artist to be inspired by Plato’s writings, recognizes the dichotomy between the eternal and the ephemeral. At least for now, though, the duo can focus on just “being” and allow their home to be the “becoming” masterpiece that it is.
“Amy made it so we can really live in this house,” says the wife. “Every area is functional, but we can still appreciate the art. It is contemporary, yet still warm and comfortable.”
SOURCES
Interior designer: Amy Klosterman, Allied ASID and Michelle Jefferson, ASID, AB Design Elements, Scottsdale, abdesignelements.com. Art curation and installation: Lisa Sette, Lisa Sette Gallery, Phoenix, lisasettegallery.com. Landscape design: Blooming Desert, Mesa, bloomingdesert.com.
OFFICE—Faux plant Botanical Elegance, Scottsdale, botanicalelegance.com. Rug: endlessknotrugs.com. Custom millwork: f1cabinets.us. Chairs (by Herman Miller): dwr.com.
GAME ROOM—Pin art installation (“Cadence”): by Alan Bur Johnson, Phoenix, lisasettegallery.com/artist/alan-bur-johnson. Coffee table ottoman: robertaschilling.com.
LIVING ROOM—Faux plant: botanicalelegance.com. Rug: David E. Adler Fine Rugs, Scottsdale, davideadler.com. Coffee table: Peter Thomas Designs, Scottsdale, peterthomasdesigns.com. Wood wall sculpture: abdesignelements.com and Paul Jeffrey, Paul Rene Furniture, Phoenix, paulrenefurniture.com. Ochre artwork (“If We Stay”): by Mayme Kratz, Phoenix, lisasettegallery.com/artist/mayme-kratz.
DINING ROOM—Wall tile: artistictile.com. Shelving (custom): Patina Yard, Phoenix, patinayard.com. Cabinetry: F1 Cabinets & Furniture, Phoenix, f1cabinets.us. Chair fabric: sharris.com. Table (custom): indigenousbylarue.com.
COURTYARD—Fountain rock sculpture: by Woods Davy, woodsdavy.com. Colorful sculpture (“By the Way She Shines”): by Pard Morrison, pardmorrison.com. Patio furniture: bernhardt.com. Butterfly art (“Kaleidoscope”): by Laura Spalding Best, Phoenix, lauraspaldingbest.com.
KITCHEN—Countertops: Arizona Tile, Tempe, arizonatile.com. Cabinetry: f1cabinets.us.
PRIMARY BEDROOM—Barn doors: patinayard.com.
PRIMARY BATHROOM—Metal sculpture (“Fruition”): by Kim Cridler, Phoenix, lisasettegallery.com/artist/kim-cridler. Teardrop wall art (“Gotas Oro”): by Xawery Wolski, lisasettegallery.com/artist/xawery-wolski. Stained glass leaded window: Bob Berg, Chanikva Studio, Scottsdale, (480) 443-1668. Chandelier: (by Studio Bel Vetro): John Brooks, Scottsdale, johnbrooksinc.com.
