Vaulted Ceilings Became a Bold Statement Piece in This Scottsdale Home
The homeowners’ favorite feature gets an unexpected twist.
By Heather Shoning | Photography by Lifecreated
A house’s ceilings are not generally what make a potential homebuyer swoon. But the opposite was true of this 1989 ranch home in The Estates in Scottsdale. When Christina Hanna and Chris Fromm toured the property, the whitewashed, vaulted ceilings and open floor plan sold them. A recent renovation left the dwelling fresh but lacking character. Although she’d never worked with an interior designer before, Christina called on Lauren Lerner, whom she found on Instagram, to help. “Christina wanted her home to feel comfortable with an element of glam,” Lerner says. When Lerner suggested painting the beloved soaring ceilings black, Christina jumped at the idea. It was the launching-off point for the rest of the casual-glam design.
Office
Because she works from home, Christina wanted an office that was comfortable and inspiring. “I want to be able to step away from my high-stress job and look around and automatically feel a little bit at ease,” she says. The view from the office into the formal living room is one of calm and serenity, and the soft light filtering through floor-to-ceiling arched windows highlights the black marble floor with its striking geometric pattern. Glass and black metal doors offer privacy without blocking the view to the adjoining room and foyer. Hanging above her desk is a tiered brass light fixture with crystals that resemble small bubbles. Behind the desk is Christina’s favorite piece: a chartreuse suede chair. Custom artwork with the same color completes the stylish look.
Foyer/Living Room
The arched metal-and-glass front doors hint at the style and sleek elegance inside the home. The foyer exposes the arresting ceiling treatment that flows through the common areas. Lerner intentionally selected curved elements to grace each room, starting with the marble and brass console table, its graceful lines contrasting the textural concrete-look wallpaper. A faceted mirror and gold-leaf chandelier add the touch of sophistication the homeowners requested. In the adjoining formal living room, curves abound on the sofas and twin glass-front cabinets flanking the fireplace. Since the windows are of differing heights, Lerner specified custom window treatments for an elegant finishing touch.
Family Room
On the opposite side of the two-sided white- and gray-washed brick fireplace is the family room, which is open to the kitchen and dining spaces. “The goal for the family room was to achieve a cohesive flow with the adjoining spaces while still making sure each area had its own unique feel and purpose,” Lerner says. “The black ceiling is carried throughout, and we used the same chandelier in both the formal and informal living rooms to visually tie the spaces together since both are viewable from the entryway. We loved playing off the curves in the home by incorporating art and furniture that highlighted this eccentric architectural detail.” A large wall that initially served as a bar is now floor-to-ceiling custom shelving with closed cabinetry for additional storage and open shelving to display artwork.
Master Bedroom
The main element of the master bedroom is the stunning custom teal velvet bed. To ensure its regal presence, Lerner kept the rest of the details in the room neutral in color but equal in glam. The soft champagne color of the midcentury-style wallpaper provides the perfect hue to blend with the silver of the side tables, the warm gray of the draperies and the crisp bronze of the mirrors above the nightstands. Funky black lamps contrasted with the bronze add a hint of glamour. “I hadn’t pictured having such a special bed in the primary bedroom. So, the custom headboard that’s fairly high was a bit of a surprise,” Christina says. “And I love it.”
Dining Room
The dining room incorporates curved elements and a glamorous light fixture, aligning with the rest of the interior design style. Lerner maintained a neutral palette while adding texture to this space. The brass- and-crystal chandelier contrast with the rustic washed-wood chairs and black wooden table. “We added some glam to the dining area with an eye-catching light fixture and balanced the space with the comfortable and warm feel of differing woods in the table and chairs,” Lerner says. “It feels both approachable and not too pretentious for this family to gather in daily.” In the adjoining spaces, Lerner says she selected similar fabrics, textures and colors to create “a consistent vibe room to room.”
