The color palette also tempers the home and gives it the
welcoming, easy atmosphere the couple so much desired. “The
palette evolved for the interiors as we went along,” says Kathy,
“though we definitely had choices. We knew we didn’t want
cool tones. We wanted a warmer palette. And the light here is
such a warm light. That affected what we chose for many
things—tile, counters, plaster.”
“The plaster walls became a living portion of the house,”
adds interior designer Springer. “They add so much to the
warmth and the light.”
While long, arid views ground the home in the American
Southwest, lush gardens just outside the wealth of traditional
small-paned windows and French doors in the living room—
custom-made on-site by builder Romero—give the illusion of
the Mediterranean. Stone walls are topped with iron fencing,
and custom plantings reflect Kathy’s love of roses, herbs, and
pomegranate and lemon trees.
Rolf and Kathy’s passion for old-world skills turned the job
from just another project into a real work of art for members
of the design team, who rose to the challenge of creating a true-to-form reproduction.
“The funny thing,” says Kathy, “is that when we started to
think of building, we really didn’t have a specific style in mind.
We were new to the Southwest, and [the architectural style] just
eventually evolved into old Tuscan. We had materials we loved,
and we went to Italy to get ideas. During the process, we went
back, and the second trip really con+firmed our design choices. We found out we were right on.”
Architect: Allen Tafoya Interior designer: Billi Springer
Kitchen designer: Mick De Giulio For more information, see sources on page 210
Above: The master bedroom feels a bit more casual—and a bit more
native to the Southwest—than the more public rooms in the house.
Top right: A capacious tub with a view of Pinnacle Peak and a large
stone sink that was custom-made in Italy make the master bath the
ideal spot to forget the cares of the day.
Far right: The bedroom’s oval window showcases the house’s thick walls.
Right: A small fireplace in the bedroom wards off the evening chill.
