Inside The Making Of a Cool & Comfortable Dream Home

By Laura Eckstein Jones By Laura Eckstein Jones | April 19, 2022 | Home & Real Estate, Lifestyle, Feature, Home & Real Estate,

Designer Jamie Hedstrom of Wiseman and Gale, architect Gary Wyant and builder Calvis Wyant created this new-build vacation home in North Scottsdale’s Mirabel community for a family of avid golfers. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

What does it mean when a client asks for a design that feels “Arizona” in style? For interior designer Jamie Hedstrom of Wiseman and Gale, the answer is clearly not one thing: Tuscan. “It was Tuscan madness here in Arizona in the early 2000s and it just felt so heavy,” she says of the sunbaked Mediterranean look. “I was kind of ruined by it, and those bad trends tend to haunt you.”

The upstairs game room houses a chair from Lawson-Fenning covered in Osborne & Little fabric PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS
A bench in the elegant arched hallway serves as a spot to contemplate “Blue Ribbon,” a vibrant oil painting by artist Patrick Adams. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

Thankfully, that association did not come into play for a project Hedstrom recently completed in North Scottsdale’s Mirabel community. Her clients—a golf-loving family from Missouri—were after a comfortable vacation home fit for kicking up their feet and welcoming a steady stream of guests. “My clients are very casual and down to earth,” she explains. “They are humble people, and wanted a nice home with luxurious and beautiful finishes, but they didn’t want it to be too showy.”

A bold black-and-white drawing by Jon Rollins adds contrast to the interiors. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

The designer came up with a plan that would fulfill her clients’ needs while honoring the new build’s architecture with clean details and timeless touches. “We were very careful about not getting into any design trends that would pinpoint and date the home,” she says. “We wanted to blend different styles, so each room has something kind of rustic or antique and funky next to a contemporary table or finish. We wanted to mix it up and keep it interesting.”

A bench in the elegant arched hallway serves as a spot to contemplate “Blue Ribbon,” a vibrant oil painting by artist Patrick Adams. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS
The upstairs game room houses a chair from Lawson-Fenning covered in Osborne & Little fabric. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

Although the clients recently sold their other vacation home nearby, they only took their primary bedroom furniture along—all other items were new to the home. And while the wife normally wears bold colors, she and the husband chose a more subtle palette for their new abode. “I was a bit surprised,” mentions Hedstrom of that decision. But the sophisticated colors allow the property’s incredible views to take center stage. “When you walk in, your eye goes out to the back,” she says. “Nothing’s going to distract from the beautiful backyard and putting green. There’s a beautiful view and a really nice backdrop.”

Soaring ceilings call for streamlined and statement-making chandeliers from Visual Comfort in the living room. A rug from Azadi grounds sofas from Lee Industries and Kravet, and tables by Robert James Collection and Allaire Inc. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

The great room is the first space encountered after walking through the home’s iron and glass door. Boasting soaring ceilings and lots of natural light, the casual gathering spot contains a balanced mix of rustic and refined elements, including reclaimed wood beams on the ceiling and contemporary furniture from Lee Industries, Kravet, Robert James Collection and Allaire Inc. Streamlined iron chandeliers from Visual Comfort add linear contrast without being distracting, while an artful rug from Azadi lays underfoot.

Lee Industries seats surround a Hickory Chair dining table in the dining room, which features a sculptural Paul Ferrante chandelier. The painting, “Traditions” by Peggy Judy, was sourced at Scottsdale’s Wilde Meyer Gallery. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

Just beyond the great room is the kitchen—one of Hedstrom’s favorite spots in the home. “I made a joke at the beginning of the design process and said, ‘This is the year I’m not doing another white kitchen,’” she explains. Luckily, the homeowners were on board with this plan. “We did a really dark stain on the cabinets, which works because the floors are this lighter limestone. Then we did a pretty quartzite on the countertops and mosaic tile on the backsplash. It’s so beautiful.” Similar to the great room, the kitchen also has reclaimed wood beams, but in a smaller size and a different color and texture.

The primary bedroom looks out to stunning views of the surrounding landscape. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

At first, Hedstrom was weary of the vaulted ceiling in the dining room. “In all honesty, I thought it felt a little bit dated, and because of that I wanted to do cleaner furniture and accessories,” she says. A grass cloth wallpaper from Ralph Lauren lines the walls, while a sleek Hickory Chair table—with a marble base and a lacquered wood top—is surrounded by chairs by Lee Industries. “Looking back, I was definitely wrong,” Hedstrom explains. “If the room had a flat ceiling it would almost be too boring. Instead, it’s a modern spin on an old, traditional detail.”

Benjamin Moore’s Winds Breath paint coats the walls in the primary bathroom, where a tub by Gessi and a pendant from Currey & Company preside. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

Throughout, Hedstrom chose mostly new pieces, but sprinkled in antiques and vintage items as well. “There are actually quite a few vintage pieces,” says Hedstrom, who filled in the blanks with interesting items sourced at stores in L.A., including Lucca and Blackman Cruz.

A concrete sink by Calvis Wyant stands out against white zellige tile and a Restoration Hardware mirror. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS

Even though the project took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with all of the expected delays, Hedstrom’s challenges in pulling it off were pretty minimal, something that can be attributed to the clients’ easygoing personalities. “There are always clients that you can show 10 things and they want to see a bajillion other options,” she says. “I tried to do the legwork and show them my favorites, and they were always so appreciative of the work I did and trusted my opinion and vision. I know it sounds super cheesy, but they were so nice to work with. They were all so thankful and so excited.”

The rustic yet refined kitchen contains a balanced mix of shapes, materials and textures. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAURA MOSS