Old world meets new school: Mediterranean home captures fun and energy of New York City and Chicago


A sprawling new home in North Scottsdale perfectly blends Old World Mediterranean with regionally-inspired modern design.

From the exterior, the custom home’s entrance is reminiscent of a courtyard from more than a century ago, which leads into a custom carved entry door. Taking more than two years to build by Dan Couturier of Madison Couturier Custom Homes, the Italian-inspired home is surrounded by Arizona’s untouched desert landscape with mountains and golf courses as backdrop views. Complementing its natural surroundings, the exterior features elements that give a rustic look, like paint that gives a weathered appearance, uneven cobblestones and textured roof tiles.

Designed by architect Jim Hann of James Hann Design AIA, the Mediterranean inspiration was carried through much of the home’s common areas, guest rooms and master wing. Tasked with creating rooms that conveyed the character of the exterior, interior design firm Est Est’s Tony Sutton and Kim Schapiro took inspiration from centuries-old structures with Old World colors and dramatic textures throughout the gathering areas to create a sense of tradition at every turn. No detail was overlooked, from the awe-inspiring Venetian plaster and elegant fireplaces to stonewalls and spiral staircases, all set against a neutral palette. Taking authenticity to the highest level, Est Est used reclaimed two-tier wood beams, placing them in an unexpected place — the ceiling — to evoke surprise in the kitchen and living room.

“This Tuscan villa is a true reflection of what you would see in Italy,” says Sutton, lead designer and president of Est Est. “Although the home is brand new, the couple wanted it to feel as if it was hundreds of years old and passed down from generation to generation. At the same time, they wanted tucked away rooms that surprised guests with modern and unexpected colors that reflected their age and love for entertaining.”

In a few rooms, the interior design makes a dramatic shift from the Old World style. The young couple wanted fun gathering and entertaining areas that paid tribute to two different styles. As a nod to the husband’s roots in the Midwest, Est Est’s designers created a Irish-style pub room that could easily be found in an old Chicago neighborhood.

Surrounded by hardwood floors and an oversized dark wood bar, this traditional take on a “man cave” features a decades-old shoe shine chair and vintage-style clock as focal points of the room.

In another area of the home at the bottom of a classic spiral staircase in the basement, Est Est designers created a fun and modern setting with a New York City vibe by using plush red and purple tones that contrasted against leopard print carpet. Geometric columns covered in metallic tiles create a sense of rhythm. An energetic take on a room almost exclusively used for parties, designers wanted to capture the ambiance of big city nightclubs throughout.


View photos of this Mediterranean custom home:

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Scottsdale Living Magazine Winter 2012