In this dining room, interior designer Katie Bowe used more than 3,000 books to create a polychromatic art installation. “We removed all the covers and spent three days sorting by color and then another two assembling the continuous rainbow,” she explains. “Books are functional pieces of artwork that add texture and color. Whatever mood you are seeking to convey in your shelf display, let it speak through your styling.”; photo by Dan Ryan Whether you are a hardcore bibliophile or simply enjoy the timeless pleasure of curling up with a good book, consider carving out a dedicated literary oasi ..read more

Built in 1929, the Tudor-style residence took the homeowners 10 years to restore. “It was the least inviting room in the house,” homeowner Francesca says of the turreted kitchen nook. “And now I’m in there all the time.” While bringing it into the 21st century, a couple honors the history of a 1929 Willo home. By Robrt L. Pela | Photography by Kevin Kaminski It was the small, round dining nook just off the kitchen that sealed the deal for Francesca Thomas. “I needed to rescue that room,” she says of the space adjacent to the kitchen of her Tudor home in downtown’s Willo Historic Distric ..read more

The exterior of Studio Artise is as engaging as the interior The Studio Artise showroom stimulates ideas for elevated interior design with curated products from the U.S. and abroad. By Linda J. Barkman | Photography by Mark Lipczynski HISTORY: Thomas grew up in the restaurant industry in Michigan, where she earned a business degree, and purchased and ran her own restaurant at the age of 25. She relocated to Arizona in 2007 and graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in interior design in 2010. “My dad encouraged me to do something in the business world because ..read more

2024 MASTERS of the SOUTHWEST Award Winner - Jaimee Rose “Listening is the greatest skill that a designer can have.” Jaimee Rose Interior Designer By John Roark | Portrait Photography by Melissa Valladares | Interior photography by John Woodcock In an older Phoenix neighborhood, one house stands out, like the prettiest girl or most handsome boy in a class picture. Singular, striking and nuanced in detail, this is the one that catches your eye—not because it is in any way ostentatious, but because it is evident that every inch of this building was very carefully considered, planned and deli ..read more

Melissa Valladares A small island acts as a focal element that can be used for cutting, prep work or food layout in this pantry. A small skylight above provides filtered daylight to further brighten the room. “The main entertaining zones of the house are set up to be clean spaces,” says architect Erik Koss. “The pantry became a place where items—including spice and seasoning bottles, baking/cooking staples, containers, utensils and recipes—could be more accessible and left out in the open for easy access while still looking clean and organized. The space is a functional, friendly and ready ..read more

From red-hot crimson to pretty-in-pink (with a few Valentines thrown in for good measure), here are our rosy favorites for spring. Handcrafted in Stoke-on-Trent, England, of fine bone china, “Kissing Couple” by Melody Rose is available in dinner, salad and side plates with a 22-karat burnished gold rim. Dishwasher-friendly and durable enough for everyday use. Dinner plate: approx. 10.5″ in diameter; salad plate: approx. 9″ in diameter; side plate: approx. 7″ in diameter; $50-$75 (maindishaz.com) Designer Kara Mann took her inspiration from a bracelet when creating the Bangle Dirty Ros ..read more

“The room is not very large, so the owner wanted to maximize seating,” says interior designer Mary Meinz, who incorporated a backless daybed, sofa and chairs into the great room, along with sheer drapery mounted on a ceiling track around the room for a seamless transition between full and filtered sunlight. Above the fireplace hangs a vintage travel poster for Air France, one of the owner’s favorite airlines (and destinations). Her miniature sheepadoodle, Cornelia, also might have influenced the use of black and white in the color palette, jokes the owner. Pops of green are a nod to the foli ..read more

2023 MASTERS of the SOUTHWEST Award Winner - Wendy Black Rodgers As she cruises into her third decade of interior design projects, Wendy Black Rodgers reflects on influences, travel, lakeside living and rail cars. By Nora Burba Trulsson | Portrait by Michael Woodall | Interior Photography by Austin Larue Baker On a sunny late afternoon, interior designer Wendy Black Rodgers is embarking on a boat tour from the dock of her airy lakeside home in Scottsdale. She’s accompanied by her long-time associate, designer Chelsea Parrish, and her husband, Will Rodgers, who pilots the tiki-roofed ..read more

Delight your guests with a holiday tabletop that bends the rules and breaks with tradition. By John Roark | Photography by Rob Ballard Unquestionably, floral designer Rachel Carreon and interior designer Meredith Smyth know their way around a table. When tasked with creating a holiday experience for us, they rolled up their sleeves, turned on the music and dove in with a flurry of excitement, enthusiasm and abandon. As we stood a respectful distance from the action, the duo created the magical experience we share on these pages.  “The most important aspect of any table is the people wh ..read more

The Native American trade blanket wall at Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle. The glass artist took inspiration from the textiles. Barry Friedman recounts how he came to be the foremost authority on Native American trade blankets. The cramped interior of Barry Friedman’s Phoenix home looks like a cross between the Heard Museum and the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall. Every inch of space is covered with displays of pottery, antique radios, petrified wood, children’s kites from the ’50s and, of course, hundreds of vintage Native American trade blankets, stacked high on tables and floors, wi ..read more