Award-Winning Tranquility
Valley designer Ernesto Garcia wins 2014 ASID Arizona Chapter Design Excellence Award
Ernesto Garcia has garnered an ASID Award from the Arizona North Chapter. His 2014 honor for Singular Space and Product Design-Furniture was announced at an evening gala at the Phoenician Resort. In 2013, he won the chapter's award in the Universal Design category.
Garcia created his award-winning design for clients Anne Dament, PetSmart vice president of services, and her husband, Keith Swart, a developer in the North Scottsdale/Troon area. When they bought the home, it had not been updated in 25 years. They were clear about wanting a contemporary home with open, airy spaces and any remodel and upgrade had to be achieved within the existing building shell.
The great room was too compartmentalized by brick walls, an enclosed small kitchen and other complex partitions that needed to be opened up to achieve the breadth desired by the clients. The main design premises became “Open, simplify and emphasize, as needed.”
The kitchen was expanded to suit their gourmet cooking habits. The dining room walls were cut out and exposed, on one side by a strong double-sided fireplace and on the other by a two-sided wine cellar. A predominantly light blue palette was used throughout the room. The result was a more defined great room space perfectly suited to house the various functions that had been requested.
Because of its proportions and placement, the foyer is effectively an integral part of the great room. Interest was added by flanking it with a see-through wine cellar on one side and modulated chests and mirrors on the other. A light patterned runner emphasizes the foyer’s function as a connector. Hand-blown glass spheres hang from a chandelier, delicately providing human scale to the space.The other side of the see-through wine cellar opens to the dining room.
Left: As a person steps into the great room, all its functions are instantly understood. In the foreground is a U-shaped sectional to curl up and watch TV. In the middle is a four-chair conversation arrangement. In the background are the kitchen/bar counter and breakfast nook. Right: Pale blue walls and dark woods offer a strong contract between the ceiling and various architectural features. A monumental two-sided fireplace with textured surfaces and wooden columns was designed to emphasize the scale of the room.
Left: The fireplace structure defines a parallel circulation, which adds warmth and interest to all surrounding spaces. Right: A long sofa table with rhythmically arranged candlestick lamps serves as a virtual divider between the two seating areas.
White and grey linear stone counters add a dynamic quality to this highly geometric kitchen. A contrasting cloudlike light fixture introduces unexpected curves into the space and metallic faux leather barstools bring a playful futurist touch.
