The high desert never felt so good! Relax in the tranquility of the surrounding landscape and enjoy breathtaking scenery in a personal retreat from the rest of the world. This home offers a gallery-style interior that flows seamlessly between the inside and out. It exemplifies the luxury lifestyle in Sedona with million-dollar vistas and picturesque outdoor living spaces. Enjoy the myriad shades of green, red, blue & purple of the enchanted gardens, the crimson hues of the red rock views and the ever changing day & night skies through expanses of glass.
This custom home is located in the heart of the prestigious Soldiers Pass area close to shopping, theaters, galleries, spas, golf, schools and biking & hiking trails. The owner is an artist in residence and this is evident in every corner of this impeccable home – in the fine finishes, the expert proportions, the fabulous art studio, in the carefully placed light & clock switches and large wall expanses bathed in ambient light. Every bloom, shrub, tree, patio, terrace, meandering path, bridge and rock wall has been painted in by a skillful hand in the home’s generous gardens that lie at the base of majestic Coffee Pot Rock. The gardens give a sense of adventure and wonder and an ever evolving sense of awe in each of the four seasons.
There were two architects at work reconstructing this home after it was taken down to the foundation in December of 2004 – accomplished Sedona architect, Don Woods and the owner whose life-long passion for landscape architecture and extensive background in designing art galleries were successfully employed in this labor of love. The home and gardens were planned and built in unison and mature landscaping was purchased for this garden home which was one of the three homes featured in the Sedona Home & Garden Tour.
Curves, like those in a well crafted melody, show up in the hedges, walkways, sculptures, arched doorways, carved doors, bay windows and rounded stairs, patios, benches & tile work. The three-foot wide eaves provide a sense of shelter so the roof acts as an umbrella to protect the home.
You enter this home via an elegant curved walkway defined on either side by a host of fragrant blooming greenery into a spacious foyer through a custom beveled glass door. The foyer is off the living room which is dominated by a dramatic fourteen foot floor-to-ceiling custom fireplace. This fireplace is shared by the living and dining room and multi-sized rocks come together seamlessly bringing the outdoors in. The grand twelve foot high bay window in the living room provides an ideal theater to sit and watch nature in arboreal splendor.
The formal dining room offers an intimate space and provides a further connection to the outdoors through French doors that lead to a scenic patio. The elaborate rock fireplace is also enjoyed from the dining room. The high ceilings throughout the home create a luxurious atmosphere in which to live and entertain. A warm porcelain tile floor picks up the color of the red rock inside and out and multiple patios may be accessed from every room.
The gallery hallway joins the living and dining room, owner’s suite, art/hobby room, laundry room and the office/den. The den is in a separate elevated wing of the house and it has a adjoining guest suite that opens to its own private red brick patio. It provides a separate alcove for a desk and a comfortable media room with a gas burning fireplace. There are also built-in bookcases and a desk area for the computer and a mini-bar set up.
You enter the master suite through solid double doors. The hand-cast cement fireplace in the far corner was designed especially for this room. French doors lead to beautifully landscaped back patios and walkways. The owner’s suite bathroom looks out onto a private courtyard through a picture window that shows off the gardens and a potential water feature/birdbath. It features a Jetta Bath Systems Hydro Massage tub with Spectra Color along with an oversized glass enclosed shower. The rich – dark wood of the commode, texture of the tumbled stone, porcelain tile and the paisley patterned Ralph Lauren wallpaper combine to five this room a warm, elegant feel. The crown molding architectural treatment in the living room and owner’s suite enhance the home’s classic feel.
The art studio/hobby room is light, bright and it brings the magnificent outdoors in for hours of enjoyment whatever your craft. It is well designed and equipped with wall-to-ceiling cupboards, attractive counters and a sink. This room is also an ideal bedroom.
There is a powder room off the laundry room that features a granite counter with a fabulous Vessel Sink, faux painted walls, a commode and an indispensable corner cabinet.
The open island kitchen is sure to delight gourmets. The red rock views are the main attraction supported by complimentary slab granite counters, a luxurious seven foot long island with a sink, fine wood cabinetry, a cozy sitting area with a bay window, an eat-in area and the possibility for a bar. Framed glass doors lead to the front and back patios. The kitchen is well-equipped with a GE Monogram built-in refrigerator & freezer, a Dacor 5 burner gas cooktop, Dacor oven, microwave & warming drawer, Kitchen Aid exhaust hood (that conveniently extends and recesses, trash compactor, recycling bins and a walk-in pantry.
There is a second powder room off the kitchen opposite an elevator that links the two floors and leads to the guest apartment and the two car garage. The private guest apartment features a kitchenette, fully appointed bath and walk-in closet making it ideal for both short and long tem guests. It has a quaint separate entrance from the side of the house.
Gaze upon the magnificent wrap around views from Coffee Pot to Ship Rock from the front terrace on close to an acre of cherished privacy. This terrace sits atop the carport. The home is oriented on the lot to take advantage of mostly north facing views. The long red crushed stone driveway provides extra parking places. The garage and carport are tucked out of sight oriented toward the back of the house making it invisible as you approach the house from the street. There is lots of room to add a swimming pool.
It is attention to detail that makes this house a true custom home. There is always an eye on scale and proportion bound by good sense & experience adding up to a tasteful whole.
Tell me about the Sedona Lifestyle.
The quality of life is exceptional in Sedona. You wake up every morning to the inexhaustible splendor of the red rocks, the pristine 1.8 million acre Coconino National Forest and if you’re lucky to the sound of the riparian rich Oak Creek. The sun is shining most days and the air and water are clean. You feel good! You live in a place where millions vacation.
Sedona is a beautiful retreat from big city life. It is only 90 minutes from a major city where everything is available without having to live in it. Stores like Home Depot & the Super Walmart are a mere 20 minutes away. For a small town with an area population of 17,000, Sedona is a very sophisticated place with annual favorites like the “Jazz on the Rocks” festival, local Shakespeare festival, International Film Festival, Chamber Music Sedona events, Canyon Moon Theater and dozens of art and sculpture shows.
Sedona is known world wide as a thriving artist’s community with hundreds of resident artists and over 40 galleries exhibiting a full spectrum of visual arts. Over 90 movies have been made in Sedona and we have our very own film school. The Sedona Arts Center is home to dozens of local artists who offer classes, host monthly shows and display their work in the members’ gallery. We have a Community College that offers an incredible line up of classes.
Sedona promotes health & well being and offers simplicity and beauty – two precious commodities these days. You feel like you live in a National Park yet you are surrounded by all the amenities - fine restaurants, world class resorts & spas and great shopping - of a place that is second only in popularity to the Grand Canyon in Arizona as a tourist destination. Sedona is recognized as a place of healing – it inspires, refreshes and renews. It has an eclectic population coming from all over the world and the people are warm and friendly.
You will likely catch “Red Rock Fever” as most do and spend your days in Sedona dreaming of moving to the area. There’s no graffiti except for the symbols etched or painted on rock faces near ancient dwelling sites. The community’s residents work diligently to preserve Sedona’s uniqueness to the extent that we have the only teal MacDonald’s arch and you won’t see any billboards beckoning you to buy something.
What is there to do in Sedona?
Sedona offers incredible recreational opportunities all year long. It is a playground for all the “buffs” you can think of including history, geology, archaeology, outdoor, art and scenery. You can hike Sedona’s 130-plus trails surrounded by the famed, red glow of buttes, pinnacles and hoodoos that were 350 million years in the making. Many of these trails are right outside the door. There is an extensive connection of bike trails, horseback riding trails and 180 species of recorded bird life for all the bird watchers. Sedona is among North America’s best mountain-biking destinations. There are lots of golf courses to choose from including award-winning 7 Canyons Golf Resort, skiing is only an hour away in Flagstaff, the weather is perfect for tennis and motorcycle enthusiasts love the area. Slide Rock State Park and Red Rock State Park offer residents and visitors lots of enjoyment.
What is the climate like?
Sedona is located in Arizona’s high desert (upper margin of the Sonoran Desert) at the southwestern rim of the Colorado Plateau. It is about 4,500 feet above sea level giving it four relatively mild seasons making the climate about 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix or Tucson. Sedona’s annual average high temperature is 75 degrees (F) and the average low is 46 degrees (F). Typical summer highs are in the 80’s and 90’s but we always get night time lows in the 60’s. Winter highs are typically in the 50’s with occasional 70 degree days and occasional 30 degree days. Our more than 17 inches of rain per year far exceeds the true definition of a desert which has 10 inches or less.
What kind of Real Estate Market can I expect?
Now is a great time to buy real estate in Sedona - interest rates are low, it’s a “Buyer’s Market” so prices are more attractive than they have been for some time & there is a nice selection of property to choose from. It is a unique window of opportunity which is not expected to last – we have a very small market, land is limited and Sedona’s popularity continues to grow.
Living in Sedona is an elective decision for the most part as few families are obliged to relocate to Sedona due to job requirements. Sedona has all ranges of real estate prices whether you are looking for a condo or an estate. The architecture is varied and interesting and the terrain offers a full range of lots from those that sit on high hills or blend into rolling ridges to ones that are hidden in canyons or hug the cliffs of Oak Creek.
