Sesshu Design Associates Transforms a Scottsdale Horse Property
- May 10
- 3 min read
Some projects ask you to start fresh. Others ask you to listen — to the land, to the light, and to the way a family actually lives. This complete remodel of a Scottsdale horse property was the latter, and the result is a home that feels as rooted in its landscape as the saguaros that surround it.
Working in close collaboration with architect Andrew Carson and builder Beacon Rock Custom Homes, the heart of the home was reimagined from the ground up. The kitchen and family room were reoriented and expanded, opening the entire eastern wall to sweeping mountain views and bringing the outdoors in as a constant presence. What was once a series of separate, compartmentalized rooms is now one generous great room — kitchen, dining, and living flowing seamlessly into each other — the kind of space that invites a family to gather and stay.
The fireplace wall became a focal point in the truest sense. Redesigned to incorporate display shelving with subtle integrated lighting, it gives the homeowners a place to tell their story through the objects they love. The fireplace surround itself is clad in Dekton with the quiet, moody character of cold-rolled steel — an understated industrial note that grounds the space without overpowering it. Hand-hewn beams carry that warmth across the ceiling, tying the room together with a rustic honesty that feels entirely at home on a horse property.
At the center of the dining area, a custom table with a live-edge top and a resin river running down its length brings an organic, almost sculptural energy to everyday meals. Underfoot, hand-knotted wool rugs in desert-inspired patterns and palette introduce the kind of biophilic texture that you feel as much as see — a sensory layer that connects the interior to the high desert just beyond the glass.
In the kitchen, craftsmanship is in every detail. A custom-carved wood hood anchors the cooktop with warmth and artistry, while a glass mosaic backsplash in a complementary wave pattern echoes its movement. Bronze cabinet pulls thread both elements together with quiet cohesion. And because a horse property home is a real, lived-in home, a thoughtfully integrated dog station at the island’s end keeps water fills easy and feeding tidy — proof that truly great design accounts for every member of the household.
The primary suite was completely reimagined as a private retreat designed for restoration. The bathroom centers on a sculptural free-standing tub with a custom glass mosaic tile feature wall, flanked by a generous shower with dual entrances — a detail that feels both indulgent and entirely practical. His and hers vanities bring balance and ample storage to the space, elevating the daily rituals of morning and evening into something genuinely luxurious. In the bedroom, bookshelves flank a central focal wall finished in marble herringbone tile, adding depth and warmth to the room’s architecture. Eastern-facing sliding doors welcome the first light of morning, softened and controlled by motorized drapery — a simple but meaningful nod to the power of light in how we wake, rest, and move through our days.
And then there is the powder room — the jewel of the house. A dimensional metallic tile cladding the entire back wall creates an atmosphere that stops guests in their tracks. A custom mirror and hanging pendant lights frame the moment beautifully, while a vessel bowl and floating vanity add a sculptural, contemporary edge that feels perfectly at home in this desert modern residence. It is a small space doing very big things.
Wherever the West calls you home — desert, mountain, or somewhere in between — this is what it looks like when a home is designed for optimal wellness and built to honor the life being lived inside it.
Project: Maxson residence
Scottsdale, Arizona
Interior Designer: Tanya Shively, Sesshu Design Associates
Architect: Andrew Carson, Carson Architecture and Design
Builder: Beacon Rock Custom Homes
Custom Cabinets: F1 Cabinets
Dining Table: Ironwood Mills
Rugs: Organic Looms
Photography: courtesy Beacon Rock Custom Homes
