Desert Retreat

We were asked to design a “ Southwest territorial style” house that would capture the essence of the Southwest architectural movement. We wanted to keep the rooms fresh and contemporary, with total comfort and livability. The clients wanted plenty of light and a neutral palette that did not compete with their art collection, which includes works by Ernest Martin Hennings, Victor Higgins, Laverne Black, and Karl Bodmer. These Taos School paintings and Native American prints are mixed with treasures collected from the clients' travels around the world. SBS opened up the house as much as possible to let in the beautiful desert sky, while still being mindful of the harsh Texas sun. Bleached rough-hewn beams, wide-plank floors, chunky paneled doors, wrought iron hardware, mosaic stone inlay, blue and white Talavera-style tile work, and rolled plaster walls were all part of the interior architecture that SBS used throughout the project to evoke the Southwest.