Beyond a Facelift: This Tempe Remodel Delivers Open Concept Living & Moroccan-Inspired Luxury

With retirement beckoning, a common desire for many is to return to familiar grounds, a place where roots run deep and memories abound. For our esteemed clients in Tempe, Arizona, this sentiment resonated profoundly. Having raised their family and actively participated in the vibrant community, their goal in retirement was clear: to remain engaged and continue their service. However, finding a home in their beloved, established neighborhood that met their evolving needs presented a unique challenge. Most available properties, while ideally located, required significant updates to align with their long-term vision for comfortable, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing living. Recognizing the scope of their aspirations, their astute realtor connected them with a trusted renovation partner, setting the stage for a remarkable transformation.

Client-Centric Design: Tailoring a Home for a Lifetime of Living

At the heart of this extensive Tempe home remodel was a deep understanding of the homeowners’ goals. Their primary desire for the great room was to establish an open-concept floor plan. This wasn’t merely about aesthetics; it was about fostering connection. They envisioned a space that could effortlessly accommodate large family gatherings, lively friend get-togethers, and various community events, all while enhancing the structural beauty of the home. The existing layout, with its somewhat compartmentalized feel and a sunken living room, presented a hurdle to this vision. Safety was also a paramount concern, particularly with the sunken living room, necessitating a seamless, durable flooring solution throughout.

Beyond the expansive communal areas, the homeowners dreamed of a kitchen that would serve as the heart of their home – a culinary haven where they could joyfully host. This meant not just high-end appliances, but a space plan that encouraged unity and interaction, while simultaneously providing a highly functional “work triangle” for their daily culinary endeavors. The existing double-sided wood-burning fireplace, a prominent feature, was slated for a significant upgrade, and the enclosed Arizona room, often overlooked, was ripe for a revitalizing update. Throughout the larger living area, a comprehensive lighting overhaul was planned, alongside crucial climate balance improvements to address existing HVAC inefficiencies, outdated windows, and entry doors. Unifying all these elements was an overarching design theme: a classic and timeless aesthetic, subtly infused with the exotic allure of Moroccan inspiration.

Deconstructing and Reimagining: The Open-Concept Transformation

To breathe life into the open-concept vision, the renovation team embarked on a strategic deconstruction. Walls separating the kitchen from the rest of the living space were meticulously removed, immediately opening up the area and creating a more fluid flow. Crucially, the removal of “floating soffits” in the entry, dining room, and kitchen proved to be a transformative decision. This unmasked the home’s hidden gem: a stunning, vaulted ceiling that had previously been obscured. The newly exposed ceiling not only added significant vertical space but also introduced an immediate sense of grandeur and airiness. As part of this initial phase, the existing coat closet area, a small and often underutilized space, was cleverly repurposed into a more functional and stylish wet bar, adding another layer of convenience for entertaining.

The Culinary Command Center: A Kitchen Designed for Joyful Hosting

The creation of the dream kitchen began with a meticulous focus on technical details. A central element of this transformation was the introduction of a spacious new kitchen island. This wasn’t just an aesthetic enhancement; it was a strategic design choice that redefined the kitchen’s functionality. The island’s placement carefully preserves and enhances the “work triangle,” ensuring that the homeowner can navigate effortlessly between the refrigerator, sink, and cooktop. This intuitive barrier also serves a dual purpose, creating a clear distinction between the food preparation area and the community gathering point, allowing the hostess to work efficiently while still engaging with guests. The sheer size of the island provides ample seating, encouraging guests to linger and converse, and offers generous surface area for both preparation and service, seamlessly incorporating the hostess into the heart of every gathering.

Beyond the technical precision, the kitchen’s aesthetic appeal was paramount. The dark navy island, serving as a captivating focal point, acts as the “axis around which everything rotates,” grounding the entire space. The choice of medium-tone luxury vinyl floors adds depth and warmth, creating a beautiful contrast against the light and dark-painted cabinetry. This flooring choice offers a significant practical benefit as well: its tone cleverly conceals everyday dust and pet hair, making daily maintenance a breeze. The backsplash tile, with its subtle texture and graceful lines, draws the eye in, adding a layer of visual interest and soft motion. Finally, a carefully curated layering of lighting fixtures saturates all areas of the new floor plan, ensuring both task lighting and ambient glow, creating a welcoming and functional environment at any time of day. The emphasis on the vaulted ceiling, now fully exposed, was further enhanced by the strategic placement of large-scale pendant fixtures. The clear glass globes above the island, while providing a unique design aesthetic and subtly referencing the Moroccan inspiration, were chosen specifically for their ability to visually recede, allowing the overall design to shine without overwhelming the space.

Reclaiming Grandeur: The Fireplace Renaissance

The existing living room and library fireplaces, with their dated concrete masonry block hearths and mantels, were ripe for a dramatic overhaul. The renovation team meticulously removed these elements, paving the way for a contemporary transformation. In the library, the recessed arched opening was expertly framed and drywalled, creating a clean and refined backdrop. A key upgrade for both sides of this double-sided fireplace was the installation of new electric fireplace units, offering convenience and a modern aesthetic. Custom box beam mantels were expertly crafted, adding a touch of bespoke elegance. Echoing the subtle Moroccan influences found elsewhere in the home, a striking blue tile border was incorporated around the fireplaces, intentionally resembling the tile used in the Master Bathroom, creating a cohesive design narrative. The fireplace wall itself was purposefully built out and painted the same color as the ceiling, with a smooth drywall texture, lending it a subtle yet undeniable prominence within the space.

A Serene Sanctuary: The Arizona Room Reimagined

The home’s original Arizona room, often a forgotten space, was characterized by its darkness and lack of natural light. The renovation aimed to transform it into a vibrant, functional extension of the living area. The existing window seat, which contributed to the room’s dimness, was replaced with a modern sliding glass door featuring integrated blinds between the glass, offering privacy and light control without the need for cumbersome external window treatments. Concurrently, the two existing entry doors were also replaced, further enhancing the room’s light and functionality. A stylish barn door was installed, providing the flexibility to close off the room for privacy or quiet contemplation when desired. A new tile floor, chosen for its vibrant “pop,” was added, carefully coordinating with the home’s overall color palette. This revitalized space now functions as a cozy reading room, offering a serene view of the outdoors. Its versatile design also allows for future reimagining, perhaps as a casual dining space for intimate gatherings.

An Oasis of Moroccan-Inspired Luxury: The Master Bathroom

The master bathroom stands as a testament to the seamless integration of Moroccan style influences throughout the house, creating a true oasis of luxury and functionality. The centerpiece of this transformation is undoubtedly the arched double shower – a true masterpiece of design and engineering. Elegant arched glass doors lead into a spacious, zero-clearance two-person shower, designed for both aesthetic appeal and universal accessibility. A discreet trench drain effectively channels water towards the center, ensuring efficient drainage and a clean, minimalist look. Dual shower fixtures and strategically placed niches at both ends cater to a “his-and-her” experience, adding to the feeling of bespoke luxury. A full-width bench at the back of the shower ensures accessibility at all stages of life, a crucial consideration for long-term comfort and safety. A decorative accent wall panel features a beautiful blue tile, a recurring motif throughout the house, creating a cohesive and visually striking design. The floor tile, carefully selected to coordinate with the Moroccan-inspired décor, further enhances the room’s thematic richness. A dark brown vanity anchors the space, beautifully pulling together the floor tile and providing ample storage. The generous lighting, emanating from three distinct glass globe pendant lights, fills the space with a warm, inviting ambiance, transforming the bathroom into a truly indulgent retreat.

The Enduring Legacy: A Home Designed for a Lifetime

The culmination of this extensive Tempe home remodel is a space that is not only visually stunning but also profoundly functional and thoughtfully designed for the clients’ long-term needs. The newly renovated open-concept floor plan is flooded with natural light, creating an inviting and uplifting atmosphere that can be enjoyed by the homeowners alone or while hosting a multitude of guests. Crucially, this home is built with accessibility in mind, ensuring that our clients can comfortably and safely live in their cherished new home for many years to come. From the carefully considered flow of the great room to the high-end, yet practical, kitchen, and the serene, accessible master bathroom, every detail has been meticulously crafted to support their retirement goals. This is more than just a house; it is a home to love, a testament to thoughtful design, and a vibrant hub for a life well-lived in the heart of their beloved Tempe community.

Watch our latest Coffee & Construction video series where Homework Remodel’s Lead Designer, Sheila Lanier, walks you through this Tempe, Arizona whole home remodel from start to finish! Thinking of remodeling? Watching the process will give you a great idea of what goes into it! You can find our Coffee & Construction Tempe episodes on our channel on YouTube, @homeworkremodels

PREMIER HOME REMODELING IN TEMPE, AZ

For high-end home design, build, and remodeling in the greater Phoenix area that reflects your vision, Homework Remodels will help you love your home again. Start your project by calling us at (602) 478-5102 or emailing steve@homeworkremodels.com to discuss your remodeling project.  We offer no-obligation in-home consultation. Our NARI-certified award-winning designers and craftsmen are eager to work with you to make your vision for your home a reality!   To help you plan your remodel, you can find informative blogs on our website here.