The modern southwest home is a blending of styles. It's versatile floor plan can be almost infinitely customized to suite your needs. In our southwestern tradition, a common 'must' is the 'great room'. The open and airy 'great room' in the southwest replaces the traditional formal living room and/or dining room area. What was traditionally two separate rooms is now one . The kitchen still maintains the breakfast area and sometimes a family room combination. In the typical southwestern style, the patio extends or encompasses the pool area for outdoor entertaining. Many homes include an outdoor built-in BBQ or BBQ 'center' to add to the patio as a focal point of our outdoors Arizona lifestyle.   (top)

The California influence is noticeable throughout the Valley. Along with the many California transplants came their home styles as well. As a result many communities and developments exhibit a strong California architectural influence. The versatile floor plan can accommodate as many bedrooms as desired. All California style homes include a large master bath in the master bedroom as well. It is a popular style found throughout may subdivisions and/or master planned communities. With our year around sunshine most outdoor patios are integrated into the floor plan for ongoing outdoor dining, entertaining, or just relaxing in our Arizona sunshine.   (top)

The Hacienda (a.k.a."Spanish") style has an open front patio to sip your coffee in the morning sun, or to enjoy as you read the paper or relax and enjoy our fabulous Arizona sunsets. In keeping with our outdoor lifestyle traditional southwest "kiva" style fireplaces may be found both inside and outside the home. The open-air effect is usually continued to the patio and the rear yard with resort-like courtyards. Continuing the traditional Spanish 'hacienda' charm, most homes will include traditional southwestern plants and gardens and lush southwestern greenery throughout the home and grounds.   (top)

Whether you call it Mediterranean, a Spanish Colonial, or a Santa Barbara style home, this home style is found valley wide and encompasses a varied mix of styles and influences. The dominate tile roof is made of cement tiles for a more durable and long lasting roof. A stronger, more versatile material than composition roofing material, tile can be molded into many forms such as the popular s-curved tile or even a flat slate-like tile. A variation of this long standing style is appearing in the Valley now know as the "Tuscany" style. It carries a strong 'old world' influence in both the interior and exterior features.   (top)

Territorial - Exterior Stucco is the primary finish in this style (and the majority of homes found in the southwest). The reason is that stucco handles the hot desert climate extremely well and can even be used in custom homes to cover the adobe brick that is commonly used. Stucco is very versatile and can cover block, brick, framing, and plywood-based siding. The unique character of stucco and it's almost unlimited application techniques reflects the influence of the original Spanish conquistadors, settlers, and indigenous ancient Native American inhabitants like the Valley's early Hohokam peoples. The Pueblo and Santa Fe style effects are two variations adapted from the Valley's early inhabitants and settlers.   (top)

For those that want to create their own little piece of the Valley, the southwest contemporary is an ideal choice. Being custom built, it is usually very large and includes many 'special' touches and features. Most southwest contemporary style homes still have many similar features as traditional southwest homes. The southwestern contemporary style homes may have a variety of outside accent finishes including latillas and stone, adobe or vigas. Most are again stucco, and many will have Spanish or a Navaho "pueblo" design with indoor and outdoor accents of truly unique and customized features.   (top)

Creating your own unique home style !
That's the one not included above ! Many of the truly unique homes in the Valley are custom homes incorporating different styles and architectural flares. Have something particular in mind but not quite 'typical' ?  My "Builder's Connections" program includes many fine custom builders that can help you create your own unique and personalized home in the Valley. If your are relocating from out of town, I will certainly keep you 'digitally' updated as your custom home progresses. Wouldn't it be nice to have your own private web site ( see my "Member's Benefits page) to keep updated on the progress of your home's construction ? You could even update or modify features 'on-line' and I'll be sure the builder follows though for you !