2025 Design Excellence Awards

This universally designed great room blends comfort with bold elegance for a vibrant woman aging in place. A new fireplace anchors the space, while the Sonoran Desert vernacular comes to life through an earthy palette of oak, concrete tile, ochre yellow, and fuchsia purple—creating a warm, spirited, and accessible sanctuary.

The reception and lobby welcomes visitors with an expansive view of the first floor and the streetscape beyond.

To underscore the goal of traditional home mixed in southwest topography, a scheme of saddle and black off set the white millwork and a wool flat weave rug anchors the space.

Kitchen and Dining

Great Room, Entry and Dining

Transistional Great Room

Kitchen Floor To Ceiling Window View

Sleek and dramatic, this kitchen showcases a bold black quartz island with a raised sushi bar, warm wood cabinetry, and statement lighting. Retractable glass walls blur the line between indoor comfort and the surrounding desert views for a true indoor-outdoor experience.

The rich elements of walnut paired with the simplicity of the white modern cabinetry pair perfectly together for a seamless, simplistic and elegant kitchen.

A 13' Shorline Gray lacquer island centers the kitchen, with dual Cove washers, and a 36" Galley sink, all offset by a 16' retractable glass sliding door, and a 13' refrigeration wall.

The vanity was custom-designed and crafted in a blue hue that embodies both classic elegance and a sense of vibrancy. Complemented by the geometric mirrors, this space is thoughtfully created to suit the needs of the teenage users while acknowledging the style of the rest of the home.

Sophisitcated, elegant and natural elements create this master bath retreat.

Framed by textured metallic tile and a large picture window, this master bathroom highlights a bold black freestanding tub and layered lighting that creates a spa-like retreat with a view.

Earthbound Elegance

The asymmetrical design uses wood on the walls and ceiling and a Dedon swing hangs over the water for a playful experience.

Main Outdoor Living Space Featuring Limestone Clad See-Thru Fireplace

This great room radiates dynamic warmth, creating an inviting and beautiful atmosphere.

Tranquility and natural elegance are the essence of this primary bathroom that is designed to inspire wellness and support long-life livability.

A bright, fresh Casita welcomes guests.

The fireplace becomes an architectural centerpiece, with rich walnut paneling extending vertically to emphasize the room’s soaring height.

This innovative space seamlessly combines a welcoming reception area with a flexible bistro, thoughtfully designed to enhance both functionality and resident experience in a senior living environment. By integrating the two, staff are empowered to multitask efficiently - greeting guests, assisting residents, and managing light dining services - all from a single, strategically planned zone. This dual-purpose space not only maximizes operational efficiency but also creates a lively, inviting hub where residents, visitors, and staff naturally connect.

The fireplace features a display of art glass pieces inspired by the Prairie Style, reflecting the architectural influence seen throughout the project. The vibrant orange accent color is also carried throughout the space, adding warmth and visual interest.

A bold yet refined expression of individuality, this private suite was designed exclusively for the salon’s signature stylist. Tucked just off the lobby for convenient client access, the space features a striking cerulean brick accent wall that sets the tone for luxury and creativity. Three illuminated round mirrors float above crisp white drawer units accented with brushed brass hardware. Custom salon chairs in camel-toned leather bring warmth and comfort to the high-contrast backdrop, while vintage-inspired dryers and a sculptural chandelier nod to both retro glam and modern sophistication. Natural light floods the room through a large picture window, reinforcing the boutique, high-touch atmosphere curated for our most discerning guests. This suite embodies personalized service in an elevated, editorial-ready setting.

SOFFIT AND LED LIGHTING AT INTERIOR RECEPTION AND WAITING

A double-height volume surrounding both levels, allowing abundant natural light to pour in. As sunlight moves across the space, it casts dynamic shadows, especially from the slatted mezzanine railing, enriching the room’s sense of depth and texture.

At the heart of this urban residential tower lies the elevated pool deck and its dynamic counterpart: the pool house. Designed as the central social hub, the pool house opens seamlessly to the pool deck while shielding it from the harsh western sun. Simple, planar architecture defines the structure, with a shed roof and exposed glulam beams that slope upward toward the sky. Painted in a contrasting color, these beams add rhythm and movement, drawing the eye across the space and animating its long, shallow footprint. The architecture opens fully to the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling glazing and Bahamian-style hydraulic windows at the bar, creating a true indoor-outdoor experience. Programmatically, the space serves as a poolside bar, soft work lounge, gaming room, and TV den.

Without a traditional front door, the team created a sculptural central banquette-planter as a visual anchor—on axis with all approach points. Clad in denim-inspired performance fabric and centered around a prickly pear cactus, the piece invites both gathering and circulation.

Faced with a modestly scaled, rectilinear room lacking architectural interest, our challenge was to create zones of varying formality without compromising flow. The solution: a linear series of custom work booths along the north wall—each defined by horizontal teak cladding that lends weight, rhythm, and architectural presence to an otherwise flat envelope.

Vein cut brushed moca cream wall cladding

Custom quartzite countertops

Custom shower floor

Rendered view of the entry features expansive windows framing stunning views of Camelback Mountain. Thermowood ceilings add warmth, texture, and unity, while porcelain flooring and earthy tones reflect the natural desert landscape, creating a seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces.

The Demo Lab is a multi-functional space that not only supports NEXT but also their clients. With track-based unistrut poles and wooden peg walls, multiple configurations are possible based upon the needs of the users. This set up allows Veja to host meetings and events showcasing their latest releases with their buyers like Nordstrom and Amazon. With direct adjacency to the Client Presentation, events are able to transfer to business deals. Through this, NEXT not only supports their clients but are also able to Meet Future Potential Clients.

Main seating area

Dining Room