Located in Scottsdale’s DC Ranch, this contemporary desert home by Dale Gardon (Dale Gardon Design) is shaped by a single core decision: the floor plan is intentionally inverted to capture stronger views and daylight. Dale describes the turning point clearly. After climbing a ladder on site, he realized that “12-foot makes a huge difference in the desert environment of what you can see and the vistas that you’re afforded.” That discovery led to placing the home’s primary living spaces on the upper level, while bedrooms, guest accommodations, and recreation spaces sit below with direct access to the pool and outdoor areas.
That idea influences the experience from the very beginning. The entry is designed to feel substantial but calm, starting with a tall front door and a foyer that Dale describes as “fairly serene.” Even at the entrance, the layout offers controlled glimpses of what is ahead. Dale mentions adding metal rods that act like a veil to the game room, giving “a little sense of what’s beyond,” while still guiding the eye toward the stair. When you arrive upstairs, the home delivers what he calls the first “aha moment,” where the interior reconnects immediately to the open desert setting.
Once on the second level, the plan becomes a social, view-driven environment built around connection. Dale emphasizes that “the advantages of the social engagement within all spaces is absolutely afforded by an open floor plan.” A bridge element at the top of the stair helps divide the home into public and private zones. Dale explains the logic simply: “to the right is the master suite, to the left is your primary living space.” This creates a sense of sanctuary for the master suite while preserving the openness of the main living areas.
Material choices reinforce the desert lifestyle while keeping the architecture contemporary in performance and detailing. Large sliding doors make indoor and outdoor living feel continuous, and Dale describes the evening environment as something special. Later in the day, “it is just an absolute treat to be outdoors,” with cooler air, quiet surroundings, and the desert landscape becoming part of daily life. The exterior systems are also described as low-maintenance and durability-focused, supporting a home that feels rooted in the Southwest while remaining flexible enough to feel appropriate beyond it. As Dale puts it, you could “pick this house up and put it in Hermosa Beach or Santa Monica” and still tell the same story.
