Playful Arcadia Home
Entrance of Arcadia home just before sunset
It’s true what they say: you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Or, in this case, you can’t judge a home by its exterior. On the outside, this family home in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona looks pretty typical to the Spanish Revival style, sporting a tile roof, a smooth white facade, and a weathered brick walkway to the espresso-colored wooden front doors.
Stepping through this elaborate arched entryway, however, you’re transported from the American Southwest to a modern European residence that you might find in the French countryside.
Color in a modern space with a touch of traditional design
The mother-daughter design team at Jane Henderson Interiors (based in Ann Arbor, Michigan) transformed the space with practical, down-to-earth design choices, infused with whimsical patterns, unexpected colors, and delightful finishes. In these photos, taken by Arizona Interior Design and Architectural photographer, Austin LaRue Photography, the funky, eclectic mix of modern and artisanal furniture, worldly collection of art, and bold use of color tells the story of a family with young children and really cool parents.
In the grand foyer, guests are greeted by an elegant L-shaped staircase, adorned with a patchwork runner made of several peachy vintage rugs stitched together. This level of unique, swoon-worthy customization is present across the whole house.
With pieces like the banquette bench in the breakfast nook, the hand-carved hutch in the formal dining room, and the master bedroom headboard imported from artisans in Mexico, it’s this kind of bespoke, intentional design that makes the home so unique.
Elsewhere, a soft, pastel blue drenches laundry and mudroom, coating the modern storage lockers meant for little coats and shoes, while bold, unconventional wallpapers bring life to unexpected spaces. Monochromatic blowfish, earthy woodland figures, and hot air balloons in varying shapes and sizes tastefully add excitement to the bathrooms and children’s rooms without becoming overstimulating.
Playful wall art and an adorable family dog make this space a perfect home for a growing family
Take a closer look at the mounts displayed on the walls of the living room and family room and you’ll find they’re not your typical taxidermy–they’re actually plaster busts in Dr. Seuss’s famously cartoonish animal-monster style.
An area just for fun in this elegant home.
You’ll find more of Dr. Seuss’s works in the playroom, which mimics other spaces in the home, incorporating playful, childlike design with a polished edge. Here, nine colorful sketches (recognizable from beloved childhood favorites like the author’s acclaimed Oh the Places You’ll Go!) hang in a uniform grid underneath the cloudlike glass chandelier.
Great photography underscores the designer's vision and memorializes the aesthetic of a space in a visually pleasing way, making Interior Design and Architecture photography ideal for print and social media, portfolios, realty listings, ad campaigns, and more.
Based in Arizona, Interior Design and Architectural photographer Austin LaRue Photography is passionate about creating impactful images. Focusing on the mood, the function of the space, and the composition of the design, he creates timeless depictions of properties suitable for both commercial and personal use.
Austin LaRue Photography is available for local projects and projects across the U.S.
