Frank Aazami’s Featured Listing
Never before listed, this serene 6,505-square-foot Spanish-style luxury hacienda is one of nine stand-out properties at Legend Canyon in North Scottsdale. The 3.39-acre hillside lot, 10769 East Pinnacle Peak Road, offers framed views north of Pinnacle Peak and south into the spectacular 44,000-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with miles of hiking and biking trails. Designed by world-renowned architect, Bing Hu, the four-bedroom, five-bathroom home-plus-casita features an interior by Scottsdale’s Janet Brooks, as inspired by the owners’ visits to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Argentina.
“With its central courtyard and tranquil fountain, gourmet kitchen, richly finished office that could be a fifth bedroom and custom finishes, this residence exudes opulence, master craftsmanship, comfortable indoor-outdoor Arizona living and privacy,” says Frank Aazami, principal of the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Scottsdale.
The anchor space of the one-story home is the great room, connecting to the courtyard on one side and overlooking the negative edge pool and Pinnacle Peak through electric sliding windows on the other, explains his PCG associate and co-broker, Fletcher Wilcox. “It’s the perfect setting for hosting friends and family gatherings.”
“Immediately when entering the great room, the view captivates you, shaping the atmosphere of the entire space. This view is the centerpiece of the home,” he adds. “Imagine starting each day with a cup of coffee outside, or winding down in the evening with a glass of wine from your wine cellar, as city lights twinkle in the distance. This view becomes not just a feature of the home but a source of inspiration and tranquility, making every moment spent within its embrace all the more special.”
The kitchen, walk-in pantry, wet bar as well as multiple fireplaces, outdoor BBQ and misting system add to the entertaining excitement. “Our kitchen is divine. Our home is a great place to live, and it entertains beautifully,” the wife says, noting she and her husband have hosted 100-plus people comfortably for dinner.
Wilcox adds: “Whether you are preparing elaborate meals or simply enjoying drinks and appetizers, the gourmet kitchen adds a touch of luxury and functionality to the home. You can enjoy your dinner inside or outside.”
Each bedroom has a dedicated patio, connecting inside and out, including the primary, which occupies one side of the house. The intimately scaled bedroom suite includes two walk-in closets and a sitting room.
“This ensures that the primary bedroom serves as a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house. It allows for a quiet and relaxing space where you can unwind without disturbances,” Wilcox explains, noting that the other bedrooms are on the opposite side — a practical, comfortable design scheme that offers convenience and privacy for family members.
Providing direct entry into the home, the connected garage has three oversized bays and generous cabinetry, with an additional six spaces on slab. The heated pool/spa features a variable speed pump.
The attached casita is welcoming and warm, looking out on the serene courtyard. Says Wilcox: “Your guests will want to extend their stay.”
Sited to be Seen
This home suits its site. It belongs where it has been so deftly placed. It’s authentic, Southwest, South of the Border, exuding a sense of heritage and legacy and timelessness.
Past the gates, a neighborhood road leads to an ascending driveway that winds around the home to a parking circle on the south. You enter the home through a decorative gate from this courtyard area; behind this, the high desert ascends into the foothills and mountains of the Preserve. Along one adjacent canyon is a forest of saguaro, home for cactus wrens, and just behind the parking area a good-sized knoll that includes a pie-slice of each of the nine Legend Canyon parcels. Unobstructed lush desert remains, where mule deer, javelinas and other fauna etch their trails and coyotes howl.
The owners began building in 2003 and moved in three years later when few luxury settlers ventured this far north in Scottsdale. “We used to tell people, ‘We’re the people who live at the very end of Pinnacle Peak Road,’ says the wife, noting that since then neighbors have moved in, including two that are building Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired homes across from them. All of the Legend Canyon homes are designed by individual architects and designers.
Wilcox enjoys the dramatic approach to the home: “The long drive up the hill gives you the feeling that you are about to enter your sanctuary. Turning the corner, you see a mountain of saguaro cactus that creates an ambiance of privacy and adds an extra layer of luxury and comfort to the home. This is your secluded place where you can relax and unwind without interruptions. Overall, there is a sense of tranquility and peace.”
Finishing Touch: The Finishes
The owners have made frequent day trips to the colonial-era city of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico; an old section of the town is part of a World Heritage Site. “We adored the international flavor and, although we have not had a home there, we love the flavor,” says the wife, a painter who works out of her studio in the home.
She adds they have also spent time in Argentina and enjoyed that cultural influence. “We wanted a home that had a hacienda heritage in addition to its being in Arizona,” she says. “Janet Brooks, the designer, was amazing. Her staff provided all of our custom furnishings.”
As a result, the home celebrates earthy tones that create the cozy, inviting hacienda atmosphere. The structure incorporates Doug fir beams that workmen cut on site because of the size required; this made the great room “feel like a cathedral,” she says. Hand-painted tiles from San Miguel de Allende provide color, and the floor tiles were also hand-crafted there, including a few that have dog paw prints from the site in San Miguel de Allende where they were created. The wood floor in the office/media room was sourced from a sheep-shearing barn in Australia.
“The Mexican styling adds a sense of warmth, vibrancy, craftsmanship and cultural richness to the home,” Wilcox says, “making it a truly distinctive and memorable space to inhabit.”
Aazami: “This quiet hacienda offers an unparalleled sense of livability and comfort, all set among tranquil and unforgettable backdrop views: Pinnacle Peak, one of the Valley’s landmark spires, the McDowell Mountains and city lights south toward Scottsdale and Phoenix. Architectural brilliance, timeless finishes and a prestigious location: This Legend Canyon home perfectly expresses the Arizona desert lifestyle.”
The owners are downsizing to a casita nearby in Scottsdale. “We have loved it all here in our home,” she says. “It could not be nicer. We will miss it.”
This magnificent hacienda home is offered for $6 million, unfurnished; the washer and dryer are included. The MLS listing is at bit.ly/10769EPinnaclePeakRD, and a virtual tour, vimeo.com/933026529. To schedule a visit, please call Frank Aazami, 480.266.0240, text “SIRFAAZAMI” to 87778 or email, frank@pcgAgents.com. Fletcher Wilcox is at 602.648.1230, winston8415@outlook.com and fletcher.wilcox@russlyon.com.
On May 17, Wilcox will emcee The Custom Home: Timeless Design & Architecture, with several custom home architects reviewing the custom home-building process and their role in design, site plan, floor plan, elevations, sections and material selection; how to maximize the value of the property; and how to price the luxury home. If you are thinking of buying a lot and building a luxury home or are a real estate agent with a customer who wants to build, please attend. Connect with Wilcox for more information. Frank Aazami will be a featured guest speaker.
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