Top 10 Scottsdale Home Styles

People often associate Scottsdale Arizona with the typical suburban sprawl: rows of cookie-cutter homes decked out in the same neutral color palette as the next. But Scottsdale’s lineup of home types is actually much more diverse than you may think.

The area is home to a regional haven of midcentury architecture, and there’s also a sweeping collection of Spanish, Mediterranean, and even Tudor Revival designs. No matter your style or budget, you’re bound to find the perfect home in Scottsdale to fit your personality.

1. Contemporary

Clean, stark lines and a neutral color palette with minimalist forms – these are the makings of a contemporary home in Scottsdale. These designs take inspiration from some of the country’s top architects, like Frank Lloyd Wright, Will Bruder and Jack DeBartolo. Packed with the latest technology, the homes are typically built with simple and straightforward materials: Wood, steel and glass. Find these homes in pockets of Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and all around Phoenix.

2. Midcentury Modern

From Al Beadle to Ralph Haver and Frank Lloyd Wright (again), many of the most prominent post-WWII architects designed homes in the Scottsdale area. And now, a grassroots revival is breathing new life into these old homes while also building new houses to reflect a style of architecture that celebrates connection to the environment, open design concepts and open space.

3. Spanish Mission

North Scottsdale is brimming with Spanish Mission homes–an architectural style made popular in the 1890s in California. Stucco, adobe brick, enclosed courtyards and a hip roof are all characteristics of this design type. Even many newly built homes in suburbs like Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa use this look as their inspiration.

4. Ranch

This is the type of home that most non-residents associate with Scottsdale. Single-story and open concept, ranch homes in the area are inspired by the casual lifestyle of the Old and New West. They’re built for function, but many come with charming details like brightly colored front doors and facades. Many of Scottsdale’s historic homes are ranch concepts, but it’s also a popular architectural style for new construction.

5. Mediterranean Revival

This is one of the most prominent architectural styles in Phoenix…maybe it’s the similarity in climate between Phoenix and the Mediterranean region where this style began? Again, many of the newly constructed, master-planned communities reflect this look. Mediterranean Revival homes feature a rectangular floor plan that’s typically topped with a red-tiled roof and accented by arches, circles and wrought iron.

6. Hacienda-Style (aka Spanish Revival)

Hacienda homes can be antique or contemporary, but they typically come with a few key attributes: Iron and tile are among the main materials and pottery plays an important role, but in design and décor. The exteriors are typically made from stucco and clay while interior attributes include exposed beams, wrought-iron details and repeated arches. Hacienda homes dot the landscape all over the Scottsdale area.

7. Pueblo Revival

This is a quintessential Southwestern design. Popularized in Arizona and New Mexico around the turn of the 20th century, the architecture is reflective of the dwellings built by Pueblo Indians as far back as 750 A.D. You can spot a Pueblo Revival home by its flat or sloping roof, but other key elements include the use of earthy materials (i.e. adobe), heavy wooden accents and rounded exteriors with contrasting square windows.

8. Santa Fe Style (aka Phoenix Territorial)

Santa Fe (or Phoenix Territorial) homes are similar to the Pueblo Revival look. These homes feature flat roofs and neutral desert-inspired tones. Typically, a low hallway ceiling will open into a spacious, vaulted-ceiling living room or kitchen. Houses in this style are warm, earthy and classically Southwestern. You can find a good mix of them all over Scottsdale and Phoenix.

9. Territorial Style

Yes, believe it or not, this style is different than the previous one. Though its origins are the same as Santa Fe or Phoenix Territorial, the general Territorial Style is more “folksy.” It blends Greek Revival and Gothic details with Pueblo and Spanish Mission architecture. Territorial homes in Scottsdale are typically trimmed with colorful shutters, brick tile work, repeating columns and the occasional pitched roof.

10. Tuscan Style

Tuscan architecture tends to be favored by the mountainous neighborhoods of Greater Phoenix, in and around Scottsdale and northern Mesa, in particular. In Arizona, though, the homes are actually a blend of Italian and desert style: Warm, yellow-tinted paint colors, stone walkways, arches and plenty of terra-cotta accents.

There are plenty of home styles to fall in love with in Scottsdale — especially if you love clean lines, desert hues, and Southwestern vibes.

Think you might be ready to buy? Bemo Homes will work hard to find you the right home for the best price.

Please contact us today and we will begin the journey to discovering your dream home.

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