The interiors, described by Vigil as “modern contemporary”, are the work of California- and Las Vegas-based Talbert Helms and Eccles Interior Design. The design looked to capture the indoor-outdoor living experience typical of California, while also recreating the feeling—a sense of comfort and cosiness—of the winter cabins on the Rocky Mountains.

The goal, says Vigil, was to “bring in the expansive desert views and the landscape while keeping the interiors clean and cool”. The back of the house, for example, uses large sliding wall panels to transform the home, opening up every space to the exterior and bringing plenty of light and air inside. And despite the considerable size of the residence, there are several areas to tuck in, watch TV, and enjoy gatherings, he adds.

Standout features in the main residence, which has two bedrooms and six bathrooms, include a floating white marble staircase and a custom chandelier made of chrome and crystal. It highlights the Steinway grand player piano, says Vigil. A home bar features seating upholstered in waterproof vinyl.

There is also a temperature- and humidity-controlled wine collar with racks made of dark grey-stained zebra wood, which also has a high-gloss lacquer finish. Here, a custom floor, described by the architect as “boldly graphic”, is made of six-inch tempered glass that’s lit from below.

While considerable efforts had been made for the property’s stunning surrounds to stand out—the owner had wanted the focus to be on the natural landscape, rather than Las Vegas—on the upper floor, the twinkling lights of the Strip can be seen from a wraparound terrace.

Much like the main residence, the three-bedroom, four-bathroom guest house also offers views of “thoughtfully composed desert landscaping”. The open floor plan of the main residence and the guest house allow for intimate family gatherings, says Vigil.

There’s plenty of space for entertaining, including two living rooms and a TV room. In front of a guest house stands an orchard featuring fruits, nuts and olives with each one carrying personal meaning to the family.

Outside, an infinity pool by custom pool designer Ozzy Kraft has a hot tub and an adjoining fireplace. The pool is another example of the blurring of boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces; the dark interior finishes of the pool reflect the lines of the main house as well as the hues of the evening sky, says Vigil, and during the day, it appears as a sleek shadow. A 0.25-mile trail is constructed around the perimeter of the property to allow the owners to exercise and walk their dogs with plenty of privacy.

The most challenging part of building Sunset Summit Residence, says Vigil, was the creativity and coordination required by the teams. It was a complex process that involved the architects and mechanical engineers working closely together in the early design phases in order to carry out details such as insulation and glazing.

Throughout the process, there were “small moments where the architecture frames the desert landscape”—and these proved to be particularly memorable for Vigil.

“The cool and clean lines of the architecture create a direct juxtaposition to the craggy and foreboding desert landscape—we used windows and the overhang structure as apertures to focus [on] and capture these views, and to reveal the beauty of the desert.”

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