Mayan Modern

The Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico, perch on towering cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. A compact archaeological zone contained entirely within its enormous stone walls, the city captures the imagination of tourists who flock to resorts there, just as it captured the imagination of Brendan and Jillian Bader. The husband-and-wife owners of Modern Nest, a full-service home design, build, and furnish firm, designed a house in Scottsdale, Arizona, inspired by this magical old-world destination.

“Our goal was to create a home that felt comfortable and lived in by incorporating earthy, rustic elements and balancing those with clean, modern lines and luxury amenities,” says the couple, whose company is based in Scottsdale. They lean heavily on using a variety of textures and natural materials like wood and stone. Arresting sculptural forms are also an important part of their design aesthetic, which applies to everything from decorative objects to architecture.

“We embraced designing this house’s flat roof, yet we didn’t want the style to veer too modern, and we didn’t want it to feel cold,” says Jillian. Throughout the design/build process, she describes their goal as “bringing in the earthy tones and the warmth you see in Tulum and in its handcrafted materials. And we had to make it feel true to the Modern Nest aesthetic, which is always a blend of modern elements mixed with inviting livability.”

Collaborating with an architect, the Baders expressed a very specific vision for the Tulum House, which comprises five bedrooms and six baths within its 5,533 square feet. “We wanted a really thin, flat profile roof supported, essentially, by four walls of glass,” explains Brendan, who has a degree in residential construction management from Arizona State University. “And we wanted to open up the walls to have a connection to the outdoor space.”

To achieve the encompassing outside-in effect, the Baders worked with LaCantina to design the large slide system doors used in the main living space and in the media/flex room. The extensive glass finds a counterpoint in the 17-foot ceilings in the main living space, which are finished with reclaimed tongue-and-groove wood paired with hand-hewn wood beams from a barn in Pennsylvania. Covering the entire ceiling with wood created a sense of dimension and warmth in this large space while also playing a role in concealing the structural steel used to carry the weight of the roof and the sliding door systems. “Creating functionality in a home that has a minimalist design is always a trick,” observes Brendan.

The large entertaining kitchen is the hub of the home. Here, says Jillian, “the concept of blending a little bit of minimalist style with high performance is what we had in mind.” When it came to selecting the appliances, it was an easy decision, she says: “All around, from style and design, to function, to customer service, there is nothing that really compares to Sub-Zero and Wolf.” They chose the 60” Wolf Gas Range, which offered optimal cooking features while feeling substantial in the space, and the Sub-Zero 30” Designer Series Column Refrigerator, which had an integrated panel option that allowed them great flexibility to customize. “Our carpenter made those panels; however, the way that Sub-Zero constructs their appliance gives us the ability to do that,” says Brendan. “Getting creative with paneled appliances is one of our favorite ways to add interest in a kitchen,” adds Jillian. “The detail on the refrigerator was the perfect way to balance the natural wood and stone in this kitchen with clean, modern lines.” The room also features a Cove dishwasher to round out the suite of appliances.

As with other spaces in the home, the materials selected for the kitchen honor Tulum’s rugged aesthetic. They combine natural stones, such as limestone and quartz, with reclaimed wood on the ceiling and shelving. There are two large limestone-topped islands, one for sitting and eating and the other functioning as a workspace with storage. To compensate for the lack of cabinetry in the minimalist kitchen, a butler’s pantry provides additional storage space.

For Brendan and Jillian, this was the first spec home they designed and built that they were able to furnish entirely from their own retail store, Market by Modern Nest, which opened a brick-and-mortar location at the end of 2020. “In the past, we never could quite furnish and accessorize the homes in the way that we desired to. We couldn’t find items locally that we felt were true to our aesthetic,” says Jillian, who is proud of her and Brendan’s Arizona roots. “We pour our hearts and souls into these homes, and we want to see them through to the very end, including every accessory that’s placed in them.”