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Mark and Isabel Candelaria. Photo credit: Phil Giltner

Born in Denver, Colo., Mark moved with his family to Durango when he was 14, then attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. After a spring break in Arizona, he knew he wanted to live here. In the Valley, he apprenticed with the distinguished local architect and ASU professor, George W. Christensen, FAIA, who remains Mark’s mentor, even after his death.

“George taught me how to develop as a designer and a gentleman,” recalls Mark, who worked for him for 18 years. “He taught me to treat clients as good friends and to keep them happy.”

An inspiring teacher, Christensen was also a project chameleon — able to embrace a Contemporary family home, a mountain getaway or traditional romantic styles such as Tuscan and Old World. “Good design does not have to be a certain style. Good design should enhance the way a person lives and experiences space,” Mark says.

This relationship inspired his love of mentoring. He enjoys helping young architecture students find a deeper passion for the career by having them experience his work in the real world, out of the classroom. This year, two ASU students have shadowed him.

Mentorship is the base of the architecture profession, he explains. “Dealing with clients, construction issues, sketching, problem-solving and time management are all things that can be taught in school but only truly experienced and mastered in reality in the day-to-day practice of the profession,” Mark says.

Passion and love can’t be taught. “I enjoy having a young student — as young as grade school —sit through a design meeting or design charrette with the architects and then get them out in the field and see the creations on paper come to life and deal with the builders and the subs and, of course, the client,” he says.

Born in Espanola, in northern New Mexico, Isabel earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology (a great degree for the homebuilding industry) and is a graduate of the American Institute of Interior Design. Since 1998, she’s lived in Scottsdale, where she also owns IDID & Associates, an interior design firm.

Isabel’s boutique Earth and Images, showcases unique pieces, focal-point and small, in a variety of styles, including little-found treasures, often from her travels with Mark. Other offerings are custom bedding, window treatments, furniture, including her proprietary Spoon Carved Collection, natural botanicals, mirrors, lighting and other accessories.

Batman and Robin, need a Batcave spruce-up?: “I create the place,” Candelaria says, “Isabel fills the space — and then, if you are lucky, we will cook dinner for you!”

Offering four decades of experience in building and renovation, Arizona Structures serves the East Valley, Arcadia, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley and has recently won a 2014 Best of Gilbert Award for General Contractor. This is the sixth of an ongoing series on your home and was assisted by David M. Brown (azwriter.com). Questions? Send them to Tom Monte, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .