Making the design absolutely perfect presented the final challenge. The Samsons worked with Roberts to make sure the home was functional, chic and took full advantage of the lot and the views. “We probably changed [the design] 40 to 50 percent. We worked closely with Alan and spent countless hours with him trying to get it perfect,” Ken says. They added windows and doors, and ultimately “opened up” the home significantly. For example, the home office where Ken and Michele both work was originally fashioned to have just one small window, but the pair opted to install a large window wall with a sliding glass door instead, making the space seem bigger and letting in much more natural light as a result.

The home took about 13 months to complete, and the Samsons couldn’t be happier with the result. In fact, several aspects of the home exceeded their expectations. “We didn’t expect the backyard to come out like it did,” Ken says. “We altered the plan for it quite a bit, and once it was finished, we were blown away by the beautiful views.” Indeed, the yard is spectacular, affording the family and their frequent guests vistas of both the Tortolita Mountains and Downtown Tucson. The outdoor kitchen, complete with a gas grill, refrigerator and ice maker, promotes fuss-free entertaining. The putting green affords a fun diversion. And, in a nod to Las Vegas-style showmanship, the large rectangular pool has three water features with metal rings that actually shoot fire into the air when turned on. The adjacent, above-ground spa, meanwhile, took a more organic approach: It’s surrounded by faux rock, which nods as much to the stony setting as to natural beauty.