A homeowner's passion for music was the influence behind the design of a 3,400-square-foot residence in North Scottsdale, AZ. The contemporary-style home features a palette of Italian tile and bamboo - creating a chic and elegant atmosphere for its resident.

"The owner is a stockbroker who grew up in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area of Minnesota," explained architect Michael P. Johnson of Michael P. Johnson Design Studio Ltd. in Cave Creek, AZ. "He paid his way through college playing music. He realized that he would be a minor player in the music industry, so he decided to make money so that he can have fun playing music."

Johnson went on to say that the homeowner did not know much about architecture and design, and as a result, relied on the architect's expertise when it came to the design of his home. "He said to me, ‘Build me a house," said Johnson. "The only thing that he really wanted was a dance floor."

Featuring many large windows and spacious interior areas, the home provides a light airy feel. Upon entering the house, there is a two-story room with a bamboo floor, which was designed as a space for dancing. "I made his dance floor and developed the two-story height to the room for noise [reduction]," said the architect.

Complementing the bamboo floor is Italian tile, which was manufactured by Imola and supplied by Imperial Tile of Phoenix, AZ. The 2-by-4-foot tile was laid in a running bond pattern as flooring throughout the living room, dining room, kitchen, guest bedroom and powder room. It was mud set with no joints, according to Johnson, who added that this method of installation allowed for the tile pieces to be uniform. "We had great tile setters," he said.

The soft swirls of light gray and white in the tile resemble the characteristics of marble - creating a sleek modern look throughout the residence. The architect explained that the homeowner also owns a residence in Las Vegas, and a similar stone-look tile was employed for that design.

"He showed me a tile that he used in his condo in Vegas," said Johnson. "He liked it, but it was too dark [for this design]. I found an Imola tile that was a pattern that he liked. He drove the style [of the tile]. It works because everything else is placid."

In total, approximately 1,400 square feet of tile was used for the project. "I primarily use full-body porcelain," said the architect. "I love tile."

It took about four months from the time Johnson was hired to when the job was sent out for bids, explained the architect. The entire project was constructed in about one year.