My Houzz: Splashes of Color in a Modern Arizona Loft
Artwork, travel mementos and midcentury furniture come together in this home in a Tucson residential community
Margot Hartford
June 26, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Interiors photographer in the Bay Area for over 15 years. Publications include Veranda, California Home & Design, Sunset Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens.
Houzz Contributor. Interiors photographer in the Bay Area for over 15 years. Publications... More
Loft at a Glance
Who lives here: Karin Shipman, Raymond Hoehle and their calico cat, Missy
Location: Millville neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona
Size: 1,550 square feet (144 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 2005
“We wanted a home that was small, beautifully designed but still easy to take care of,” says homeowner Karin Shipman. At the time, she and her husband, Raymond Hoehle, were living near Washington, D.C., and they found out about a modern residential loft community that was being built in the Millville neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona.
“We used to come to Tucson often, as my son went to the university there, and on one of our visits, we saw an interesting modern building different from other homes in the area and found out who the architect was. We started a long-distance correspondence with him,” Shipman says.
So when architect Rob Paulus designed Barrio Metalico, a community of nine industrial loft units a mile east of Tucson’s city center that is named for its corrugated metal exteriors, he gave Shipman a heads-up.
“The architect called us and described his plan, and we purchased it straight away after seeing a sketch,” she says. The couple are the first owners of their loft and officially relocated to Arizona more than 10 years ago.
All the doors in the community are painted in shades of blue or green.
Vagö outdoor chairs: Ikea; blue ceramic spheres: Pottery Blow Out
5 Places to Love Corrugated Metal in Your House
Who lives here: Karin Shipman, Raymond Hoehle and their calico cat, Missy
Location: Millville neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona
Size: 1,550 square feet (144 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 2005
“We wanted a home that was small, beautifully designed but still easy to take care of,” says homeowner Karin Shipman. At the time, she and her husband, Raymond Hoehle, were living near Washington, D.C., and they found out about a modern residential loft community that was being built in the Millville neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona.
“We used to come to Tucson often, as my son went to the university there, and on one of our visits, we saw an interesting modern building different from other homes in the area and found out who the architect was. We started a long-distance correspondence with him,” Shipman says.
So when architect Rob Paulus designed Barrio Metalico, a community of nine industrial loft units a mile east of Tucson’s city center that is named for its corrugated metal exteriors, he gave Shipman a heads-up.
“The architect called us and described his plan, and we purchased it straight away after seeing a sketch,” she says. The couple are the first owners of their loft and officially relocated to Arizona more than 10 years ago.
All the doors in the community are painted in shades of blue or green.
Vagö outdoor chairs: Ikea; blue ceramic spheres: Pottery Blow Out
5 Places to Love Corrugated Metal in Your House
“I was initially attracted to the loft because of the dimensions,” Shipman says. “The units are about 1,500 square feet and have the same footprint as the Eames-designed Case Study 8 home in Pacific Palisades, California.” Shipman studied design in her native Germany, and she is especially drawn to minimalism and clean lines. “I have always been a Bauhaus devotee,” she says. “The evolution of Bauhaus influenced designers and eventually gave birth to the midcentury modern movement.”
Many of the couple’s furnishings are from midcentury modern designers. Ray and Charles Eames designed the lounge chair, and Bernard Vuarnesson designed the extendable Hexa coffee table.
Arena sectional with chaise by Dag Hjelle, Eames lounge chair and Hexa coffee table: Design Within Reach
Many of the couple’s furnishings are from midcentury modern designers. Ray and Charles Eames designed the lounge chair, and Bernard Vuarnesson designed the extendable Hexa coffee table.
Arena sectional with chaise by Dag Hjelle, Eames lounge chair and Hexa coffee table: Design Within Reach
Shipman, pictured at left with Hoehle, are now in their 70s and are avid tennis players. That was part of the draw for them to relocate from D.C. to Arizona. “We wanted to go to a place where we can play tennis all the time and the weather is lovely year-round,” Shipman says.
Hoehle retired from his job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Shipman still works as a consultant for emerging businesses in developing countries and as a guest lecturer. “Because of our shared interest in cultural events and organizations involved in international development, one objective in moving to Tucson was to be close to a major university: The University of Arizona is less than 2 miles away,” Shipman says.
The couple love the diversity of their neighbors. “We are an older couple, but our neighbors range from an architect, a marketing specialist, a dancer who works at the local theater and a publisher,” Shipman says. “We are an eclectic group of people who like design and architecture.” The architect, Paulus, has his office in a converted automobile workshop within walking distance, and Shipman still keeps in touch with him. “Sometimes I go over to say hello and chat,” she says.
Hoehle retired from his job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Shipman still works as a consultant for emerging businesses in developing countries and as a guest lecturer. “Because of our shared interest in cultural events and organizations involved in international development, one objective in moving to Tucson was to be close to a major university: The University of Arizona is less than 2 miles away,” Shipman says.
The couple love the diversity of their neighbors. “We are an older couple, but our neighbors range from an architect, a marketing specialist, a dancer who works at the local theater and a publisher,” Shipman says. “We are an eclectic group of people who like design and architecture.” The architect, Paulus, has his office in a converted automobile workshop within walking distance, and Shipman still keeps in touch with him. “Sometimes I go over to say hello and chat,” she says.
The 14-inch-thick insulated walls retain heat in the winter and keep the home cool in the summer.
One of Shipman’s hobbies is painting, and many of her original pieces — like the piece over the dining table and the painting above the red-and-black storage unit — decorate the walls. “My favorite painter is Paul Klee, and I am a huge fan of his lectures on color theory and the relationship of color, shape and form,” she says.
Dining table and chairs: Ikea; Hydro floor lamp by Carlo Forcolini: Nemo
One of Shipman’s hobbies is painting, and many of her original pieces — like the piece over the dining table and the painting above the red-and-black storage unit — decorate the walls. “My favorite painter is Paul Klee, and I am a huge fan of his lectures on color theory and the relationship of color, shape and form,” she says.
Dining table and chairs: Ikea; Hydro floor lamp by Carlo Forcolini: Nemo
As a privacy solution to cover this window, Shipman used folded white watercolor paper taped together as a temporary window shade. “I keep it because of its nice origami-like shape,” she says. “I bought a pad of watercolor paper from Michael’s, and the width fit exactly to the window. I thought it would be a temporary privacy fix, but now it’s permanent.”
Gnomes-Attila stool by Philippe Starck: Kartell
Gnomes-Attila stool by Philippe Starck: Kartell
The steel stairs and guardrails mixed with honey-colored maple cabinets make the loft feel modern and warm. “The cabinets are actually from Ikea and are office cabinets on casters. They are at least 20 years old and have made the move with us across the country,” Shipman says.
Due to their development work, Hoehle and Shipman have lived and worked in different parts of the world, including India and Haiti. An assortment of wooden bird figures, collected on their travels, is arranged on their bookshelf. “The small wooden birds are Bushman carvings from Botswana,” Shipman says. “The large bird is indigenous art by a local tribe from Papua New Guinea. I worked in both places.”
The artworks on the gallery wall are Shipman’s original pieces. She primarily works with acrylic, pastel chalk, and pen and ink. She also enjoys paper collage work inspired by Henri Matisse.
The artworks on the gallery wall are Shipman’s original pieces. She primarily works with acrylic, pastel chalk, and pen and ink. She also enjoys paper collage work inspired by Henri Matisse.
The kitchen has lower cabinets only. “I don’t like hanging cabinets,” says Shipman, who is 5 feet, 1½ inches tall (“I’m really proud of that 1½ inches!"). “I am too short to reach them. I don’t like not being able to see what’s in the upper cabinets. Our goal was to not have a wall of cabinets that I can’t reach the top [of].”
Maple cabinets: Crown Custom Millwork
How to Lose Some of Your Upper Kitchen Cabinets
Maple cabinets: Crown Custom Millwork
How to Lose Some of Your Upper Kitchen Cabinets
The floors are polished and sealed concrete. The countertops are Formica. “I love them! They don’t stain, and you can wipe them clean easily,” Shipman says.
Know Your Flooring: Concrete
Know Your Flooring: Concrete
The first-floor bathroom is tucked behind the kitchen. Both it and the kitchen feature the same maple cabinetry.
The upstairs loft and mezzanine space is large and flexible, so the couple use part of it as their master bedroom and the rest as Shipman’s home office. At the top of the stairs is an antique Swedish dresser bought at an auction. On top is a set of antique glove forms. The pine armoire is a family heirloom from Sweden.
The colorful painting is by a Bushman artist from the Kuru Art Project in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana.
The colorful painting is by a Bushman artist from the Kuru Art Project in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana.
Thanks to Tucson’s low-rise buildings, the bedroom’s corner window features a view of mountains in the distance. “We’re downtown in a postindustrial area, but through our window, we can see the mountains. It’s a really unique view,” Shipman says.
The couple’s 17-year-old calico cat, Missy, enjoys napping on their bed. “Missy is very attached to us,” Shipman says. “She’s very smart, a brilliant manipulator and loves greeting people when they come into the house. She’s just so cute, and we love her.”
Eames molded plywood lounge chair: Design Within Reach
The couple’s 17-year-old calico cat, Missy, enjoys napping on their bed. “Missy is very attached to us,” Shipman says. “She’s very smart, a brilliant manipulator and loves greeting people when they come into the house. She’s just so cute, and we love her.”
Eames molded plywood lounge chair: Design Within Reach
The painting above the bed is by an unknown Russian artist. The couple bought it at an auction more than 20 years ago.
A leaning pine floor mirror takes up one wall in their master bedroom. The Danish pine dresser used as a TV stand is a family heirloom.
Browse wooden floor mirrors
Browse wooden floor mirrors
“I like that the materials in the unit are simple and easy to maintain,” Shipman says. “The white Formica countertops last forever and wipe up cleanly.”
Antique ceramic glove forms display Shipman’s jewelry and other accessories.
Antique ceramic glove forms display Shipman’s jewelry and other accessories.
In the other part of the upstairs space, Shipman handles her consulting work with agencies in developing countries. Her focus is on women’s entrepreneurial initiatives.
This wooden leg splint displayed in Shipman’s office was designed by the Eameses in 1942 for use during World War II.
Alex drawer units: Ikea
Alex drawer units: Ikea
The 24-foot-high ceiling helps make the unit feel bright and spacious. Each of the nine loft units in Barrio Metalico has one bedroom downstairs and another overlooking the living room.
The hallway, which runs from the front door to the second bedroom and bathroom, is the perfect place to store tennis shoes. The shelf is also a great spot to display the couple’s collection of antique metal windup toys.
“I love the mix of old and new,” Shipman says about the finishes of their home. The gate to their carport is made with reclaimed metal from a nearby development project.
Tall trees shade the back patio and a 500-square-foot guest house that they rent out.
Salvaged and distressed wood and corrugated metal from a demolished building form the fencing around the community.
A rainwater-harvesting metal tank, measuring 12 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, tucks into one corner of their structure, just below the gutter. The reclaimed water gets used for watering plants and washing cars.
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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a Marana neighbor.
Love the home and Karin's artwork. Does she sell it?
I am in awe to rediscover that splashes of bright colors in strategic places really do make a difference in how houses and rooms look. A shock of bright red or neon green or royal blue in some spots make a huge statement. You could almost imagine them saying: Hello Buddy! All is great! or Welcome Home!