James Judge's Mid Century Renovation in Arizona

James Judge Arizona renovation interior — From this vantage point, you can see how sunlight pours in through the windows to brighten the space. Although the apartment has an open concept layout, different pieces of furniture and décor define each area and give a distinct feel.

Designer James Judge’s mid century renovation in this Arizona high-rise was special. He could feel the positive energy radiating through the condo as soon as he stepped through the door and saw the incredible floor-to-ceiling glass windows. As he toured the apartment–located in the Regency on Central, an iconic 1965 building in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona–he imagined all the transformation possibilities.

The lounge area in James Judge's Arizona renovation — Originally, this space was the dining room, but with a few reconfigurations, James turned it into a welcoming lounge area.

He knew he wanted to preserve some of the apartment’s original mid century elements, add more modern touches, and personalize the space for his mother, who would be living there once he finished the renovations. “My goal was to create open sight-lines throughout the property and increase functionality while still balancing the limitations of a ‘condo’ building,” James says. After nine months of hard work, he could proudly stand back and appreciate his design, which he describes as “modern elegance with a mid century flair.”

Modern artwork from Juniper Print Shop — Since the floor-to-ceiling glass is the focal point of the apartment, James wanted the wall art to be “big and bold” and to “make a statement.” Since he “loves to support locally owned businesses,” he happily purchased all the artwork from **Juniper Print Shop**, located in Mesa, Arizona.

A vintage table in a dining area — James went thrift shopping to find this vintage table, and when the light fixture he wanted wasn’t available, he found this duplicate on Amazon.

Elevating the Existing MCM Style

Many of the condo’s mid century features, such as the balcony’s concrete overhang and the exposed concrete ceilings, caught James’ attention immediately. “I was excited to get to work with the original Mid Century Modern architecture,” he says.

A bed with a white comforter, sheets, and pillows — “I wanted a simple and natural feel in the bedrooms to complement the views,” James says. “I chose the colors to complete the other colors throughout the house.”

Wanting to take the MCM aesthetic to the next level, James made design decisions that honored the retro time period. “The original kitchen cabinets became an inspiration for the flat panel cabinetry throughout the whole condo,” he says. “I also picked brass fixtures and finishes because those were popular in the 1960s.” Other aspects that contribute to the mid-century modern vibe include the walnut finish on the doors and kitchen island, the quartz countertop on the kitchen island, the concrete plaster backsplash behind the stove, and the hexagonal tiles in the office and bathrooms.

A kitchen with a quartz countertop and brass fixtures — James focused on adding more space to the small kitchen. “We doubled the size of the kitchen by getting rid of the old breakfast nook, and I removed soffits to maximize the height.”

Renovation Challenges and Triumphs

James admits that this renovation wasn’t completely smooth sailing. “The kitchen was the most challenging from a design and functional standpoint. We had to take huge slabs of stone and a giant refrigerator up the elevator. There were also a lot of awkward utility stacks to work around,” he says.

A kitchen with flat panel cabinets and Viking appliances — Want to copy James’ style? He purchased the **bar cart** and **cabinet** **hardware** from Amazon, the **barstools** from Living Spaces, the **sink** and **faucet** from Kraus, the appliances from **Viking**, and the **large dome pendant lamp** from CB2.

Despite the difficulties, James persevered and enjoyed transforming each area of the condo. “The office was the most fun to renovate. Once we reconfigured that room and added the glass walls and doors, it made such a huge difference. It’s an exciting design element, yet functional. It’s full of storage, but still looks so connected to the rest of the space. The glass pivot door is one of my favorite features,” he says.

A vintage table in front of a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows — Thanks to the glass walls and pivot door, the office easily transitions into the dining area. Who wouldn’t want to work there every day?

Perfecting the Office

Without a doubt, the mirror is one of the office’s focal points. “I love to layer and create layers within a home. The wall of bookcases is functional, but layering the mirror on top created a layer for visual interest,” James says. “It also reflects the entire home–you can see the dining room and living room. It’s a beautiful way to capture the reflection.”

An office with bookshelves and a quartz desk — “I chose the white stain on the **shelves** because I wanted it to be continuous with the exterior ceiling, and I went with the black metal framing on the glass wall to blend the frame into the space,” James says of the office.

James says styling the bookshelf was also meaningful for him. “Those are vintage books from my childhood home. They didn’t look appropriate, but they were important to incorporate because they are sentimental. When designing a space, I try to find opportunities to include things that don’t match but still work together,” he reveals.

All for Mom

James knew this renovation would be memorable, as he did it for his mom. “My mom is the reason I am in Arizona. I moved her 11 years ago and never planned on staying,” he says. “Her home was the first home I designed in Arizona. It was 45 miles from Downtown Phoenix and where I live, so I wanted to remodel something for her that would bring her closer to us.”

James Judge and his mom — “My mom had seen the condo’s progress over time, but there was definitely a grand reveal, and she was genuinely excited and happy! It’s so different than anything she’s lived in before, so it’s been really fun to see her enjoying it,” James says.

To make his mom smile, James included plenty of special features. In the bathroom, he surprised her with a makeup vanity and gave her the additional storage she wanted by “modifying the closet to make the bathroom bigger.”

A bathroom with a makeup vanity — James says his mom picked out this backsplash, so it was important for him to include it. He chose the **sconces** and **vanity lights** because they were brass and had a modern vibe.

Two mirrors above two bathroom sinks — “My rule is that backsplash must go from counter to ceiling. By extending it as much as you can, it helps to create a grandiose feel,” James says.

Additionally, since James’ mom is “all about the views,” he knew she would love the glass office, which “maximizes the site lines and gives her a spectacular view.” Lastly, James designed the kitchen with his mom in mind, too. “The cabinets aren’t all full depth–they were created to maximize the storage in a smaller space,” he says.

Mom’s Favorite Spots

Now that James’ mom has settled into her new home, she finds herself spending time in a few specific areas. “She loves the fireplace in the living room–that was a cool design feature. The utility stack had a weird bump out, so I built the fireplace and TV around it. Now, the utility stack is hidden, and you wouldn’t know it was there,” James says.