Design elements from the deep South enliven this Tucson townhouse. To see June Soderstrom’s home is to know her — cultured, genteel, colorful and eclectic. Her 2000-square-foot northwest townhouse is beautifully situated and overlooking the Geronimo Wash. Boulders, saguaros and mountain vistas frame the backyard garden in a setting that’s unquestionably Tucson. Step inside and you’re transported back to the Deep South. A Katrina refugee, June relocated to Tucson after losing her Pass Christian, Mississippi, home to the hurricane. “I saved a few paintings, some of the china and a mosaic countertop from the kitchen,” June recalls. “We escaped as the water rose — my two daughters, grandson and two cars, and we just kept going ahead of the water.” In the end, the hurricane’s fury was Tucson’s gain and another opportunity for June to showcase her skills at decorating, and remarkably, without professional advice. She selected every color, every furnishing and each accessory. One of her most obvious design strengths is an outstanding sense of color. With a couple notable exceptions, few timid pastels or predictable desert hues grace the walls. Instead, vibrant and often complementary colors flow from space to space, and manage to do so without jarring the eye. Concurrently, specific themes inspire each room and passage, and again, with a natural flow. There’s no sense of museum diorama or theme park excess that can thwart successfully combining diverse styles under one roof. Water is the theme in the guest bath and adjoining vestibule. The full bath features a hand-painted mural by Dawn Malosh and Dee Wood of Aesthetic Alternatives. The mural depicts beach, surf and sky of the southern gulf. An antique Brazilian desk replaces traditional cabinetry. Porthole-shaped mirrors adorn the walls, and a well-placed oil painting subtly matches the hues and horizon line of the mural. The home’s main area is an open living and dining room arrangement. In lieu of a formal dining room, though, the space is an extension of the comfortable living room. Against a cardinal red accent wall, an open iron-worked bombe console showcases a collection of sterling hollowware flanked by red-shaded table lamps, centered under a large, round baroque-framed mirror. This classical arrangement of color and materials evokes the jubilance of the French Court. Beyond an iron gate is a “moon and garden room,” built by Cortero Construction. A large skylight is set in a semi-coffered ceiling and offers ample sun or moonlight. June’s daughter April contributed her artistry in a sunset mural that borders the top of the wall. Never one to miss a detail, June installed a wrought-iron spiral staircase outdoors so the clear skylight can be easily cleaned. There are two spare rooms in the town home. One has been outfitted and aptly named “the castle room.” Contrary to a Disney-esque caricature the title may evoke, the room is a tasteful mix of furniture and accessories, a place that invites reading or intimate conversation. Like the master bedroom, the other spare room speaks of tranquility, but in a different, more traditional manner. Peach hues and gossamer fabrics promise overnight guests a restful sleep. Conversely, the master bedroom is an oasis of Oriental serenity, with Oriental screens, Japanese Tansu chests and walls of soothing plum. Bright lime green glows from the master bath, giving an impression of tranquility. The simple lines and scale of the bath belie the complexity of the “remodel” necessary to create the space. Contemporary white fixtures and cabinetry complement the Asian theme of the adjoining bedroom, and 12-inch-wide custom double doors, another subtle homage to New Orleans, open to a small, private garden resplendent with potted flowering shrubbery and weather-resistant artwork. The Soderstrom home is at once a restful and exciting place, and testament to small spaces, big designs and hidden Tucson treasures. Sources: cortaro construction & remodeling: (520) 419-2667 aesthetic alternatives: (520) 991-7191