Clint draws inspiration from people who value the art of design in accordance with functional living space. The passion in his process is evident throughout the evolution of a project, from the first design sketches to the completed home.

Unique, efficient and affordable design solutions
Clint’s mission is to provide the highest quality design while maintaining respect for your needs, time and budget. His design experience is diverse, from formal Mediterranean to Contemporary, and he works with an extensive variety of building materials ranging from conventional frame to the latest high-tech blocks, including the traditional materials of adobe and rammed earth. Clint subtly combines all of these elements and experiences to create homes that redefine the common perception of livable space.

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Clint Miller, organic architect, wanted  a home growing out of the Sonoran Desert, one which used simple and indigenous materials as well as reflected his love for the simplicity of European village architecture. Thus, he designed and built the home to harmoniously combine a sense of timelessness with a natural expression of the upper Sonoran desert.

This home looks as though it has been on the Sornoran site for many generations. It is made of exposed Adobe; it is buil from the earth; and it’s thick, mud walls contain a metaphor of the desert and recall a living history of the region.

The home’s adobe block is the structural system, a single wythe masonry unit, which provides an aged, stone-like texture for both the interior and exterior of the building. Traditional adobe is a time-tested material, appropriate to the Sonoran climate and the desert’s palette. Modern adobe block maintains the appropriateness of the traditional material, while sustaining asphalt for straw, which makes the exposed block resistant to moisture and termites. Rather than using a compacted building pad, the structure employs engineered stem walls for its foundation; thus only the buildings’ footprints and narrow perimeters disturb the existing desert flora.

Ultimately, this Sonoran home depends on the subtle union of architecture, landscaping, and interior design to form a whole which acknowledges that a home’s parts function together or not al all. The beauty of the Miller residence stems from the understated integration of these disciplines.

Miller Residence Closet

Miller Residence Kitchen

Miller Residence Landscape

Miller Residence

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Miller Residence Draft Room

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Miller Residence Hallway

Miller Residence Wall

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Miller Residence Wedding Tables

Miller Residence Wedding Tables

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Miller Residence Wedding Photo Entrance

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Miller Residence Fireplace

Miller Residence Front Entrance

Miller Residence Landscape

Miller Residence Archway

Miller Residence Doorway

Miller Residence at Night

The Sturr Residence is a load-bearing, sun-dried earthen adobe structure in the Scottsdale-Arcadia neighborhood. This residence was featured in Phoenix Home & Gardens’ Masters of the Southwest 2010 Edition, and was described as understated, sophisticated desert living.

The main room features exposed load-bearing beams and corbels which form the structure.  This house is settled into it’s site with foundation plantings consisting of various succulents, such as totem pole, twisted Cereus, night-blooming Cereus, agave’s, and other accent plantings.

The rear yard features a swimming pool, which is an elegant extension of the architecture, for it follows the plan arrangement of the kitchen and dinning room axis.

Sturr Residence Kitchen Archway

Sturr Residence Window

Sturr Residence Living Area

Sturr Residence Dinning Area

Sturr Residence Archway

Sturr Residence Back

Sturr Residence Front

The Finchams desired a home to adorn the Arcadia neighborhood in a subtle manor. They wanted it to echo the original ranch home of its surroundings. The architectural influences are similar to Ranch Hacienda and Rural Mediterranean.

The Ranch Hacienda architecture is reflective of historical ranch heritage from rural Arizona and traditional Spanish Hacienda style homes. It is distinguishable by the prominent use of two primary building materials- stone and exterior plaster. This style projects casual informality characterized by the use of traditional clay tile roofs, timbers and exposed rafter tails.

Informal and asymmetrical rectilinear forms characterize the Rural Mediterranean style. Gable shed roofs create a charming country appearance similar to the old world vineyards. The primary façade and entry creates a friendly and inviting atmosphere.

The position of the house was essential. By making the axis perpendicular to the street, the main room was exposed to the views of the Camelback Mountain and in turn reduced the direct sun exposure. The north courtyard is protected from afternoon sun and presents direct views of Camelback which creates a very comfortable gathering place in order to enjoy your favorite glass of wine or delightful conversation.

Fincham Residence Fountain

Fincham Residence Front

Fincham Residence Front Room

Fincham Residence Sink

Fincham Residence Window

Fincham Residence Front Door

Fincham Residence Outdoor Area

Fincham Residence Kitchen

The project is an adaptive reuse of a late 50’s Spanish ranch within the early Paradise Valley subdivision, Casa Blanca Estates. The homeowners desired a “Santa Barbara Style” which would work with the original Spanish eclectic character as much as possible.

Rather than the large volumes created by high ceilings, the clients wanted the design to embrace the charm and human scale of the early 1900’s Spanish homes. They also desired to create a front yard conducive to mingling with neighbors who strolled the lush Casa Blanca neighborhood, one uniue for Paradise Valley.

An earlier project had pushed out several exterior walls and added parapets which concealed most of the clay tile roof. The current project re-establishes the pitched tile roof as a dominant architectural feature, and employs soft arches and corbel ends to help re-define spaces previously characterized by rambling spaces.

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Hoselton Residence

Hoselton Residence Door

Hoselton Residence Inside Hall

Hoselton Residence Outside Archway

Hoselton Residence Patio

The Roble residence adorned the cover of Phoenix Home & Garden magazine for the Masters’ of the Southwest 2010 issue, where Clint Miller was honored.   The residence is a courtyard design which incorporates a motor court, garages, swimming pool and backyard views to a natural Sonoran wash. The plan is very efficient.

The architectural character is of a rural European courtyard which looks to have been expanded over time.  The roof is a multi-colored, two piece, mission clay tile which incorporates a heavy-stacked eve detail.

The home is of a human scale with a deeply recessed multi-paneled front door framed by a richly detailed concrete surround. The frame detail is similar to that of the early 1900’s Spanish motifs.

The components of this house were derived from the programmed needs for this family rather than realtor driven values which mandate size and eliminate in order to obtain value. To this end, the home’s true spirit comes forth warm and rich in detail.

Sturr Residence - Inside Arch

Roble Residence Front Door

Roble Residence - Backyard

Roble Residence - Landscape

Roble Residence - Window

This modern authentic adobe is nestled in the upper Sonoran Desert and has preserved its setting to create a union between structure and site. This rare two-story load-bearing adobe structure features exposed structure as the final surfaces for the ceilings and walls. Colored concrete flooring, steel stairs and details make this home truly unique.

Homeowners are Rob Collins and Misty Mullen. Rob manages the ground for the Paradise Valley Country Club and has brought his plant and horticultural experiences to this design. Misty is an artist working primarily in sculpture and painting and her art adorns this project throughout.

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Collins-Mullen Residence

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The residence, built primarily as a summer escape from the low desert heat, truly grows harmoniously and naturally from the site. The essential character of the design was influenced by the early buildings of the National Parks.

For this residence, the stone came from excavating for the foundation and septic system and clearly reads as structural, no as a veneer. Attention to southern and northern exposures and resulting site preservation and energy requirements determined design choices. On southern exposures, heavily insulated wooden walls mitigate summer heat gain; the stone wall mass on the northern exposure slowly releases cooling during daytime hours. All exposed posts and beams are structural; exposed joist tails reveal the simple stick-framing and durability.

Ultimately, the symbiosis of stone, wood, and steel reflects a structure rooted to its site.

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Stone House in Pine Arizona

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The architectural style was influenced by Pueblo Revival, Spanish Colonial flat roof buildings and Native American pueblos.

The plan arrangement is Courtyard Hacienda based on Spanish Haciendas of the early Southwest. It has load bearing sixteen inch mud-adobe block, which supports the roof. This type of structure is also considered a mass wall assembly because the adobe is full thickness of the wall capable of storing heat or cooling and releasing it slowly in order to maintain uniform temperature. Thus the adobe block becomes a major component in the enabling this structure to qualify for green building recognition.

The residence is part of the City of Scottsdale’s Green Building Program. Preservation of the native natural landscape is required to be maintained around the perimeter of the lot in order to support the native eco-system and for living in harmony with the landscape of the site. This is native natural landscape is considered the feature which makes Scottsdale distinctive from other desert communities.

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Modern architecture influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Period. The compact 2,500 square foot home was erected on pristine undisturbed natural desert. This mature and lush desert landscape offers privacy and screening for this glass dominant and adobe structure.

Homeowners Ron Finkel, real estate investor, and Linda Blumel, artist, have carefully implemented unique furnishings, accessories and artwork that integrate well with the architectural theme.

The re-vegetated landscape area incorporates contemporary garden sculpture and some non-indigenous plants which create added drama. This home features concrete floors, wood ceilings and adobe. This provides a very warm outcome for this contemporary structure.

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Finkel-Blumel Residence

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