On the North Shore of Lake Las Vegas, 10 Sunrise Beach Circle channels the late Frank Lloyd Wright’s exceptional creativity and sense of harmonious design.
Designed by Arizona-based Swaback Architects + Planners and Studio V Interior Architecture & Design, the two-story lakefront property blends with its surroundings — specifically the lake. This Wright concept, known as organic architecture, fosters a connection between the homeowners and their natural environment and employs natural materials to create a cohesive aesthetic.
“Our founder, Vernon Swaback, was the youngest apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright,” said Swaback Design Partner Kit Gallup. “He founded his firm based on the principles he learned, and it continues to be part of our culture’s fabric and design sensibilities. But we’ve evolved. We’re not trying to reproduce Lloyd Wright’s architecture, but you can see his philosophy in what we do.”
The design team of Gallup; Swaback Partner Mike D. Wetzel, AIA; Studio V CEO and designer Etta Cowdrey; and interior architect Austin Watters worked together to bring the project to fruition, combining their diverse expertise to achieve a highly functional, stunning home.
Wright’s fundamental principles are intricately woven into the design, influencing everything from the home’s orientation to its front entrance and seamless indoor-outdoor living.
“Every house we design is specific to that property, and listening to the client, that turns into a piece of architecture that is well-situated for the place it exists and also for the client,” Watters said. “That is a lesson we learned from Vernon, who learned it from Wright.”
Homeowners Laura and Michael Janus chose Lake Las Vegas after searching the country for a place to call home. In 2020, they found a rare lakefront property in the double-gated community of The Estates.
“Our kids were grown, so we’re like, let’s pick a new spot. We had a pro-con list of where we wanted to end up, and we love many things about Vegas,” Laura Janus said about selecting the property. “We wanted to be on the water, and it’s so beautiful out here.”
The couple actively engaged in the design process, which took six months to complete. They had two essential requests: an oversized garage to accommodate their 24-foot surfboat and a game room for their heirloom pool table, which had been in the family for more than 50 years.
“In my opinion, the home was designed around those two things,” Laura Janus said. “Other than that, we were so open and Swaback was amazing. They listened to us from the beginning and there was nothing we wanted to change after they presented the plans to us.”
The team analyzed the sun’s orientation, sight lines and surrounding terrain to optimize the layout on the 1.7-acre fan-shaped site. The research led them to persuade the couple to build a two-story property instead of the planned one-story.
“We felt early on that a two-story volume would be better than a single-story,” Gallup said. “It would have a better presence on the lot and provide better views from above. This home makes a statement on the water. I’m not sure we would have accomplished the same feeling in a single-story application.”
The two-story home is designed to function as a single-level residence, with all the essential living spaces conveniently located on the lower level. The upper level features a spacious game room and an office.
The addition of the second story enhanced the design, featuring a stunning glass entry that powerfully showcases Wright’s compression-and-release technique.
Upon entering, guests experience a deliberate moment of tension created by a low ceiling, formed by the upper-level bridge connecting the game room to the office. The tension quickly transitions into an impressive sense of space as they enter the expansive great room with its soaring ceilings.
The entry establishes a striking visual connection to the lake through an oversized glass front door. On the opposite side of the great room, spectacular lake views are framed by a wall of massive glass pocket doors and upper-level clerestory windows, visible from the entry. As the gaze extends outward, the 80-foot linear pool with Baja shelf creates a captivating visual illusion. Flanked by mature palm trees, the pool appears to flow beyond its edge and into the lake.
The centerpiece of the great room is a voluminous two-story fireplace with a walnut surround, bordered on each side by Coronado stone. The dramatic use of stone extends to the exterior, blurring the lines and creating a seamless flow. An oversized sectional wrapped by a Studio V-designed custom L-shaped walnut table provides a comfy spot to relax or entertain.
A compelling feature of the design is the contemporary kitchen. Bordering the great room, the culinary hub’s showpiece is its dual quartz waterfall-edge islands. Each island serves a different purpose — one is dedicated to prep, while the other provides dining space.
“It’s more of a contemporary take on a dining room,” Gallup said. “The kitchen melts into the dining. There is no firm distinction. It’s fully functional but also beautiful.”
The sleek space is adjacent to an outdoor barbecue and features integrated Wolf appliances, custom dark wood cabinetry and a walk-in pantry.
“The kitchen, dining and outdoor space blend to make it easy to entertain,” Watters said. “People don’t feel tied down to a formal dining room. You can float easily between spaces.”
Designed as a dedicated wing, the primary suite’s non-traditional layout incorporates four rooms extending off a central corridor: a luxury bath, an expansive walk-in closet, a cozy sitting room with a fireplace and the main bedroom.
“It’s getting people out of their typical way of thinking on how they should live,” Watters said. “This particular lot allowed us to separate into different spaces.”
The well-curated bedroom displays gorgeous lake views through glass walls. A central bed with a built-in headboard faces the lake, giving the sensation of being on the water. Studio V crafted the custom headboard and two nightstands.
“That whole bedroom was completely custom. They trusted us to design the headboard and have the pendants that dropped over the nightstands,” Watters said. “I liked how that space was laid out because the bed never faced a television. It was about being in bed, opening the windows and looking out at the lake, which was beautiful.”
Throughout the striking desert contemporary estate, sophisticated, warm, neutral tones and textures of Coronado stone walls, wood floors, walnut accents and glass enhance the ambiance.
Watters estimates that they tried 10 different colors to achieve white walls. They selected a classic gray, which reads white on the wall.
“The lake is interesting in terms of finishes,” Watters said. “The way light reflects off the lake influences the type of paint you choose in a way you wouldn’t expect. It took a lot of work to get it to look how we wanted so the walls didn’t look pink, purple or beige.”
Small pops of color added in specific areas add a layer of personalization to the design.
“One of my favorite areas is the primary bath where the owners decided to install a vibrant stone,” Watters said. “That is fun when you get these moments where somebody’s personality emerges.”
The 7,024-square-foot desert-contemporary home features four en suite bedrooms, 5½ baths, a temperature-controlled wine display, a private upper-level office, a game room, hardwood and marble flooring, architectural detailing, a circular driveway with imported stone, a recreational vehicle garage not visible from the road, a private boat dock for an electric boat, a putting green, fire features and a Smart home automation system.
The property is listed for $10.5 million through Cindy Scott, Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
The couple recently decided to list their Lake Las Vegas home to manage their software business, Clinically Speaking, which is headquartered on the East Coast. They have been working virtually from their residence.
“The main reason is we wake up and are already three hours behind,” Laura Janus said. “As our company grows, we’re getting busier and it’s harder to keep up.”
About the mansion
Location: 10 Sunrise Beach Circle, The Estates, North Shore of Lake Las Vegas
Price: $10.5 million
Size: 7,024 square feet; four en suite bedrooms including a private primary wing with separate sitting area and fireplace, walk-in closet with built-ins and access to exterior patio; 5.5 baths, including primary bath with oversized walk-in shower, natural stone soaking tub and dual sinks; private boat dock for electric boat; attached two-car garage and separate recreational vehicle garage. The home is situated on 1.17 acres.
Features: Designed by Arizona-based Swaback Architects + Planners and Studio V Interior Architecture and Design, this is a custom two-story estate inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in a Lake Las Vegas community with dual gate security, including guard gate and community gate. It has views of the lake from almost every room; open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling glass; expansive glass door entry; seamless indoor/outdoor living; central courtyard; formal living room with two-story fireplace with walnut surround; chef-kitchen features dual islands with quartz waterfall countertops and casual seating, integrated Wolf appliances and walk-in pantry; exterior features covered patio with built-in barbecue area, 80-foot linear pool with Baja deck, fire pit; climate-controlled wine display; executive office; upper-level game room with wet bar, media wall with multiple televisions and access to upper deck; engineered walnut hardwood and marble flooring; custom lighting; architectural detailing; circular driveway with imported stone; security system; Smart Home integration and Lutron lighting system; putting green; black-out shades.
HOA: $153 Lake Las Vegas Master Plan fee/$350 for The Estates/$503 monthly total.
Listing: Cindy Scott, Douglas Elliman Real Estate
