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Lauren Lerner’s Open-Shelf Editing Rule, As Featured in Real Simple

Lauren Lerner’s Open-Shelf Editing Rule, As Featured in Real Simple

by | Aug 26, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Press & Awards, Residential Interior Design

8 min readAugust 2026
Group open shelves by tone, not by category, and a room reads calmer within minutes with nothing new to buy. That is the editing rule Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, shared with Real Simple: "Edit your open shelves by grouping similar tones and removing anything that feels visually loud. Even rearranging a few books into color families or giving objects more breathing room can instantly soften the entire space."
It is a small move with an outsized effect, and it costs nothing. Below is what that quote means in practice, how Lauren applies it on real Scottsdale projects, and what the wider research says about why decluttering and thoughtful styling actually change how a room feels and how it shows.

What "Grouping by Tone" Actually Means

Most people organize shelves by category out of habit. Books together, framed photos together, travel souvenirs together. It is logical, and it is also the reason a lot of open shelving looks busy no matter how expensive the objects on it are. Category grouping puts a bright orange book spine next to a black-and-white photo next to a turquoise vase, and the eye has to work to process all of it at once.
Tone grouping does the opposite. Instead of asking "what is this object," you ask "what color family does it belong to." A cluster of cream, tan, and warm wood objects on one shelf. A cluster of black, charcoal, and deep green on the next. The individual pieces do not have to match or even relate to each other in function. A ceramic bowl, a stack of linen-bound books, and a small piece of driftwood can sit together happily as long as they share a tone.

Why This Reads as Calmer, Not Just Neater

There is a real difference between a shelf that is organized and a shelf that is styled. An organized shelf just has fewer things out of place. A styled shelf has been edited on purpose, and editing is the part most people skip. Removing anything that feels visually loud, a busy pattern, a mismatched color, an object that does not earn its spot, is what actually lowers the visual noise in a room. Grouping by tone gives you a fast, repeatable way to decide what stays and what goes without agonizing over each individual item.
I will say the part that is easy to miss here: giving objects more breathing room matters as much as the grouping itself. A shelf packed edge to edge with color-sorted objects is still a busy shelf. Pull a third of what is currently on each shelf and set it aside. What remains almost always looks more intentional than the full version did, and you have not spent a dollar to get there.

What the Research Shows

This is not just a design opinion. The data on decluttering and staging backs up why a simple edit like this has real weight, both for how a home feels day to day and for how it performs if it ever goes on the market.
  • In the National Association of Realtors' 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 83 percent of buyers' agents said staging makes it easier for a buyer to picture a property as their own, and 29 percent of sellers' agents reported a 1 to 10 percent increase in dollar offers on staged homes. (Source: NAR, 2025)
  • The same NAR report found that 49 percent of sellers' agents saw a home spend less time on the market after staging, and living rooms were rated the single most important room to stage, ahead of the primary bedroom and kitchen. (Source: NAR, 2025)
  • The 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study found that keeping clutter out of sight is a top motivation for homeowners adding open shelving and butler's pantry storage, cited by 30 percent of renovating homeowners. (Source: Houzz, 2026)
  • The same Houzz study found open shelving now appears in 52 percent of newly added or upgraded butler's pantries, nearly on par with fully enclosed cabinetry at 59 percent. (Source: Houzz, 2026)
Put together, the pattern is simple: buyers and agents both respond to a room that feels edited, and open shelving has become common enough that how it is styled, not just whether you have it, is what separates a room that photographs well from one that just photographs full.

How We Apply This on Scottsdale Projects

On a real project, this rule shows up before we ever touch paint or furniture. When Living with Lolo styles built-ins or open shelving in a Silverleaf or DC Ranch home, the first pass is almost always subtraction. We pull everything off the shelf, sort what is left into tone groups, and only put back about two-thirds of it. Clients are consistently surprised at how much better a shelf looks with less on it, arranged with intention, than it did fully stocked.
This matters more in Scottsdale than people expect, because the desert light here is unusually direct. A shelf full of competing colors and finishes catches every bit of that afternoon sun and looks even busier than it would in a dimmer climate. Tone-grouped shelving, by contrast, reads as calm and intentional even at 4 p.m. with the western light pouring in.
We use the same principle on kitchen open shelving, which has become one of the most requested features in the kitchen remodels we take on. A run of open shelving next to a range or sink only works long-term if the client is willing to edit what sits on it, which is exactly why we build the tone-grouping conversation into the design phase instead of leaving it for move-in day.

A Shelf Edit You Can Do This Weekend

You do not need a full renovation to test this. Pick one shelf, preferably one you look at daily, and try this:
  • Remove everything from the shelf and lay it out on a table or the floor.
  • Sort the pieces into two or three tone families: warm neutrals, cool neutrals, and anything with strong color or pattern.
  • Set the strong color and pattern pile aside for now. Do not put any of it back yet.
  • Return only the warm and cool neutral groups to the shelf, keeping each tone family together rather than alternating them.
  • Leave visible gaps between groupings. If it looks like there is too much empty space, there almost never is.
Live with that version for a week before deciding whether any of the set-aside pieces earn a spot back. Most people find they do not miss what they removed.

Why Design and Construction Under One Roof Matters Here

Shelf styling is a small example of a bigger pattern in how Living with Lolo works. As a licensed general contractor in Scottsdale under ROC #347577, in addition to being an interior design firm, Living with Lolo designs built-in shelving with the styling plan already in mind, not as an afterthought once construction is finished. A shelf's depth, spacing, and lighting all change depending on whether it is meant to hold color-grouped objects with breathing room or dense category storage. Deciding that early, during construction, produces a better result than styling around fixed shelving after the fact.
This is also why a design tip that sounds simple, group by tone and edit for breathing room, tends to hold up better when a firm has done it hundreds of times across real Scottsdale homes rather than as a one-off styling exercise. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine's Best Interior Design Firm three consecutive years, 2024, 2025, and 2026, recognition that requires client references and completed-work review each cycle.

More Press for Living with Lolo

This is not the first time national press has turned to Lauren Lerner for design advice. Lerner was also quoted directly in a House Digest feature on high-end kitchen design rules, sharing specific guidance on material continuity and range hood design. Together, the two features show a consistent thread in how Lauren approaches a room: make fewer, more deliberate decisions rather than more decisions overall.
If you want to see this principle applied at full scale rather than on a single shelf, browse completed Living with Lolo projects or read about where Scottsdale design is headed in 2026. For a look at how far a full edit can go, our before-and-after piece on how to de-Tuscanize a Scottsdale home is one of the more dramatic examples of the same underlying idea: editing, not adding, is usually what changes a room the most.
Connect with an interior designer Scottsdale AZ homeowners have trusted with everything from a single styled shelf to a full design-build renovation.

Ready to Talk Through Your Space?

Living with Lolo is a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. We hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license and an interior design credential, which means we manage your entire project under one roof.If a single room needs an edit or your whole home needs a plan, book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.Book Your Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions About This Real Simple Feature

How do I make open shelves look designer instead of cluttered?
Group items by tone instead of by category, and remove anything that feels visually loud. Living with Lolo's Lauren Lerner recommends sorting objects into warm or cool color families rather than mixing bright colors and patterns across a shelf. Leaving visible space between groupings, rather than filling every inch, is what separates a styled shelf from a merely organized one.
Should I organize open shelves by color or by category?
Color, or more precisely tone, almost always reads calmer than organizing strictly by category. Grouping books, ceramics, and decor by whether they are warm or cool toned creates visual rhythm, while grouping purely by object type often puts clashing colors right next to each other. The objects do not need to relate in function as long as they share a tone family.
What is the fastest way to make a room feel calmer without buying anything new?
Edit what you already have on display rather than adding anything. Pull everything off one shelf or surface, sort it by tone, and put back roughly two-thirds of it with visible breathing room between groupings. This single change, with zero new purchases, is often enough to make a room feel noticeably calmer within an afternoon.
What did Lauren Lerner tell Real Simple about shelf styling?
Lauren Lerner, founder of Living with Lolo, told Real Simple to edit open shelves by grouping similar tones and removing anything that feels visually loud, noting that rearranging books into color families or giving objects more breathing room can instantly soften a space. The full feature is linked above.
Does decluttering actually help when selling a home in Scottsdale?
Yes, according to national data. The National Association of Realtors' 2025 Profile of Home Staging found that 83 percent of buyers' agents said staging helps buyers picture a home as their own, and 29 percent of sellers' agents saw offers increase 1 to 10 percent on staged homes. Decluttered, tone-grouped shelving is one of the lowest-cost ways to apply that same principle before a home ever hits the market.
How is styling open shelves different from just organizing them?
Organizing sorts items so you can find them. Styling makes deliberate choices about what stays visible at all. An organized shelf can still look busy if everything that was ever placed on it remains there. A styled shelf has been edited down by tone and volume on purpose, which is the distinction Lauren Lerner's Real Simple advice is built around.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, House Digest, and Real Simple. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Should You Buy a Fixer-Upper in Scottsdale? What to Know Before You Make an Offer

Should You Buy a Fixer-Upper in Scottsdale? What to Know Before You Make an Offer

by | Aug 17, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Living Room Ideas, Modern Interior Design Ideas

10 min read August 2026
Before you make an offer on a fixer-upper in Scottsdale, get a real renovation cost estimate first, not a guess, because most buyers underestimate what an older home actually needs. A 20-minute conversation with a licensed designer and general contractor can tell you whether the numbers work before you are under contract, not after.
This matters because a fixer-upper in the right neighborhood can be one of the smartest purchases in Scottsdale, or one of the most expensive mistakes, depending entirely on whether the renovation math was done before or after closing. As a Scottsdale interior designer and licensed general contractor, Lauren Lerner fields this exact question on discovery calls on a regular basis, often from buyers who have not yet made an offer.

What Counts as a Fixer-Upper in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley

In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, a fixer-upper rarely means a home in disrepair. More often, it means a well-built house from the 2000s or earlier with good bones and a dated finish package: heavy travertine, dark stained cabinetry, an arched niche nobody asks for anymore, and mechanical systems that are due for an update. These homes sit in some of the area's most established neighborhoods, including Silverleaf, DC Ranch, and older sections of Paradise Valley and Arcadia, precisely because the lots and locations were built out decades ago.
Because the location is often the best part of the deal, buyers can end up focused on the address and underestimate what it will take to bring the house itself current. Living with Lolo sees this pattern constantly: a homeowner falls in love with a lot in Silverleaf or a floor plan in Paradise Valley, then discovers mid-negotiation that the kitchen, bathrooms, and systems all need work at the same time.

Why Buyers Underestimate Renovation Costs

Renovation costs are consistently underestimated, and the data backs up what Living with Lolo sees on discovery calls. According to the 2026 Houzz & Home Study, nearly 2 in 5 homeowners, 37 percent, exceeded their planned renovation budget in 2025, while just 35 percent came in on target. (Source: 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, Houzz)
That statistic reflects buyers who already own the home and are budgeting with full information. Someone evaluating a fixer-upper before closing has even less certainty, since a full scope has not been defined yet. This is exactly why a pre-purchase consult with a licensed general contractor in Scottsdale matters more before you buy than after: it replaces a guess with a number grounded in what the house actually needs.

What a Pre-Purchase Renovation Consult Actually Covers

A pre-purchase consult with Living with Lolo typically includes a walkthrough of the home, a conversation about your priorities, and a ballpark range for what the renovation will cost and how long it will take. Because Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona ROC general contractor license (#347577) in addition to interior design credentials, the same team that evaluates the home is the one that would eventually build the project, so the numbers come from real construction experience, not a rough guess.

What Lauren Lerner Looks For on a Walkthrough

On a typical walkthrough, Lauren Lerner looks at the kitchen and bathroom layouts, the condition of major systems, whether any walls are load-bearing, and whether the home's existing footprint supports what the buyer actually wants to do with the space. She also flags anything likely to require a permit, since permit timelines directly affect the overall renovation schedule.

What You Walk Away With

Buyers leave a pre-purchase consult with a realistic cost range, an honest read on timeline, and a clear sense of whether the home is a smart renovation candidate or a project that will cost more than it returns. Because this happens before an offer is finalized, it gives buyers real leverage in negotiations and removes the guesswork that leads to the 37 percent budget overrun figure cited above. If you are currently evaluating a fixer-upper, reach out through the contact page to set up a walkthrough before you submit an offer.

Real Renovation Cost Ranges to Understand Before You Offer

While every fixer-upper is different, having a general sense of scale helps before you make an offer. A luxury kitchen remodel in Scottsdale runs $75,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on layout changes, cabinetry, and finishes. Bathroom, whole-home, and structural work each carry their own ranges, which is exactly why a scope-specific walkthrough matters more than a general rule of thumb.
For whole-home and structural projects specifically, our remodeling contractor in Scottsdale page breaks down typical scope, timeline, and cost ranges in more detail.
Because Living with Lolo manages both the design and the construction under one contract, the estimate you receive on a pre-purchase consult reflects real subcontractor pricing and material costs in the Scottsdale market, not a national average that undershoots what a luxury renovation actually requires locally. The full range of design and construction services covers everything from a single room refresh to a full fixer-upper renovation, so the estimate scales to what your specific project actually needs.

What the Data Shows About Renovation and Resale Value

National research helps put a fixer-upper purchase in context. Americans spent an estimated $603 billion on home remodeling projects in 2024, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, and kitchen upgrades ranked among the highest-satisfaction projects homeowners completed, per the National Association of Realtors and National Association of the Remodeling Industry's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. (Source: 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, NAR/NARI)
That national data is a useful baseline, but it consistently understates what a Scottsdale luxury renovation actually costs. Custom cabinetry, imported stone, and specialty finishes common in Silverleaf, DC Ranch, and Paradise Valley homes push real project costs well above national medians, which is precisely why a fixer-upper evaluation needs to be scoped locally rather than estimated from a national average.

Should You Over-Improve for the Neighborhood

Not every renovation should be scaled to the same level, and this is one of the most important conversations to have before you buy. A fixer-upper in a neighborhood with a lower value ceiling may not support a full-custom renovation budget at resale, while a home in Silverleaf or DC Ranch can often absorb significantly more investment. Living with Lolo talks through this honestly with every fixer-upper client, before the purchase, not after the renovation is finished.

Why Hire a Design-Build Firm Before You Buy, Not Just Before You Renovate

Most homeowners think to call a designer or contractor after closing, once the renovation is already underway. However, involving a licensed design-build firm before you buy changes the entire equation, since it means the same team that gives you the estimate is the team that will be accountable for hitting it.
As an interior designer Scottsdale AZ buyers rely on before they sign anything, Living with Lolo starts every fixer-upper consult with real numbers instead of a guess, because Lauren Lerner has seen too many buyers get the address right and the renovation number wrong. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, 2024, 2025, and 2026, in part because of this straightforward, numbers-first approach to a project before a single wall comes down.

What Happens After You Decide to Move Forward

Once you close on a fixer-upper, the process moves into full design and construction. Living with Lolo manages that entire process, from initial design through permitting and final walkthrough, as both your interior designer and your licensed general contractor. Understanding what to expect during a whole-home remodel in advance makes the transition from closing to construction far less stressful.
Clients across Paradise Valley, Silverleaf and DC Ranch, Arcadia, and greater Scottsdale work with Living with Lolo specifically because the same firm that evaluated the fixer-upper before purchase is the one accountable for the finished result. That continuity, from the first walkthrough to the final punch list, is the difference between an educated guess and a real plan. You can see examples of completed fixer-upper transformations in the portfolio.

Ready to Talk Through Your Fixer-Upper?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Fixer-Upper in Scottsdale

Should I get a renovation estimate before buying a fixer-upper in Scottsdale?
Yes, getting a renovation estimate before you make an offer is one of the most valuable steps in buying a fixer-upper in Scottsdale. A 20-minute walkthrough with a licensed designer and general contractor can tell you whether the numbers work before you are under contract, which gives you real negotiating leverage and avoids surprises after closing. Living with Lolo offers this as part of a standard discovery call.
How much do homeowners typically underestimate renovation costs?
According to the 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, 37 percent of homeowners exceeded their planned renovation budget in 2025, while only 35 percent came in on target. Buyers evaluating a fixer-upper before purchase face even more uncertainty, since a full renovation scope has not yet been defined, which is exactly why a pre-purchase consult with a licensed general contractor matters.
What should I ask a designer or contractor before making an offer on an older home?
Ask for a walkthrough that covers kitchen and bathroom condition, the state of major systems, whether any walls are load-bearing, and what will likely require a permit. A licensed design-build firm can give you a realistic cost range and timeline based on construction experience rather than a general estimate.
Does Living with Lolo work with clients before they buy a house?
Yes, Living with Lolo regularly meets with prospective buyers before they finalize an offer on a fixer-upper. Because Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, the same team that evaluates the home during this consult is the team that would manage the eventual renovation.
Is Living with Lolo a licensed general contractor?
Yes. Living with Lolo holds Arizona ROC license #347577, which means Lauren Lerner and her team manage both the design and construction of a renovation under one contract. That single point of accountability is one of the biggest protections a fixer-upper buyer can have.
What areas does Living with Lolo serve?
Living with Lolo serves Scottsdale, including Silverleaf and DC Ranch, along with Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. The firm also takes on select projects in Park City, Utah.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Two High-End Kitchen Design Rules from Lauren Lerner, As Featured in House Digest

Two High-End Kitchen Design Rules from Lauren Lerner, As Featured in House Digest

by | Aug 15, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Press & Awards, Residential Interior Design

10 min readAugust 2026
A high-end kitchen design in Scottsdale comes down to two decisions more than any other: pick one material and let it repeat through the space, or decide on purpose whether the range hood disappears or becomes the room's focal point. Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, shared both principles in a recent House Digest feature on the elements that make a kitchen look high-end. The tips matter because they solve a specific problem, since plenty of Scottsdale kitchens have expensive materials that still look disconnected because nobody made a decision about how those materials talk to each other.
Below is how Lauren applies both rules on real Scottsdale kitchen projects, plus what the wider design research says about why they work. If you are planning a Scottsdale kitchen remodel of your own, these two decisions are worth making early, before a single cabinet or countertop is ordered.

What the Research Shows About High-End Kitchen Design

Living with Lolo's approach to these two rules lines up with what the broader design industry is tracking in 2026:
  • The 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study found that full-height, slab-style backsplashes are becoming one of the most requested features in kitchen renovations, with homeowners increasingly treating the counter and backsplash as one continuous surface instead of two separate materials.
  • The same Houzz 2026 report points to quartzite and marble with soft, organic veining as the leading stone choices for this continuous look, replacing the mixed-material kitchens that were common a few years ago.
  • Houzz's 2026 appliance trend data shows range hoods remain one of the most common large kitchen appliances, installed in 60 percent of kitchen renovations, and names the "Invisible Kitchen," hoods concealed into cabinetry or a downdraft system, as the defining move of this year's Quiet Luxury trend.
  • The National Association of Realtors and NARI's Remodeling Impact Report gives kitchen upgrades a perfect Joy Score of 10 out of 10, with 64 percent of homeowners reporting a greater desire to be home after a kitchen remodel.
  • The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting continued growth in the remodeling market through 2026, which tracks with what Living with Lolo sees directly in Scottsdale: kitchens remain the single most requested room in a whole-home renovation.

Rule One: Let One Material Carry the Room

Lerner's first rule sounds simple, and that simplicity is exactly why designers keep coming back to it. "When we choose one material and let it carry the room, whether that is a honed limestone on the counters, backsplash, and even a windowsill, the repetition creates a sense of calm that feels inherently high-end," Lerner told House Digest. The opposite approach, mixing three or four different stones and finishes because each one looked good on its own in a showroom, is the fastest way to make an expensive Scottsdale kitchen feel unplanned.
This shows up constantly in Scottsdale kitchen remodel consultations. A client will have a beautiful quartzite slab picked out for the island, a separate tile for the backsplash, and a third stone for a bar or wet area, and each choice is defensible on its own. The problem only shows up once everything is installed in the same room and starts competing for attention. Committing to one material and carrying it from the counters up the wall, and sometimes across a windowsill or a shelf, removes that competition entirely. It also tends to cost less in most cases, since ordering more of one slab is typically more efficient than ordering three separate smaller quantities.
This is not a rule that only applies to stone. The same logic works with a single wood tone carried across cabinetry and open shelving, or one plaster finish carried from a range hood to an adjacent wall in a high-end home remodel in Scottsdale. The material itself matters less than the discipline of choosing one and sticking with it.

Rule Two: Decide On Purpose Whether Ventilation Disappears or Becomes the Feature

The second rule is about range hoods, and it is where Lerner's House Digest quote gets specific. "When ventilation disappears entirely into the ceiling or a structural element, it creates an almost surreal cleanliness in the kitchen," she said. Concealed ventilation, tucked into a ceiling soffit or built into cabinetry, signals that real planning went into the mechanicals long before the pretty finishes were chosen. Most homeowners will never consciously notice the detail, and that is precisely what makes it read as high-end. Nothing interrupts the sightline across the room.
That said, Lerner is clear that concealment is not the only correct answer for a Scottsdale kitchen. A sculptural stone or plaster hood, treated as an intentional focal point the way a fireplace anchors a living room, can do just as much work in the right space. The decision comes down to what else is competing for attention. A kitchen with a dramatic island or a wall of windows benefits from a quiet, hidden hood. A kitchen built around simpler cabinetry can support a hood as the visual anchor instead. What does not work is an accidental range hood, a stock stainless steel box installed because nobody made a decision either way.
For a high-end home remodel in Scottsdale, this is one of the earliest decisions Living with Lolo makes with a client, well before cabinet finishes or countertop selections, because it changes the ceiling framing and the electrical plan. Waiting until the kitchen is framed to decide whether the hood hides or shows is how homeowners end up with neither option done well.

How This Plays Out in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley Kitchens

Scottsdale kitchens have a specific set of constraints that make both rules especially useful. Desert light is strong and directional most of the day, which means material choices read differently at 10 a.m. than they do at sunset. A single stone carried through counters, backsplash, and windowsill holds up better under that shifting light than a mixed-material kitchen does, because there is only one surface reacting to the light instead of three fighting each other.
Homeowners in Silverleaf and DC Ranch and in Paradise Valley are often working within existing architectural constraints, older Scottsdale homes with lower ceilings or existing soffits, where the concealed-hood decision has to be made with the structure that already exists rather than a blank slate. That is one more reason both decisions belong early in the process, not after demolition.
My own opinion, after two decades of Scottsdale remodels, is that most homeowners default to the mixed-material kitchen because it feels safer, like hedging a bet across several trends at once. It is the wrong instinct. A kitchen with one confident material decision reads as more expensive and more intentional than a kitchen with four defensible ones, even when the second kitchen costs more to build. If you only take one idea from this list, take that one.
You can see both rules applied together in several projects in our portfolio of Scottsdale kitchens, including remodels where we carried a single stone from counter to backsplash and concealed the ventilation into a plaster soffit above.

Why Design and Construction Under One Roof Matters for These Decisions

As a licensed general contractor in Scottsdale (ROC #347577) as well as a design firm, Living with Lolo manages both of these decisions under one roof, which matters more than people expect. The range hood decision affects framing and venting long before it affects how the kitchen looks, and a design-only firm that is not also managing construction can lose that coordination between the design intent and the site work.
This is the same reason Living with Lolo pairs an interior design credential with an active Arizona contractor license: the designer who specifies a single continuous stone or a concealed hood is also the one managing the trades who have to build it correctly. That structure is part of what earned Living with Lolo, a luxury interior designer Scottsdale clients have trusted for years, Phoenix Magazine's Best Interior Design Firm award three years running, in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

What This Means If You Are Planning a Kitchen Remodel in Scottsdale Now

If you are early in planning a Scottsdale kitchen remodel, both rules translate into two concrete steps you can take before you meet with a designer or contractor. First, pull the materials you are considering, whether that is a countertop slab, a tile sample, or a paint chip, and lay them next to each other in the actual room, in the actual light, at different times of day. Materials that look coordinated on a showroom counter under fluorescent light can clash badly once they are installed under Scottsdale's harsh midday sun or a warm evening glow. If more than two materials are competing in the same sightline, that is worth resolving before you order anything.
Second, make the range hood decision before you finalize your cabinet layout, not after. Whether you want a concealed hood or a sculptural one determines the ceiling framing, the electrical rough-in, and often the cabinet height near the cooking wall. Homeowners who leave this decision for later in the process, once tile and countertops are already selected, frequently end up retrofitting a solution that costs more and looks less intentional than if it had been planned from day one.
Both of these steps are easier with a single team managing design and construction, since the same people making the material and ventilation decisions are also the ones responsible for building them correctly. That coordination is part of why Living with Lolo structures every Scottsdale kitchen remodel around finalizing these decisions early, well before demolition, rather than working them out room by room as construction progresses.

Frequently Asked Questions About High-End Kitchen Design in Scottsdale

What makes a kitchen look expensive without necessarily costing more?
Choosing one material and carrying it through the counters, backsplash, and any adjacent surfaces almost always reads as more high-end than mixing several materials, even at a similar total cost. The repetition creates visual calm, while multiple competing finishes can make an expensive kitchen look disorganized instead of designed.
Should I hide my range hood or make it a feature in my Scottsdale kitchen?
It depends on what else is happening in the kitchen. If you have a dramatic island, a wall of windows, or another strong focal point, a concealed hood keeps the room calm and lets that other element lead. If your cabinetry and layout are simpler, a sculptural stone or plaster hood can serve as the room's anchor, similar to how a fireplace anchors a living room.
What is the best material to use if I only pick one for my whole kitchen?
Honed limestone, quartzite, and marble with soft veining are all working well right now for this approach, according to both Lauren Lerner's own projects and the 2026 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. The specific stone matters less than the commitment to using it consistently across counters, backsplash, and any connected surfaces like a windowsill.
Is Living with Lolo a licensed general contractor in Scottsdale?
Yes. Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors general contractor license, ROC #347577, alongside its interior design practice. That means the same team that specifies a material or ventilation decision is also the team managing the trades who build it, without handing the project to a separate contractor.
What areas does Living with Lolo serve for kitchen remodels?
Living with Lolo serves clients in Silverleaf and DC Ranch, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Old Town Scottsdale, and throughout the greater Phoenix metro area. Most kitchen remodel projects are concentrated in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.
Who is Lauren Lerner and why did House Digest ask her about kitchen design?
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, a licensed general contractor (ROC #347577) and interior design firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine's Best Interior Design Firm three years running, in 2024, 2025, and 2026, and Lerner is regularly interviewed by national design and lifestyle publications for her perspective on high-end residential design.

Ready to Talk Through Your Scottsdale Kitchen?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.Book a Discovery Call
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.


Building or Designing a Home in New Mexico From Out of State: How It Works (2026)

Building or Designing a Home in New Mexico From Out of State: How It Works (2026)

by | Aug 1, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Residential Interior Design

8 min readAugust 2026
You can design and build a luxury home in New Mexico from out of state by hiring one firm to own the design and manage construction, so you approve decisions remotely and return to a finished home.
The key is a single accountable design team that coordinates a local licensed general contractor, controls the schedule, and handles selections, deliveries, and installation on your behalf. Nearly 70 percent of Santa Fe buyers already come from out of state, and this is exactly the model Living with Lolo is built for across interior design in New Mexico.

Why So Many New Mexico Buyers Are Remote

New Mexico's luxury market is driven by out-of-state demand. Roughly 70 percent of Santa Fe home shoppers come from outside the state, per the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com Luxury Housing Market Ranking, and the market's momentum is documented in the Santa Fe Q1 2026 luxury market report. Many buyers fall for the light, the culture, and the lifestyle on a visit, then need to execute a build or renovation from Denver, Los Angeles, Dallas, or New York. The challenge is not the vision, it is managing a project from hundreds of miles away.

The Model That Makes Remote Projects Work

Remote projects succeed when one team owns the whole arc from concept to move-in. Living with Lolo, led by Albuquerque native Lauren Lerner, provides full interior design and construction project management, then coordinates directly with a vetted local licensed general contractor for the build. You are not juggling a designer in one place and a builder in another. You approve the design and the key decisions, and the firm manages every trade, delivery, and installation in between, the same way it works as a luxury interior designer Scottsdale homeowners already trust.

What You Handle vs. What We Handle

As the homeowner, you handle the things only you can: the vision, the budget approval, and sign-off on major design decisions, most of which happen over video calls and shared selections. Living with Lolo handles everything else: sourcing and specifying finishes, pricing and scheduling the work, coordinating the local builder, tracking deliveries, and running the final installation. The firm's Arizona General Contractor license (ROC #347577) means it reads construction drawings and speaks the builder's language, so problems get caught on paper instead of on site. See how in our design and build process.

How the Local Builder Partnership Works

Living with Lolo does not hold a New Mexico contractor's license, and that is by design. Instead, the firm partners with local licensed New Mexico general contractors who know the region's soils, codes, and trades, and manages that builder against the design intent. You get the firm's construction fluency, the same behind its work as a general contractor in Scottsdale, with all licensed construction performed by qualified local builders. The firm currently has an active custom new build underway off Rio Grande Boulevard in Los Ranchos, in Albuquerque's North Valley, run exactly this way.

Communication and Decisions From a Distance

The practical worry with a remote build is losing control. The fix is structure: a clear schedule, regular updates, video walkthroughs at milestones, and organized selections so you approve specific options, not vague ideas. Living with Lolo is set up to function as an autonomous partner, which is what lets part-time and out-of-state owners trust the work is moving correctly between visits. This mirrors how the firm handled out-of-state mountain projects, like its work on Park City ski homes. Explore recent work in the portfolio.

Timelines and What to Expect

A full renovation or ground-up new build in New Mexico typically runs 12 to 24 months from design through move-in, depending on permitting, construction complexity, and finish selections. New builds in fast-growing areas like Rio Rancho can move faster when planning starts early. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design in 2024, 2025, and 2026, recognized on Houzz's Best of Houzz list every year since 2018, and included in Modern Luxury Interiors' 2025 Ones to Watch class, national recognition that matters when you are vetting a firm from out of state. See our luxury interior design services, or contact the team to start.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Living with Lolo is a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. We hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license and an interior design credential, which means we manage your entire project under one roof.

If you are planning a remodel, new construction project, or full furnishing and want honest numbers before you commit to anything, book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.

Book Your Discovery Call →

See our completed projects →

Learn about our services →

BOOK A CONSULTATION

Frequently Asked Questions About Building in New Mexico From Out of State

Can I build a home in New Mexico if I live out of state?
Yes. Living with Lolo designs and manages New Mexico projects for out-of-state owners, coordinating a local licensed general contractor so you approve decisions remotely and return to a finished home.
How do you manage a build from a distance?
Through a clear schedule, regular updates, milestone video walkthroughs, and organized selections. Living with Lolo coordinates every trade, delivery, and installation so you do not need to be on site.
Is Living with Lolo licensed to build in New Mexico?
Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona General Contractor license, ROC #347577. In New Mexico it provides interior design and project management and partners with local licensed general contractors for construction.
What decisions do I still need to make?
You handle the vision, the budget approval, and sign-off on major design decisions, most of which happen over video calls and shared selections. The firm handles sourcing, pricing, scheduling, and coordination.
How long does an out-of-state project take?
Typically 12 to 24 months from design through move-in, depending on permitting, complexity, and finishes. New builds in growing areas like Rio Rancho can move faster with early planning.
What areas of New Mexico does Living with Lolo serve?
Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, and Taos, plus the surrounding luxury markets. Founder Lauren Lerner grew up in Albuquerque.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

What It Costs to Build or Renovate a Luxury Home in New Mexico (2026 Guide)

What It Costs to Build or Renovate a Luxury Home in New Mexico (2026 Guide)

by | Aug 1, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Residential Interior Design

8 min readAugust 2026
A luxury custom home in New Mexico typically runs $300 to $600 or more per square foot to build, well above the state's roughly $150 to $250 per square foot average for standard construction.
High-end Albuquerque and Santa Fe builds reach $570 or more per square foot before land, and full-service design and furnishings add another $150,000 to several million depending on scope. This guide breaks down what drives those numbers and how Living with Lolo manages the budget across interior design in New Mexico projects.

The Short Answer: New Mexico Luxury Build Costs

Standard single-family construction in New Mexico averages roughly $150 to $250 per square foot in 2026. Luxury custom homes sit far above that. In Albuquerque, most finished builds run about $175 to $310 per square foot, while true luxury custom work reaches $570 or more per square foot. Santa Fe's high-end market runs at the top of that range and beyond, driven by adobe construction, custom millwork, and premium finishes. These figures exclude land, a separate and significant cost in premier areas like Las Campanas, Tesuque, Los Ranchos, and Corrales. Living with Lolo, led by Albuquerque native Lauren Lerner, gives clients honest numbers at the first conversation.

What the Data Shows

National medians understate what luxury clients spend. New Mexico's statewide build average sits near $149 to $160 per square foot, per CostToBuildHouse's 2026 New Mexico breakdown, while luxury custom builds in Albuquerque reach $570 or more per square foot. A separate 2026 analysis from Houzeo puts the typical New Mexico build at $150 to $250 per square foot. The gap between the state average and the luxury tier is the whole story: at the high end you pay for adobe or specialty wall systems, real vigas, hand-plastered finishes, and construction management that protects the design intent.

Cost Tiers for a Luxury New Mexico Project

$150,000 to $400,000, Furnishing and light renovation. Full design, furniture, and styling for an existing home, or a kitchen and primary suite refresh.
$400,000 to $1.5 million, Whole-home renovation. Reconfigured layouts, new kitchens and baths, structural work, and complete furnishings on an existing luxury home.
$1.5 million and up, Ground-up custom new build. Design, construction management, and full furnishing of a new luxury home, coordinated with a local licensed general contractor.

What Drives the Number

Five factors move a New Mexico luxury budget more than anything else: square footage and ceiling volume, the wall system, the level of custom millwork and built-ins, site conditions such as mountain lots and access, and finish level in kitchens and baths. Because Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona General Contractor license (ROC #347577), the firm reads construction drawings and catches cost problems early, then manages the local builder against the design. That is the same construction fluency behind its work as a general contractor in Scottsdale, and it shapes how the firm approaches kitchen and remodel budgets.

How New Mexico Compares to Scottsdale

Land and some trades can be more accessible in parts of New Mexico, but authentic adobe and Santa Fe style construction carry their own premium, and mountain sites in Santa Fe and Taos add complexity. The design and management discipline is the same either way, which is why Living with Lolo runs New Mexico projects with the process it uses as an interior designer Scottsdale AZ clients rely on. See our luxury interior design approach and recent work in the portfolio.

How Living with Lolo Protects the Budget

The budget is won or lost before construction starts. Living with Lolo plans the design completely, prices it honestly, builds a detailed schedule, and coordinates directly with your local licensed New Mexico general contractor so nothing gets lost between the drawing and the finished room. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design in 2024, 2025, and 2026, recognized on Houzz's Best of Houzz list every year since 2018, and named to Inc. Magazine's 2026 Best Workplaces and Southwest Regionals lists, a level of recognition few New Mexico design-build firms can match. Learn how the firm works in our design and build process, explore services, or contact the team.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Living with Lolo is a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. We hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license and an interior design credential, which means we manage your entire project under one roof.

If you are planning a remodel, new construction project, or full furnishing and want honest numbers before you commit to anything, book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.

Book Your Discovery Call →

See our completed projects →

Learn about our services →

BOOK A CONSULTATION

Frequently Asked Questions About New Mexico Build Costs

How much does it cost to build a luxury home in New Mexico?
Luxury custom homes typically run $300 to $600 or more per square foot before land, with high-end Albuquerque and Santa Fe builds reaching $570 or more per square foot. Standard construction averages $150 to $250 per square foot.
What does full-service interior design cost in New Mexico?
Most full-service projects range from roughly $150,000 to several million dollars across design, furnishings, and management, depending on square footage and scope.
Does the per-square-foot cost include land?
No. Per-square-foot construction figures exclude land, which is a separate and significant cost in premier areas like Las Campanas, Tesuque, Los Ranchos, and Corrales.
Why do luxury builds cost so much more than the state average?
Luxury budgets pay for adobe or specialty wall systems, real vigas, hand-plastered finishes, custom millwork, and construction management, none of which are captured in a standard per-square-foot average.
Does Living with Lolo build homes in New Mexico?
Living with Lolo provides interior design and construction project management in New Mexico and partners with local licensed general contractors for the build. The firm holds an active Arizona General Contractor license, ROC #347577.
How long does a luxury build or renovation take in New Mexico?
A full renovation or new build typically runs 12 to 24 months from design through move-in, depending on permitting, construction complexity, and finish selections.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Santa Fe Style, Explained: Pueblo Revival vs. Territorial (2026 Guide)

Santa Fe Style, Explained: Pueblo Revival vs. Territorial (2026 Guide)

by | Aug 1, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Residential Interior Design

8 min readAugust 2026
Santa Fe style is a regional design language built on adobe architecture, exposed wood vigas, kiva fireplaces, hand-plastered walls, and an earth-tone palette drawn from the high desert.
The two dominant strains are Pueblo Revival, which is soft, rounded, and adobe-forward, and Territorial, which adds crisp brick coping, painted wood trim, and squared-off detail. This guide breaks down both, the materials that define them, and how to bring them into a luxury home without turning it into a museum. Living with Lolo designs and manages interior design in New Mexico projects that honor this vocabulary while living the way modern families actually live.

What Is Santa Fe Style?

Santa Fe style grew out of centuries of Pueblo, Spanish Colonial, and territorial-era building in northern New Mexico. Its hallmarks are thick adobe or adobe-look walls, flat roofs with projecting canales, rounded parapets, deep-set windows, and interiors organized around a kiva fireplace. Because the style is tied to climate and craft, it reads as timeless rather than trendy. Living with Lolo, led by Albuquerque native Lauren Lerner, designs interiors that speak this language fluently, the same standard that has made it a luxury interior designer Scottsdale homeowners already trust.

Pueblo Revival: Soft, Rounded, Adobe-Forward

Pueblo Revival is the look most people picture when they think of Santa Fe. It is defined by rounded, hand-sculpted wall edges, earthen or lime-plaster finishes, exposed vigas and latillas, bancos, nichos, and corner kiva fireplaces. Color stays close to the landscape: sand, clay, terracotta, and warm whites, with accents in turquoise, ochre, and deep red. Done well, it feels grounded and serene. Done poorly, it tips into theme-park Southwest, which is the trap a skilled designer helps you avoid.

Territorial Style: Crisper Lines and Painted Trim

Territorial style emerged in the mid-1800s when milled lumber and fired brick reached New Mexico. It keeps the adobe mass but adds more formal, squared-off detail: brick coping along the parapet, painted wood window and door trim, squared portal posts, and Greek Revival influences. Compared to Pueblo Revival, Territorial is more symmetrical and precise. Many Santa Fe and Albuquerque estates blend the two, adobe warmth with Territorial crispness, and knowing where to draw that line is a design decision, not an accident.

The Materials That Define the Look

A credible Santa Fe interior is built from real materials: hand-troweled or diamond plaster walls, vigas and latillas overhead, saltillo or reclaimed terracotta tile, flagstone, wide-plank wood, hand-forged iron, carved wood doors and corbels, and handmade tile in kitchens and baths. Because Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona General Contractor license (ROC #347577), it can coordinate the trades that install these correctly rather than handing that risk to the homeowner. That same construction fluency drives its work as a general contractor in Scottsdale, and it informs how the firm approaches kitchen and material budgets.

How to Do Santa Fe Style Without It Feeling Dated

The mistake that ages a Santa Fe home is treating the style as a costume: too much saltillo, every surface a different terracotta. The luxury version is restrained. Keep the architectural bones honest, then let the furnishings breathe with clean-lined upholstery, contemporary art, and a few genuine artisan pieces. This is the same editing instinct behind Living with Lolo's luxury interior design work, applied to a very different regional vocabulary.

Where Santa Fe Style Works Best in New Mexico

The style is native to Santa Fe and premier areas like Las Campanas, Tesuque, and along the Old Santa Fe Trail, but it also appears throughout Albuquerque's North Valley, Los Ranchos, Corrales, and Placitas, and in Taos, where a stronger contemporary art culture pushes the look toward the modern. See recent work in the Living with Lolo portfolio, and learn how the firm runs projects in our design and build process.

What the Data Shows

Regional style tracks with value. Santa Fe's luxury tier grew 11.3 percent year over year at the 90th percentile while the national number fell, per the Santa Fe Q1 2026 luxury market report, and roughly 70 percent of Santa Fe buyers come from out of state, per the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com Luxury Housing Market Ranking. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design in 2024, 2025, and 2026, recognized on Houzz's Best of Houzz list every year since 2018, and named to Inc. Magazine's 2026 Best Workplaces and Southwest Regionals lists, recognition that sets the firm apart from most Santa Fe design studios. To talk through a Santa Fe style project, explore our services or contact the team.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Living with Lolo is a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. We hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license and an interior design credential, which means we manage your entire project under one roof.

If you are planning a remodel, new construction project, or full furnishing and want honest numbers before you commit to anything, book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.

Book Your Discovery Call →

See our completed projects →

Learn about our services →

BOOK A CONSULTATION

Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Fe Style

What is the difference between Pueblo Revival and Territorial style?
Pueblo Revival is soft, rounded, and adobe-forward with exposed vigas and kiva fireplaces. Territorial style keeps the adobe mass but adds crisp brick coping, painted wood trim, and more formal, squared-off detailing. Many New Mexico homes blend the two.
What are vigas and latillas?
Vigas are the round wood beams that span a ceiling in Santa Fe style homes. Latillas are the smaller wood laths or branches laid between them. Together they are one of the most recognizable features of Pueblo Revival architecture.
Is Santa Fe style still popular in 2026?
Yes. Santa Fe was named the number one luxury housing market in the United States in the Spring 2026 Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com ranking, and authentic regional design is a major part of what buyers there value.
How do you keep Santa Fe style from looking dated?
Keep the architectural elements real and restrained, then furnish with clean-lined pieces, contemporary art, and a few genuine artisan items. Avoid overloading the space with themed Southwestern decor.
Does Living with Lolo design in Santa Fe?
Yes. Living with Lolo provides luxury interior design and project management across New Mexico, including Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Taos. Founder Lauren Lerner grew up in Albuquerque.
Is Living with Lolo a licensed contractor?
Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona General Contractor license, ROC #347577. In New Mexico the firm provides interior design and project management and partners with local licensed general contractors for construction.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

How Much Does a Full-Service Interior Designer Cost in Arizona? (2026 Guide)

How Much Does a Full-Service Interior Designer Cost in Arizona? (2026 Guide)

by | Jul 2, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Phoenix Interior Design, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

9 min read
July 2026

How Much Does a Full-Service Interior Designer Cost in Arizona? (2026 Guide)

A full-service interior designer in Arizona costs $75,000 to $2 million or more, depending on whether the project is furnishing only, a full remodel, or new construction with a licensed contractor managing the build. Scope moves that number more than square footage does.
This guide breaks down what drives full-service interior design pricing across Arizona's luxury markets, including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and Silverleaf, with real project ranges instead of national averages that understate what this market actually costs. It also covers what full service includes, how design-build pricing compares with hiring a designer and a general contractor separately, and what to expect at each investment level.

What "Full-Service" Actually Means in Arizona

"Full service" gets used loosely across the design industry, so it is worth being specific about what it covers before talking about cost. At Living with Lolo, a full-service engagement includes concept development, space planning, material and finish selection, furniture and fixture procurement, vendor coordination, and white-glove installation. For clients who also need construction, full service extends further: permitting, trade coordination, site supervision, and punch-list management through the final walkthrough.
Not every firm offers all of this under one roof. Many interior designers stop at selections and hand the project to a separate general contractor, which is where communication gaps and change orders tend to creep in. Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, ROC #347577, which means design and construction are managed under a single contract instead of two. That structure, combined with recognition as Phoenix Magazine's Best Interior Design three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026), is a big reason Arizona homeowners consolidate design and construction under one firm rather than two.
If you are trying to figure out whether your project needs full design and construction management or just design services, our interior design services page breaks down the different engagement types available.

How Full-Service Pricing Is Structured

Full-service interior design fees in Arizona are typically structured one of three ways: a flat project fee, a percentage of the total project cost, or a combination of a design fee plus a procurement markup on furnishings and materials. Percentage-based models are common on design-build projects and usually range from 10 to 20 percent of total construction and furnishings spend.
For a $500,000 project, that translates to a design fee between $50,000 and $100,000 before any furniture is purchased or a contractor is hired. Flat fees work better for narrowly defined scopes, such as furnishing two or three rooms, where the deliverables are clear from the start.
Living with Lolo scopes every project before work begins, so clients know the design fee, the estimated procurement budget, and the construction envelope up front. Homeowners comparing proposals across Scottsdale and Paradise Valley firms should ask exactly which of these fee structures a designer uses, since the same total spend can look very different depending on how it is broken out.

Real Cost Ranges by Full-Service Project Type

Numbers are more useful with context, so here is what full-service investment actually looks like across common project types in Arizona.

$75,000 to $450,000 or more: Furnishing Only

This tier covers projects where the home's layout and finishes stay the same and the scope is furniture, lighting, art, and styling. A two- to three-room furnishing project starts around $75,000, while a full-home furnishing package for a larger residence can run $450,000 or more depending on square footage and finish level.

$400,000 to $1.5 million or more: Remodel With Full-Service Design

Projects that combine construction, such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, structural changes, or whole-home renovations, with full interior design and furnishing typically fall in this range. A whole-home remodel across 4,000 to 7,000 square feet with new finishes throughout often lands at the higher end.

$500,000 to $2,000,000 or more: Full Design-Build

This is the most comprehensive tier: design, construction management, procurement, and installation under a single contract with Living with Lolo as the licensed general contractor. New construction interior design and large-scale renovations with significant structural work fall here.
These ranges reflect real projects quoted and completed in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Arcadia over the past 18 months, not theoretical estimates from a national calculator.

What the Data Shows About Full-Service Costs

Every cost guide should be measured against outside data, not just one firm's project history. The 2026 Houzz & Home Study puts the national median kitchen remodel at $24,000, and the study found that the top 10 percent of renovation projects nationally reach $150,000 or more. In Arizona's luxury market, that top-tier national number is closer to the entry point for a full kitchen remodel with premium finishes.
Home values help explain the gap. Zillow data shows the average Paradise Valley home value at $3.45 million as of early 2026, up 13.5 percent year over year. Scottsdale and North Scottsdale communities like Silverleaf and DC Ranch carry similarly high price points. When a home is valued in the millions, a design and construction budget scaled to a $24,000 national median kitchen remodel does not match the finish level, materials, or expectations of the homeowner or the resale market.
This is the context that matters most for anyone budgeting a full-service project in Arizona: national averages are a starting reference, not a target.

Why Scottsdale and Paradise Valley Cost More Than the National Average

Beyond home values, a few Arizona-specific factors push full-service costs higher than national medians. Custom millwork, imported stone, and high-end appliance packages are common requests in this market and carry premium pricing regardless of location. Construction timelines in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley also tend to compress around the traditional October-to-April season, which can add cost when trades are in high demand.
Neighborhood-specific requirements matter too. Homes in Silverleaf and DC Ranch often have HOA architectural review processes that affect timeline and design decisions, while Paradise Valley estates frequently involve larger square footage and more extensive outdoor living space than a typical remodel. Arcadia renovations often include older homes with structural updates that add scope beyond cosmetic work.
None of this means Arizona pricing is arbitrary. It reflects a market where home values, finish expectations, and project complexity all run above the national norm.

Design-Build vs. Hiring a Designer and a Contractor Separately

One of the biggest cost variables in a full-service project is whether design and construction are managed by one firm or two. When a homeowner hires an interior designer and a separate general contractor, each party typically adds its own markup, and miscommunication between the two teams often leads to change orders that add both cost and time.
Living with Lolo holds ROC #347577, an active Arizona general contractor license, which means design and construction are managed under one contract. Clients working with an integrated general contractor and designer in Scottsdale typically see fewer change orders and less cost duplication than those coordinating two separate firms. This does not always lower the sticker price, since a licensed design-build firm still charges for the same scope of work, but it reduces the coordination costs and delays that inflate a separately managed project's final cost.
For homeowners evaluating proposals, it is worth asking every firm whether design and construction are handled in-house or handed off to a subcontracted GC.

How to Budget for a Full-Service Project in Arizona

Before setting a number, get specific about scope. Walk through every room involved and separate what is changing from what is staying, since that distinction affects the estimate more than total square footage. Then build in a contingency of 10 to 15 percent of the total budget for any project that includes construction, since unexpected conditions inside existing walls are common on renovation work.
Timeline affects budget too. Furnishing-only projects typically run 3 to 6 months from concept to installation, while design-build projects that include construction usually take 6 to 18 months depending on scope.
Homeowners planning a project in Scottsdale kitchen remodeling or a full bathroom renovation should also ask for a written breakdown separating the design fee, construction budget, and furnishings budget, since bundling these into one number makes it difficult to compare proposals across firms.
If you are researching an interior designer in Scottsdale or planning a project anywhere in the Phoenix metro, a discovery call is the fastest way to get a realistic number for your specific home and scope.

Ready to Talk Through Your Full-Service Project?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.
Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions About Full-Service Interior Design Costs in Arizona

How much does a full-service interior designer cost in Arizona?
Full-service interior design in Arizona typically costs $75,000 to $2 million or more, depending on whether the project is furnishing only, a remodel, or full design-build with construction included. Furnishing-only engagements start around $75,000, while design-build projects that include licensed general contracting commonly run $500,000 to $2,000,000 or more.
What does full-service interior design include?
Full-service interior design includes concept development, space planning, material and finish selection, furniture and fixture procurement, vendor coordination, and installation. When construction is involved, it also includes permitting, trade coordination, and site supervision through the final walkthrough.
Is it cheaper to hire a designer and a general contractor separately?
Not usually. Hiring a designer and a general contractor separately often adds coordination costs and change orders that an integrated design-build firm avoids. Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, ROC #347577, which means design and construction are managed under one contract instead of two.
How long does a full-service interior design project take in Arizona?
Furnishing-only projects typically take 3 to 6 months from concept to installation. Full design-build projects that include construction usually take 6 to 18 months depending on scope, with whole-home renovations on the longer end of that range.
Do I need a general contractor for a full-service interior design project?
Yes, if the project includes construction. Living with Lolo is licensed as an Arizona general contractor, ROC #347577, as well as a full-service interior design firm, so clients do not need to hire a separate contractor for projects that include remodeling or new construction.
What areas does Living with Lolo serve in Arizona?
Living with Lolo is based in Scottsdale and serves Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Silverleaf, DC Ranch, and the greater Phoenix metro area, along with select projects across Arizona.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Interior Designer in Silverleaf, Scottsdale, AZ (2026 Guide)

Interior Designer in Silverleaf, Scottsdale, AZ (2026 Guide)

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects, Silverleaf


10 min read
July 2026
An interior designer in Silverleaf, Scottsdale costs $50,000 for a single-room refresh and $500,000 or more for a full estate build-out, with the final number driven by home size, HOA design review requirements, and whether construction work is involved alongside design.
Because Silverleaf is one of the most architecturally regulated communities in Scottsdale, the right interior designer needs to understand both interior finishes and HOA approval timelines before a single fabric sample gets ordered. This guide covers what a Silverleaf project actually costs, how the community's architecture and HOA rules shape design decisions, and what to expect from Living with Lolo, the interior designer Scottsdale AZ homeowners hire when they want design and construction handled by one licensed team.

Who Designs Homes in Silverleaf, Scottsdale

Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale-based luxury interior design and licensed general contracting firm led by Lauren Lerner, and the firm has completed multiple projects inside Silverleaf's guard-gated boundaries, work you can see in the full portfolio. Lauren Lerner holds an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors license, ROC #347577, in addition to her interior design credential, which means Living with Lolo can pull permits, manage structural work, and oversee construction crews under the same contract that covers furniture selections and finish specifications.
Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026. Because of that dual license, homeowners in Silverleaf do not need to hire a separate architect, interior designer, and general contractor and then manage the handoffs between all three. Living with Lolo also works in Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and DC Ranch, so the firm understands how Silverleaf compares to the other guard-gated communities across North Scottsdale.

What an Interior Designer in Silverleaf Costs

Silverleaf homes start around 4,000 square feet and regularly exceed 8,000 square feet, so project costs scale with square footage more than they do in most Scottsdale neighborhoods. Because of that, Living with Lolo prices Silverleaf projects across three general tiers.
$50,000 to $85,000: Single-Room or Refresh Projects. This tier covers a primary bedroom, a home office, or a powder bath refresh: new furniture, updated finishes, and styling, without structural work or HOA review.
$100,000 to $350,000: Whole-Home Interior Design or Major Remodel. This tier covers a full interior overhaul of an existing Silverleaf estate, often including a kitchen or primary suite remodel that requires HOA notification for plumbing vents or exterior access points.
$400,000 to $500,000+: New Construction or Full Estate Build-Out. This tier applies to new-build interiors or major additions where Living with Lolo manages design and construction together, including the full HOA architectural review process for exterior changes.
These ranges sit well above the citywide averages for Scottsdale kitchen remodeling and Scottsdale bathroom remodeling projects, largely because Silverleaf's lot sizes and ceiling heights require more furniture, more material, and more design hours per room.
Timing also affects the final number. Custom furniture for a Silverleaf-scale great room can take 12 to 20 weeks to arrive after an order is placed, so Living with Lolo builds procurement lead times into the budget and schedule from the first meeting rather than treating them as a surprise later. Homeowners who want to be in a finished home by a specific date, such as a holiday or a family event, should plan on starting the design phase at least nine months ahead for a whole-home project.

Silverleaf's Architecture and HOA Design Review

Desert Contemporary vs. Tuscan-Inspired Estates

Silverleaf's architecture splits into two dominant styles: desert contemporary homes with clean lines, glass walls, and exposed steel, and Tuscan-inspired estates with tile roofs, stucco, and wrought iron. Both styles share one requirement: large-scale rooms. A 25-by-30-foot great room with 20-foot ceilings makes a standard-sized sectional look lost, and artwork sized for a 2,500-square-foot home reads as an afterthought on a 20-foot wall.
Successful Silverleaf interiors account for how morning light differs from afternoon light filtering through saguaro cacti and palo verde trees, since most rooms face floor-to-ceiling glass. That means window treatments, furniture placement, and even paint sheen need to be tested against the specific light in each room, not chosen from a showroom sample under fluorescent lighting.

HOA Approval Timeline for Renovations

The Silverleaf HOA reviews any exterior modification, including changes visible from a neighboring property, new plumbing vents, or electrical work that requires exterior access. Interior-only work with no exterior impact typically clears HOA review quickly. Projects that touch outdoor living spaces, pool areas, or rooflines take longer, and Living with Lolo builds that review time into every project schedule so it does not surprise a homeowner mid-project.
Because Living with Lolo holds an active general contractor license, the firm submits HOA paperwork directly and coordinates the review process alongside the interior design work, instead of waiting on a separate contractor to handle that step.

Designing for Desert Light, Scale, and Indoor-Outdoor Living

Silverleaf's indoor-outdoor lifestyle means interior finishes need to hold up against Arizona sun and read well next to the natural desert palette visible through sliding glass doors. Living with Lolo typically layers solar shades for UV and heat control with decorative drapery for privacy, rather than relying on one window treatment to do both jobs.
Dust control also matters more in Silverleaf than in most Scottsdale neighborhoods, given how close many homes sit to natural desert terrain. Tile flooring, performance fabrics, and finishes that clean easily without showing wear come up in nearly every Silverleaf design conversation, alongside furniture and art sized for rooms that are considerably larger than a typical Scottsdale home.
Material selection follows the same logic. Natural stone, wood, and plaster finishes need to be sealed and specified for Arizona's temperature swings, since a finish that performs well in a coastal climate can crack or fade quickly under direct desert sun. Living with Lolo sources finishes with that climate in mind first, then narrows the options down to what fits the home's architecture and the client's taste, instead of starting from a general showroom catalog and hoping the material holds up.

What the Data Shows About Luxury Renovation Costs

National renovation data consistently understates what Silverleaf-scale projects cost, and that gap is itself useful context. According to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, the top 10% of spenders nationally reported a median major kitchen remodel cost of $150,000. (Source: Houzz, 2026)
Similarly, the National Association of Home Builders reports that the top 10% of remodeling spenders nationwide invest $180,000 or more on a single major remodel. (Source: NAHB, 2026) In Silverleaf, a comparable single-room project often starts where the national top 10% average ends, and a full estate build-out can run two to three times higher once new construction and HOA-driven exterior work are included.

Why Hire a Designer Who Is Also a Licensed General Contractor

Working with a separate interior designer, architect, and general contractor means three different companies, three different contracts, and a homeowner stuck relaying information between all of them. Living with Lolo holds ROC #347577 and manages design and construction under one contract, so structural decisions get made on site in real time by the same team that designed the space.
This matters most in a community like Silverleaf, where HOA rules touch both design choices and construction logistics. A general contractor in Scottsdale who was not involved in the original design has to interpret someone else's drawings and someone else's HOA submission, which is exactly where miscommunication and change orders happen. Living with Lolo eliminates that handoff entirely.

How Long a Silverleaf Interior Design Project Takes

A single-room refresh in Silverleaf typically takes 8 to 12 weeks from first call to installation. A whole-home interior design project runs 6 to 12 months, depending on how much furniture is custom-ordered. A full remodel or new-construction interior, including HOA review and construction, typically takes 12 to 24 months.
Homeowners who travel frequently or are not in Silverleaf full time can still move a project forward. Living with Lolo manages trades, deliveries, and HOA coordination independently, and provides regular updates so a client can approve decisions remotely and return to a finished home.

Ready to Talk Through Your Silverleaf Project?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.
Book a Discovery Call


Frequently Asked Questions About Interior Design in Silverleaf, Scottsdale

Do you design homes specifically in Silverleaf?
Yes. Living with Lolo has completed multiple interior design and design-build projects inside Silverleaf and understands the community's HOA design review process, architectural guidelines, and desert-facing light conditions. See examples in the portfolio.
Do I need a separate general contractor for a Silverleaf renovation?
No. Lauren Lerner holds an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors license, ROC #347577, so Living with Lolo manages both interior design and construction under one contract.
What does an interior design project in Silverleaf typically cost?
Projects generally range from $50,000 for a single-room refresh to $500,000 or more for a full estate build-out, depending on scope, square footage, and whether HOA-reviewed exterior work is involved.
How long does a whole-home renovation in Silverleaf take?
A whole-home interior design project typically takes 6 to 12 months. A full remodel or new-construction interior, including HOA review and construction, typically takes 12 to 24 months.
Is Living with Lolo a licensed contractor?
Yes. Living with Lolo holds Arizona ROC #347577 and has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026.
What other Scottsdale-area communities does Living with Lolo serve?
Living with Lolo serves Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area, in addition to Scottsdale.
Who pulls permits for a Silverleaf renovation?
Living with Lolo does, directly. Because Lauren Lerner holds Arizona ROC #347577, the firm pulls its own permits and submits HOA paperwork rather than routing that work through a separate general contractor.

Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.


Building a New Home in Scottsdale, AZ: What to Expect in 2026

Building a New Home in Scottsdale, AZ: What to Expect in 2026

by | Jun 24, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

12 min readJune 2026
A new home build in Scottsdale is one of the most complex and rewarding projects a homeowner will undertake. The scale, the decisions involved, and the number of parties you are coordinating with (architect, builder, interior designer, trade subcontractors, HOA design review, city permitting) can feel overwhelming before the foundation is poured.
This guide covers what you actually need to know before starting: what it costs, how long it takes, what role an interior designer plays on a new build, and the most common mistakes that Scottsdale homeowners make when building for the first time.
Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo have managed new construction interior design engagements across Scottsdale's most prestigious communities, including Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Paradise Valley, Gainey Ranch, and North Scottsdale. Lauren Lerner has been named Best Interior Designer by Phoenix Magazine in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Living with Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577, which means we manage both the design vision and the construction accountability for every project we take on.

What Does a New Home Build Cost in Scottsdale in 2026?

Building costs in Scottsdale's luxury residential market have moved significantly over the last three years. Here is a realistic picture of where costs land in 2026:

Land and Lot Costs

In Scottsdale's premium communities, land costs vary enormously by location. Lots in Silverleaf can range from $1 million to over $5 million depending on size, views, and position within the community. DC Ranch and other North Scottsdale guard-gated communities typically run $500,000 to $2.5 million for buildable lots. Land cost is separate from construction and should be budgeted independently.

Construction Cost: Structure and Shell

In Scottsdale's luxury market, construction costs for the shell of a custom home typically run $350 to $600+ per square foot depending on complexity, materials, and site conditions. A 6,000 square foot home in this range puts shell construction at $2.1 million to $3.6 million before any interior finishes.

Interior Finishes: Design, Materials, and Installation

Interior finish costs (flooring, tile, cabinetry, millwork, fixtures, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and all finish materials) typically add $150 to $350 per square foot on a Scottsdale luxury build. For a 6,000 square foot home, this is $900,000 to $2.1 million in finish costs alone. Custom millwork, natural stone slab tile, and specialty lighting systems push this number toward the upper end.

Interior Design Fees

A full-service interior design engagement on a Scottsdale new build typically costs $75,000 to $200,000+ in design fees, depending on the scope of services and the square footage involved. See our new construction interior design services for a full description of what that scope includes.

Furnishings and Final Installation

Furniture, art, rugs, window treatments, bedding, accessories, and outdoor furnishings on a Scottsdale luxury new build typically run $200,000 to $800,000+ depending on the size of the home and the level of custom versus production furnishings selected.

Total Investment Range

A complete luxury new home build in Scottsdale covering land, construction, interior finishes, design, and furnishings typically runs from $5 million to $15 million for homes in the 5,000 to 10,000 square foot range in the city's top communities. Homes at Silverleaf regularly exceed this range.

How Long Does a New Home Build Take in Scottsdale?

  • Design and architecture phase: 6 to 18 months. For communities with HOA design review requirements (Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Desert Mountain), add 2 to 4 months for community review and revision cycles.
  • Interior design phase (runs concurrently with architecture): Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo are engaged from the start of this phase, not after architecture is complete. Early engagement allows the design team to influence structural decisions that affect the interior before they are locked in.
  • Permitting: City of Scottsdale permit approval for new construction typically takes 3 to 6 months from submission. Projects in Paradise Valley go through the Town of Paradise Valley's separate permitting process.
  • Construction: 18 to 30 months from permit approval through completion of the shell.
  • Interior finish and installation: 4 to 8 months from construction completion through final furnishing installation.
  • Total elapsed time from land purchase through move-in: 3 to 5 years on a fully custom Scottsdale new build.

The Role of an Interior Designer on a Scottsdale New Build

The most common misunderstanding about interior design on new construction is the timing. Most homeowners think the interior designer comes in at the end, after the house is built, to choose furniture and select finishes. That approach leaves significant value on the table and creates avoidable problems.
The decisions made in the first 30% of a new construction project determine 70% of the interior's quality. Ceiling heights that limit lighting options, electrical runs in the wrong locations, plumbing rough-ins that do not match the fixture plan, windows placed without considering how they affect furniture layouts: these decisions get made during architecture and construction, not at the end. Once walls close, changing them is expensive.
Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo engage on new builds before permits are submitted. The scope includes architectural drawing review, coordination with your architect and builder, selection of all structural finish materials before construction begins, full interior design development concurrent with construction, construction administration (as a licensed GC, ROC #347577, Living with Lolo can manage finish construction directly), and final furnishings procurement and white-glove installation. See our completed projects to understand the scope of what we build.
For a complete picture of what full-service new construction interior design looks like, see our services page or our process.

Scottsdale Communities for New Home Builds

Silverleaf

Silverleaf is arguably the most prestigious address for new construction in all of Arizona. Guard-gated, with strict HOA design review requirements and a community character that demands architectural quality. Living with Lolo works in Silverleaf regularly and is familiar with the community's design review process and timeline.

DC Ranch

DC Ranch offers a range of lot sizes and price points within a master-planned, guard-gated environment. The community's design standards require HOA approval for new construction. See our Silverleaf and DC Ranch interior design page for more detail on how Living with Lolo approaches projects in this community.

Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley has its own town government, its own permitting process, and its own design aesthetic. Lots in Paradise Valley are large and private by requirement. Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo work in Paradise Valley on new builds and renovations alike.

Desert Mountain and Troon

These North Scottsdale communities offer golf-centric living with a more traditional luxury aesthetic. HOA design review is active in both communities. Living with Lolo has worked with clients in both areas on new builds and major renovations.

The Biggest Mistakes Scottsdale Homeowners Make on New Builds

Hiring the designer after the structure is framed. By the time walls are framed, dozens of decisions that affect the interior are already locked in. Engaging Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo at the start of architectural design is the single most impactful decision you can make on a new build.
Treating design and construction as separate contracts. When the interior designer and the general contractor are two separate firms, communication problems are structural. Living with Lolo holds both credentials under one roof: one contract, one point of accountability, no translation gap.
Underestimating timeline and making reactive decisions. When a homeowner expects to move in 18 months and discovers the realistic timeline is 36, they start making rushed decisions to accelerate the schedule. Those rushed decisions show up in the finished product.
Not verifying contractor credentials before signing. Arizona Registrar of Contractors license verification takes two minutes at roc.az.gov. Living with Lolo's license is ROC #347577.

Ready to Talk Through Your Scottsdale New Build?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.
Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions About New Home Builds in Scottsdale

How do I find an interior designer for a new build in Scottsdale?
Start with firms that have demonstrated experience on new construction specifically, not just renovation and furnishing projects. Ask whether the firm holds a contractor's license in addition to a design credential. Ask to see completed new build projects, not renderings. And engage the designer at the beginning of your architectural process, not after the house is framed. Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo offer a complimentary discovery call to discuss your project before any engagement is formal.
What is the difference between a custom build and a spec home in Scottsdale?
A custom build is designed and constructed to your specifications on a lot you own or purchase. A spec home is designed by a builder for a hypothetical buyer. Most Scottsdale luxury buyers in communities like Silverleaf are building custom homes. True custom builds offer the most control over the outcome.
Do I need an interior designer AND a general contractor for a new build?
You need both functions: design specification and construction management. The question is whether those are two separate firms or one. Living with Lolo holds both credentials (Arizona GC License ROC #347577), which means you get both functions under a single contract, a single point of contact, and a single team accountable for the full outcome from blueprint to final install.
What are the HOA design review requirements in Scottsdale's luxury communities?
Silverleaf, DC Ranch, Desert Mountain, and other guard-gated communities in Scottsdale have active HOA architectural review committees that must approve new construction designs before permits are submitted. Review timelines vary, typically 4 to 12 weeks per review cycle, with revisions adding additional time. Living with Lolo builds HOA review cycles into project timelines from the start.
Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale, AZ | Living with Lolo

Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale, AZ | Living with Lolo

by | Jun 24, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

Home » Journal » Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale, AZ

Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale, AZ: What to Expect in 2026

A luxury home renovation in Scottsdale is one of the most significant projects a homeowner will undertake. The stakes are high: you are transforming a multi-million-dollar property, managing a timeline that spans months, and coordinating dozens of decisions that affect how you will live in your home for years to come.For a project of this scale, our licensed design-build firm in Scottsdale keeps the entire renovation, design through construction, under one contract.Unlike most interior designers in Arizona, Living with Lolo holds an active general contractor license (ROC #347577) and manages design and construction together.This guide covers what you actually need to know before starting: what it costs, how long it takes, what separates a firm worth hiring from one that will cost you more in the long run, and what questions to ask before you sign anything.Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo have managed luxury home renovations across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, DC Ranch, Silverleaf, and the greater Phoenix area. See our dedicated work as a luxury remodeling contractor in Paradise Valley. Living with Lolo has been named Best Interior Design Firm by Phoenix Magazine three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026.

What Qualifies as a Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale?

The word "luxury" gets used loosely in the renovation industry, so it is worth being specific. A luxury home renovation in Scottsdale typically means one or more of the following:
  • A whole-home or multi-room renovation on a property valued at $2 million or more
  • Custom millwork, natural stone, or other materials that require specialist fabrication and installation
  • A licensed general contractor and a licensed interior designer managing the project jointly, or a single firm that holds both credentials
  • A total project investment of $300,000 or more across design, construction, and furnishings
  • A project managed to a white-glove standard where the client is not required to coordinate between multiple vendors
If your renovation falls into this category, the decisions you make at the start (including who you hire and how you structure the project) will determine the outcome more than any single design choice.

What Does a Luxury Home Renovation Cost in Scottsdale?

Cost on a luxury renovation in Scottsdale varies significantly based on scope, material selections, and whether your project requires structural work. Here is how the ranges tend to break out:

$150,000 to $350,000: Targeted High-End Renovation

This range covers a full renovation of one or two major spaces (a kitchen and primary bathroom, for example) with high-end finishes, custom cabinetry, and a designer-led material palette. Structural changes are limited. This is often the entry point for Scottsdale homeowners updating a home that is 10 to 15 years old.

$350,000 to $700,000: Whole-Home Renovation

A full renovation of an existing home, with new flooring throughout, kitchen and all bathrooms, updated electrical and lighting, and fresh interior architecture including built-ins, custom millwork, and new window and door treatments. At this investment level, a licensed general contractor is required for permitting and trade management. For a detailed breakdown of whole-home costs, see our guide to whole-home remodeling in Scottsdale.

$700,000 to $1.5M+: Full Gut Renovation or Structural Transformation

This range covers projects that change the bones of a home: moving walls, reconfiguring floor plans, adding square footage, expanding outdoor living spaces, or converting a dated property into a fully contemporary luxury home. Projects at this level require a licensed general contractor managing the full construction scope alongside a design team. Living with Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577, which means we manage both the design and the construction under one contract.

How Long Does a Luxury Renovation Take in Scottsdale?

Timeline is one of the most common sources of frustration in luxury renovations, not because projects always run over, but because homeowners are often given unrealistic timelines at the start.Here is an honest breakdown of what to expect:
  • Design and specification phase: 8 to 16 weeks. This is where Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo design team develop the full material palette, custom cabinetry drawings, furniture plan, fixture specifications, and construction drawings. Rushing this phase costs more later.
  • Permitting: 4 to 10 weeks in Scottsdale, depending on the scope of structural work and the City of Scottsdale's current review timeline. As a licensed general contractor (ROC #347577), Living with Lolo manages the permit process entirely.
  • Construction: 12 to 30 weeks depending on scope. A single-room renovation may be completed in 10 weeks. A full gut renovation typically runs 20 to 30 weeks from permit approval through final punch list.
  • Furnishing and installation: 4 to 8 weeks for delivery coordination, installation, and final styling. Custom furniture ordered during design development is typically ready to install when construction finishes, provided it was ordered at the right time.
Total elapsed time from first design call to move-in: 9 to 18 months on most full luxury renovations in Scottsdale.

The Most Common Mistake Scottsdale Homeowners Make on Luxury Renovations

Hiring the designer and the general contractor separately.It sounds like a reasonable approach: find a great designer, find a great GC, put them together. In practice, this creates a communication problem that costs most homeowners more than any other single decision.The designer specifies materials the GC was not expecting to install. The GC makes a structural decision that forces a design change. Nobody is accountable for the gap between the two. By the time the problem surfaces, there are cost change orders, timeline extensions, and sometimes finished work that has to be torn out.The solution is to either hire a firm that holds both credentials (a licensed designer who is also a licensed general contractor), or to hire a design-build firm where both functions are managed under a single contract.Living with Lolo is the only full-service interior design firm in Scottsdale that holds both an interior design credential and an Arizona General Contractor license (ROC #347577). One firm, one contract, one point of accountability from concept through white-glove delivery.

What to Look for When Hiring a Luxury Renovation Firm in Scottsdale

Before you sign a contract, ask every firm you are considering these questions:
  • Do you hold a current Arizona contractor's license? Ask for the license number and verify it at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website (roc.az.gov). Any contractor operating without a current license cannot legally pull permits in Scottsdale.
  • Who will be managing the construction day to day? Some design-build firms hand off construction management to a subcontracted GC. Understand exactly who is accountable and who you will be talking to when problems arise.
  • Can you show me completed projects in this price range? Ask to see finished work, not renderings, in the specific investment range you are targeting.
  • How do you handle change orders? Every renovation has them. A quality firm will be transparent about the change order process before a project starts, not after.
  • What does your fee structure look like? Design fees, construction markup, and furnishings procurement fees should be explained in clear terms before you sign anything.

Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale's Top Communities

Living with Lolo manages luxury renovations across Scottsdale's most distinguished communities. Each presents its own design and logistics considerations:

Silverleaf and DC Ranch

Guard-gated communities with HOA design review processes require design drawings that meet the community's architectural standards before permits can be submitted. Living with Lolo's team is familiar with both the Silverleaf and DC Ranch HOA review timelines and requirements.

Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley's Town permitting process is separate from the City of Scottsdale and has its own review requirements for structural work. Lauren Lerner and Living with Lolo have navigated Paradise Valley permitting on multiple projects.

Old Town and Central Scottsdale

Older homes in central Scottsdale often present hidden challenges: outdated electrical panels, plumbing that does not meet current code, and structural surprises behind walls. A licensed GC managing the project can identify and address these before they become cost emergencies.

What a Luxury Renovation Looks Like with Living with Lolo

Every project starts with a discovery call. Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team take time to understand your home, your goals, and your timeline before anything else. No hard sell, no scope commitments before we understand what you actually need.From there, the process moves through design development, material specification, contractor coordination, construction management, and final white-glove installation. Most clients interact primarily at key approval milestones: concept presentation, material approvals, and final walk-through. Everything in between is managed entirely by the Living with Lolo team.For a complete overview of how we manage projects, see our design process page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Luxury Home Renovation in Scottsdale

Do I need to move out during a luxury renovation?

For whole-home renovations or projects involving kitchen demolition, most clients move out for the construction phase. This is actually the faster approach, since construction timelines are faster when trades can work without occupants, and finish quality is higher when rooms do not have to stay livable between phases. Living with Lolo can coordinate the timing of your return with the construction completion date.

How do I know if a contractor is licensed in Arizona?

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors maintains a public license search at roc.az.gov. You can search by company name or license number. Living with Lolo's contractor license is ROC #347577. Any firm operating without a current license cannot legally pull permits, and any unpermitted work may create complications when you sell the property.

What is the difference between a renovation and a remodel?

A renovation restores or updates a space while preserving its existing structure and layout. A remodel changes the structure, including moving walls, changing floor plans, or adding square footage. Most high-end Scottsdale projects involve elements of both. The distinction matters because remodeling requires permits and a licensed contractor; renovation-only work (replacing fixtures, flooring, or finishes without structural changes) may not.

Can Living with Lolo manage a renovation if I am not in Scottsdale?

Yes. Many of our clients manage their projects remotely, splitting time between Scottsdale and another city. We are structured for this: you receive regular project updates, attend key approval meetings virtually or in person when the timing works, and return to a completed home. The GC and design team on the ground in Scottsdale manage every detail between those checkpoints.

Related Resources

About the Author

Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Learn more about Lauren.

About Living with Lolo

Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based luxury interior design and construction firm. The company specializes in full-service interior design, design-build remodeling, and construction-led renovations for high-end residential homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix. Living with Lolo manages both interior design and licensed general contracting under one roof, guiding projects from concept through construction and white-glove installation.
What to Look for in a Luxury General Contractor in Scottsdale

What to Look for in a Luxury General Contractor in Scottsdale

by | Jun 22, 2026 | Interior Design Tips

Hiring a general contractor in Scottsdale is not the same as hiring one anywhere else. The projects are larger, the finish expectations are higher, and the stakes of choosing the wrong firm are significant. A $600,000 remodel that goes sideways because of a contractor handoff problem, an unlicensed subcontractor, or a design intent that never made it to the build team costs far more than the contractor's fee. This guide covers the seven things every Scottsdale homeowner should verify before signing a contract with a luxury general contractor.

1. Verify the Arizona ROC License Before You Sign Anything

Arizona requires general contractors to hold an active license through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Before hiring any GC for a residential project in Scottsdale, go to roc.az.gov and search the contractor's license number or business name. Confirm the license is active, covers the scope of your project (residential contractor vs. commercial), and has no open complaints or disciplinary actions on file.

This is not a formality. An unlicensed contractor cannot legally pull permits, cannot hire licensed subcontractors as contractor of record, and cannot be held to the same standards as a licensed firm if something goes wrong. For any project involving structural work, plumbing, electrical, or HVAC, the permit requirement alone makes a licensed GC non-negotiable.

Living with Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577, which you can verify directly on the ROC website. That license is the legal foundation of every construction project we manage.

2. Ask Who Actually Pulls the Permits

Permit responsibility tells you who is legally accountable for the work. The licensed contractor of record is the party who pulls permits, which means they are responsible to the city for code compliance on every phase of the project. If a GC says the homeowner should pull their own permits, or if they are vague about who handles this, that is a red flag.

In Scottsdale, permits are required for virtually any significant remodel: structural modifications, kitchen reconfiguration, bathroom additions, window enlargements, pool construction, ADU additions, and more. A contractor who suggests skipping permits to save time or money is exposing you to significant liability, including the possibility of having to undo completed work if an unpermitted project is discovered during a future sale.

On every qualifying high-end remodel in Scottsdale, Living with Lolo pulls permits as a standard part of project management. You do not need to track this. It is included.

3. Understand Who You Are Hiring: Firm vs. Broker

Some companies market themselves as general contractors but function more as project brokers: they take your contract and subcontract the entire project to other firms. The original company you hired is not the one managing your build day to day.

Ask directly: Does your firm employ project managers and superintendents, or do you subcontract that role? Who is your day-to-day site representative? Who is accountable if a subcontractor causes a problem or misses a deadline?

A true full-service general contractor maintains ongoing relationships with trusted subcontractors, has a dedicated project manager on your job, and holds contractor-of-record responsibility from start to finish. That accountability structure is what protects your project and your investment.

4. Look for Demonstrated Experience With High-End Finishes and Complex Scopes

Luxury residential construction is not the same as standard residential construction. Working with imported stone slabs, custom millwork, specialty tile, engineered hardwood in large formats, and high-end appliance packages requires a team that has done it before. The tolerances for error are tighter, the lead times on materials are longer, and the cost of getting it wrong is higher.

Ask to see projects with a similar scope to yours. Ask for before-and-after photos. Ask whether the contractor completed the work exactly as designed or whether the design was compromised due to construction constraints. The best contractors find solutions that preserve the design intent. Less experienced contractors default to whatever is easiest for the build team.

Our portfolio includes whole-home renovations, kitchen remodels, primary suite expansions, and new construction fit-outs across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and DC Ranch. The design and the build on every project were managed by the same team, which is why the finished results match the concept presentations.

5. Ask How Design and Construction Are Coordinated

This is where most Scottsdale remodels lose money and time. When the designer and the general contractor are two separate companies, every decision requires communication across that gap. A finish material the designer specified gets substituted by the GC without telling anyone. A wall gets framed before the designer has confirmed exact placement of outlets and fixtures. A millwork drawing gets handed to the cabinetmaker without the context of how the adjacent tile runs.

These are not hypothetical problems. They are the most common source of change orders, budget overruns, and schedule delays on luxury residential projects. And every one of them is a coordination failure between design intent and construction execution.

The design-build model solves this at the structural level. When one firm holds both the design credential and the contractor's license, the person who designed your kitchen is also the person overseeing its construction. There is no handoff gap. Read more about why hiring a licensed GC and interior designer together changes the outcome of a project.

6. Understand the Contract Structure Before You Sign

A well-structured contract protects both parties and keeps the project on track. Before signing with any general contractor in Scottsdale, confirm the contract clearly covers: scope of work (what is included and what is not), payment schedule tied to project milestones rather than a fixed calendar, change order policy with a clear process for documenting and pricing changes, schedule with defined start and completion dates, and warranty terms for labor and materials.

Be cautious of contracts that are vague about scope, that do not define a change order process, or that ask for a large upfront payment with no milestone-based structure. The payment structure in particular reflects how the contractor manages cash flow, and a firm that needs more than 10 to 20 percent upfront before work begins is often financing one project from another client's money.

At Living with Lolo, we use a single contract that covers both design and construction. Clients know what the project costs, how payments are structured, and what triggers a change order before we begin. Our process is built around transparency from day one.

7. Check References From Projects With a Similar Scope

Ask for three to five references from completed projects within the last two years. Specifically ask for references from projects with a similar scope to yours in terms of budget, type of work, and finish level. A contractor who is excellent at $150,000 kitchen remodels may not have the systems or subcontractor relationships to manage a $900,000 whole-home renovation.

When you call references, ask: Did the project finish on or near the original timeline? Were change orders clearly communicated before they were executed? Did the finished result match what was presented in the design? How was communication throughout the process? Would you hire them again?

The answers to those questions tell you more than any marketing material can.

What Makes Living with Lolo Different as a Luxury General Contractor in Scottsdale

Living with Lolo is the only luxury interior design firm in Scottsdale that is also a licensed Arizona general contractor (ROC #347577). Lauren Lerner holds both credentials, which means the person designing your home is the same person accountable for the construction. One contract. One point of contact. Design and build managed by the same team from concept through certificate of occupancy.

We have been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026) and recognized by Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. Our clients are CEOs, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and busy families who do not have time to manage a renovation themselves. They hand the project to us and return to a finished home.

If you are planning a high-end home remodel in Scottsdale or North Scottsdale and want to understand how a design-build approach changes the experience, book a complimentary discovery call here.

For a full cost breakdown of what luxury remodels cost in this market, see our Scottsdale luxury interior design cost guide.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Living with Lolo is a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. We hold an active Arizona ROC general contractor license and an interior design credential, which means we manage your entire project under one roof.

If you are planning a remodel, new construction project, or full furnishing and want to talk through what that looks like with a licensed Scottsdale general contractor, book a complimentary 15-minute discovery call.

Book Your Discovery Call →

See our completed projects →

Learn about our full-service approach →

Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo. She holds an Arizona interior design credential and General Contractor License ROC #347577. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a luxury general contractor in Scottsdale?

A luxury general contractor in Scottsdale is a licensed Arizona contractor (ROC-licensed) who manages high-end residential remodels and new construction. They pull permits, coordinate licensed subcontractors, and hold legal contractor-of-record responsibility for the build. A design-build firm like Living with Lolo holds both a GC license (ROC #347577) and an interior design credential under one roof.

How do I verify a general contractor's license in Arizona?

Go to roc.az.gov and search by license number or business name. A valid license will show as active with no open complaints. Living with Lolo's license is ROC #347577.

What should I ask a general contractor before hiring them in Scottsdale?

Ask to see their active Arizona ROC license. Ask who pulls permits. Ask for references from similar-scope projects. Ask how design and construction are coordinated if they are separate firms. Ask for a written contract that defines scope, payment milestones, and change order policy.

What is the difference between a general contractor and a design-build firm?

A general contractor manages construction only. A design-build firm holds both a contractor's license and a design credential, eliminating the handoff gap between designer and GC. Living with Lolo is a design-build firm: the same team that designs your project holds the license and manages the build.

Does a general contractor need to pull permits for a Scottsdale remodel?

Yes. Any project involving structural changes, plumbing relocation, electrical upgrades, or HVAC modifications requires permits pulled by a licensed Arizona general contractor. At Living with Lolo, permit management is included on every qualifying project under ROC #347577.

How much does a luxury general contractor charge in Scottsdale?

For a full-service design-build engagement, total project investment in Scottsdale typically ranges from $350,000 to over $1.2 million depending on scope and finish level. See our full cost guide for a detailed breakdown.

What the Data Shows About Renovation Spending in Scottsdale

When hiring a luxury general contractor in Scottsdale, look for an active ROC license, verifiable completed projects at your price range, a clear subcontractor management process, and transparent change-order policies in writing.
For context: Zillow data puts the average Paradise Valley home value at $3.45 million as of early 2026, up 13.5% year over year. At those home values, the general contractor you hire is one of the most consequential decisions you make. Work done without permits or by an unlicensed contractor creates disclosure obligations that can directly affect your ability to sell or refinance.
What Happens When an Architect and Interior Designer Collaborate From Day One

What Happens When an Architect and Interior Designer Collaborate From Day One

by | Jun 22, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Residential Interior Design, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

7 min readJune 2026

Related Resources

About Living with Lolo

Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based luxury interior design and construction firm. The company specializes in full-service interior design, design-build remodeling, and construction-led renovations for high-end residential homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix. Living with Lolo manages both interior design and licensed general contracting under one roof, guiding projects from concept through construction and white-glove installation.

Most homeowners hire an interior designer after their architect finishes drawings, sometimes after framing is already complete. It feels logical. The architect handles the structure, then the designer handles the inside. But this sequence creates a problem: by the time an interior designer walks into a new construction project, hundreds of decisions that directly affect the interior have already been locked in.
At Living With Lolo, we work with architects on ground-up custom homes from the start of the design development phase. This is how we do it, why it matters, and what our clients get as a result.

Why the Sequence Matters More Than You Think

Interior design decisions are baked into the architecture of a home long before anyone picks a sofa. Ceiling heights, window placement, door swing directions, the location of electrical panels, natural light paths, and traffic flow between rooms are all architectural choices that either support or fight the interior design you want.
When Living With Lolo joins a new construction project during design development, we sit at the table with the architect before those decisions are finalized. That means:
  • Window placement is coordinated with furniture layouts so seating faces views, not walls.
  • Ceiling details like coffers, beams, and tray ceilings are planned in context of the room's furniture scale.
  • Lighting rough-in locations are placed where fixtures actually belong, not where the electrician estimated.
  • Niche and built-in locations are framed into the structure from the start, not cut in after the fact.
  • Room dimensions get a second review for how real furniture will actually live in the space.
The result is a home where the architecture and the interior design feel like one continuous intention rather than two separate projects that happened to end up in the same building.

What Our Role Looks Like on a New Construction Project

Living With Lolo holds a General Contractor license in Arizona (ROC #347577), which means we can coordinate directly with the construction team, pull permits where needed, and act as a bridge between the design and build sides of a project. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design 2024, 2025, and 2026, Living with Lolo is one of the most recognized design-build firms in Scottsdale. On new construction, this matters.

Phase 1: Design Development (Months 1-3)

We review architectural drawings and flag interior design considerations before they get value-engineered away. This includes reviewing floor plans for furniture feasibility, evaluating window-to-wall ratios for art and case goods, and identifying rooms where structural elements like fireplaces, built-ins, or wet bars will drive finish coordination later.

Phase 2: Construction Documents (Months 3-5)

We develop an interior specifications package that travels alongside the architectural set. This covers finish schedules (flooring, tile, stone, millwork), fixture specifications, plumbing fixture rough-in heights, hardware standards, and custom millwork drawings. The contractor bids this package rather than making substitutions in the field.

Phase 3: Construction Administration (Months 5-14+)

We make regular site visits to catch deviations, approve substitutions, and resolve field conditions before they become expensive change orders. New construction timelines in the Scottsdale custom home market typically run 12 to 18 months for homes in the 4,000 to 8,000 square foot range. Our involvement through this phase ensures the interior specifications are executed correctly, not approximately.

Phase 4: Furnishing and Installation

Once the home is complete, we coordinate full furnishing including furniture, lighting, window treatments, art, accessories, and plants. For new construction clients, this typically represents a furnishing investment starting at $150,000 for a home in this size range, depending on scope and custom specification levels.

The New Builds We Work On

Living With Lolo's new construction interior design work is concentrated in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and north Phoenix markets. We work primarily on:
  • Custom spec homes built by high-end developers
  • Owner-commissioned ground-up custom homes (typically 4,000 sq ft and above)
  • Architect-designed homes where the client brings us in as the interior design partner
  • Partial new construction combined with additions on existing properties
Our clients for new construction projects are typically in a $1.5 million to $5 million or more total project budget range, where the investment in integrated interior design from the start is a fraction of what it saves in change orders, field corrections, and retrofits.

What Happens When You Don't Bring in an Interior Designer Early

We have also been brought in after the fact on new construction projects, and we can tell you what that looks like. The most common issues we find:
The primary living area has been framed with a furniture layout that puts the sofa against the only wall without natural light. The kitchen island was placed without considering where bar stools would go relative to the traffic path. Recessed lights are in a 4-foot grid regardless of what furniture sits below them. The primary bath has a freestanding tub centered under a window that faces a neighbor. Built-in locations were not framed, so they now require bulkheads that eat into ceiling height.
None of these are unfixable. But they are all expensive to address after the fact, and some are permanent trade-offs the homeowner has to live with for the life of the house.

Working With Your Architect

If you are already working with an architect, bringing Living With Lolo in as your interior design partner is straightforward. We work with most of the established residential architects in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley markets and have working relationships that make this coordination efficient.
If you are still selecting an architect, we are happy to make introductions to firms whose design sensibilities and communication styles align with what we deliver on the interior.

Ready to Talk About Your New Build?

Living With Lolo takes a limited number of new construction projects each year. We partner with architects on ground-up custom homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and north Phoenix from design development through final furnishing.

Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to bring an interior designer into a new construction project?

The ideal time is during design development, before architectural drawings are finalized. This allows the interior designer to influence window placement, ceiling details, lighting rough-in, and room proportions before they are locked into the construction documents.

Does Living With Lolo work with homeowners who already have an architect?

Yes. Living With Lolo regularly joins new construction projects where an architect is already engaged. We work alongside the architect as the interior design partner, coordinating our specifications package with the architectural set.

What does new construction interior design cost in Scottsdale?

Interior design fees for new construction at Living With Lolo are based on the scope and square footage of the project. For a custom home in the 4,000 to 8,000 square foot range, most clients invest $50,000 to $150,000 or more in interior design fees, separate from furnishings and finishes.

Does Living With Lolo handle both the design and the furnishing for new builds?

Yes. For new construction clients, Living With Lolo manages the complete interior from specifications through final furnishing installation. This includes all finish selections, custom millwork, plumbing and lighting fixtures, furniture, window treatments, art, and accessories.

Is Living With Lolo a licensed contractor?

Yes. Living With Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor license ROC #347577, which allows us to coordinate directly with construction teams, pull permits where required, and manage contractor relationships on renovation and new construction projects.

Lauren Lerner, principal interior designer at Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer and licensed general contractor based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design and design-build projects across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.