How to Make Your Home Look More Modern in Only 5 Tips
Do you walk into other modern houses wishing yours looked at as new, as fresh, as cool? The good news is that you might be able to achieve a similar look with only a few arrangements. You’ll be surprised to see how much of a difference it can make!
1. Get Rid of Plastic Packaging
Take the habit to remove all the plastic packaging laying in your house. -Use a soap pump for your dish soap in the kitchen and for the hand soap in the bathroom -Use mason jars for your dry condiments in the kitchen instead of the plastic bags -Use a glass water bottle instead of a plastic one. Walk around and look at all the disposable plastic packaging you have and make the switch to durable options. Not only will it look much better and will give your entire house a more modern look, but it will also help you to reduce the amount of waste you produce. You can start buying your items in bulk and transfer them to your beautiful recipients once home.
2. Use More Glass Elements
The use of glass is a great way to make your space look more modern. You can add a glass sliding door or a glass dining table or coffee table for example. Big windows are also a great hit in modern design. Since glass is a transparent material it helps to make your space look bigger and let more light in. We love to also add glass through a pretty mirror and accessories
3. Mix Neutral Colors With Dark Hues
Modern design like using the contrast between a neutral color and a dark bolder one. Having a piece of furniture that stands out or painting one wall in black in your bathroom or bedroom for example will bring attention and provide a sense of comfort to the room. For bathrooms, you can also pick dark tiles to add contrast.
4. Add Texture
Adding texture to an interior makes it look more intriguing. Change your rug, add throw pillows or blankets. We love to add texture through custom upholstery with great fabric! Drapery with an amazing textured fabric is also a great addition to your home.
5. Pick Geometric Shapes
Modern homes are characterized by their geometric shapes and straight lines. The easiest way to implement those in your home is through the furniture you pick. Choose rectangular or square furniture pieces with none or very few soft, curved lines.
6. Add Big Art Pieces
If you are afraid to turn your home into something impersonal, don’t worry. Modern doesn’t have to be cold. Pick a big piece of art that has meaning to you and can be highlighted in the room.
7. Declutter
Last but not least, to keep your space looking modern, make sure to keep it simple and decluttered. When in doubt, go for a more minimalist lifestyle. That will help keep everything tidier. Empty countertops, organized shelves, clean coffee tables… It will all work together to give your space a modern and peaceful look. Every home is different. Need more advice on how to make your space more modern? Contact us today to set you your interior design consultation.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
In our previous post, we revealed the common spaces of our recent Marshall Ave project, a creative job for a female client who was ready to step out of the box with her home’s interior design.
In this post, we’ll cover the master bedroom and bathrooms, all of which are funky and sophisticated and total head-turners!
Starting in the master bedroom, a really playful wallpaper became the backdrop to the entire space. The client knew she wanted a bright pop of color for her bed as well, so those were our jumping-off points. Don’t you love this turquoise upholstered bed frame that we settled on?
The master is a big space, so beyond the statement bed, we wanted to find some chests that were really large. Our team landed on these dark wood ones that have great texture and details, like the juxtaposing clear and gold knobs. We love how eclectic yet elegant this room turned out to be.
In the master bathroom, we wanted to continue the unique and playful vibe we created in the bedroom while creating a feminine and spa-like oasis. A custom gray soaking tub made for something different and totally sets the space off. The wallpaper on the back wall behind the tub provides texture and a high-design detail. Custom cabinets under the vanity have an interesting cut-out handle, another upscale aspect that sets the space apart.
In the home’s powder room, the client had a specific look she was going for — “moody” — with dark tile and wood. The “wood” we used here is actually tile, making for a durable solution in the space. An unexpected, sparkly pendant light adds a bit of interest and juxtaposition to the otherwise very neutral and textured design elements.
We’ll leave you with this shot of a vignette in the entryway, featuring a piece of art that’s the perfect representation of this home’s design — organic, neutral with a pop of color, and an eclectic sensibility. We loved envisioning and bringing to life this creative space for our client, and we love getting to share it with you!
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
Designing this unique and sophisticated, yet playful, home for one of our mature female clients was a highlight of our 2020. It was a creative project and the client really trusted us to create the perfect space for her. She allowed herself to step outside of the box, which we love and ran with!
Stepping into the entryway, we set the scene for the entire home. While the art steals the show here, the sideboard and accessories complement the look, creating a vignette full of texture and earthiness. Our client absolutely loved this scene and we used it as inspiration for the rest of the design.
Moving into the dining room, eclectic pieces merge together to create a design full of conversation starters. The piece of art on the wall is something that the client already owned and wanted to incorporate into her space. With the addition of the glamorous gold and crystal light fixtures, plus a more neutral rug, dining chairs, and table, the whole look came together beautifully.
The living room centers around this comfortable custom sectional, which just begs people to come and sit down. Shots of blue throughout the space bring a freshness but still creates a serene vibe. The client requested swivel chairs positioned by the fireplace so she could sit and look out of the window. Luckily, these chairs — which feature a blue dot pattern — were our favorite, so they inspired the rest of the room’s design.
In the beautiful, bright kitchen, we installed updated cabinets and countertops, rich, warm wood floors, and statement lighting. The client was unsure about the light fixture above the dining table at first but ended up trusting us and it worked out perfectly! The unique round dining table with a mixed material base, plus the upholstered chairs with the gold frame, help make this space sophisticated yet totally hip.
Love this home as much as we do? Watch for part 2 of this project reveal coming soon, where we’ll cover the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
We are so excited to share one of our favorite brands with you, ba&sh! ba&sh is a Parisian clothing line that is all about uniting an expression of freedom with an easy, joyful elegance. It is easy to recognize a ba&sh dress… The key? The happiness of the woman wearing it. We LOVE this!
Their clothes are easy to wear and make you look effortlessly chic! My personal favorite is their dresses, shoes, and beautiful shirts. Their pieces are perfect for work, special occasions and they have recently launched a loungewear collection as well!
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The ba&sh ARTY coat is perfect for adding warmth to your winter looks. This short coat has a very trendy check motif and classic styling with its double-breasted front and notched lapels. The dropped shoulders add a modern touch. Note the flap pockets and back vent. This coat has trendy allure and is perfect worn over jeans.
Flowing drape, a trendy print, and subtle shades. This seductive ba&sh ORIGIN skirt is irresistible! Show off your wild side with this midi skirt and its snakeskin motif! Small gathers add swingy motion. This print skirt is uber-feminine and perfect with boots.
ba&sh revisits the Chelsea boot with a modern take. These CAUDALIE ankle boots have a fitted line. They sit on an audacious ridged sole and pull on easily. Made in full-grain leather, they have a very trendy grunge style. Perfect with all your outfits: jeans, dresses, and more?
The KLOE top is a must-have in a chic and classy closet. This blouse is cut in a flowing fabric and has an elegant and seductive style. You’ll note the long sleeves with their pretty shape. This top will add a chic note to jeans. It’s also perfect with a dressier piece.
This ba&sh ISADORA dress has a seductive ethnic style pairing a flowing line and a graphic two-color print. This short full dress has a Henley neckline and ruffled cuffs trimmed in a different print. A flowing dress that stirs up visions of faraway lands.
This ba&sh HOOPER dress has a beautiful floral print and very feminine details for great allure: a button-placket borrowed from a shirt-dress, a very feminine V-neck, ¾-length sleeves, a ruffled bust panel, a lightly cinched waist, and flowing drape. This is the dress to light up your closet this season.
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Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
Picking the right dining table to be both beautiful + functional in your home is paramount. That right balance between beauty and function is what will make your space work for the unique demands of your busy family and will also make your guests oh and aw when they come over for supper.
Interior Design Scottsdale
We love the juxtaposition of using chairs in one fabric and a table made from something completely different. No matching sets for us! We like to keep things interesting and mix + match. Here we used a durable velvet chair with a live edge walnut table that we had sealed for durability.
Interior Design Scottsdale
Always look for interesting detail on your kitchen table. This is likely one of the largest pieces in your home and you want it to make a statement. We fell in love with the unique stacked wood legs on this table + the contracting lacquered top.
Interior Design Scottsdale
Don’t be afraid to mix and match different tones of wood. We love how these lighter wood chairs contrast with the darker dining table. The contract makes your room feel collected and cozier.
Interior Design Scottsdale
Know your family! If you have young kiddos, don’t purchase a table that doesn’t hold up well to spills and grimy hands hoping that your children will miraculously be able to live with it. It is going to drive you crazy! There are so many kid-friendly options these days. Choose something that is both beautiful but that will also withstand the test of time for your family and ultimately make your life easier.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
We definitely have some favorite accessories we love to style with and we use them time and time again, in different shapes and forms.
We love to use textured baskets in all types of spaces! In bathrooms, they make great laundry baskets, in entryways, they contain all your miscellaneous items that aren’t pretty but are essential, and in the family room, they can hide kiddo and dog toys.
Interior Design Scottsdale
You can never go wrong by adding a unique tray to a coffee table to help contain your items and keep little items like remotes safe from getting lost. We always look for trays that contract either the color or the texture and style of the coffee tables in our designs.
Interior Design Phoenix
Using faux plants + greenery in our projects is a given. Simple centerpieces made with a pretty bowl + greenery give the room life. The simplicity is perfect for a busy area like a kitchen or dining room table.
Interior Design Scottsdale
Pillows are a standby item we always use when accessorizing beds, sofas, and benches. Splurging on a well-made pillow ensures that the pillow will be big and fluffy. We love finding unique fabrics that contrast with the furniture we are styling them on.
Interior Design Scottsdale
Vases in groups of three make for a great styling set on pretty cabinets and console tables. Lately, we have been using neutral simple vases to let the other details like wallpaper shine
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
How do you style your coffee table to get a curated look without feeling cluttered? This is a common question we get from our clients and we love wrapping up our design services with styling to show them exactly how to achieve this look. We want our coffee tables to look put together but they also need to be functional.
Contrast
Start by picking items for your coffee table styling that contrast with the material of the coffee table itself. For example, if you have a white marble coffee table, try using items with a woven texture or a big contrast like black.
High & Low
You want your eye to move around the space and not to stay either high or low, so alternating between objects of varying heights is important. Do keep in mind the line of sight and don’t use anything too hight where you may block someone from watching tv.
Use a Tray
Use a tray to corral all the coffee table items! This instantly makes the coffee table feel more put together and less cluttered and as a bonus helps keep things like your tv remotes all together.
Balance
Make sure that you look at your coffee table from all angles and that it is balanced from each perspective. Add symmetry to make sure that one side of the coffee table does not appear to heavy or over styled compared to the other side.
Unexpected Objects
Add some unexpected objects to your coffee table and you will have instant conversation starters. Use items from your travels.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
Shelf styling has always been one of our favorite areas to style, but for many of our clients, the thought can be daunting. Many of us have open shelving in our homes, and not only is it current on-trend but they are also timeless. Whether it be a kid’s space, open concept kitchen, or shelves flanking a fireplace; open shelving can set the tone of a room and are the perfect spot to display all of your treasured items in a way that looks beautiful while maintaining functionality.
Wherever your shelves may be and whatever your style preference is, it comes down to what you put on them and how you place it. After all, your shelves are open for a reason and that is for everyone to see! Here are some tips to style your shelves:
Determine your style: The first step is figuring out your style preference and what will go best in your home and chose your pallet from there.
Shop: Whether you start with your home stash or head straight for the stores make sure your collection consists of pieces that vary in height, weight and size.
Start with larger pieces first: A big mistake people make is using décor that is not proportional to their shelves. I like to use larger items that are at least half the size of the shelf and then work in smaller pieces to fill in the gaps. Just make sure not to overextend the shelf.
Layer, layer, layer! Items such as books, boxes, trays, and decorative objects are all great layering pieces to start with.
Work with height: This can be done through taller vases, frames, large baskets, and stems. It’s important to fill in some of the height on your shelves while still leaving some blanks.
Stagger you height: When working with different décor pieces, make sure to place items next to each other that have a minimum three-inch separation in height and avoid duplicating the same pieces on shelves next to each other.
Use art: I love using abstract prints in a frame. It’s a great way to add color and show your style. They are also very easy to swap out for something different at a later date.
Think green! I love the way green can elevate the look of shelves. Adding faux succulent or stems to a vase is not only a good way to add color but also a way you can add height.
Don’t over clutter: Shelves can get busy very quickly so avoid using a ton of small objects and focus more on larger items with a few smaller pieces scatters throughout.
Lastly, step back and observe: This is an important part! Look for holes, unbalanced areas and tweak as needed.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
We took this home to the next level by renovating our client’s master bathroom + designed a new interior by adding furniture, paint, + lighting throughout to make the home modern + stylish. We loved that our client was open to outside the box ideas + trusted us to pick some items they might not have normally chosen on their one.
White and black elements are seen throughout this space, but the touch of blue and gold helps to really bring this room to life. You’ll notice how there is a balance of bold colors + metals with more organic and neutral elements.
To really make an impact in this front room, we added a navy painted ceiling + a gorgeous chandelier! Doesn’t this just make you want to paint every ceiling in your home?
For this master bedroom design, we used our client’s existing bed + nightstands and designed the space to make the whole room feel new. The mirror nightstands give the room a lot of glam so we choose to keep everything else pretty neutral. The beautiful grasscloth wallpaper adds amazing texture to the wall behind the headboard.
We created the coziest sitting area in this master bedroom with a chaise + fireplace. Both the custom artwork + chandelier are beautiful touches. You can’t tell we love lighting, can you?
This bathroom remodel is one of our favorites of all time! Have you ever seen a chandelier like this in a bathroom?! We used the most beautiful marble + mirrored tile for the focal wall behind the bathtub. Between the chandelier + the tile work, this room is a showstopper!
We used our client’s current dinging table + chairs + we added a rug + chandelier to finish the space.
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
We often call our style eclectic because we love mixing various styles! Our goal is always to create a space that is cohesive where you cannot tell you are blending different styles.
Here are our top tips for successfully mixing different décor styles together.
A modern mirror mixed with a more vintage bench, Scottsdale Interior Design
Pick a few colors + focus on them
Even if you are decorating with one style, we prefer to keep colors simple! Pick one or 2 colors only per space and use them in different ways and with different textures. Layer the colors and textures to achieve an effortless look. If you are using a coffee table that has a modern feel, pick your occasional chairs in a more contemporary feel in a similar or coordinating color. Always start with neutrals and layer your color on top.
modern farmhouse meets contemporary, Scottsdale Interior Design
Choose an inspiration piece
Start with one item you love and repeat an element in the item but by incorporating a different style. For example, If you find a sofa you love with curved legs, incorporate more curves in the lighting, coffee table, art, etc but feel free to mix up the styles. The repetition of the element will bring it all together. Focus on about 80% of your decor being from one style and 20% being from another.
a vintage bench with modern frames + lighting, Scottsdale Interior Design
Use art to help blend styles
Adding art in a contrasting style is a great way to effortlessly start blending styles in a space and to make it look cohesive. If you have a traditional space, don’t be afraid to add a more abstract contemporary piece and visa versa.
modern abstract art mixed with more traditional pieces, Scottsdale Interior Design
Mix your materials
Don’t be overly concerned with being matchy! In fact, we prefer not to be! If you are using a marble table, incorporate some vintage rattan chairs or another piece with great vintage feel and texture. Just make sure that everything repeats at least once! If you incorporate marble make sure something else in the room is marble- it can even be an accessory!
contemporary lighting and chairs with a more traditional table, Scottsdale Interior Design
What not to do
Don’t buy coordinating furniture sets
Don’t assume that you can only design your house in the style of the architecture of the home
Don’t use the same color, fabric, pattern or finish in the various pieces you chose
Don’t be afraid to take risks and think outside the box when designing your home!
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
Many of our clients move into builder track homes + we love helping them make these homes anything but ordinary! Most of our clients contact us prior to visiting their builder’s design showroom so that we can begin planning the design with them and visit the design center with them to make smart decisions about their new home. We met this client after they had already built their home and we were able to go in and fully furnish the house, add new lighting, rugs, art, and accessories + we transformed this beautiful home into something truly spectacular!
The first room in the house, off the entry is an office. We wanted to make the space reflect the style of the house while having a masculine vibe and ensure that it is fully functioning to be an organized and productive office space. We added in in a bookshelf, lighting, and a reading nook.
The main family room was the next space we tackled. There is a huge glass sliding door that has views of the gorgeous backyard and mountains. We wanted to frame the view by adding in custom drapery from floor to ceiling. We kept our client’s sofa and love seat and added in additional furniture, a larger cabinet below the tv, rugs, art, and lighting. We love how this space is both comfortable and a showstopper at the same time.
The master bedroom has a very large sitting area to the right of the bed. We added in a new sofa, side tables, lighting, and beautiful wallpaper + art to create a serene space that the homeowner can retreat to, to relax and read a good book!
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.
When this family reached out to us, it was initially for new furniture. After meeting them and walking through their home with them, we realized that their gigger longer term goal was to remodel the house. We talked through priorities and eventually landed on remodeling the home + furnishing the new space.
The house had travertine floors throughout, and we decided the best solution for this busy family would be to instantly luxury vinyl flooring because not only is it durable but it can be laid over tile to eliminate the need to demo the existing tile. This saves the client some big bucks.
We opted to leave and paint the existing perimeter cabinets + build a new bigger island. We installed quartz countertops for their durability and finished the space with some show stopping pendants and counter chairs. The counter chairs are also completely kid friendly! How great is that?
The family room is adjacent to the kitchen, so we wanted to ensure that it had great flow. We took their farmhouse look and made it more modern with some mixed metals, pops of color and, some open shelving. The white couches are kid friendly too. Who would have guessed that you could have white couches with kiddos?
We love how the master bedroom turned out as well. We started the design with a new upholstered bed to march some chairs our client already owned. We layered the bed over beautiful wallpaper and added in some gorgeous unique nightstands and pendants. We adore the texture in this space!
Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, Scottsdale’s luxury interior design and licensed design-build firm. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, Lauren leads projects from concept through construction for high-end homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.