What is a hot/cold wellness room in a home?

A dedicated space combining contrast therapy elements -- typically a sauna, cold plunge or ice bath, and sometimes a steam shower -- designed for residential use.

How much does it cost to add a wellness room to a home?

Typically $30,000 to $150,000 or more depending on equipment, size, and finish level. A basic sauna-and-cold-plunge setup starts at the lower end; fully custom rooms run significantly higher.

Is a home wellness room a good investment?

In the luxury market, yes. In high-end markets like Scottsdale and Park City, buyers increasingly expect spa-level amenities. Clients consistently report it among the most appreciated features of their renovation.

Who should I hire to build a wellness room in Scottsdale?

Look for a design-build firm that handles both interior design and licensed general contracting. Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale-based luxury interior designer and licensed Arizona general contractor (ROC #347577) that manages wellness room projects from concept through construction.

What does it take to design an estate in Paradise Valley?

Scale, coordination across multiple living zones and exterior environments, and close work with architects, landscape designers, and custom fabricators over a multi-year timeline.

How much does it cost to design a luxury estate in Paradise Valley?

Design fees typically start at $50,000, with total project budgets often exceeding $500,000 to $1 million or more when furniture, custom millwork, finishes, and construction are included.

How long does a luxury estate design project take in Paradise Valley?

Most estate-level projects take 6 to 12 months from initial concept to final installation, depending on permit complexity and custom fabrication lead times.

Do I need a licensed general contractor for a remodel in Scottsdale?

Yes. Arizona law requires a licensed general contractor for most residential remodel work exceeding $1,000 in combined labor and materials. You can verify any contractor's license at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website.

What is the difference between a design-build firm and hiring a designer and contractor separately?

A design-build firm holds both an interior design credential and a general contractor license and manages both under one contract. Hiring separately means two contracts, two schedules, and a coordination gap between firms that frequently causes change orders, delays, and budget overruns.

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

Go to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website at roc.az.gov and search by company name or license number. Always verify before signing a contract.

What is the real estate investment opportunity mentioned in the job listing?

Through Lolo Developments, our sister real estate entity, team members have the opportunity to invest alongside the firm in luxury residential fix-and-flip projects in the Scottsdale and Phoenix market. This is a rare benefit that gives our team access to wealth-building opportunities most construction roles do not offer.

Does Living with Lolo handle both interior design and construction?

Yes. Living with Lolo is a full-service interior design and licensed general contracting firm based in Scottsdale, AZ serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

"Modern Interior Design" Archives + Living With Lolo

Why Your Next Renovation Should Include a Hot/Cold Wellness Room

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 2, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Uncategorized

4 min readJune 2026

June 2, 20266 min read

As featured in Bob Vila

Of all the custom features I am designing right now, the hot/cold wellness room is the one I am working on the most. I said as much when Bob Vila asked me about the top custom home features of 2026, and I want to give you the full picture here because one paragraph does not do it justice.This is not a trend. It is a shift in how people think about their homes.

What a Wellness Room Actually Is

When most people hear "home wellness room," they picture a treadmill pushed against a wall in a spare bedroom. That is a home gym. What I am designing is something entirely different: a dedicated room built around recovery, not just exercise.A proper hot/cold wellness room typically includes an infrared sauna, a cold plunge, soft lighting on dimmer controls, natural materials like stone and wood, and ventilation designed specifically for the thermal cycling. The best ones feel more like a spa than a gym, and that is intentional.The clients who go all in are also adding red light therapy beds, hyperbaric chambers, and fully custom sauna builds with integrated sound and chromotherapy. These are not afterthoughts. They are the primary reason the room exists.

Why It Is Worth the Square Footage

The question I get most often is whether it justifies the space. My answer is always the same: it depends on whether you will actually use it.What I have observed with clients who have these spaces is that they stop treating wellness as a scheduled item and start treating it as part of how their home functions. It stops being something you have to drive to. The cold plunge is three steps from your bedroom. The sauna is ready in 20 minutes. The barrier disappears, and the routine follows.That shift in daily life is what makes it worth the square footage. A room you use every day earns its place faster than almost any other investment in a home.

What Goes Into Designing One Well

The room itself is straightforward if you plan for it early. The details that matter most:

Waterproofing and drainage, especially around the cold plunge. This is not optional.
Ventilation sized for both the sauna heat and the humidity from the cold plunge. Standard bath ventilation is not sufficient.
Electrical for the sauna heater, which typically requires a dedicated 240V circuit.
Natural materials that can handle temperature swings: teak, cedar, stone, and concrete all perform well.
Lighting on dimmers with a warm, low-lux option for post-plunge recovery.
A transition space, even a small bench area between the sauna and plunge, so the thermal cycling is intentional rather than rushed.

Where projects go wrong is when the wellness room gets treated as a finish-out item rather than a structural one. The plumbing, drainage, and electrical need to be in the plan from the beginning. Retrofitting is expensive and often impractical.

Who Is Asking for This

Across my client base as a luxury interior designer in Scottsdale AZ and throughout the Phoenix metro, requests for dedicated wellness spaces have increased significantly in the past two years. It is not a specific demographic. I am designing these for clients in their 30s and clients in their 60s. Athletes and executives. New builds and renovations.What they share is a willingness to invest in how they feel at home, not just how their home looks. That is the broader shift I am seeing, and the wellness room is where it shows up most clearly right now.

How to Start Planning Yours

If you are in the early stages of a custom build or a major renovation, the best time to plan the wellness room is now. The structural and mechanical requirements are much easier to design in than to add later.If you are working with an existing space, a converted bedroom or a room off the primary suite both work well. The minimum functional size is around 150 square feet, though 200 to 300 gives you room to move and adds a proper transition zone.Living with Lolo handles both the design and the construction side of a wellness room renovation. As a licensed Arizona General Contractor (ROC #347577), Living with Lolo manages the full project from permits and structural work through equipment installation and final finish, so you work with one team from concept to completion. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design 2024, 2025, and 2026, Living with Lolo is one of the most recognized design-build firms in Scottsdale.I would love to talk through what this could look like in your home.

Ready to Design Your Wellness Room?

Let's talk about your space, your goals, and what a recovery-focused room would look like in your home. Book a Discovery Call

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with LoloLauren Lerner is an award-winning interior designer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Designer 2024, 2025, and 2026. As seen in Bob Vila, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hot/cold wellness room in a home?: A dedicated space combining contrast therapy elements — typically a sauna, cold plunge or ice bath, and sometimes a steam shower — designed for residential use.
How much does it cost to add a wellness room to a home?: Typically $30,000 to $150,000 or more depending on equipment, size, and finish level. A basic sauna-and-cold-plunge setup starts at the lower end; fully custom rooms run significantly higher.
Is a home wellness room a good investment?: In the luxury market, yes. In high-end markets like Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, buyers increasingly expect spa-level amenities. Clients consistently report it among the most appreciated features of their renovation.
Who should I hire to build a wellness room in Scottsdale?: Look for a design-build firm that handles both interior design and licensed general contracting. Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale-based luxury interior designer and licensed Arizona general contractor (ROC #347577) that manages wellness room projects from concept through construction.

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.

Lauren Lerner

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.

livingwithlolo.com/

Living with Lolo in House Beautiful: What Is a Micro-Makeover?

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 1, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Uncategorized

Journal / PressAs Seen In House Beautiful

When House Beautiful reached out to include my perspective in a piece on micro-makeovers, I knew it would resonate. It is one of the most common conversations I have with clients, and one of the most misunderstood concepts in residential design.The article, What Is a Micro-Makeover?, explores how targeted, intentional updates to a single room or space can dramatically shift how a home feels, without the timeline or investment of a full renovation. My insights were featured alongside before-and-after images from a recent project, and the piece includes a backlink to Living with Lolo.

What a micro-makeover actually means

A micro-makeover is not a compromise. It is a focused edit. Instead of pulling everything apart and starting over, you identify the one or two decisions in a room that are doing the most damage to how it looks and feels, and you fix those first. For most of my clients in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, those decisions usually come down to lighting, layering, and scale.The before-and-after work I shared with House Beautiful shows how much a room can shift when you address the right things in the right order. New furniture alone rarely transforms a space. But replace the overhead lighting, add a layer of texture through textiles, and bring in one piece at the right scale, and suddenly the room reads completely differently.

Why this approach matters for busy homeowners

Most of my clients are not looking for a year-long renovation. They want their home to feel like it reflects who they are right now, without uprooting their lives to get there. Micro-makeovers are how we do that. They are scoped tightly, executed quickly, and the results tend to be some of the most satisfying work we do together, because the transformation is immediate.I often tell clients that a home is never finished. You layer it over time, and each phase should feel intentional. A micro-makeover is just one focused layer, done well.

Read the full feature

You can read the full House Beautiful piece here: What Is a Micro-Makeover?. And if you are sitting in a room right now wondering where to even begin, that is exactly the conversation a discovery call is built for.

Lauren Lerner was featured in House Beautiful for her expertise in the micro-makeover approach, demonstrating how targeted changes to lighting, textiles, and accessories can transform a space without a full renovation. Named Best Interior Design by Phoenix Magazine in 2024, 2025, and 2026, Lauren Lerner operates under ROC #347577 and brings the same precision to full-scale design-build projects in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Living with Lolo's micro-makeover featured in House Beautiful?

The feature highlighted how strategic changes to lighting, textiles, and accessories can transform a space without renovation, illustrating the micro-makeover concept for a national audience.

What is a micro-makeover in interior design?

A focused design refresh that prioritizes the changes with the highest visual impact per dollar spent, working with the existing architecture and furniture rather than replacing it.

Is Living with Lolo available for micro-makeover projects?

Yes. Living with Lolo offers micro-makeover services alongside full-service design and design-build projects, ideal for clients who want a fresh look without a full renovation.

What is the difference between a micro-makeover and a full home redesign?

A micro-makeover focuses on the changes with the highest visual impact per dollar, working within the existing architecture and furniture plan. A full redesign replaces and reconfigures the space from the ground up. Micro-makeovers typically take 4 to 8 weeks; full redesigns run 6 to 18 months depending on construction scope.

Curious what a micro-makeover could do for one room in your home? Let's talk.Book a Discovery Call

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

About Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

Interior Design Trends Scottsdale 2026: What We’re Seeing in Real Projects

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 1, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects, Uncategorized

9 min readJune 2026

Every year I notice a shift in what clients are asking for as a luxury interior designer in Scottsdale. Not a wholesale change in taste, but a refinement. The clients coming to us in 2026 are more specific about what they want and more willing to invest in doing it right. The projects we are finishing right now reflect that.Our Desert Oasis project is a good example. It is a full home renovation in Scottsdale that captures almost every direction we are seeing the market move. I will reference it throughout this post because it is the most recent work we have wrapped, and it illustrates these trends better than any list of inspiration images could.Here is what is actually showing up in luxury interior design in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley this year.

Trend 01Earth Tones Are Replacing Cool Gray for Good

The cool gray era is over. What replaced it is warmer, richer, and more specific: warm white, soft sand, dusty sage, terracotta, warm taupe. These are not trendy colors. They are colors that feel connected to the landscape in a way that slate and greige never did.On Desert Oasis, we built the entire palette around the colors that were already there when you looked out the windows. Warm stone, low desert brush, the kind of golden light you get at 4pm in Arizona. Everything inside echoes that. The result is a home that feels intentional and calm rather than decorated.If you have been sitting on a gray kitchen or gray walls wondering why the space never quite felt warm enough, this is why. The fix is usually simpler than people expect.

Trend 02Natural Stone as a Primary Design Element

We have always used natural stone, but the way clients are using it now has changed. It is no longer a backsplash material or a flooring choice. It is the focal point of the room.Full-slab stone kitchen islands. Bookmatched quartzite feature walls. Travertine floors that run continuously from interior to exterior. Slab shower walls with no grout lines. These are not budget decisions. They are design decisions, and the clients who make them consistently tell us those are the moments in the home they love most.On Desert Oasis, we used warm travertine on the floors throughout the main living areas and carried it outside to the covered patio. The continuity alone changed the scale of the space. It read as one large room instead of two separate ones.If you are in the planning phase of a renovation, I would encourage you to look at natural stone early. The slabs you can source right now are exceptional, and the options in warm tones are better than they have been in years.

Trend 03Textured Wall Finishes Over Paint

Flat paint on smooth drywall is not going away, but the clients who want their home to feel distinctive are looking at what is on the walls differently. Limewash. Venetian plaster. Woven grasscloth and linen wallcovering. Handcrafted tile used as a feature wall, not just a kitchen backsplash.What these finishes have in common is that they change with the light. A limewash wall looks completely different at noon than it does at 7pm. That kind of depth is what separates a finished room from a designed one.On Desert Oasis, we used a warm limewash in the primary bedroom and a hand-applied plaster finish in the entry. Both were intentionally imperfect. That is the point. The slight variation in tone and texture is what makes the space feel handcrafted rather than assembled.

The clients who are happiest with their homes are the ones who were willing to choose something specific over something safe.

Trend 04Indoor-Outdoor Continuity as a Design Priority, Not an Afterthought

Arizona gives us nine months of genuinely livable outdoor weather. The homes we work on in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley should take full advantage of that. And yet, in a surprising number of renovation projects we see, the outdoor spaces are treated as a leftover, something to figure out after the inside is done.The trend we are seeing is the opposite. Clients are asking us to design the indoor and outdoor spaces together from the beginning, using the same materials, the same level of finish, and the same standard of comfort. When you walk outside, it should feel like you are still in your home.On Desert Oasis, the covered outdoor living area was designed simultaneously with the interior great room. Same stone floors. Same ceiling height relationship. Same warm palette. The pocket doors disappear into the wall when open, and the distinction between inside and outside essentially vanishes. That was the goal from day one.We handle outdoor design as part of full home renovations. If you are planning a renovation and thinking about the backyard as a separate phase, I would encourage you to reconsider that sequencing. It is much harder to integrate the two after the fact.

Trend 05Intentional Lighting Design

This is the trend I think is most underappreciated. Most homeowners do not realize how much their lighting plan is limiting their space until they are standing in a room with a proper layered lighting design for the first time.What we mean by layered: ambient light (recessed, cove, or indirect), task light (pendants over islands, sconces at reading chairs, vanity lighting), accent light (picture lights, shelf uplighting, architectural details), and landscape or exterior lighting that makes the property feel finished after dark.Every layer should be independently dimmable. That single change, the ability to dial back overhead light and let accent and task lighting do the work, makes a room feel entirely different at 8pm than it does at noon. It is the difference between a space that has one mood and a space that has several.On Desert Oasis, we worked with the lighting plan from the very beginning of the design process, not as a late-stage selection. The result is a home where every room transitions beautifully from daytime to evening. The clients mentioned it specifically when they walked through for the first time.

What This Means for Your Project

If you are planning a renovation in 2026, the common thread across all five of these trends is specificity. Warmer colors that connect to a particular place. Stone chosen for a particular slab. Finishes that respond to the light in a particular room. Lighting designed for how a particular family actually lives.Generic renovation decisions produce generic results. The clients who are happiest with their homes are the ones who were willing to choose something specific over something safe.If you want to see how these trends come together in a real project, take a look at the Desert Oasis project or browse our full portfolio. And if you are thinking about a renovation and want to talk through what is possible, we would love to hear about it.

Ready to start planning your 2026 renovation? Book a Discovery Call

Frequently Asked Questions

What interior design trends are popular in Scottsdale in 2026?

The dominant trends in Scottsdale luxury homes right now are warm earth tone palettes (sand, terracotta, dusty sage replacing cool gray), natural stone used as a primary design element rather than a backsplash material, textured wall finishes like limewash and Venetian plaster, seamless indoor-outdoor continuity, and intentional layered lighting design. These trends reflect the desert landscape and the Arizona lifestyle rather than generic national trends.

What design style is most popular in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley?

In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, the most requested styles are Modern Southwest, Modern Mediterranean, and Transitional -- all of which lean into natural materials, warm tones, and strong indoor-outdoor connection. Clients are moving away from the cool-toned modern aesthetic that dominated the 2010s toward something warmer, more organic, and more specific to the desert setting.

How much does a luxury home renovation cost in Scottsdale in 2026?

Full-service luxury interior design and design-build projects in Scottsdale typically range from $350,000 to $1 million across design fees, construction, and furnishings. Design fees alone typically range from $21,000 to $53,000 depending on scope. Living with Lolo manages the full process -- design, construction, procurement, and installation -- under one contract as a licensed Arizona General Contractor (ROC #347577).

Who is the best interior designer in Scottsdale?

Lauren Lerner of Living with Lolo has been named Best Interior Design by Phoenix Magazine three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026. The firm is also a licensed Arizona General Contractor (ROC #347577), making it one of the only luxury design firms in the Scottsdale market that manages both design and construction under one roof.

Related Resources

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

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

What It Actually Takes to Design an Estate in Paradise Valley

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 1, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

5 min read
May 2026

Paradise Valley is a different kind of project. Not just in budget or square footage, though those are different too. It's different in what's expected from day one, what the homes demand structurally, and what happens when the design and construction teams aren't in sync.We've worked on estates in Paradise Valley long enough to know that the homeowners who have the smoothest renovations are the ones who stopped treating design and construction as separate decisions. Here's what we've learned about what these projects actually require.

The land itself shapes the design

Paradise Valley lots don't have setback drama the way dense Scottsdale neighborhoods do, but they have their own constraints: views to preserve, mountain sightlines, solar orientation on acre-plus parcels, outdoor living spaces that need to function as a second home within the home. A designer who hasn't thought about how the interior relates to an outdoor kitchen, a resort pool, and a guest casita all on the same property will make decisions that look great on a mood board and feel disconnected in real life.Our process on Paradise Valley projects starts with the site. We walk the property before we open a design app. Where does the light come from in the morning? What view do you want from the primary bedroom? Is the pool where it should be? These questions shape everything that comes after.

Construction isn't a handoff, it's part of the design

Most interior designers working in Paradise Valley will hand you off to a contractor after the design phase. That contractor then interprets the drawings, makes substitutions when lead times shift, and coordinates with you directly when conflicts come up. You are now managing two vendors, absorbing the cost of every miscommunication, and hoping the contractor's trade relationships match the quality of the design.Living with Lolo, Scottsdale's luxury interior design and design-build firm, holds an Arizona General Contractor license (ROC #347577) alongside our design practice. On a Paradise Valley project, that means the same team that designed the wine room is the one pulling the permit and managing the build. The same person who selected the limestone floor finish is on-site when it's being installed. Nothing gets lost in translation because there's no translation happening.This matters more in Paradise Valley than almost anywhere else we work. The level of finish these homes require, the custom millwork, the stone sourcing, the mechanical systems hidden behind perfect walls, these are not things you want two separate teams coordinating over email.

What discretion actually means

Paradise Valley clients don't want to see their home mid-renovation on our Instagram. They don't want to discuss project details with people they haven't approved. They want a firm that treats their project the way they'd expect any professional service to be handled: with complete confidentiality.We don't post in-progress work without explicit permission. We don't share client names. The portfolio projects we do show, like the Desert Escape and the Camelback Country Estates renovation, are shared only with client approval, and they represent the caliber of work we do throughout Paradise Valley.

The timeline is long and the process matters

A whole-home renovation or new construction interior fit-out in Paradise Valley runs 14 to 28 months. That's not a problem, it's a reality of doing this level of work correctly. What matters is having a process that keeps you informed without requiring your constant attention. Our clients are executives, founders, and athletes who don't have time to manage a renovation. They don't need to. We handle every decision that falls within our scope and bring only the meaningful ones to them.If you're planning a Paradise Valley estate renovation or working with an architect on a new build and looking for a design-build firm that can manage both sides under one contract, the right place to start is a conversation. Our Paradise Valley interior design page has more on how we work and what these projects typically involve.If you are planning a Paradise Valley estate project and want to understand what the investment looks like, our guide to what luxury interior design and construction costs in Scottsdale covers real project numbers from this market. You can also read more about what it means for a firm to hold an active Arizona general contractor license and why that matters on a project of this scale, and which construction projects in Arizona require a licensed GC to pull permits. When you are ready to talk through your project, our Paradise Valley interior design page has more on how we work and what these projects typically involve.Living with Lolo is an award-winning interior designer serving Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, Arizona. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design 2024, 2025, and 2026. Licensed Arizona General Contractor ROC #347577.

Ready to Talk Through Your Estate Project?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with homeowners in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and the greater Phoenix area on estate-level design and construction projects. If you are planning a renovation or new build, we would love to hear about it.Start a Conversation

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to design an estate in Paradise Valley?: Scale, coordination across multiple living zones and exterior environments, and close work with architects, landscape designers, and custom fabricators over a multi-year timeline.
How much does it cost to design a luxury estate in Paradise Valley?: Design fees typically start at $50,000, with total project budgets often exceeding $500,000 to $1 million or more when furniture, custom millwork, finishes, and construction are included.
How long does a luxury estate design project take in Paradise Valley?: Most estate-level projects take 6 to 12 months from initial concept to final installation, depending on permit complexity and custom fabrication lead times.
Who is Lauren Lerner and what makes Living with Lolo different for estate projects in Paradise Valley?: Lauren Lerner is the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, a Scottsdale-based luxury interior design and licensed general contracting firm. Living with Lolo manages both design and construction under one contract, which is especially valuable on estate projects where coordination between trades is critical.

Related Resources

About Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

What a Real Arcadia Renovation Actually Involves

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 1, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

5 min read
May 2026

Arcadia is the most active gut renovation market in the Phoenix metro, and it's been that way for years. Buyers acquire 1960s and 70s ranch homes on large lots, sometimes under Camelback Mountain, and they don't intend to live in what they bought. They intend to build something else using what's already there: the lot, the location, and the bones.We've completed multiple whole-home renovations in Arcadia. Here's what we've learned about what makes them work and what makes them fall apart.

Arcadia renovations are construction projects first

The word "renovation" undersells what most Arcadia projects actually involve. Walls move. Kitchens get relocated. Bathrooms are rebuilt from the studs. Sometimes the footprint expands. Outdoor kitchens, resort-style pools, and covered patios get designed as part of the same project. If you approach this as a decorating job, you'll end up with a beautifully furnished home that still has a 1970s floor plan underneath.This is why the firm you hire matters so much. Interior designers who don't hold a general contractor license will take you through a design phase and then hand you off to a contractor for execution. You are now managing two relationships, translating between two visions, and absorbing every miscommunication as a budget overrun or a timeline delay.Living with Lolo is Scottsdale's full-service interior design and design-build firm and licensed Arizona General Contractor (ROC #347577). On an Arcadia project, we pull the permits with the City of Phoenix, manage the licensed trades, and oversee the structural work, all with the same team that designed it. The vision doesn't get lost because there's no handoff.

The neighborhood has its own character and it's worth respecting

Arcadia has a look. Canopy streets, mature landscaping, and homes that sit back from the road with generous setbacks. The best Arcadia renovations we've done feel like they belong there, even when the interior is completely transformed. That means thinking about how the indoor and outdoor spaces relate, how natural light moves through the home across the citrus grove in the backyard, and how the architecture reads from the street.Clients who move to Arcadia usually moved there intentionally. They like the neighborhood, the walkability, the proximity to Old Town Scottsdale and the Biltmore corridor. A renovation that ignores the context of where the home sits misses the point of buying there in the first place.

What our Arcadia projects look like

Our Home Plate Hideaway and One Hundred Hills projects show the range of what we do in this neighborhood: full gut renovations with structural reconfigurations, custom kitchens, reimagined outdoor spaces, and white-glove furnishings and installation all managed under one contract.Both projects are on the Arcadia page with more detail on scope and approach.

How to start

If you've bought a home in Arcadia and you know it needs a serious renovation, the most important decision you'll make is who manages it. Not who designs it and who builds it separately, but who does both. That's what we do. Our Arcadia interior design and renovation page has more on the process, typical project scope, and what these renovations cost.Arcadia renovations almost always trigger permit requirements because walls move, plumbing relocates, and electrical work is involved. Read our guide to which projects in Arizona require a licensed general contractor to pull permits and why an interior designer without a GC license cannot legally manage that scope. For context on what a full Arcadia renovation typically costs, our luxury interior design cost breakdown includes real project numbers from this market. You can also explore our Arcadia interior design and renovation page to learn more about how we approach these projects.If your project is in the broader Phoenix metro outside of Arcadia, visit our Phoenix interior design page to learn more about how we work across the valley.Living with Lolo is an award-winning luxury interior design and construction firm serving Arcadia, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, Arizona. Named Best Interior Design by Phoenix Magazine three consecutive years. Licensed Arizona General Contractor ROC #347577.

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team bring licensed general contracting and luxury interior design under one roof for Arcadia renovations. Lauren Lerner's design-build approach is what Living with Lolo clients in Arcadia, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley rely on to complete complex renovations on time and on budget. Living with Lolo has been named Best Interior Design by Phoenix Magazine in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an Arcadia renovation typically involve?

Most Arcadia renovations include structural reconfiguration, new plumbing and electrical, custom kitchens and bathrooms, and full interior design and furnishings. Because these homes were built decades ago, almost every project requires permits pulled by a licensed Arizona general contractor.

How much does an Arcadia renovation cost?

A full gut renovation in Arcadia typically ranges from $300 to $600 per square foot depending on scope, finishes, and structural changes. Our kitchen remodel cost guide gives more detail on individual scopes within a renovation.

Do I need both a contractor and an interior designer for an Arcadia renovation?

Not if your firm holds both licenses. Living with Lolo is a licensed Arizona general contractor (ROC #347577) and a full-service interior design firm, so you have one team managing design, permits, construction, and installation under one contract.

How long does an Arcadia renovation take?

Most full Arcadia gut renovations take 9 to 14 months from design kick-off through white-glove installation. Permit timelines and material lead times are the most common variables. Working with a firm that manages both design and construction reduces delays caused by miscommunication between separate teams.

Ready to renovate your Arcadia home?

Living with Lolo handles design, permitting, construction, and installation for Arcadia renovations. One firm, one contract, no handoffs.Start a Conversation

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

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, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. Living with Lolo manages both interior design and licensed general contracting under one roof, guiding projects from concept through construction and white-glove installation.

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

What Is a Micro-Makeover? The Interior Design Strategy That Actually Works

by Lauren Lerner | Jun 1, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Uncategorized

4 min readJune 2026

June 1, 20265 min read

When House Beautiful reached out about a story on micro-makeovers, I knew the concept was going to land. It comes up constantly with my clients: people who love their home on some level but feel like something is off, and they want a change that does not require six figures or a construction crew.A micro-makeover is a focused, intentional refresh of a space without a full renovation. Same bones. Same square footage. But with the right changes, the room feels entirely different.I was quoted in the piece alongside client Alyssa Rotunno, whose bedroom transformation is a perfect example of what this actually looks like. No new floors. No moved walls. Just deliberate edits that completely shifted how the room felt.

What Goes Into a Micro-Makeover?

Every room is different, but the highest-impact changes tend to fall into a few categories.

Lighting

This is almost always the single fastest way to elevate a space. Swapping a builder-grade ceiling fixture for something intentional, like a sculptural pendant or a pair of wall sconces flanking the bed, changes the entire atmosphere of a room. Most people underestimate how much bad lighting is quietly working against their space.

Textiles

Pillows, throws, window treatments, a new area rug. These add warmth, color, and texture without any permanence. They are also the easiest things to refresh as your taste evolves. If a room feels flat or cold, textiles are usually the fastest fix.

Furniture Arrangement

Most rooms are arranged incorrectly. The default setup, with everything pushed against the walls, rarely creates the best flow or conversation. A thoughtful rearrangement can make a room feel twice as large without buying a single new thing.

One New Anchor Piece

Sometimes all a room needs is one piece that pulls the whole story together. A new bed frame. A statement chair. A properly scaled side table that finally makes the lamp stop looking like it belongs somewhere else. One well-chosen piece can do more than a dozen small ones.

Art and Accessories

This is where personality lives. Edited, intentional, and layered rather than a collection of things accumulated over the years that have never been reconsidered. A micro-makeover is often an opportunity to clear out what is not working and be intentional about what stays.

Why Micro-Makeovers Work

The honest truth is that most people do not need a renovation. They need a designer to look at the space with fresh eyes and identify what is working, what is not, and what one or two changes would move the needle most.The bedroom featured in the House Beautiful story had good proportions and a strong fireplace focal point. It just needed a refined color story, updated textiles, and better lighting to read like the room it always had the potential to be. The bones were there the whole time.

Is a Micro-Makeover Right for You?

If any of these sound familiar, the answer is probably yes:

Your room feels fine but not special.
You moved in and never fully made it yours.
You renovated years ago and the space has not kept up with your taste.
You spend money on decor but the room still does not feel cohesive.

A micro-makeover is not about buying more things. It is about buying the right things, placed intentionally, in a space that has been thought through from ceiling to floor.If you are ready to stop feeling like something is off and start loving the rooms you actually live in, I would love to talk with our interior design team in Scottsdale AZ.

Living with Lolo brings the micro-makeover approach to luxury residential projects in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Arcadia. The Living with Lolo team, led by principal designer Lauren Lerner, holds Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577 and delivers micro-makeovers as a standalone service or as a first step into a larger design-build engagement. Named Best Interior Design by Phoenix Magazine in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a micro-makeover in interior design?

A micro-makeover is a focused design refresh that prioritizes the changes with the highest visual impact per dollar — typically lighting, textiles, window treatments, and accessories — without touching the architecture or replacing major furniture.

How much does a micro-makeover cost?

Most micro-makeover projects range from $8,000 to $40,000 depending on the number of rooms, the cost of the new pieces, and whether any light electrical work (such as adding a dimmer or a new fixture) is involved.

Is a micro-makeover worth it compared to a full renovation?

For homes where the bones are good and the layout works, a micro-makeover often delivers 80% of the visual impact of a full redesign at 20% of the cost. For homes with significant layout or infrastructure issues, a fuller scope usually makes more sense.

How does Living with Lolo approach micro-makeover projects?

Living with Lolo starts with an assessment of which changes will have the most impact per dollar in that specific home. From there the team develops a curated plan covering lighting, textiles, and accessories, and manages the procurement and installation end to end.

Ready to Transform Your Space?

A micro-makeover starts with a conversation. Let's talk about your home and figure out exactly what it needs. Book a Discovery Call

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with LoloLauren Lerner is an award-winning interior designer based in Scottsdale, Arizona, serving clients across the Phoenix metro and beyond. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Designer 2024, 2025, and 2026. As seen in House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, and more.

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 micro-makeover projects for high-end residential homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix metro. Living with Lolo manages both interior design and licensed general contracting under one roof, guiding projects from concept through installation.

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

Glass Front Doors: A Designer’s Honest Take on When They Work and When They Don’t

by Lauren Lerner | May 27, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Uncategorized

5 min read
May 2026

I will be honest with you: I still specify glass front doors for clients. I have installed them, I have loved the way they look, and in the right home they make a real statement. But I have also lived with one myself, and that experience changed how I think about them. Not because they are always wrong, but because context matters enormously, and most people do not think through the full picture before they fall in love with the look.When House Beautiful asked me about design decisions I have reconsidered, my glass front door came up immediately. My own home had a front entry that sat very close to the street. We have two dogs. And a glass front door, it turned out, meant they had a full view of every person, dog, and squirrel that walked by all day long. The barking was constant. That is my specific situation, and it is not yours. But it is a useful lens for thinking through whether a glass front door actually fits the way you live.

When Your Entry Is Close to the Street, a Glass Door Changes Everything

My house is the clearest example I have. The front door is set close to the street, with no long driveway, no courtyard, no buffer between the sidewalk and the entry. A glass front door in that situation means you are essentially living in a fishbowl. Everyone walking by can see directly into your entry hall. Delivery drivers can see whether anyone is home. And if you have dogs who pick up on movement outside, you are setting yourself up for a very noisy house.Our two dogs made the problem impossible to ignore. The moment anyone walked within twenty feet of the front door, they could see movement through the glass and they responded accordingly. It was not the door's fault, exactly. It was the combination of the door and how our house sits on the lot. A different house would have been a different experience entirely.This is the first question I now ask clients when they bring up glass front doors: how close is your entry to the street, and how is it oriented? If the answer is that the entry sits far back, angled away from foot traffic, or protected by a courtyard or deep porch, a glass front door can be beautiful and completely livable. If the entry faces directly onto a busy sidewalk, think hard before you commit.

Privacy Considerations Really Do Depend on Your Specific Home

The privacy issue is not universal. I have clients in gated communities where the front entry is a long drive from any public street, or where the door faces a private motor court. In those situations, a glass front door gives you a beautiful, light-filled entry with very little real-world privacy impact. Nobody is walking past that door at any point in the day.In a more urban or close-to-street setting, it is a different calculation. Even frosted or reeded glass gives away more than people expect. Light and movement read through it. The sense that someone can see in, even if they cannot see clearly, creates a different feeling in the home than a solid door does.Frosted glass, privacy film, and textured panels all help. But they also change the look, and you are still starting from a position of less privacy and adding back some of it, rather than starting from a position of full privacy and choosing when to let light in. My advice has always been to design for how you actually live, not for how the door looks in a listing photo.

"The right door for your home depends entirely on how your house sits on the lot. Context always beats trends." Lauren Lerner, Living with Lolo

Heat and Energy Are Genuine Concerns in Arizona

In a climate like ours, a glass front door is a direct line for solar heat gain. West and south-facing entries in particular can become uncomfortably warm in the afternoon, and the heat transfers directly into your entry hall. Even high-performance glazing has limitations when the sun is bearing down on it for six or more hours a day.Beyond comfort, there is the energy cost. Your HVAC system works harder to compensate for the heat load that comes through that glass. Over the years of owning a home, that adds up in real dollars on real utility bills. I have had clients retrofit their entries after a single summer because the heat was genuinely unbearable standing at the door.If natural light in the entry is important to you, and it often is, there are smarter ways to get it. I will cover those at the end of this post.

The Maintenance Reality Nobody Talks About

Glass front doors show everything. Fingerprints from every person who has touched the door. Smudges from pets and children. Dust and pollen that settles on the exterior glass, which is especially persistent in a dusty climate like ours in Arizona. Keeping a glass front door looking clean requires consistent effort, and the entry is one of the first things guests see when they arrive.This sounds like a minor thing, but over years of ownership it adds up. I have seen clients grow genuinely resentful of a door they once loved simply because of the upkeep. A solid door, by contrast, is forgiving. A well-chosen paint color or stain holds up beautifully and requires far less attention to look good day to day.If you love the look of glass in your entry, I would much rather see you invest in beautiful hardware on a solid door and get your light through other means.

When a Glass Front Door Actually Works Well

Here is the part people do not expect me to say: I think glass front doors can be a genuinely great choice. In the right home, with the right site conditions, they deliver something a solid door simply cannot.If your entry is set well back from the street, if you have a long approach, a gated drive, a courtyard, or a deep covered porch, the privacy concern essentially disappears. You get the natural light, the visual connection to the exterior, and the drama of an entry that feels open and welcoming. In a home where the front door is not visible from a public sidewalk, a glass door is not a fishbowl. It is just beautiful design.Similarly, if your home faces north or northeast and is protected from the worst of the afternoon sun, the heat gain concern is much less significant. High-performance glazing in a well-oriented entry can actually be a smart choice that brings light without the energy penalty.No dogs that react to street movement also helps significantly, as my own house made very clear.

A solid entry door with thoughtful interior design creates an arrival moment that is just as dramatic as any glass door. Living with Lolo project, Scottsdale, AZ.

Alternatives Worth Considering

The good news is that there are beautiful alternatives that give you the light, the drama, and the curb appeal you want without the tradeoffs, regardless of your site conditions.Sidelights are my first suggestion. Flanking your door with narrow glass panels on one or both sides gives you natural light in the entry without compromising the door itself. You get the bright, welcoming look of a glass entry with a solid door at the center. The sidelights can be frosted, reeded, or textured so you get light diffusion without visibility from the street.Transom windows above the door are another excellent option. They let in daylight at a high angle, which means less direct heat gain and virtually no privacy concerns. Combined with a striking solid door, a well-designed transom can give your entry more presence than most glass doors achieve.Finally, do not underestimate what a bold paint color, exceptional hardware, or architectural detailing can do for a solid door. Some of the most memorable front entries I have designed have no glass at all. The best entries create a sense of arrival through proportion, material, and detail, not transparency. If you are working with us at Living with Lolo, Scottsdale's interior design firm, on a full-service project in the Phoenix area, your entry is always a conversation we have early in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are glass front doors a good idea?

It depends on your home's site conditions. If your front entry sits well back from the street, faces away from foot traffic, or is protected by a courtyard or covered porch, a glass front door can be a beautiful and practical choice. If your entry is close to a public sidewalk and you have dogs or value privacy, a solid door with sidelights or transom windows often works better.

What are the pros and cons of a glass front door?

Pros include natural light in the entry, strong curb appeal, and a welcoming, open feel. Cons include reduced privacy if the entry faces a public sidewalk, increased heat gain in hot climates, higher maintenance due to fingerprints and smudging, and potential security vulnerability. Whether the pros outweigh the cons depends heavily on your specific home and site.

What is a good alternative to a glass front door?

The best alternatives are sidelights (narrow glass panels flanking a solid door), transom windows above the door, or a beautifully finished solid door with exceptional hardware and architectural detailing. Sidelights and transoms deliver natural light and visual openness in the entry while keeping the door itself solid for privacy and security.

Do glass front doors make a home hotter in Arizona?

They can, particularly on west or south-facing entries. The sun's direct exposure through glass transfers heat into the entry and forces the HVAC system to work harder. North or northeast-facing entries with high-performance glazing are much less affected. Homeowners in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix area should consider their entry's orientation carefully before choosing a glass front door.

Ready to Design an Entry That Works for How You Live?

Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design 2024, 2025, and 2026, Living with Lolo is a licensed Arizona General Contractor (ROC #347577). Book a Discovery Call

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

About Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

Living with Lolo Featured in Forbes: What the 2026 Houzz Home Renovation Trends Mean for Scottsdale Homeowners

by Lauren Lerner | Apr 23, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

3 min readApril 2026

In April 2026, Forbes published coverage of the 2026 Houzz and Home Study, the largest annual survey of residential remodeling activity in the United States with more than 20,000 respondents. Forbes selected seven images from Living with Lolo's Bronco Revival project in Scottsdale to illustrate the article, placing the firm alongside national renovation data that shapes how homeowners, builders, and designers understand the current remodeling market. This post breaks down what the 2026 Houzz study found and what those findings mean specifically for homeowners in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the broader Phoenix metro.

Why the Houzz and Home Study Matters

The annual Houzz and Home Study is not a lifestyle trends piece. It is a data-driven survey of actual renovation activity: what rooms homeowners renovated, what they spent, how they found their contractors, what caused project delays, and how spending compared to the prior year. Because the sample size exceeds 20,000 respondents, the data is large enough to be statistically meaningful and is widely referenced by designers, contractors, real estate professionals, and developers across the country.

Forbes coverage of the 2026 study used Living with Lolo's project photography to help readers visualize renovation outcomes across kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom categories. Having project work selected for this kind of coverage reflects a standard of finish quality that resonates nationally, not just in the Arizona luxury market.

What the 2026 Houzz Data Shows

The 2026 Houzz and Home Study found that roughly half of all homeowners in the United States planned a renovation in 2026, a rate consistent with prior years but with a notable shift toward larger, more complex projects. The national median kitchen remodel cost reached $24,000, up from $22,000 the year before. Primary bathroom remodels have a national median of $15,000, with high-end remodels reaching $75,000. Living room and bedroom projects continue to grow as homeowners invest in spaces they now use differently than they did before the shift toward working and spending more time at home.

The study also found that homeowners are taking longer to make renovation decisions but spending more when they do. The planning-to-execution gap has lengthened, which tracks with what the Living with Lolo team sees from clients who spend six to twelve months in the research phase before booking a consultation.

How Scottsdale Compares to the National Data

National medians are useful for understanding broad trends but they describe a market that includes entry-level renovations in lower-cost metros. In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, the starting point for a luxury kitchen renovation is typically several times the national median. Clients working with Living with Lolo on kitchen projects are generally investing between $120,000 and $280,000 depending on scope, with custom cabinetry, premium appliance packages, and high-end stone countertops as standard expectations rather than upgrades.

Primary bathroom renovations in this market follow a similar pattern. Freestanding soaking tubs, steam showers, custom tile work, and spa-level lighting push project costs well above the national high-end benchmark. The national data describes what is typical across the full U.S. market. The Scottsdale luxury market operates in a different category.

What the Trends Mean for Homeowners Planning a 2026 Renovation

Several themes from the 2026 study have clear implications for homeowners in this market. First, material and labor costs have not retreated to pre-2022 levels. The cost environment has stabilized but has not reversed, which means renovation budgets that were set two or three years ago need to be revisited before project planning begins in earnest.

Second, the data shows that homeowners who work with full-service firms, meaning design and construction under one contract, report fewer cost overruns and shorter project durations than homeowners who coordinate separate design and construction vendors. This reflects what the integrated design-build model is designed to solve: the coordination friction that adds time and cost to every handoff between separate firms.

Third, outdoor living and wellness-oriented spaces continue to appear in the data as high-priority renovation categories. In Scottsdale, where usable outdoor living season extends well beyond what most of the country experiences, this trend is not new. Clients have been investing in covered patios, outdoor kitchens, and pool surrounds for years. What is shifting is the quality expectation, with materials and finish levels approaching interior standards.

About the Bronco Revival Project

The Living with Lolo project that Forbes selected for its 2026 Houzz coverage is the Bronco Revival, a whole-home renovation in Scottsdale that involved structural changes, a full kitchen transformation, primary suite redesign, and comprehensive finish updates throughout. The project represents the kind of integrated design-build scope that is central to how the firm operates: design and construction managed under one contract, from first consultation through final installation.

You can see more of the Living with Lolo project portfolio to understand the range of work the firm takes on. If you are planning a renovation in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley, you can book a consultation here.

This coverage came from Forbes picking up our perspective alongside the Houzz annual report. What makes these trends useful is understanding which ones translate directly to the Scottsdale and Phoenix market, and which ones apply differently here because of climate, architecture, and buyer expectations. I work in this market every week and can tell you which trends our clients are actually asking for. — Lauren Lerner

Related Resources

Interested in what 2026 trends mean for your Scottsdale home?

We can walk you through which trends make sense for your specific architecture, neighborhood, and lifestyle on a discovery call.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top home renovation trends in Scottsdale for 2026?

Based on the Houzz report and what we see on active projects in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, the strongest 2026 trends locally are indoor-outdoor integration, warm material palettes including natural stone and wood, primary bathroom upgrades, and whole-home renovations that address both aesthetics and energy performance.

Are the national Houzz trends relevant in Arizona?

Most are, but they apply with Arizona-specific modifications. Indoor-outdoor living trends map directly to Scottsdale. Minimalist kitchen trends are popular but we tend toward warmer, more textural versions than the colder Nordic minimalism common in northern markets. Anything about natural light needs to account for solar heat gain in our climate.

Ready to Transform Your Home?

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

The renovation trends covered in the Forbes piece align closely with what we see in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley market. If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation and want real local cost numbers, our luxury interior design cost guide goes deeper on what these projects cost here specifically. For homeowners planning a remodel that involves construction, read what it means to work with a licensed design-build firm versus hiring a designer and contractor separately. Projects like the Bronco Revival featured in Forbes are managed under our Scottsdale high-end remodel and kitchen remodeling services.

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

You Closed on Your Scottsdale Condo. Now Let’s Make It Actually Yours.

by Lauren Lerner | Apr 15, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

3 min readApril 2026

Condo renovations in Scottsdale are a different kind of project from single-family home remodels , not simpler, just different in the ways that matter. The constraints are real: HOA approval processes, shared wall and floor assemblies that affect what trades can do and when, building access for materials and crews, and sometimes elevator logistics that add time to every delivery. But within those constraints, the opportunity to create a genuinely transformed, highly tailored space is exactly what it is in any high-end renovation.

As interior designers in Scottsdale AZ, we have renovated and designed condos throughout the city, from resale units in established high-rises to new-construction shells in luxury towers that arrived as a blank box. Both scenarios require the same discipline: understanding what the building allows, designing within those constraints without letting them determine the outcome, and executing with the precision that a high-finish project demands in a smaller footprint.

What Makes Condo Renovation Different

The most immediate difference is the approval layer. Most Scottsdale condo buildings with active HOAs require design and construction approval before work begins. The scope of that review varies , some buildings require only a brief submittal, others require engineered drawings and written approval from the building management and neighboring units. At Living with Lolo, we have navigated this process across multiple buildings and know what each tier of approval typically requires and how long it takes.

Construction logistics inside a multi-unit building require more coordination than a standalone home. Crews typically cannot arrive before 8 a.m. and must clear the building by a certain hour. Materials come up in service elevators that must be reserved in advance and that limit what can be moved in a single trip. Dust containment is more stringent because neighbors share walls and hallways. None of this is a problem with proper planning , it simply requires that the project manager has done this before and built the constraints into the schedule.

The mechanical and structural elements also differ. Condo floors typically have a concrete slab below the finished flooring, which affects how plumbing can be rerouted , in many cases, it cannot be, or requires jack-hammering the slab, which triggers both significant cost and HOA approval requirements. Electrical panels are often shared or have building-specific constraints. HVAC is sometimes centralized. A contractor who primarily works on single-family homes will encounter these constraints as surprises. We do not.

Design Priorities in a Condo Renovation

In a smaller footprint, every decision carries more weight. There is no room for a finish that is slightly wrong or a piece of furniture that is slightly oversized. The spatial planning has to be precise, the material palette has to be cohesive, and the lighting has to work hard because the architecture often provides less of it than a single-family home.

For Scottsdale condo renovations, we typically focus on opening the kitchen to the living area wherever the structure allows, maximizing natural light, specifying materials that read as luxurious at the scale of the space (large-format stone, custom millwork, high-quality hardware), and creating storage solutions that keep the visual field clean. In a condo, clutter reads more loudly than it does in a larger home. Good storage design is a design priority, not just a practical one.

Because we hold both an interior design credential and an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, we manage the full scope , from HOA submittal through construction through final styling , under one contract. For condo clients who often have more complex building approval requirements and tighter construction windows, having one accountable firm managing the entire process is not a convenience, it is the thing that makes the project work.

We have renovated and designed condos throughout Scottsdale, including in Old Town, Gainey Ranch, and DC Ranch. Condos have specific constraints that differ from single-family homes — HOA approval requirements, elevator access for deliveries, concrete subfloors that require different flooring approaches, and shared walls that affect what you can and cannot move. We know how to work within all of it. , Lauren Lerner

Related Resources

Renovating or furnishing a Scottsdale condo?

We work with condo owners across Scottsdale and can handle everything from HOA approval through final installation.

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What a well-designed space for a high-performing professional looks like:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renovate a condo in Scottsdale?

Yes, but condo renovations require HOA approval for most structural or aesthetic changes. You will need to submit plans, get board approval, and in some buildings schedule work within approved hours. A design-build firm that has worked in Scottsdale condos understands this process and can manage it on your behalf.

How long does a condo renovation take in Scottsdale?

A kitchen and bath condo renovation typically takes 3 to 5 months from design through completion, shorter than a single-family remodel because the scope is more contained. HOA approval can add 2 to 6 weeks depending on the building. A full-interior condo redesign without structural work can move faster.

Do I need a designer for a condo renovation?

If you want a condo that functions beautifully and reflects a clear design point of view, yes. Condos are often small enough that every decision has a visible effect on the whole. Getting spatial planning, materials, lighting, and furniture selection right from the start is much more cost-effective than correcting decisions later.

Ready to Transform Your Home?

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

If you want to see what a fully remote, furnishing-only project looks like from start to finish, read how we furnished a Scottsdale condo for a Wisconsin family before they ever stepped inside. For a realistic sense of what a condo renovation or full furnishing costs at a luxury level, our interior design cost guide covers real numbers from completed projects. And if your condo renovation involves any construction, read what Arizona law requires for permit work before you hire anyone.

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

How We Furnished a Luxury Scottsdale Condo Before Our Clients Ever Stepped Inside

by Lauren Lerner | Apr 15, 2026 | Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

2 min readApril 2026

Furnishing a luxury condo in Scottsdale is a different challenge from furnishing a single-family home. The scale is tighter, every piece carries more visual weight, and the relationship between furniture, light, and space is less forgiving. A sofa that would disappear into a large great room defines the entire living area of a 2,000-square-foot condo. Getting the scale right is not optional , it is the difference between a space that feels tailored and one that feels either cramped or underfurnished.

As a luxury interior design firm in Scottsdale AZ, we have furnished condos throughout the city for clients ranging from primary residences in luxury high-rises to second homes used for part of the year, to investment properties being prepared for the short-term rental market at the highest tier. Each scenario requires a different prioritization, but the underlying discipline is the same: every piece needs to earn its place, every finish needs to read as intentional, and the overall effect needs to feel like a complete, considered environment rather than a collection of furniture.

Starting With the Right Scale

The most common mistake in condo furnishing is defaulting to furniture sized for a larger space. Oversized sectionals that block traffic flow, dining tables with too many leaves for the room, king beds in bedrooms with three feet of clearance on each side. These are all signs of furnishing by category , buying what the room is supposed to have , rather than by space planning.

On every condo project, we start with a precise floor plan and block in the furniture to scale before any purchasing decisions are made. This is not optional. A piece that looks right in a showroom may reduce the effective circulation in a condo living room to nothing. Working from plans prevents purchases that need to be returned or replaced after delivery , which is a real cost, and a real source of client frustration, that proper planning eliminates.

Material and Finish Selection at the Luxury Tier

In a luxury condo, the materials carry the design. You do not have the architectural drama of a vaulted ceiling or the landscape connection of a great room with mountain views. What you have is the quality of the surfaces, the precision of the upholstery, and the thoughtfulness of the objects in the space. This is where investment in material quality pays off most visibly.

For Scottsdale luxury condo projects, we typically specify natural stone surfaces wherever the floor plan allows , a stone-topped kitchen island, marble or quartzite in the primary bath, natural stone in the entry. We source upholstered pieces from vendors whose fabrication quality will hold up to the scrutiny a smaller space invites. We treat hardware, lighting, and plumbing fixtures as design statements rather than afterthoughts, because in a tight footprint every element is visible.

The palette tends toward warm neutrals anchored by natural materials , the same transitional vocabulary that characterizes most of our work in this market. In a condo, this palette has the added advantage of making the space feel larger while maintaining warmth. Busy patterns or strong color in a small space tend to make it feel smaller and more dated faster.

The Furnishing-Only Project vs. the Full Renovation

Some of our condo clients come to us with a newly purchased unit that needs furnishing but no structural changes. Others come to us with a unit that needs both renovation and furnishing as a combined scope. The process differs, but the end goal is the same: a fully realized, styled, move-in-ready home where every layer , architecture, finishes, furniture, lighting, and accessories , reads as intentional and cohesive.

For furnishing-only projects, we provide full-service procurement: we source every piece, manage vendor relationships, coordinate delivery and installation, and handle the final styling. Clients do not need to manage a single purchase order. For renovation-and-furnishing projects, the same team that designed the renovation executes the furnishing, so the finishes and the furniture are specified with each other in mind from the beginning. That integration shows in the final result in a way that is hard to achieve when the renovation and the furnishing are handled by separate parties.

Our clients for this condo project were not going to be on-site during the process. They trusted us to source, specify, and install everything before they arrived. That level of trust comes from a very clearly defined scope and a team that knows how to execute independently. The result was a fully furnished, styled home ready to live in from day one. , Lauren Lerner

Related Resources

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What a fully designed and furnished space looks like at reveal:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an interior designer furnish your home before you move in?

Yes. Full-service interior designers handle procurement, delivery, and installation of all furnishings, so a home can be completely ready before you arrive. This is particularly common for second homes, relocation projects, and clients with demanding schedules who do not want to be present for every delivery.

What is a full-service furnishing package?

A full-service furnishing package covers everything from furniture selection and procurement through delivery coordination, installation, and final styling. The designer manages all vendor relationships, handles damage claims, and ensures every piece is placed and styled correctly before the reveal.

Ready to Transform Your Home?

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

If your Scottsdale condo needs more than furnishing and involves any construction or finish work, read about how we handle both design and construction under one roof. For a full picture of what a luxury furnishing or renovation project costs in this market, our interior design cost guide includes real project numbers including a furnishing-only condo scope very similar to this one. You can also read more about our Scottsdale interior design services and how we work with out-of-state buyers.

Lauren Lerner

Principal Designer, Living with Lolo

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

Living with Lolo is Hiring a Construction Project Manager in Scottsdale, AZ

by Lauren Lerner | Apr 15, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

11 min readApril 2026

We Are Hiring a Construction Project Manager in Scottsdale, AZ

Living with Lolo is a luxury interior design and construction firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since 2017, we have built a reputation for doing something most firms in the Phoenix metro area cannot: we hold both an interior design credential and an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors general contractor license under one roof. That means our clients get a fully integrated design and build experience from the first concept through the final walkthrough.

We are growing and we are looking for a Construction Project Manager in Scottsdale to grow with us.

What Makes This Role Different From Other Construction Jobs in Scottsdale

This is not a typical construction PM position in the Phoenix metro area. You will not be handed off between a designer and a separate GC. At Living with Lolo, design and construction work together from day one. You will be embedded in that process, managing luxury residential projects across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix metro area</a>, and working directly with our design team to make sure every build reflects the standard our clients expect.

Our projects typically range from $150,000 to over $1 million. Our clients are discerning, our standards are high, and the work is genuinely interesting.

Modern kitchen with black cabinets, a large island topped with a white countertop, four wooden stools, and a potted plant centerpiece—Living with Lolo.

Brandie R.

Director of Construction, Living with Lolo, Scottsdale AZ

★★★★★

"I love working at Living with Lolo because there's a level of trust here that you don't find everywhere. We're given the autonomy to make decisions, move quickly, and figure things out without layers of red tape. It's a team of genuinely driven people who just own what they do, and getting to see a space fully come to life for a client, and their reaction to it, never gets old."

What You Will Do

You will manage all phases of luxury residential construction projects in Scottsdale and the surrounding Phoenix metro area from pre-construction planning through final completion. That includes budgeting, scheduling, subcontractor management, client communication, quality control, and site safety. You will work inside our project management systems, Buildertrend and Airtable, and you will have a direct hand in refining the processes and workflows that support our growth.

A few things that set this role apart from a standard construction PM position in Arizona: you will collaborate with our design team during pre-bidding to make sure selections are cost-aligned and technically feasible before a single material is ordered. You will manage a structured A/B/C trade tier system. And you will have real input into how we build and improve our construction operations over time.

Sara M.

Interior Designer, Living with Lolo, Scottsdale AZ

★★★★★

"I love working at Living with Lolo because we all share the same passion and end goal, which is to create and expertly execute designs for our clients homes so they can make lasting memories with their families. Working here is different from anywhere I've ever worked because Lauren is always looking to improve our systems and processes and actually follows through with urgency. This translates into our team's voices being heard and seeing something actually get done about our feedback. Simply put, LWL is truly an incredible place to work."

What We Offer

We built our benefits around how people actually want to work.

Unlimited paid time off and flexible hours. We care about results, not face time.
Remote work options. Not every day needs to be on site for a meeting.
Wellness reimbursement. We want our team healthy and taken care of.
401k with company match. We invest in your future.
Opportunities to invest in our real estate development projects. This one is rare. Through our sister company, team members have the opportunity to invest alongside us in luxury residential development projects in the Scottsdale and Phoenix market.

Most construction jobs in Arizona do not come with wealth-building access like this.

Debra S.

Construction Project Manager, Living with Lolo, Scottsdale AZ

★★★★★

"What I enjoy most is that no two days are the same and I'm trusted to actually run my projects, not just manage tasks or a schedule. I love problem solving in real time and helping bring really thoughtful designs to life. Living with Lolo is different because the level of design and attention to detail is so high, it pushes you to do better work, and the collaboration between design and construction means everyone is aligned to create something that really feels special."

Who We Are Looking For

You have experience managing luxury residential construction projects in the Scottsdale or Phoenix metro area. You are organized, direct, and you take ownership. You understand that communication is as important as execution on high-end projects. You are comfortable working inside systems and also comfortable telling us when a system needs to be better.

If you have experience with Buildertrend and Airtable, that is a plus. If you do not, you are willing to learn fast.

About Living with Lolo

Living with Lolo was founded in 2017 by Lauren Lerner in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are a full-service luxury interior design and design-build firm with an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, a nine-person team, and a portfolio of completed projects across Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Our work has been recognized by KBB, Houzz, Inc. Magazine, and Southwest Inc. Magazine.

We are not a volume builder. We care deeply about design, craftsmanship, and the people we work with, including the ones on our team.

Apply Now

To apply for the Construction Project Manager position at Living with Lolo in Scottsdale, visit the link below.

Apply for the Construction Project Manager Role at Living with Lolo

A living room with a curved white fireplace, large TV above, beige armchairs, potted plant, and windows with brown Roman shades. — Living with Lolo.

Molly O.

Executive Assistant, Living with Lolo, Scottsdale AZ

★★★★★

"I enjoy working at Living with Lolo because of the flexibility and hybrid work environment. I also really enjoy how collaborative the team is and how we all come together to bring our clients' projects to life."

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of projects will I manage at Living with Lolo?

You will manage luxury residential construction projects in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Projects typically range from $150,000 to over $1 million and involve close collaboration with our interior design team from pre-construction through final completion.

Is Living with Lolo a licensed general contractor in Arizona?

Yes. Living with Lolo holds an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors general contractor license in addition to our interior design credential. This dual license structure is rare among design firms in the Scottsdale market and is central to how we deliver fully integrated design and build projects.

What makes Living with Lolo different from other design build firms in Scottsdale?

Most firms either design or build. Living with Lolo does both under one roof with a single team, a single point of accountability, and an active Arizona ROC license. That means our Construction Project Manager works alongside designers from the very beginning of a project, not after decisions have already been made.

Does Living with Lolo offer remote work for the Construction Project Manager role?

Yes. While the role requires on-site presence for project management, we offer flexible and remote work options for administrative and planning work. We also offer unlimited paid time off, wellness reimbursement, and a 401k with company match.

How do I apply for the Construction Project Manager position at Living with Lolo?

You can apply by visiting the application link on this page. We review all applications and respond to qualified candidates within a reasonable timeframe.

Where is Living with Lolo located and what areas do you serve?

Living with Lolo is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and serves clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix metro area. We have been operating since 2017 and have completed luxury residential projects throughout the region.

Living with Lolo is a licensed interior design and design-build firm serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Arizona ROC License 347577.

Lauren Lerner

livingwithlolo.com/

Why Hiring a Licensed General Contractor and Interior Designer in Scottsdale Is the Smartest Decision You Can Make for Your Home

by Lauren Lerner | Apr 4, 2026 | Interior Design Tips, Modern Interior Design Ideas, Scottsdale Interior Design Projects

3 min readApril 2026

When a major home renovation goes sideways in Scottsdale, there is almost always a version of the same story behind it. The homeowners hired a great designer and a separate general contractor, the two did not communicate well, decisions made during design did not account for construction realities, and the project ended up costing more and taking longer than anyone planned. This is not a rare occurrence. It is the default outcome when design and construction operate as separate businesses with different incentives.

Hiring a firm that holds both an interior design credential and an active Arizona contractor license changes that dynamic entirely. Here is why it is the most important decision you will make before a renovation starts.

Two Separate Firms Create Two Separate Sets of Problems

When you hire an interior designer and a general contractor as separate vendors, you become the project manager by default. Design decisions, change orders, material lead times, subcontractor schedules, permit status, and budget tracking all pass through you. Both firms are accountable to you individually, but neither is accountable to the other. That gap is where cost overruns and schedule delays live.

The designer specifies a custom tile that arrives eight weeks after it was supposed to. The GC charges for idle crew time. The homeowner absorbs the cost and the stress. This is not a failure of either firm individually. It is a structural problem with a model that separates two functions that should be integrated.

What a Licensed Design-Build Firm Actually Controls

When a single firm holds both the design credential and the contractor license, every decision gets made with full awareness of both sides. A designer who is also the GC knows whether a specification is buildable, what it will cost in labor, how it will affect the project timeline, and whether a better alternative exists at a lower cost or faster lead time. That knowledge does not exist in a siloed design practice.

At Living with Lolo, Scottsdale's licensed interior designer and general contractor, Lauren Lerner LLC holds ROC 347577, an active Arizona Registrar of Contractors general contractor license, alongside full interior design services. This means one firm designs the space, pulls the permits, manages the subcontractors, and oversees installation through completion. One contract. One point of accountability. One team that is responsible for the full outcome.

The Real Cost of Hiring Separately

Clients who hire separately often discover that the cost savings they expected from using a leaner design-only firm do not materialize. The GC charges a markup on materials. The designer charges for time spent coordinating with the GC. When a design decision requires a construction change, both firms bill for the revision. The coordination overhead is real and it accumulates across a multi-month project.

An integrated firm eliminates that overhead. Design and construction decisions are made together. Procurement is managed from one ledger. Change orders are handled internally rather than negotiated between two separate contracts. For a project in the $400,000 to $1.2 million range, the difference in coordination efficiency represents a meaningful number.

What the License Actually Means in Arizona

An Arizona ROC (Registrar of Contractors) general contractor license is not a business registration or a trade certification. It requires demonstrated financial stability, a passing score on a licensing examination, proof of insurance, and compliance with Arizona state law for all residential and commercial work. Licensed contractors in Arizona are accountable to the ROC for workmanship, code compliance, and consumer protection.

When you hire an unlicensed contractor or a design firm that partners with unlicensed labor, you lose those protections. In Arizona, homeowners who work with licensed contractors have recourse through the ROC's recovery fund if work is found to be defective or incomplete. That protection does not exist with unlicensed work. For a project in a high-value home in Paradise Valley or Scottsdale, the license is not a bureaucratic detail. It is a substantive protection for your home and your investment.

How the Integrated Model Works in Practice

The first meeting with Living with Lolo covers both design vision and construction scope. Before any design work begins, the team identifies what structural changes are required, what permits will be needed, and what the realistic cost envelope looks like for the full project. Clients leave the first meeting with a clear picture of what they are actually signing up for, not a design concept that will need to be re-evaluated once a GC gets involved.

From there, the project moves through design development, permit submission, construction, and final furnishing and installation as a single continuous workflow. No handoff between firms. No translation of design intent into construction language. The team that designed the space builds it. That integration is what makes the difference between a project that finishes on time and on budget and one that does not.

If you are planning a major renovation in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley and want to understand how an integrated design-build approach would work for your specific project, you can review the Living with Lolo process or book a consultation directly.

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In over a decade of working in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Arcadia, I have seen what happens when the design and construction sides do not communicate with each other, and I have seen what is possible when they work as one. My work has been featured in Architectural Digest and House Beautiful for exactly this kind of integrated approach. This post explains why it matters and how to find a firm that actually does it well. Lauren Lerner, Living with Lolo

Related Resources

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a design-build firm?

A design-build firm handles both interior design and licensed general contracting under one roof. You work with one team from concept through final installation rather than managing two separate firms.

Is it better to hire a GC and interior designer separately?

Most clients find that separate firms create communication gaps, budget surprises, and longer timelines. When both work for the same firm, decisions happen faster and accountability is clear.

Does Living with Lolo handle both design and construction?

Yes. Living with Lolo is a full-service interior design and licensed general contracting firm based in Scottsdale, serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

What is the benefit of one firm handling both?

The design intent is preserved through every phase. No handoff between firms, no translation loss, no gap in accountability. Timelines and budgets are more predictable because the same team managing the specifications manages the build.