What It Actually Takes to Design an Estate in Paradise Valley
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
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.
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 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.
What Is a Micro-Makeover? The Interior Design Strategy That Actually Works
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.
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 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.
Design-Build vs. Hiring a Designer and Contractor Separately in Scottsdale, AZ (2026 Guide)
Design-Build vs. Hiring a Designer and Contractor Separately in Scottsdale, AZ (2026 Guide)
When you hire a design-build firm in Scottsdale, one licensed team handles both the interior design and the construction under a single contract, which eliminates the communication gaps, budget surprises, and schedule delays that routinely occur when a separate designer and general contractor have to coordinate across two different agreements.
That sentence is the short answer. But the decision between these two models has real financial and scheduling consequences for a high-end Scottsdale renovation, and understanding exactly where those consequences show up is worth the time before you sign with anyone.
Living with Lolo is a Scottsdale interior design firm with a licensed general contracting practice. Lauren Lerner holds both an interior design credential and Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577, which means Living with Lolo can legally pull permits, manage all licensed trades, and run construction from start to finish while maintaining full design control. This guide covers what that actually means for your project, where the separate-hire model creates problems, and when each approach makes sense. If you are comparing the two service categories more broadly, see interior designer vs design-build firm.
What "Design-Build" Actually Means in Scottsdale
The term "design-build" gets used loosely in the remodeling industry. In Arizona, it has a specific legal meaning: a single firm holds both the interior design responsibility and an active Arizona general contractor license, allowing them to manage permitted construction work under the same contract as the design services.
Without a contractor license, an interior designer in Arizona can specify, source, and design everything in your home, but they cannot legally manage permitted construction. The moment structural work, plumbing, electrical changes, or mechanical modifications are involved, Arizona state law requires a separately licensed GC to pull permits and supervise trades on site.
Most interior designers in Scottsdale are not licensed general contractors. A small number of firms hold both credentials. Living with Lolo is one of them, operating under ROC #347577 with the ability to manage every phase of a luxury renovation under a single agreement.
That dual license is not a minor distinction. It defines whether one firm can own the full outcome of your project or whether you are coordinating between two independent teams who do not share accountability.
The Coordination Problem When You Hire Separately
The friction between a standalone interior designer and a separately hired general contractor is predictable, well-documented, and expensive. It shows up in the same places on almost every project:
Budget Gaps Between Design and Construction
An interior designer specifies finishes, fixtures, and custom millwork based on their best understanding of construction costs. A general contractor prices the work based on their subs and their reads of the drawings. When those two sets of numbers don't match, the client is caught in the middle. On a $500,000 Scottsdale renovation, a 10% budget gap between design assumptions and construction pricing is a $50,000 problem that arrives after design fees have already been paid and drawings have already been produced.
When design and construction are handled by the same firm, the principal who is specifying the $12,000 range hood is the same person responsible for getting it installed within the agreed budget. That alignment changes how decisions get made at every stage of the project.
Schedule Delays and Subcontractor Availability
A designer who specifies a particular custom plaster finish or a European stone requires a contractor who has a relationship with the right artisan or supplier to execute it. When those relationships don't exist, the contractor either substitutes a lower-quality option or spends weeks sourcing someone who can deliver the specification. Either outcome costs money and schedule that the client absorbs.
At Living with Lolo's remodeling practice, the trades, vendors, and specialty artisans we work with are vetted against our own design standards. There is no gap between what Lauren Lerner specifies and what the construction team is equipped to build.
Permit and HOA Coordination
In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, renovation permits require drawings that match what will actually be built. When a designer is producing drawings and a contractor is managing permit submission, discrepancies between the two sets of documents trigger revision requests from the building department that push start dates back by weeks.
When one firm owns both the drawings and the permit submission, those discrepancies close before they reach the permit desk. You can see how Living with Lolo manages the full permit and construction lifecycle on our project process page.
What the Data Shows About Separate-Hire Renovations
The coordination problems described above are not anecdotal. Industry research consistently quantifies the cost and schedule impact of fragmented project delivery.
The 2024 Houzz U.S. Houzz Home Study found that homeowners who experienced significant cost overruns most commonly cited poor communication between their designer and contractor as a contributing factor. Among high-end remodelers (projects over $100,000), budget overruns of 10% or more occurred in roughly one in four projects when design and construction were handled by separate teams.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has documented that integrated project delivery models, where one entity controls both design and construction, routinely deliver projects 10 to 15 percent closer to original budget estimates than separately-managed projects. For a $600,000 Scottsdale luxury remodel, that gap translates directly into real dollars the client either keeps or loses.
The Scottsdale luxury market amplifies these dynamics. A national median kitchen remodel runs approximately $26,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Housing Survey. A luxury kitchen remodel in Scottsdale with high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and stone surfaces typically runs $85,000 to $200,000 depending on scope, according to data from Living with Lolo's completed projects. At that scale, coordination failures are not a minor inconvenience. They are meaningful financial events.
What Changes When Everything Runs Under One Contract
Working with a design-build firm in Scottsdale like Living with Lolo changes the structure of the project in ways that have direct consequences for the client experience:
Single Point of Accountability
There is no conversation between Lauren Lerner and a GC about whose scope covers a particular item. The same firm that designed the space is responsible for building it. When a decision changes mid-project, it gets made by people who understand both the design intent and the construction reality, in the same room, on the same day.
One Contract, One Fee Structure
Separate designer and GC agreements often have overlapping charges for project management, procurement coordination, and site visits. A single design-build contract consolidates those charges into one transparent fee structure. You are not paying two firms for administrative work that only needs to happen once.
One Set of Drawings
The design drawings used for permitting are the same drawings used to build. There is no translation layer between what the designer intended and what the contractor built. In Scottsdale neighborhoods like Silverleaf and DC Ranch, where community architectural review requirements add a layer of submission complexity, having one firm manage both the design documentation and the permit process eliminates a category of risk entirely.
Remote Client Management
Many Living with Lolo clients in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Arcadia travel frequently or split time between residences. When design and construction are managed by one team, the client does not need to be present to coordinate between two firms. Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team manage the full project and deliver a finished home. You leave. We build. You return to what was designed.
When Hiring Separately Makes Sense
The design-build model is not the right answer for every project, and Lauren Lerner will tell you that directly. There are situations where hiring a standalone designer makes more sense:
- Furnishing and styling only. If no permitted construction is involved and you simply need a designer to specify furniture, art, and finishes for an already-built space, a dedicated interior design firm without a GC license is entirely appropriate.
- You already have a contractor you trust. If you have worked with a GC on previous Scottsdale projects and have an established relationship, adding a separate designer to that team can work well provided the designer and contractor have experience coordinating together.
- Small-scope work. A single bathroom refresh or a kitchen cosmetic update that does not involve structural, plumbing, or electrical changes may not require the coordination infrastructure of a full design-build engagement.
The threshold where design-build starts to pay for itself is generally a full room remodel involving permitted trades, or any project where the design specification is complex enough that the builder needs to be involved in the design decisions from the start. On projects in Scottsdale at $150,000 and above, the coordination premium of the separate-hire model tends to exceed the perceived cost savings almost every time.
How Living with Lolo Runs a Design-Build Project in Scottsdale
Lauren Lerner founded Living with Lolo as a full-service design-build firm specifically because the client outcomes are better under integrated management. Living with Lolo has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026, and has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, The Wall Street Journal, and Vogue.
Every project at Living with Lolo starts with a discovery call where Lauren assesses scope, budget, and timeline before anyone commits to anything. If the project is a fit, the engagement covers everything: design concept through construction documents, permit submission, trade coordination, procurement, installation, and final walkthrough. The client has one contact. One contract. One team.
Living with Lolo serves Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro. You can see completed projects in the portfolio, and full service details are available on the services page. If you are planning a renovation and want to understand whether design-build is the right model for your project, book a 15-minute discovery call to talk through the specifics.
Ready to Talk Through Your Renovation?
Lauren Lerner and the Living with Lolo team work with clients across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. We hold Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577 and manage design and construction under one contract.Book a Discovery Call
Related Resources
- + General contractor services in Scottsdale, AZ
- + Remodeling contractor in Scottsdale, AZ
- + Luxury interior design services in Scottsdale
- + Interior designer in Paradise Valley
- + What to expect during a whole-home remodel in Scottsdale
- + How Living with Lolo manages your project from concept to completion
Frequently Asked Questions About Design-Build in Scottsdale
What is the difference between a design-build firm and hiring a designer and contractor separately in Scottsdale?
A design-build firm like Living with Lolo holds both an interior design credential and an Arizona general contractor license (ROC #347577), so one team manages your entire project under a single contract. When you hire separately, you sign two independent agreements and coordinate between two teams who do not share accountability for budget, schedule, or final result. The design-build model eliminates the communication gaps and budget discrepancies that commonly occur in the separate-hire approach.
Is Living with Lolo a licensed general contractor in Arizona?
Yes. Living with Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor License ROC #347577. Lauren Lerner and the team can legally pull permits, manage all licensed trades, and run permitted construction from start to finish throughout Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area. You can verify the license directly through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
Does design-build cost more than hiring a designer and contractor separately in Scottsdale?
Not in total project cost. The perception that design-build is more expensive usually comes from comparing upfront fees, but it ignores the coordination overhead that accumulates when two teams are managing the same project. Industry research from the 2024 Houzz Home Study found that separate-hire renovation projects overrun original budgets at significantly higher rates than integrated design-build projects. For high-end Scottsdale renovations above $150,000, the coordination premium of the separate-hire model typically exceeds any fee savings.
What types of projects does design-build make sense for in Scottsdale?
Design-build is the right model for any project that involves permitted construction alongside interior design, such as full home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels requiring structural or trade work, additions, or new construction interior design. It pays for itself most clearly on projects above $150,000 where design specification complexity and construction coordination risk are both high. For furnishing-only or cosmetic styling projects with no permitted work, a standalone interior designer may be sufficient.
How long does a design-build renovation take in Scottsdale?
A full home renovation with Living with Lolo typically runs 12 to 24 months depending on scope, permitting complexity, and custom lead times. A large kitchen remodel may take 4 to 6 months from design to punch list. Scottsdale city permit review currently runs 3 to 6 weeks for most residential remodel scopes. Lauren Lerner provides a detailed project timeline during the discovery phase so clients know exactly what to expect before committing to anything.
Can Living with Lolo manage my Scottsdale renovation if I travel frequently or live part-time here?
Yes, and this is one of the most common situations at Living with Lolo. Because design and construction are managed by the same team, Lauren Lerner can run your project autonomously without requiring you to coordinate between multiple vendors. Many clients in Paradise Valley, Silverleaf, and north Scottsdale are part-time residents who leave during construction and return to a completed home. Detailed photo and video progress updates are provided throughout.
What areas does Living with Lolo serve for design-build projects?
Living with Lolo serves Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, Phoenix, Silverleaf, DC Ranch, and the greater Phoenix metro area. Lauren Lerner also works with clients in Park City, Utah for vacation home and new construction projects. If you are outside these areas, contact us directly to discuss whether the project is a fit.
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.
Glass Front Doors: A Designer’s Honest Take on When They Work and When They Don’t
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 QuestionsAre 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 CallAbout 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 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.
Living with Lolo Featured in Forbes: What the 2026 Houzz Home Renovation Trends Mean for Scottsdale Homeowners
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, says Lauren Lerner.
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.
Book a Discovery CallFrequently 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.
What is the Bronco Revival project that Forbes featured?
The Bronco Revival is a whole-home renovation in Scottsdale that Forbes selected to illustrate its 2026 Houzz coverage, featuring structural changes, a full kitchen transformation, a primary suite redesign, and comprehensive finish updates throughout. It is one of Living with Lolo’s flagship 2026 projects, chosen because it shows the integrated design-build model in action from first consultation through final installation. Living with Lolo managed the project as both interior designer and licensed general contractor under one contract (Arizona ROC #347577), and you can see more of it in our full portfolio.
Was Living with Lolo actually featured in Forbes?
Yes. Forbes selected seven images from Living with Lolo’s Bronco Revival project in Scottsdale to illustrate its April 2026 coverage of the Houzz and Home Study, one of the largest annual surveys of U.S. residential remodeling activity, with more than 20,000 respondents. Lauren Lerner, founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo, was recognized alongside the national data as an example of the finish quality the study describes, and the firm has been named Phoenix Magazine Best Interior Design three consecutive years, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
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 CallThe 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 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.