Modern Guest Bedroom Ideas to Fall in Love With

For most of the home designing process, analyzing how the layout and style of your home can best meet your needs and desires is of the utmost importance. However, when designing a guest bedroom, reframing your thought process to consider the needs of your guests and what would make them most comfortable is essential. 

Creating an inviting and functional space where your guests feel at home should be at the forefront of your mind when designing your guest bedroom, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it. 

In this article, we’ll suggest some modern guest bedroom ideas to make designing a stylish and functional guest room possible. 

7 Modern Guest Bedroom Ideas for 2023

Below are the seven top ideas for designing a modern guest bedroom in 2023.

1. Shiplap Accent Wall

A light-colored shiplap accent wall creates an elevated and inviting look in guest bedroom interior designs. This modern stylistic choice provides the room with depth and interest and is highly customizable, matching a wide range of design styles. 

In addition to adding visual interest, a vertical shiplap accent wall can add height to a room and is a common design technique used to help rooms with low ceilings feel larger. 

 

2. Play With Textures

Guest bedrooms offer significant freedom because you can avoid much of the clutter you may be forced to contend with in your primary bedroom. Playing with textures is the perfect way to add visual interest and dimension to your guest bedroom without relying heavily on patterns or bold colors. 

You can add texture to your guest room through various methods, from textured wallpaper to playing with different materials in the furniture and decor. However, the easiest and quickest way to add contrasting textures to your room is by using bedding like quilts, pillows, and throws with contrasting materials.

3. Add a Stunning Chandelier

A chandelier can instantly transform a simple, modern guest bed into a luxurious statement room. These accent lights come in many styles, materials, and sizes, so you can easily find one to match your design style. 

Our expert design team at Alisha Taylor can help you choose the right chandelier to fit your guest bedroom.

4. Use Unique Nightstands

If you want to keep your guest bedroom minimal and sleek, opting for unique nightstands like these adds intrigue to the room and takes your design to the next level.

The right nightstands will draw the eye without sacrificing functionality for your guests. Opt for nightstands with unique textures, materials, and shapes while ensuring guests have a place to set their things when they go to bed. 

5. Include a Seating Area

Including a seating area in one corner of your guest room offers your guests a place to sit where they can enjoy their coffee while watching the sunrise or lounge and read while they unwind from a long day. 

Like chandeliers and nightstands, accent chairs are available in virtually every style, so you can have fun creating a small seating space that matches your taste. 

6. Use Biophilic Interior Design

Biophilic interior design is focused on combining the inside world with the outside one, incorporating natural materials like living plants. Biophilic design has gained popularity after being reported to promote productivity and improve mental and physical health

By incorporating biophilic interior design elements into your guest bedroom, you can create a calm and inviting space for your guests to relax.

7. Use Tasteful Wallpaper

While bold wallpaper has been gaining traction in the interior design world, it can define a room in a way that might not be ideal for a guest room. Opting for a minimalistic wallpaper ensures your guest bedroom is neutral and comfortable enough for all your guests to feel at home.

When you style your guest bedroom with tasteful wallpaper, you can create a transitional design, which blends modern and traditional design styles for maximum flexibility over the remainder of your design choices. 

As you consider which of the above design ideas you want to implement in your guest bedroom, remember to think about your guests and keep them at the forefront of your mind. 

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors for Your Modern Guest Bedroom

At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we strive to provide our clients with expert guidance while helping to bring their design ideas to life. 

Take a look at our previous design work and reach out to us today for help designing your modern guest bedroom.

 

Interior Designers in Scottsdale: What Sets Alisha Taylor Apart

Choosing an interior designer for your home is a big decision. Your designer will work with the architect to manage the interior floor plan and overall flow of living spaces. From there, they will lead you through every aesthetic decision for the interior of your home and provide the builder with the detailed plans and specifications needed to make the project come to life. 

In short, an interior designer’s impact on the outcome of your home build or remodel can’t be overstated. Their valuable input and skill will ultimately define the outcome of a project.

If you are looking for interior designers in Scottsdale, there is no shortage of designers, decorators, and stylists from which to choose. But if you are seeking an experienced design team skilled at delivering luxurious, customized results, Alisha Taylor Interiors should be on the top of your list of potential design partners.

Who Is Alisha Taylor?

The namesake of Alisha Taylor Interiors, Alisha Taylor is an award-winning interior designer and entrepreneur based in the heart of Scottsdale. Alisha’s early love of interior design led her to embark on a formal design education, where she earned a B.A. in Interior Design before opening her design studio. 

For over 20 years, Alisha has helped clients translate their tastes and lifestyle aspirations into beautiful, customized interior spaces that impress. She is passionate about helping clients create a space that feels like home — beautiful, functional, and personal.

What Sets Alisha Taylor Interiors Apart From Other Interior Designers in Scottsdale

Alisha Taylor Interiors offers more than just design services to clients. Our expertise, philosophy, design process, and close collaboration with architects sets us apart from other interior designers in Scottsdale.

Alisha’s Expertise

Interior design isn’t just an art — it’s a craft that’s perfected through years of practice and experience. Alisha pairs an artful eye for design with extensive real-world experience executing projects of all sizes. 

In her 20+ years as a designer, she has honed the skill of understanding client needs and visions above all else. Her designs are executed with precision to bring luxurious, livable interiors to life for clients.

Alisha’s keen eye for talent has led her to build a dynamic team of designers and specialists who help her deliver custom, stunning designs to clients throughout the greater Scottsdale area.

Our Philosophy

Our design philosophy puts the client at the center of the design. Design should be an extension of your family, lifestyle, interests, and aspirations. 

We believe beautiful, functional design sets the background for a home’s life-making moments. We help clients realize spaces that are unique, luxurious, and seamlessly integrated into their lives. 

The Comprehensive Design Process

Through our years of experience, we have developed a design process that guides every project we take on, big or small. We break it down into easy-to-visualize phases and steps. 

Our transparent approach and meticulous process ensure clients are involved in every step of the project. Clients always know where the status of their project stands and are active participants in the entire design process.

Our Broad Range of Design Styles

Good interior design considers the vision and lifestyle of the client. We know that everyone has a sense of taste and aesthetic that is uniquely their own. It’s our job as designers to bring that individual sense of style to life. 

Through our high-touch design process, we work with clients to identify or enhance their style and translate that into interior landscapes that embody their ideals. 

We have extensive experience designing for various styles, including modern farmhouse, traditional, Scandinavian, transitional, and more. 

And though a project may be rooted in a specific design style, our projects never feel recycled or stale. We deliver timeless, original designs that are personalized to the client and the life to which they aspire.

Our Collaboration With Skilled Architects

As interior designers, we go beyond the scope of an interior decorator. Our education and experience include interior architecture, giving us a better understanding of what physical structures must be in place for a design to be realized. 

We work hand-in-hand with the best builders and architects in the greater Scottsdale area. When collaborating on a new build or complete remodel, we work directly with architects to deliver beautiful, personal results that honor structural integrity and architecture. 

Work With the Best Interior Designer in Scottsdale

If you’re ready to bring your interior vision to life, we’re prepared to help. Whether you’re building a new home in Scottsdale or planning a dream home remodel in Arcadia, we want to help you create a home that inspires you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can become your design partner. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

 

Luxury Bathroom Vanities That Complete The Room

Luxury bathroom vanity.

A luxury bathroom is necessary for elevating any luxury home, and the most defining focal point of every bathroom is the vanity. Selecting the right luxury bathroom vanity to match the overall style and feel of your bathroom and home is essential to creating a harmonious space.

With so many different options, it can be challenging to narrow down the type of bathroom you want to design and what elements are required to bring that design to life. At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we pride ourselves on creating effortless, timeless luxury spaces.

This guide will provide you with different luxury vanity styles to complete your bathroom design.

Why Get Luxury Bathroom Vanities?

Bathrooms are often overlooked when renovating and decorating homes because people spend less time in them compared to other areas of the house. Private bathrooms that guests don’t use are at particular risk of being bypassed when styling homes. But a few simple tweaks to these rooms can elevate the overall style significantly.

Luxury bathroom design can help create a cohesive feel within your home, ensuring every room in your house reflects style and class. One of the benefits of bathroom design is that there are typically few elements within these rooms, meaning minor adjustments can make a huge difference.

Opting for a luxury bathroom vanity can instantly transform your bathroom’s look and ensure that you and your guests have a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing experience when using the most private rooms in your home.

5 Types of Luxury Bathroom Vanities You’ll Love

Consider one of the following luxury bathroom vanity styles as you update your existing bathroom or design a new one.

1. Vanity With Custom Cabinetry 

Vanity with custom cabinetry.

Building a luxury vanity with custom cabinetry is an excellent way to ensure your bathroom design fits your space and creates a cohesive feel with the rest of your home. Whether you have an oversized bathroom or a quarter bath, using custom cabinetry ensures that you maximize your storage functionality.

Elements, including hardware type, wood type, and paint color, all allow for the ultimate customization of your vanity’s appearance, which means you can design the luxury bathroom of your dreams.

2. Curved Front Vanity

Curved front vanities are an excellent way to add contrast and shape to bathrooms that otherwise exclusively use clean, sharp lines. While bathrooms clutter easily and often feature simple designs, a curved vanity is a perfect statement feature to add variation and interest to your bathroom.

Partner a curved vanity with organic materials like wood cabinetry and a carved stone sink to create an effortlessly luxurious design.

3. Flat-Panel Modern Vanity

Flat-panel modern vanity.

A flat-panel modern vanity is a perfect addition to any modern bathroom design. This luxury vanity utilizes clean lines and an understated, organic appearance that adds depth and warmth to modern bathrooms and pairs perfectly with waterfall marble top counters.

If you’re looking to design a modern luxury bathroom that doesn’t compromise function, then adding a flat-panel modern vanity is the way to go.

4. Traditional Double Vanity With Inset Cabinetry

Traditional double vanity with inset cabinetry.

Double vanities are practical for couples and families that need extra storage space and want to avoid getting in each other’s way while getting ready. These vanities are just as attractive as they are functional, and selecting a traditional double vanity with inset cabinetry ensures your bathroom has all the necessary storage space without the appearance of clutter.

White-on-white cabinetry and countertops are a classic choice for creating an airy, bright bathroom design.

5. Contemporary Wood Vanity With Vessel Sinks

Contemporary wood vanity with vessel sinks.

A contemporary wood vanity with vessel sinks is perfect for creating a spa-like atmosphere at home. Opt for a dark wood finish for the cabinets, and top it off with a granite or white marble countertop.

The warm, earthy atmosphere of the wood provides a balanced feel, while the raised sink elevates the overall design.

Remodeling bathrooms can be both fun and challenging because of the limited space and limitless possibilities, and there are endless options for selecting a luxury bathroom vanity for your bathroom.

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors for Luxury Bathroom Design

At Alisha Taylor Interiors, our design focuses on your desires and lifestyle needs. We work closely with you to help design a home you love and bring your vision to life. With years of experience designing luxury bathrooms, we can help you select a stunning vanity that will complement the overall design of your bathroom.

Take a look at our work and reach out today to see how our team can help you design the luxury bathroom of your dreams.

Is Transitional Design Right for Your Home?

Is transitional design right for your home?

Whether building a brand new property or lovingly renovating the house you’ve lived in for decades, curating a space that feels like home is no small feat. A million decisions lie ahead, but the first can be the most daunting. Are you envisioning a traditional design style? Scandinavian? Farmhouse? Coastal? What about the transitional style?

You may have heard of transitional design before, and in this article, we’ll attempt to check one decision off the list: Is it the right style for you?

Transitional design is enjoying increasing popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Blending different design elements creates a fresh, balanced, and timeless aesthetic. So what exactly is it?

What Is Transitional Style?

Transitional style is a marriage of traditional and modern design schools.

Traditional design takes inspiration from the 18th and 19th centuries, relying on symmetry, warm tones, upholstered furniture, and ornate detailing. When executed well, it avoids looking stuffy and instead radiates a sense of established luxury.

On the other hand, modern design is known for its clean lines, muted colors, natural materials, and minimalist sensibility. Ideally, this creates spaces that are open, uncluttered, and tranquil without feeling austere.

In blending these two worlds, transitional design arrives somewhere familiar yet new. The lush comfort of the traditional and minimalist beauty of the modern creates homes that are inviting, livable, and visually interesting.

6 Elements of the Transitional Design Style

Transitional design allows for infinite creativity in the meeting of muses. Here are some key elements to consider when decorating in this style.

Neutral Color Palette

A serene mood is central to transitional design. Neutral color palettes help set a calm tone while establishing a cohesive backdrop for the merging of traditional and modern pieces.

Intentional Decor

Just like its modern inspiration, transitional design is clutter-adverse. Rather than relying on extensive wall art and decorative objects, complementary fabrics and textures are used to create a sense of curated depth.

Natural Light

Light helps to contour a room. Natural lighting is essential to transitional design, where it reinforces the calm and establishes a sense of airiness. Natural light also highlights the warm wooden tones of transitional decor.

Complementary Textures and Patterns

Each element is carefully selected in transitional design and mixing fabric and prints is central to this art. This is where the fusion of design worlds is particularly fun to play with: consider the possibilities in matching warm and cool, minimal and opulent, glossy and velvety.

Balance

Because this design style relies so heavily on balance, it must be assessed every step of the way. From the precise placement of a painting on the wall to the scale of furniture in a room, the effect of each choice should be effortless.

Modern Light Fixtures

Sleek light fixtures are essential to transitional design, preventing a space from trending too traditional. Adding modern lighting to a room with classic furniture ensures it feels current and on-trend.

Is the Transitional Design Style Right for You?

Transitional design is a good fit if you want your home to embody the following traits:

  • A sleek yet easygoing vibe
  • A minimalist, resort-like aesthetic
  • Comfort that blends traditional design elements with clean, modern touches

A house decorated in the transitional style is uncluttered and inviting to guests while retaining the unique essence of what makes it home to you.

Still unsure if the transitional style fits your family? Working with a professional is one way to reduce your stress, assess every option, and ensure the final product reflects your vision.

Transform Your Home With Alisha Taylor Interiors

With decades of interior design experience, our team offers a full range of design services to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Whether transitional, eclectic, mid-century modern, or something else altogether, we bring our clients’ design dreams to life.

Alisha Taylor is recognized for her award-winning designs locally and nationally. Her design philosophy holds that there should be no separation between comfort and practicality, luxury and daily living.

The first step in our process is getting to know you and everything you want from your home. The conversation continues with design boards and renderings until your vision is perfectly reflected in our plans. Next, you leave everything in our hands, as Alisha Taylor and her team communicate through every step of the project.

Browse our portfolio or get in touch to learn more.

Range Hood Ideas To Perfect Your Luxury Kitchen

With the selection of custom options available today, your range hood can actually become the focal piece of your kitchen design instead of a primarily functional piece. Different colors, metals, and shapes can be integrated into your kitchen uniquely to create a design that will really stand out. Here are some range hood ideas to get you started planning your luxury dream kitchen.

What Is a Range Hood?

Range hoods are designed to pull the steam, grease, smoke, and other particles from the air from your stove and keep the air in your kitchen fresh and clean. There are a variety of designs and sizes available for custom range hoods. 

Custom Range Hood Types

Whether you want your kitchen to be rustic or modern, simple or complex, brightly colored or tastefully muted, there is a range hood for you. 

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel hoods have a classic yet modern feel that goes well with almost anything. This metal is known for its durability and is resistant to rust and corrosion, which is especially important given its purpose of filtering out vapors.

Stainless steel also comes in a few different finishes, so if the standard plain silver is not for you, there are still options in this material. Some of the available colors, like the popular blue mirror finish, can be quite striking and make for a nice conversation piece in your kitchen.

Copper

The antique feel of copper is great for making your kitchen a little homier. Fans of the rustic farmhouse or cottage core aesthetics will especially like what this style adds to their designs. Copper is a particularly strong metal, making custom range hoods of this type resistant to scratches, dents, or staining, even after years of use.

Copper is also self-healing, meaning if it does get scratched, the damage will fade until it matches the rest of the material. It has natural anti-bacterial properties because of how smooth the finish is — perfect for helping your kitchen stay sanitized.

Blackened Steel

Blackened steel shares many qualities with stainless, including durability, rust resistance, and design versatility, but it’s produced in a slightly different way. The steel is blackened or darkened through one of a few different processes, including heat, chemical application, or the use of oils and wax. Each of these processes will produce a slightly different result, so you’ll want to work with your designer to determine which one works best for your kitchen aesthetic.

Brass

The bright finish of a brass range hood adds a touch of luxury to any kitchen. Though the design has often been associated with more rustic or classical aesthetics — which was particularly popular in the early 20th century — a variety of more modern brass hood designs are available today as well.

Brass is especially nice as a pop of color in an otherwise muted or neutral kitchen. Pairing it with an all-white or grayscale color palette makes it stand out. Both durable and stylish, brass is a great choice for many kitchen designs.

Duct Insert Range Hood

Duct insert range hoods are ideal for kitchens where you’d like to hang some custom cabinets or other décor above your range. This type of hood is integrated into the kitchen’s architecture so that other things can be installed above or on top of it. While many hood types vent through your kitchen ceiling to remove vapors and smoke from the air, a duct insert range hood includes ducted ventilation inside the hood that often filters and recirculates the air directly back into your kitchen.

These come in various shapes, materials, and finishes, which makes them incredibly versatile. They’re especially great for kitchens where you’d like some extra storage space in the form of cabinets above the stove or where you can’t or don’t want to vent through the ceiling. Some people choose this design simply because they want something smaller or more minimalist than ceiling-vented styles.

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors To Design a Kitchen You Love

A custom range hood adds a nice focal point to your kitchen design as both a fashionable and functional element. At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we work to help you create your ideal kitchen, whatever that may be. If you’d like to see what we can help you create, contact Alisha Taylor Interiors to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward a kitchen you’ll love.

 

High-End Home Bar Designs to Consider

One of the best parts of owning a home you love is getting to show it off. A proper host always offers refreshments. What better place to do that than at your home bar? For the centerpiece of your gathering, you’ll want a space that is both comfortable and elegant. Here are some home bar designs you can implement to add an air of sophistication to your next get-together.

Do I Need a Home Bar?

Whether or not you need a home bar largely depends on your lifestyle. Do you often have guests over? Do you like to settle in with a drink after a long day? Do you ever host parties or events? There are many reasons to include a bar in your home. Even if you pour drinks only for yourself, having a home bar can be a practical way to store your alcoholic accouterments and add a little flair to your end-of-day routine.

If you often host, a home bar both adds a touch of sophistication to your gatherings and gives you a practical and comfortable place to congregate and converse. It’s especially useful if you have a wide variety of bottles to keep track of. Storing them behind the bar keeps them neat and organized, making it easy and convenient to find what you’re looking for so you don’t have to miss the party to hunt down the right bottle of wine or liquor.

Even if you don’t often drink, a home bar can be a great place to make and store coffee or tea or serve hors d’oeuvres or desserts.

5 High-End Home Bar Design Ideas

A home bar should be somewhere you can relax, whether you’re alone with a glass of wine after work or sharing cocktails and conversations with friends. These home bar design ideas can help create a sophisticated environment for a night in that feels like a night out.

1. Add Underlighting

Lighting can be one of the best ways to add flair to an area. Attaching something like an LED strip light under your bar top adds a subtle accent without being intrusive. Many lighting options also connect to smart home devices for hands-free operation while you’re busy pouring cocktails.

2. Have Fun With Bar Stool Designs

Decorative bar stools are a great way to add form to function. Your guests need somewhere to sit, but it doesn’t need to be purely practical. Choose seats with unique shapes, colorful cushions, or intricate carvings to catch the eye. Minimalist stools in metallic or accent colors can also be visually appealing without overwhelming the rest of the decor.

3. Put In a Quartz Countertop

While there’s nothing wrong with a traditional wood or granite bar top, the sparkle of quartz is sure to wow your company. Quartz comes in a variety of colors, ranging from earthy browns and grays to bright jewel blues to romantic, rosy pinks, so there’s something to match every decor style. Quartz countertops are also more scratch-resistant than wood or granite, making them timeless in both style and durability.

4. Add an Intricate Display Shelf Design

Many wine and liquor bottles today feature intricate designs. Why hide them? Pair your bottles with some stylish shelving and decorative glassware or a few choice art pieces or collectibles for an eye-catching display. Home bar designs that show off your available offerings can also give your guests a visual idea of what kind of drinks you can mix.

5. Find Accent Lighting You Love

Lighting for your home bar doesn’t have to be merely functional. There are many decorative options to choose from. The right lighting fixtures can even be focus pieces for the room, or they can be so subtle that you won’t even notice them. For minimalists, recessed lighting tucked into the ceiling can be quite elegant, or a few pendant lights can add class without looking too busy.

If eye-catching focus pieces are your style, try an intricate statement chandelier or rustic sconces filled with Edison bulbs. When you love your lighting, it can make the whole space feel more comfortable.

Design Your Elegant Home Bar With Alisha Taylor Interiors

Implementing a home bar design you love is just the first step toward making your house a home. At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we work with you every step of the way to incorporate your style into every corner of your home. Our unique services are tailored to you because you deserve the home of your dreams.

If you’re ready to start your customized design journey, contact Alisha Taylor Interiors to schedule a consultation.

Ceiling Texture Types That Match Luxury Homes

Ceiling textures that match luxury homes.

Luxury homes can be customized down to every last square inch. You may not think much about customizing your ceilings, but adding texture to your ceiling is a great way to add a touch of luxury to any room. There are many ceiling texture types to choose from, so how do you know which one is best for your rooms?

What Is Ceiling Texture?

Instead of leaving your ceilings flat and undecorated or plainly painted, you can add textures to create dimension.

Ceiling texture can be created by painting over texturizers or installing textured elements to create sophisticated patterns on your ceiling. Homes with textured ceilings are often perceived as more valuable, which impresses guests and potential buyers alike if you ever choose to sell.

7 Ceiling Texture Types To Consider

Choosing a ceiling texture can be daunting. There are many textures to choose from, and each will add something different to your room. Here are some of the most popular and versatile textures.

1. Orange Peel

Orange Peel ceilings have roughly the texture of a zoomed-in citrus rind, featuring bumps and pits created by spraying drywall mud onto the surface. It has been compared to the Popcorn texture popular in the ‘90s, but Orange Peel has smoother, less symmetrical bumps and is much easier to clean, making it a more popular choice for modern homes.

This ceiling texture type also offers some sound deadening, making it ideal for rooms like offices, where you want it to be quiet, or living rooms, where sound from televisions or stereos might leak into other rooms.

2. Skip Trowel

The Skip Trowel texture can vary in thickness and pattern. It is characterized by drywall mud that is applied by hand using a Skip Trowel tool. It creates a rustic yet sophisticated look with raised patches of varying sizes, reminiscent of Mediterranean architecture. This texture pairs well with glossy paints that highlight small details when lit.

3. Swirl

Ceilings with a Swirl texture feature a repeating pattern of circles. This whimsical design is known for its visual appeal and is great for hiding imperfections in the ceiling. The swirls can be rougher in texture, or more smooth and uniform, depending on the tool used and the precision of the application.

This texture can be difficult to apply correctly, so be sure your painter or drywall professional has experience in the type of Swirl ceilings you desire. Alisha Taylor Interiors works with a variety of skilled professionals and can recommend someone with the skills you need.

4. Lace

Lace ceilings have a delicate air that instantly makes any room look prettier. Made of drywall mud applied in a lace pattern, this is the hardest texture to apply due to the artistry required but is one of the most coveted.

This texture can be difficult to clean, so avoid putting it in areas like the kitchen or bathroom, which can have a lot of humidity or other particles in the air. Instead, feature this pretty design in guest-forward areas like your sitting room or entryway, where it will be seen but won’t require frequent cleaning.

5. Coffered Ceiling

Coffered ceiling texture types come in a variety of patterns and are characterized by a grid of wooden beams painted to match the ceiling.

It can be left plain or accented with molding or decorated tiles. This texture is the most dramatic way to add dimension to your ceiling and can range from imperial to rustic in its design elements, making it highly customizable.

6. Victorian Textured Ceiling

A Victorian textured ceiling is made up of foam, tin, paper, or plaster ceiling tiles with intricate embossed designs. This texture is so named for its popularity during its namesake era. It can be easily applied in most rooms and adds a lavish, classical feel to any space. This texture is great for accenting a chandelier or other lighting feature.

7. Wood Ceiling Texture

Increasing in recent popularity, Wood ceiling texture types are made by installing wooden slats across your entire ceiling, similar in appearance to a hardwood floor. The slats can be installed in traditional straight lines or in a variety of patterns, including V-shapes or boxes. Left unpainted, it adds a rustic, cabin-like ambiance, great for bedrooms, dining rooms, sunrooms, or enclosed porches.

What Rooms Should Have a Textured Ceiling?

Any room can potentially benefit from a textured ceiling. You may choose to texturize in order to add visual dimension, accent a lighting fixture or other ceiling decoration, or simply make an otherwise plain ceiling more interesting. Your interior designer can help you decide which rooms would benefit from which ceiling texture types.

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors Today

At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we want to ensure that your home reflects who you are. We make it easy to get the home of your dreams, even if you’ve never worked with a designer before. We personalize our services for every client and keep you included every step of the design process to make sure you love the outcome.

If you’re ready to create the living space you’ve always wanted, contact Alisha Taylor Interiors to schedule your first consultation.

3 Skilled Architects in Scottsdale for Stunning Custom Homes

Finding a skilled architect can be a daunting task. A home is a personal thing, unique to every family. Your living space is a reflection of who you are, so the architect you choose needs to be able to capture that essence.

A custom home combines luxury and comfort with the unique elements that represent you. Here are three Scottsdale, Arizona architects who design and build beautiful custom homes.

3 Quality Architects in Scottsdale, AZ

Architects and interior designers are masters of creating spaces that uniquely represent you. These Scottsdale architects can help you design a luxurious living space that reflects your heart from every corner.

1. Cosan Studio

Cosan Studio, located right in Scottsdale, is an excellent choice for clients seeking designs with breathtaking views, dynamic indoor and outdoor spaces, and lots of natural light. The architects who make up this firm specialize in designs that work with the environment surrounding the property, luxurious yet rustic elements like wood accents, and meticulously laid stonework.

Cosan Studio sources its materials locally as much as possible to ensure the home looks natural in its environment. Cosan Studio’s architects have a combined experience of more than half a century, so you know you can trust them with your project.

2. PHX Architecture

The team at PHX Architecture consists of experienced professionals who work together to bring your unique vision to life. With offices in Scottsdale and Los Angeles, PHX Architecture has experience in various environments and aesthetics.

The team’s style showcases a contemporary edge that shines in functionality without sacrificing luxury. Its past projects range from sleek, glass-enclosed desert oases to adobe-inspired, natural-stone mountain getaways.

3. Drewett Works

Drewett Works is a Scottsdale-based team of architects recruited from every corner of the country. Drewett Works specializes in spacious homes that offer both private comfort and dynamic spaces for entertaining.

Unique design elements combine historical styles with contemporary characteristics, pairing sleek, clean lines with soft, natural features like rough-cut stonework and wide-picture windows.

How To Choose an Architect

Choosing an architect is a personal decision. It’s not something that can be rushed. With a variety of Scottsdale architects available to choose from, it helps to know exactly what you’re looking for. To ensure that you find the right artist for your project, follow these steps.

1. Find Your Style

Before starting to look for an architect, consider the aesthetic you’re looking for in your new home. Do you want something modern? A more classical design? A natural environment? Elements in between? What would make your home feel most like you?

2. Preview Your Options

Look through architects’ portfolios. These can often be found on their websites. Note any previous designs or design elements that speak to you or your vision. Consider recommendations from your interior designer since they’ve probably worked with a variety of architects in your area.

Our recommendations are all highly skilled and are great options for any project.

3. Go Deeper

Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few architects you’re interested in, request interviews with each of them. Spend some time before the interview coming up with questions or concerns so you can address them before you make a decision.

Be sure to ask about the architect’s experience and qualifications, what kind of budget and timeline you can expect, and what sets them apart from other architects. Explain your vision to them and ask how they would approach the project.

4. Make It Official

If you’ve found an architect who can capture your vision, meet with them again to settle any details and sign the contract. Congratulations! You’re ready to begin work on your new home.

If no one feels like the right architect for your project, start again. Don’t settle for someone who can’t capture your vision just because you found them right away. Take your time. You want your home to be a place you’ll love for years to come, so it’s worthwhile to keep looking and avoid cutting corners.

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors on Your Custom Home

Architects and interior designers work hand in hand to create beautiful custom spaces. Your architect is responsible for the bones of your home, but the finer details that make it yours are handled by an interior designer.

At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we want to help you create a space just for you. We work to personalize your design experience because we believe that each of our clients is a unique individual who deserves a luxurious home that reflects that. We involve you in every step of the design process, making sure that you know exactly what you’re getting.

If you’re ready for the home of your dreams, contact Alisha Taylor Interiors to start your design journey.

7 Best Neighborhoods and Gated Communities in Scottsdale

Best neighborhoods in Scottsdale.

People move to Scottsdale from all over the country to enjoy the sprawling desert and endless sunshine. Nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, Scottsdale is the perfect place for young families, professionals, and retirees to call home.

There’s no shortage of things to love about life in Scottsdale, known for its numerous golf courses, luxurious spas, and distinctive geography.

At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we understand that loving the home you live in is just as important as loving the place you call home, which is why we’ve compiled this list of the five best Scottsdale gated communities and neighborhoods.

7 Best Neighborhoods in Scottsdale

Whether you want to live directly on a golf course or prefer a private custom estate, here are the seven best places to live in Scottsdale and the East Valley.

1. Silverleaf in DC Ranch

Spanning 4,400 total acres, DC Ranch is one of the premier luxury neighborhoods in Scottsdale. Located in the northern part of the city, DC Ranch showcases spectacular views of the McDowell Mountains as well as Scottsdale and Phoenix.

DC Ranch features everything from luxury apartments to sprawling estates, and homeowners interested in building their dream homes can purchase developable lots to make this dream a reality.

Silverleaf Village is home to a championship golf course and DC Ranch’s most luxurious housing options. Homes in the Silverleaf community are the most expensive in Scottsdale, but homeowners can rest easy as this gated community features three gated entrances guarded 24 hours a day.

2. Estancia

Located just north of Pinnacle Peak and south of Troon North is Estancia — one of the most picturesque luxury gated communities in Scottsdale, AZ.

Because of the meticulous community landscaping and architectural guidelines, Estancia’s luxury homes blend seamlessly into their surroundings, making it the ideal community for lovers of Scottsdale’s unique landscape.

Estancia is a private golf community, and the championship golf course has won numerous accolades, including winning the World Golf Awards‘ Best Golf Course in Arizona in 2017.

The neighborhood spans nearly 650 acres with more than 250 homes and still has vacant homesites available for purchase.

3. Desert Mountain

If you’re a golf fanatic, look no further than Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain community. This northern Scottsdale neighborhood features six golf courses designed by golf course designer Jack Nicklaus.

The Desert Mountain neighborhood comprises over 8,000 acres and is broken up into 33 distinctive communities, called villages, which each have their unique feel and are privately gated.

Based on the home size you’re looking for and your budget, potential home buyers won’t have any problem finding a Desert Mountain village that meets their needs.

With paved walking paths, a private airport, and ten local restaurants, Desert Mountain offers everything a homeowner could want out of a luxury gated community in Scottsdale.

4. Whisper Rock Estates

Whisper Rock Estates is another luxury gated community in northern Scottsdale, and residents of the Estates enjoy expansive views of the area on private lots that average 2 acres in size.

Whisper Rock Estates delivers on all the amenities residents would expect from a luxury gated community, including 24-hour guards and patrol, a three-acre private park, and “just ask” residential services.

In addition to these amenities, Whisper Rock Estates boasts an expansive 36-hole golf course that seamlessly connects the two separated upper and lower golf courses.

However, residents of Whisper Rock Estates should be aware that, unlike other golf communities, membership in the Whisper Rock Golf Club is by invitation only and is not guaranteed based on residence.

5. Merit Crossing

If privacy and security are your primary concerns, Merit Crossing is the ideal neighborhood to design or build your new dream home. This community comprises a collection of private homes on sprawling lots that typically range from three to five acres.

Merit Crossing is a quiet, luxury gated community free of sky-rocketing HOA fees thanks to the neighborhood’s minimal services to upkeep.

If you’re more concerned with having ample space between you and your neighbors than an on-site fitness center or other supplemental amenities, look no further than Merit Crossing.

6. Somerset

Located in nearby Gilbert, AZ, this master-planned community brings beautiful landscape and hardscape design together. Somerset offers estate-sized custom home sites and soon will be offering true lock and leave homes in Atrium at Somerset.

This gated community in Gilbert includes plenty of amenities for residents to appreciate such as a walking trail system, large ramadas for gatherings, a community fishing lake, play structures for children, a multi-use lighted sports court, and of course, privacy gates.

The homes in Somerset are built from rich architectural design and come in various sizes to meet each homeowner’s lifestyle. This is one of the best gated communities for families in the area!

7. The Pecans in Queen Creek

The Pecans in Queen Creek homes are absolutely stunning with large lots, diverse landscaping, and European-style custom home design. If you are looking to purchase a custom home in the East Valley, The Pecans in Queen Creek community is a great place to settle into.

This gated community is seated in the foothills of the San Tan Mountains in Queen Creek which is home to thousands of mature pecan trees. One unique feature of this gated community is that a portion of it is dedicated to lush parks and canopied walking/biking trails surrounded by gorgeous pecan trees.

Located in the heart of Queen Creek, residents of The Pecans can enjoy close proximity to shopping, dining, award-winning golf courses, and top-rated schools.

Alisha Taylor Interiors Can Create the Home You’re Imagining

No matter which neighborhood appeals to you most, Alisha Taylor Interiors can help you design your dream home. Whether you’re looking to refurnish your living room, remodel your house, or custom-build a new home, we’ll work with you every step of the way.

Before giving us a call, you can browse our portfolio and familiarize yourself with our services to better understand what we can do for you. We look forward to hearing from you.

Furnishing a Luxury Home: Interior Design Timeline & Costs

Luxury kitchen with white walls and island.

When designing or updating your home, you might pour over plans, visualizing the space and how it will look against the gorgeous Arizona landscape. Considering the architecture and fixed details, you’d likely create Pinterest boards for furniture or wall colors because you want the ambiance and style to feel comfortable and perfectly “you.”

Like many people, you’re naturally curious about the process, timeline, and cost of furnishing a luxury home. As interior designers, we know that the furnishing process takes a keen eye and an understanding of color palettes and functional design. It also requires project management skills for all the organization and planning that comes along with it. We want to share what the process of furnishing a luxury home is like and how an interior designer like Alisha Taylor can help you create your dream space.

What Are Furnishings?

First, what are furnishings? Furnishings include more than the furniture you add to a home. Of course, furnishings include that tufted wingback chair you want next to your gas fireplace and the gorgeous mahogany dining set and sideboard for your formal dining room. They also include everything that isn’t fixed or built-in, such as lighting, mirrors, rugs, decorative accessories, and the stunning art collection you’re continuing to amass.

Furnishings are what bring life, making a house a home and welcoming you into tailored perfection each night. Luxury furnishings are those with quality and timelessness — pieces that you can sink into, admire, and surround yourself with. They are attractive and functional, bringing a sense of cohesion to a space.

What Is the Timeline for Furnishing a Luxury Home?

After asking about pricing, people usually ask about how long a project like this will take. It’s a fair question. After all, we are building up your dream space — a space you’re eager to inhabit.

On average, it takes about nine months to a year (due to the pandemic) to furnish a luxury home. However, each project is unique because clients and their visions are unique. Some furnishing projects finish sooner, and some finish later, especially if items aren’t available (more on that soon). Let’s break down the timeline process.

Stage One: Design Vision

The first stage focuses on the vision for the design. This is where you let your creativity run free so that everything you’ve imagined makes its way from your mind to paper. Mind maps and scrapbooks are the first part of the design vision. From here, you start to identify your vision for each room of the home.

By working with us, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and get expert design insight to bring your ideas to life. We will set up a kickoff meeting to discuss colors, style inspiration, and any focal accents. During the meeting, you share your vision and any documents you’ve generated, such as Pinterest boards or brainstormed notes, to ensure that we include your ideas in the design.

Stage Two: Furniture Investment Estimate

BNow that we’ve gathered your inspiration and ideas for the overall design of the home, we develop a Furniture Investment Estimate, which generates the estimated quote required to furnish your luxury custom home. This estimate also includes the fees of freight/delivery and sales tax to ensure full transparency throughout the process.

Stage Three: Space Planning

Stage three is where the magic happens. Here, we create storyboards with color palettes for each room, including pattern options, complementary fabrics, and furnishing examples. Along with 3D renderings, these storyboards are a vital part of the process because they help you visualize the design.

Stage Four: Shopping Showrooms

Once you love the design, it’s time to shop the showrooms. We take you to showrooms that match your design vision and storyboard plans, explaining the benefits of different fabrics and furnishings. We especially like to take our clients to our custom sofa showroom so that you get the opportunity to sit in and experience the different depths of seating options, fabrics, and sofa heights.

Stage Five: Ordering Furnishings

Before ordering, we compare all plans against the budget and revise according to any changes you make. Upon your approval, we order the furnishings and wait for their delivery.

Stage Six: Receiving Furnishing and Staging Rooms

In the final stage, we thoroughly inspect all items to ensure they meet our and your standards. Each piece must enhance the look and feel of your home for years to come. Items that meet approval are welcomed into your home. Those that do not are either replaced with a different item or reordered if damaged or incorrectly colored.

Finally, we stage each room and fall progressively more in love with the design.

Factors That May Affect the Timeline

It’s important to remember that each design project is unlike any other, including factors that may affect the timeline. These factors could include:

  • Items are on backorder. Some items might not be available at the time of order, adding time to the project.
  • Furnishings that come in broken or scratched. If furnishings arrive in an unsatisfactory condition, they must be repaired or replaced.
  • Construction delays. If you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, your contractor might run into delays with material deliveries, inclement weather, or permitting approvals.

How Much Does It Cost To Furnish a Luxury House?

Since each project is unique, there is no single cost for furnishing a luxury home. That said, many homes fall into specific ranges depending on the room, with average costs of $100 to $150 per square foot.

Using those ranges, you might expect to pay $30,000 to $45,000 for furnishing a 300-square-foot living room and $20,000 to $30,000 for furnishing a 200-square-foot dining room.

To furnish a primary bedroom measuring 250 square feet, you could expect the cost to fall between $25,000 and $37,500.

Keep in mind that these ranges don’t include taxes, delivery fees, or installation, which can cumulatively add several thousand more to the total. Don’t forget that the final cost of furnishing a home also depends on the materials, styles, and furnishings you choose.

Hiring an interior designer is another cost to factor into your budgeting, but it will be well worth the investment. The cost of interior design services varies depending on the size of your home, the professional’s experience level, and other project-specific factors.

Benefits of Working With An Interior Designer

You may wonder if working with an interior designer is necessary. Working with an interior designer is the best way to ensure you end up with a furnished home that matches your vision. For many people, though, hiring an interior designer becomes the best decision they ever make.

Interior designers are your ticket to total customization, expert guidance, access to better showrooms and pre-vetted brands, and cohesion with your entire home.

Work With Alisha Taylor Interiors To Furnish Your Luxury Home

Instead of wondering, “How much does it cost to furnish a luxury house?” reach out to the design team at Alisha Taylor Interiors today. We will tailor your Phoenix area home to your needs and desires, helping you settle into bliss each and every night.

5 Luxury Living Room Ideas From a Top Interior Designer

Living room with chairs and rug.

Let’s take a look at what makes a living room luxury, and ways Alisha Taylor can elevate your living room design.

With nearly 20 years of running her own interior design studio in Scottsdale and as a recipient of both local and national awards, Alisha Taylor is an expert in luxury interior design.

5 Luxury Living Room Ideas (With Examples)

Your living room is the heart of your home. It’s often the entertainment hub and the place where you can gather with family and friends. It’s the room that sets the tone for the rest of your house. It’s also most often one of the first rooms that your guests will see. So it’s only fair that you would want to make a big impression with your living room. Learn from Alisha Taylor Interiors and how our tips and examples can be applied when designing custom luxury living rooms.

Add a Stunning Accent Rug

Living room with an accent rug.

An accent piece is a pop of color, pattern, or other bright design that draws the eye as soon as someone walks into your living room. Often, the perfect accent piece is a stunning rug. The rug will warm your feet and pull the focus of the overall design style. Rugs can make the room more dynamic by adding bold colors or a variety of patterns and textures to the space.

Vintage accent rugs are a popular trend, especially when offering a lovely contrast to an otherwise modern room. You might also enjoy the look of layered rugs, with one larger, subtler rug to complement the accent rug and make it appear larger.

Custom Lighting Adds Elegance

Custom lighting adds elegance.

One of the hallmarks of luxury interior design is that it‘s not cookie-cutter. It offers a look and aesthetic that you can’t find elsewhere, something that feels entirely yours. There are so many options when it comes to living room lighting, from elegant chandeliers to small built-in lights to industrial lighting that makes a statement.

Take the above piece, for example, and how the light contrasts with the black coffee table frame and black display case. The effect is stark but pleasing to the eye. It adds not just light but dimension to the room. The structure of the light fixture also plays into this luxury living room’s design theme of clean, modern lines.

Lighting is an essential part of a room’s design as a whole. We search for custom lighting options to truly bring your dream luxury living room to life.

Don’t Miss the Small Details

Coffee table and plant.

Luxury is all about decadence, and decadence is in the details. The smaller decorative pieces like shag pillows, vases, lamps, and wall hangings all add something unique to the design of the room as a whole. But small details aren’t exclusive to small fixtures. We manke sure to get the little details right when it comes to the big pieces and focal points of the luxury living room.

As interior designers, we make sure that there’s a variety in your furnishing. We play with different heights and surfaces for display cases, side tables, coffee tables, and so on, while including different patterns and colors to truly bring the room to life.

Increase Interest With Accent Walls

Living room featuring accent walls.

Accent walls are another great way to draw the eye in a pleasing way. A tasteful accent wall will pull focus while still blending smoothly with the rest of the room’s design. This may look like a series of wall hangings, a dramatically different paint color, or a featured piece of art or sculpture that you love. If your accent wall is too loud, it might overwhelm the room. The right balance of accent and taste can be hard to find, so an interior designer can help to create the desired effect.

If you have an open layout living room, we like to design two accent walls beside each other. This can help to make a clear and fashionable distinction between two rooms. Look at the above image, for example. Even without a physical division, it’s easy to tell where the living room ends, and the dining room begins.

Mix Patterns and Textures

Living room with a mix of patterns and textures

Not everything has to match when it comes to patterns and textures. It just has to go together. In fact, if a luxury living room is too one-note, the overall appearance might be a little dull. Instead, we try to mix patterns and textures. A mix of textures makes the space a tactile adventure as well as a visual one.

Design Your Luxury Living Room With Alisha Taylor

Your living room should be one of the places where you feel most comfortable and most at home. That’s why luxury living rooms have so much appeal and why the right interior designers are essential. When you’re on the hunt for interior designers in Scottsdale, Arizona, look no further than Alisha Taylor Interiors.

Our team has the experience and the keen eye for design that you need to make your living room everything you’ve dreamed of and more. We can help you revitalize a living room in a new home that’s not to your luxury taste. If you’ve recently built your new home, we can help put a personal stamp on your living room.

Contact Alisha Taylor Interiors today to get help with your full remodel or new build or to schedule a design consultation.

Everything You Need to Know About Custom Cabinetry & How to Choose Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets with open cook book on counter.

Your cabinets are one of the most important design elements of your kitchen, which is why it’s so important to know how to choose kitchen cabinetry. Your kitchen cabinets determine how much storage space your kitchen will have, as well as setting the tone for the style of the kitchen. At Alisha Taylor Interiors, we understand this is no easy decision. Today we’ll discuss how to choose cabinets and the different cabinet options available to you.

How To Choose Kitchen Cabinets

Choosing your kitchen cabinetry is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. Here are our tips for finding kitchen cabinets.

Consider the Layout of Your Kitchen

Next, you have to decide what you want from your kitchen cabinets. Start by considering the layout of your kitchen. Is it a large, open space or a galley kitchen? The goal of custom cabinetry is to maximize your storage space based on the space you have, no matter how large or small.

This is also a good time to consider how often you use the kitchen and how much storage space you need. Do you spend more time eating out or do you like to plan large meals for friends and family? Do you need a pullout trash can near the sink, or are you considering a back kitchen?

You don’t have to go through this process alone. Schedule a design consultation with Alisha Taylor Interiors to create your vision for your dream kitchen. You can discuss your needs and your designer can observe your space to come up with the best plan for your kitchen cabinetry.

Modern vs. Traditional Cabinetry

When considering the style of your kitchen cabinetry, one of the biggest questions is whether to choose traditional or modern.

Modern cabinets tend to be sleek and minimal in their designs. They can most often be found in white, black, or a shade of gray, allowing for neutrality that suits most kitchen designs. Most often, modern cabinets can be found in contemporary-style homes.

As a rule, traditional kitchen cabinets have more intricate designs. They have more beveled styles, and in addition to painted traditional cabinets, you’re also likely to find traditional cabinets with exposed, stained wood. Traditional does not mean old-fashioned. Rather, traditional designs have stuck around due to their timeless quality.

A Pinterest search may help you find a cabinet style that you enjoy. You can even pin your favorite cabinet images and show them to Alisha Taylor.

Consider Different Color Combinations

One option for custom cabinetry finishes is to be painted all one color. This offers a sleek, cohesive style. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. You may choose two complementary colors. You could paint the top kitchen cabinets one color and the bottom kitchen cabinets another color. These choices can add character to your kitchen design.

Color is one of the best ways to set the mood in your kitchen. Do you want a cozy, warm kitchen? Natural wood stains might suit your kitchen cabinets well. If you’re looking for a more open and airy feeling, white cabinets could be the way to go. For a stark contrast, we even like to play with blue and navy as a cabinetry finish.

It might help again to search Pinterest for cabinets that speak to you and your vision for your kitchen. Another tip is to make a trip to a hardware store and look at paint swatches. You may even be able to bring samples home to view them in your kitchen.

Don’t Forget to Consider the Rest of Your Kitchen

Take stock of your entire kitchen when choosing your kitchen cabinets. What color are your other appliances? Or, if you plan to replace appliances, what colors do you want them to be? What about your walls? Your kitchen backsplash? Or your countertops?  You want your cabinets to flow with the rest of the kitchen, so it’s important to consider the kitchen as a whole.

Pick the Best Hardware

Hardware includes the handles used to open your kitchen cabinets. You might choose metal handles, wooden knobs, or magnetic closing cabinets. Round knobs are often used for overhead kitchen cabinets, while pull handles are used more frequently for drawers. However, you don’t have to be bound by convention if you like the idea of knobs for drawers and pulls for cabinets. Consider your options and pick the best choice for you and the design.

Alisha Taylor Can Help You Choose Your Kitchen Cabinets

Whatever you choose, your kitchen cabinets should be the best fit for your kitchen, not just now but for years to come. That’s where Alisha Taylor can help. Alisha Taylor has been helping homeowners for over 20 years, and her team brings years of experience and expert eyes to every project. Contact Alisha Taylor today to learn more about how we can help you choose your kitchen cabinetry, or to schedule a design consultation.

follow along
@alishataylorinteriors