Example of a mid-sized transitional light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Silphium integrifolium / Rosinweed Photo: F. D. Richards, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Kitchen in Ironwood Drive | Warm Modern Home in Scottsdale, AZ | Room Type: Whole Home Remodel and Furnishings | Project Name: Ironwood Drive Residence | Key Feature: A Tuscan home transformed into a warm modern interior through a full remodel and furnishings, highlighted by a custom hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash, custom cabinetry, and a new fireplace clad in basalt black stone that anchors the living space with drama and elegance. Challenge: Tuscan homes in Scottsdale are everywhere, and the design language that defined them, heavy wood, ornate details, dark iron, and rustic stone, does not transition gracefully on its own. The goal was to shed that Old World weight and move the home into something warmer and more current without losing the character that makes a remodeled home feel intentional rather than generic. Solution: Living with Lolo led the full remodel and furnishings as a single integrated project, which meant every decision from the custom cabinetry to the final throw pillow was made in service of the same design vision. The hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash brought artisan character into the kitchen in a way that felt fresh rather than Tuscan, and the basalt black stone fireplace gave the living space a bold focal point that reads as distinctly modern. Because Lauren holds both an interior design credential and an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, the construction and design were managed under one roof with no gap between the two. Materials: Custom hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash, custom cabinetry, basalt black stone fireplace, curated warm modern furnishings and textiles sourced through Living with Lolo's trade relationships. Budget: $250,000 to $550,000 | Timeline: Approximately 5 to 9 months from design through completion.

Transitional entryway photo in Boston

Arbutus menziesii / Pacific Madrone Photo: Wendy Cutler, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-2.0 Generic

Dining Room in Ironwood Drive | Warm Modern Home in Scottsdale, AZ | Room Type: Whole Home Remodel and Furnishings | Project Name: Ironwood Drive Residence | Key Feature: A Tuscan home transformed into a warm modern interior through a full remodel and furnishings, highlighted by a custom hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash, custom cabinetry, and a new fireplace clad in basalt black stone that anchors the living space with drama and elegance. Challenge: Tuscan homes in Scottsdale are everywhere, and the design language that defined them, heavy wood, ornate details, dark iron, and rustic stone, does not transition gracefully on its own. The goal was to shed that Old World weight and move the home into something warmer and more current without losing the character that makes a remodeled home feel intentional rather than generic. Solution: Living with Lolo led the full remodel and furnishings as a single integrated project, which meant every decision from the custom cabinetry to the final throw pillow was made in service of the same design vision. The hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash brought artisan character into the kitchen in a way that felt fresh rather than Tuscan, and the basalt black stone fireplace gave the living space a bold focal point that reads as distinctly modern. Because Lauren holds both an interior design credential and an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, the construction and design were managed under one roof with no gap between the two. Materials: Custom hand-painted terracotta tile backsplash, custom cabinetry, basalt black stone fireplace, curated warm modern furnishings and textiles sourced through Living with Lolo's trade relationships. Budget: $250,000 to $550,000 | Timeline: Approximately 5 to 9 months from design through completion.

Dining Room in West Trail Drive | Moody Modern Home in Scottsdale, AZ | Room Type: Full home remodel and furnishings | Project Name: West Trail Drive Residence | Key Feature: A moody, modern aesthetic built from the ground up through renovation and furnishings, where every finish, fixture, and piece of furniture was selected to work as a cohesive whole rather than a collection of separate decisions. Challenge: The home had good bones but felt generic. The clients wanted something that reflected a specific point of view, not a safe Scottsdale palette. The risk with moody, dark interiors is that they can feel heavy or disconnected if the layering isn't right. Solution: Living with Lolo led both the remodel and the furnishings, which meant the design intent carried through from the walls and floors all the way to how the room actually lives. Because Lauren holds both an interior design credential and an active Arizona ROC general contractor license, there was no handoff between designer and contractor. That single point of accountability kept the vision intact and the project on track. Materials: Custom cabinetry, natural stone surfaces, designer lighting, curated furniture and textiles sourced through Living with Lolo's trade relationships. Budget: $150,000 to $400,000 | Timeline: 4 to 8 months.

This little coastal bathroom is full of fun surprises. The NativeTrails shell vessel sink is our star. The blue toned herringbone shower wall tiles are interesting and lovely. The blues bring out the blue chips in the terrazzo flooring which reminds us of a sandy beach. The half glass panel keeps the room feeling spacious and open when bathing. The herringbone pattern on the beachy wood floating vanity connects to the shower pattern. We get a little bling with the copper mirror and vanity hardware. Fun baskets add a tidy look to the open linen closet. A once dark and generic guest bathroom has been transformed into a bright, welcoming, and beachy space that makes a statement.

What began as a generic spec home was completely reimagined into a warm, custom retreat designed for effortless indoor-outdoor living. Working alongside Sutro Architects and Strata Landscape, we created spaces that feel organic, inviting, and deeply connected to the Sonoma setting. Custom furnishings solve the home’s unique architecture, while natural materials and layered textures bring warmth throughout. Outside, a 40-foot covered living and dining pavilion, pool, tennis court, and bocce court create the feeling of a private resort.

The mammoth phalanxes of white-brick apartment houses that proliferated in the 1960s occupy an architectural purgatory; generic, with boxy interiors devoid of detail, many aren’t even interesting enough to excite a raised eyebrow. Our solution for this exemplar near Astor Place, which fortunately was blessed with premium skyline views, was to relieve the interior ordinariness by stimulating the senses with tactile variety. Axis Mundi created a complexly layered textural palette that injects visual adrenaline into the architectural envelope: a television set into a waxed steel panel topped by clerestory windows with a built-in planter for grasses; wenge wood walls rising from richly figured walnut floors; white subway tile surrounding a subtly colored penny-tile mosaic tub and wall; in the kitchen, Venetian plaster, steel, stone and wood mix harmoniously as a surprisingly spiced exotic concoction. The interiors exude a confident masculinity that challenges the complacency of bland, white-box living. Project Team: John Beckmann and Esther Sperber | Studio ST Photography: Andrew Garn Contractor: John Marsh © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Longbract Wild Indigo / Baptisia bracteata Photo: Joshua Mayer, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

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Drop-in bathtub - large traditional kids' ceramic tile drop-in bathtub idea in Milwaukee with an integrated sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops and beige walls

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in DC Metro

Hairy gumweed / Grindelia hirsutula Photo: Franco Folini, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in DC Metro

The mammoth phalanxes of white-brick apartment houses that proliferated in the 1960s occupy an architectural purgatory; generic, with boxy interiors devoid of detail, many aren’t even interesting enough to excite a raised eyebrow. Our solution for this exemplar near Astor Place, which fortunately was blessed with premium skyline views, was to relieve the interior ordinariness by stimulating the senses with tactile variety. Axis Mundi created a complexly layered textural palette that injects visual adrenaline into the architectural envelope: a television set into a waxed steel panel topped by clerestory windows with a built-in planter for grasses; wenge wood walls rising from richly figured walnut floors; white subway tile surrounding a subtly colored penny-tile mosaic tub and wall; in the kitchen, Venetian plaster, steel, stone and wood mix harmoniously as a surprisingly spiced exotic concoction. The interiors exude a confident masculinity that challenges the complacency of bland, white-box living. Project Team: John Beckmann and Esther Sperber | Studio ST Photography: Andrew Garn Contractor: John Marsh © Axis Mundi Design LLC

Diamond Kote doesn't use just any generic paint. They use a one-of-a-kind paint that is specially designed for each substrate with a technically advanced application process. This keeps your house protected and beautiful for years to come. Photo Courtesy of Diamond Kote

Before: The powder room had a generic look, with neutral walls and basic fixtures that didn’t reflect any bold design choices.

Built from a Garden Design produced by our team, this garden turns a generic new build garden into a maintainable space perfect for entertaining in the summer evenings. We used sawn, mint Sandstone and setts to create a feature from the paving