Best Interior Designers in Scottsdale
Nine studios sorted by style plus how to hire one
- No. 1Established in 1959
- No. 5Thomas Road studio
- No. 9Modern Luxury Best Traditional Design 2024
By John Apolinar
Hiring an interior designer is a big commitment so we did the legwork. For this guide we checked each firm's own website, the Scottsdale Scoop directory, the Modern Luxury Scottsdale Best of Design awards and the AD PRO Directory. Then we sorted nine studios by style so you can skip straight to the look you want. Below the picks you'll find how designers charge, questions to ask and tips for designing around desert light and heat. Updated 11/01/2026. 9 spots.
Want the full list? Browse the Scottsdale interior designers directory.
In this guide 9 spots
How We Picked
We started with interior designers in the Scottsdale Scoop interior designers category and added firms that show up often in local searches. Every fact in a pick comes from the firm's own website or a named third party such as the Modern Luxury Scottsdale 2024 Best of Design list or the AD PRO Directory. We grouped firms as luxury, contemporary, transitional, traditional or turnkey based on how each one describes its own work.
The spots
Ranked by Scottsdale ScoopLuxury
Luxury: a Scottsdale design firm established in 1959 If you want history on your side, start here. Est Est's website says the firm was established in 1959 and calls it Scottsdale's original luxury interior design firm. The Modern Luxury Scottsdale 2024 Best of Design list named it Best Luxury Design. Its site lists services for home furnishing, new construction, remodels and photorealistic renderings, plus work for developers. That last part matters if you're buying in a new community and want someone who already knows how builder models come together. Its portfolio spans contemporary, Old World, Southwest and cabin or ranch homes.
The short list: Established in 1959Modern Luxury Best Luxury Design 2024Photorealistic renderings offered.
4015 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Wiseman & Gale Interiors
Luxury: Old Town firm since 1965 Wiseman & Gale is based on Marshall Way in Old Town. Its website says the firm was established in 1965 and has focused on luxury residential design in Arizona homes for more than five decades. Pair it with Est Est on your shortlist if you value a long local track record. Ask to walk through portfolio projects that resemble your home's size and era so you can judge the firm's fit for your project.
The short list: Established in 1965Old Town Marshall Way locationLuxury residential focus.
Luxury: design plus construction under one roof Living with Lolo is the pick if you'd rather not juggle a designer and a separate builder. Its website describes it as a luxury interior design and licensed general contracting firm in Scottsdale. It lists a wide menu of styles that includes organic modern, Japandi, modern Southwest and quiet luxury. Because it handles construction too, ask for its contractor license number and look it up yourself on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors site before you sign.
The short list: Design and contracting in one firmOrganic modern to modern SouthwestScottsdale and Paradise Valley focus.
Luxury: estate homes and custom residences IMI Design Studio is led by founder Anita Lang. Its website says it designs interiors for estate homes, custom residences and high-end renovations in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. It also says the studio takes a select number of clients each year and that Lang brings over 25 years of experience. The site describes coordinating with architects and builders on architectural details, space planning, lighting and art. That makes it a natural fit for a large custom build where the designer joins early.
The short list: Founder-led by Anita LangLimited client roster each yearEstate and custom home focus.
Contemporary
Contemporary: personalized and bold Britany Simon Design House pitches itself as the studio that colors outside the lines. Its website lists a studio on East Thomas Road and promises highly personalized design. It also runs a shop page so you can get a feel for the aesthetic before you book a consult. Choose it if you want a home that reads as yours rather than a showroom copy.
The short list: Thomas Road studioHighly personalized approachOnline shop to preview the look.
Transitional
15125 N Hayden Rd Ste 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Katherine Mueller Design
Credentials are the headline here. Katherine Mueller Design's AD PRO Directory profile says principal Katherine Mueller is NCIDQ certified and an ASID professional member. The same profile describes a full-service luxury firm with a refined yet livable aesthetic. It also says the team doesn't rely on one signature style. If you want someone with formal certification to handle a whole-house project, put this firm on your call list.
The short list: NCIDQ-certified principalASID professional memberListed in AD PRO Directory.
Contemporary
12429 N 58th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
S Interior Design
S Interior Design is owner-led by Suzanne Lasky. Its design services page says the team joins new builds and remodels from the beginning alongside architects and builders. It also covers kitchen and bath updates, furnishings and in-depth consultations. Its about page says Lasky is an Allied Member of ASID. Pet owners should note a design service it calls Pawprint Design.
The short list: Turnkey new build and remodel designOwner Suzanne Lasky is ASID AlliedPet-friendly design service.
7154 E Stetson Dr D200, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Ownby Design
The Modern Luxury Scottsdale 2024 Best of Design list named Ownby Design Best Contemporary Design. Its website describes a fusion of minimalism and lavishness. The office is at 7154 E Stetson Dr D200 and the phone is (480) 575-8448. The site says the firm works mainly in greater Phoenix and the Hawaiian Islands.
The short list: Modern Luxury Best Contemporary Design 2024Minimal plus lavish aestheticWorks in Phoenix and Hawaii.
Traditional
20789 N Pima Rd Ste 135, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Laura Kehoe Design
The Modern Luxury Scottsdale 2024 Best of Design list named Laura Kehoe Design Best Traditional Design. Its website says the firm was established in Scottsdale in 2010 and handles custom homes, new construction and extensive renovations. It describes timeless layered interiors and says it doesn't follow a prescribed aesthetic. The North Pima Road studio is handy for Desert Highlands and Silverleaf owners, which both appear in its featured projects.
The short list: Modern Luxury Best Traditional Design 2024Established in Scottsdale in 2010North Scottsdale studio.
How Scottsdale Designers Charge
Most firms use one of three fee models or a blend of them.
- Flat fee: one price for a defined scope like a single room or a design plan. It's predictable but changes to the scope can trigger new fees.
- Hourly: you pay for time spent on design, sourcing and site visits. It suits small projects or consults.
- Percentage: a share of the project or furnishing budget. It's common on large builds where the designer manages a lot of purchasing.
Some firms also mark up furniture bought through their trade accounts. Ask how purchasing works before you sign so the total cost doesn't surprise you.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- Which fee model do you use and what does it include?
- Can I see finished projects similar in size and style to mine?
- Who'll be my day-to-day contact?
- How do you work with my architect or builder?
- What's a realistic timeline for design, ordering and install?
- If you manage construction, what's your contractor license number?
Long lead times on custom furniture are common so ask about ordering early.
Designing for the Desert
Light
Scottsdale sun is bright year-round. Talk with your designer about window coverings and fabrics that hold up to direct light.
Heat
Materials on patios and near west-facing glass take a beating. Ask which finishes your designer has used successfully in local homes.
Indoor-outdoor living
Many local homes open onto patios so treat outdoor rooms as part of the plan. Carrying flooring tones and colors outside helps the two spaces read as one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do interior designers need a license in Arizona?
Arizona's A.R.S. 32-144 lets people who aren't registered with the Board of Technical Registration design or alter a detached single-family dwelling. Structural and permitted work can still require registered professionals or licensed contractors. Certifications such as NCIDQ are voluntary credentials that some designers hold.
How much does an interior designer cost in Scottsdale?
It depends on scope and fee model. Designers may charge flat fees, hourly rates or a percentage of the budget. Ask each firm for its model in writing and compare what's included.
What's the difference between an interior designer and a decorator?
Decorators usually focus on furnishings, color and finishes. Interior designers often handle those too and may also work on space planning, layouts and coordination with architects and builders.
Should I hire a designer before a builder?
On a new build or major remodel it often helps to bring a designer in early. Several firms on this list say they join projects from the start alongside architects and builders so layout and finish decisions line up.
What's desert modern style?
It's a loose term for modern homes that respond to the desert with clean lines, natural materials, earthy colors and strong ties between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Find more in the directory
Scottsdale interior designers directory Scottsdale custom home builders directory
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