Stephanie Larsen Interior Design is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living.
Functional Luxury Homes
by Sedona's Top-Rated Interior Designer
Stephanie Larsen is passionate about interior design. "I love that I get to be creative every day," she says. "It's like being an artist with a canvas, and each step helps bring the canvas to life."
Larsen's pursuit of excellence has earned her accolades both nationally (on Houzz) and in Sedona (voted "Best Interior Designer" by Kudos readers every year since 2009). She designs beautiful luxury homes that are comfortable, functional and tailored to meet the visions her clients bring forth.
I listen to what [my] clients have to say, so that I ensure my designs reflect their personality and taste. Having a strong idea of what they're looking for allows me to contribute my own knowledge of how to put things together, what works and what doesn't, how a home flows from one room to the next, and where the best resources can be found to make their home design dreams come true. Someone who isn't an interior designer often doesn't know what's out there and there are so many incredible resources if you know where to look. I really know the market, so there's no need to hire a designer from New York, Los Angeles, or Scottsdale. I have the expertise and the knowledge my clients need.
Larsen strikes a balance between keeping in-the-know on trends and design possibilities and developing strong collaborative partnerships in Sedona, where she's lived for nearly two decades.
Being in town for so many years is one of my strengths. I know who to use and whose quality is reliable. I work with architects, general contractors, painters, cabinet makers, granite artisans, tile setters, and window-covering experts. I've done my homework so that my clients don't have to worry.
I also incorporate design elements from local resources-whether that's furniture made from reclaimed wood, a bronze sink, or a painting from a local gallery. I believe you're only as good as the people you work with and the resources you have and I've worked hard to develop strong relationships with the best of the best in Sedona.
When asked if she has a signature style, Larsen says she leans toward a warm color palette and a look that's sophisticated and timeless regardless of whether that style is modern, Mediterranean, Zen, French country, Spanish ranch, Southwestern or something totally different. But, she adds, "ultimately my style and color choices reflect each and every client's personal tastes."
Just because someone's living in Sedona, doesn't mean they're going to choose a Southwestern design (although I do Southwestern very well). You don't have to have the red rocks, the terracotta, or the sage green in your home. I think the backdrop of Sedona creates the beauty, the view. And your home can be who you are.
I always tell people when they're building or remodelling a home to use a neutral palette for appliances, countertops, and major pieces of furniture. Pops of color can come in the artwork, rugs, pillows, and other accessories that can easily be changed. Having a neutral background creates a timeless look.
Where does Larsen find her inspiration? I find my inspiration through travelling, being outdoors in Sedona, visiting design centers, going to trade shows, seeing the new fabric lines, educating myself as an active member of ASID (the American Society of Interior Designers), and seeing how other designers put things together in commercial properties, like high-end hotels and restaurants. Then I put my own twist on what I see.
The delight Larsen feels from seeing an end product come to life remains the same as when she first discovered design as a teenager: the satisfaction of seeing her vision come to fruition.
Designing a home takes time and diligence. At the end, when all the hard surfaces are in and everything is put into place, when that last picture is hung on the wall and accessories are placed on the coffee table, that's when I can sit back, look up and and say, "This is amazing! This is worth it."
For all the info on Stephanie Larsen Interior Design visit her new website StephanieLarsenInteriors.com.
