In Scottsdale’s ever-evolving design scene, few voices carry the weight of Lauren Lerner’s. As the founder and principal designer of Living with Lolo—a nationally recognized firm celebrated for refined, livable luxury—Lerner has built her career on balancing bold creativity with timeless restraint. As 2026 approaches, she’s calling out the trends that have overstayed their welcome and the sensibilities set to define what comes next.
“I love a bold stone moment,” Lerner says. “But when every surface is screaming for attention, nothing lands.” The designer is talking about statement marble—the kind that dominates countertops, backsplashes, and even floors. “Dramatic marble everywhere doesn’t read as luxurious. It reads as overwhelming,” she adds. Her solution? Use statement stone where it matters. “A waterfall island, a fireplace surround, one intentional moment. Then step back everywhere else. The restraint is what makes it feel expensive.”
Overuse of black fixtures tops her list of overplayed moves. “Black had its moment,” Lerner says. “Now it feels safe, and worse, it shows every fingerprint and water spot. It can also read harsh in spaces that need warmth.” Instead, she’s embracing metals with character. “I’m reaching for aged brass, bronze, or brushed nickel. They bring depth, patina, and a sense of history. Mixing metals within a cohesive palette keeps a home feeling current without chasing trends.”
Tech-heavy homes, too, are losing their shine. “There’s a difference between convenient and complicated,” she explains. “When you need an app to turn on a light or adjust the temperature, your home starts working against you instead of for you.” Her approach is rooted in intention: “Be selective with smart tech. Choose features that genuinely make life easier, and make sure they still function manually. Real luxury should feel effortless, not like you’re managing a control room.”
On the furniture front, Lerner warns against “fast furniture”—the kind that prioritizes looks over longevity. “Cheap, trendy furniture might photograph well, but it doesn’t hold up. And it’s not just wasteful for the planet. It’s wasteful for your budget when you’re replacing it every few years.” Her advice: invest in fewer, better pieces. “A well-made sofa or a solid wood dining table anchors a room for decades. Save the experimentation for pillows, art, and accessories.”
The open floor plan also gets a gentle rethink. “Open concept makes sense, but total openness can leave a space feeling loud, exposed, and undefined,” Lerner says. “Every room needs some sense of boundary to feel like it has purpose.” Her fix? “Create soft separation. Use furniture groupings, built-ins, or architectural details like arches to define zones without closing things off.”
And when it comes to finishes, she’s all about authenticity. “Anything trying too hard to look expensive usually does the opposite,” she says. “High-gloss veneers, synthetic stone, overly polished finishes—they might seem like shortcuts, but they don’t age well and they don’t feel real.” Her recommendation: “Go authentic. Plaster walls, real wood, natural stone, unlacquered metals. These materials have depth and texture that only improve with time. That’s the difference between looking luxurious and actually being luxurious.”
As for what’s next, Lerner predicts a return to design with soul. “We’ll see a lot of familiar looks returning, just executed more thoughtfully,” she says. “Warm minimalism is evolving from stark simplicity into something richer with texture, depth, and natural materials that actually feel like you live there.”
Earth tones, layered neutrals, and organic shapes are coming back, joined by reinterpreted classics. “Traditional elements like arches, paneling, and classic lighting fixtures are being reimagined through a modern lens,” Lerner adds. “Even patterns like checkerboard and stripes are making a comeback, but with unexpected color palettes or materials that make them feel fresh.”
For Lerner, this cycle is less about nostalgia and more about meaning. “Design always reflects how people want to feel in their homes,” she says. “After years of everything moving so fast and feeling increasingly digital and impersonal, people are craving spaces that feel warm, authentic, and enduring.”
That desire for calm and permanence, she believes, is reshaping what luxury means in Arizona and beyond. “These returning styles tap into something familiar that reminds us of quality and comfort,” Lerner says. “It’s not purely aesthetic. It’s emotional.”
Insider Takeaways
- Statement marble, black fixtures, and overused tech are officially out for 2026.
- Authentic materials and craftsmanship define the new idea of luxury.
- Warm minimalism and layered neutrals are replacing stark modernism.
- Earth tones, arches, and reinterpreted classics are making a thoughtful return.
- Lerner predicts a cultural shift toward calm, longevity, and quality over trends.
For more information, visit livingwithlolo.com.
