Design 9: Our Best Vertical Living Winner

By Erin Kain

Emily Yeates of Urban Revival expertly transforms this small Scottsdale space with lots of spirit.

The dining room boasts a Bronx dining table and Lulu armless dining chairs from Four Hands, a Regina Andrew Traveler chandelier and a custom stained oak cabinet with metal detailing.

It’s said that the best things come in the smallest packages. This is certainly true of this one-bedroom, two-bath Scottsdale condo transformed by Urban Revival principal designer Emily Yeates and RH Design Build’s Youssef Hokayem. The homeowner, a discerning bachelor who loves to host, purchased the home after previously searching for a single-family space. “He ultimately decided to purchase a loft he could splurge on and make sure every nook and cranny was thoughtful and felt like it fit his personality,” Yeates explains.

The designer is known for her playfully high design, eclectic style and love of artwork, which paired perfectly with the homeowner’s desire for luxurious embellishments that felt masculine but wouldn’t scream “bachelor pad.” Another must? Creating plenty of storage, which was paramount to the client’s lifestyle. “While there is storage everywhere you turn, it doesn’t feel like a cabinet store showroom,” Yeates notes.

“We disguised the under-stairs storage with a wine rack that secretly opens,” notes Yeates.

“In this loft, the home office options were limited,” the designer says. “We incorporated a standing desk and cord control so the desk area appeared to be an extension of the dining room built-in but felt like a space all on its own.” A Four Hands Lulu desk chair in espresso complements the custom desk’s stained oak and walnut wood finish.

Because the living and dining rooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass panels, the construction team installed a smart electrical film called switchable PDLC on all of the windows for added privacy. The living room also features furnishings from Four Hands, including a Grant three-piece sectional, the Topanga chair in Knoll Domino and a Parish coffee table, all paired with a plush Loloi rug.

Custom-made cabinetry and Calacatta Lincoln quartzite countertops and backsplash stun in the kitchen.

Yeates and Hokayem completely reworked the original bedroom layout, removing the entire closet and instead wrapping the room in built-ins. “It feels like a boutique hotel, and he has more storage than he ever imagined,” Yeates says. They also added slanted wall slats above the existing pony wall to give the loft-style bedroom more privacy without enclosing it entirely. A Modern Decker king wall bed from Universal Furniture, Annie Selkie bedding, Visual Comfort floating disc sconces and artwork from Wendover Art round out the design.

“Working with small spaces can be a challenge to fit all the luxuries of modern-day living, but with incredible vendors and contractors, anything is possible,” Yeates touts. The client’s final thoughts? “He got a bit teary-eyed and gave me a long hug. It was all you could ever hope for!”

The Universal Furniture Modern Decker king bed in the primary bedroom is complemented by a Four Hands Bodie nightstand, Visual Comfort Melange floating disc sconces and Annie Selke bedding.