In the case of a 2,200-square-foot, two-story home in Gainey Ranch, it was the latter. “The property has a lush backyard with tall windows surrounded by foliage,” says interior designer Mary Meinz. “The owner wanted to brighten the space and create a more cohesive atmosphere.”

To take the dwelling from traditional to transitional, Meinz replaced dark wood flooring with French oak, whitewashed the rooms with “the whitest shade of paint on the market,” and specified unlined, billowy draperies for an open, breezy feel. “It was about sun filtering in, so the weightless textile was almost like a marshmallow,” she comments.

Accents of black and grass green add color and contrast. “I’ve always advocated not challenging what you see out the window, whether it is the desert or, in this case, the abundant greenery of the Valley,” Meinz states. “Black, white and green are always a beautiful palette. And together, they make the space live larger.”

As the founder of Charmed Avenue boutique in Scottsdale, the owner drew on her vast knowledge of styling and accessorizing—especially in the dining room, where elegant baubles hang like jewelry from the wood chandelier and a button-down detail on the chairs resembles those on couture. “Fashion and interior design are very similar,” she says. “Mary and I are used to selecting things based on fabrics, textures, colors and the scale of the prints, so we had a lot of fun together.”

Meinz also carefully incorporated the owner’s cherished family heirlooms and antiques, including a vintage armoire that now serves as storage in the home office, a reupholstered green damask chair in the kitchen, and a collection of china that sits elegantly in the breakfast room hutch. “It is important to allow items like these to be seen, always reminding us of those we love,” says the designer.