The Luxe at Desert Ridge has arrived in North Scottsdale and encompasses 100 luxury condos, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a 12,000-plus-square-foot clubhouse. When completed in late summer, there will be 223 total units among six total buildings, offering two- and three-bedroom condominium residences spaciously designed from 1,600 to 2,300 square feet.

Starting at $950,000, The Luxe’s condos feature expansive patios with unobstructed golf course and Pinnacle Peak Mountain views, massive kitchens complete with an oversized island, gas fireplaces, private garages, high-tech appliances and roomy closets.

Design manager Alissa Becker recently sat down to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect in this hot new community.

Living Luxe

Describe your vision for The Luxe.

Because we already have one of the best locations in the Valley with entertainment, shopping and restaurants across the street, our vision was to provide a resort-style residential home for homeowners who want all the luxury available to them without the maintenance. We wanted the amenities to be something they were proud to show their families and friends and to feel like an extension of their homes at The Luxe.

How long did it take to complete this project?

The planning process took some time but once we started construction at The Luxe at Desert Ridge in 2019, it was a priority to build the clubhouse first so that our homeowners could experience the comfort and convenience of all the exceptional amenities such as the Olympic-size pool and state-of-the-art exercise center. We are preparing to begin the third and final phase, which also has another large pool with special design features that I am especially excited about.

What’s your favorite feature on the property?

I am most proud of the clubhouse. Our goal was to give a feeling of modern luxury that wasn’t cold or intimidating but instead, inviting and felt like home. We achieved this by using natural wood textures in a unique wall design mixed with marble-looking floors and dynamic lighting. The Luxe furniture and decor are classic and rich with a layout that allows multiple groups to enjoy intimate social visits without disturbing each other. The glamorous kitchen with Wolf appliances and large-screen TVs brings homeowners together for happy hour.

What about in the condos?

Many of The Luxe buyers are downsizing from larger homes which can be difficult after years of accumulating personal belongings. Not only have we made sure to maximize cabinet and closet space in each home, but we also designed the underground parking garage so that each owner will have a large fully enclosed storage room within their two-car parking bay. It is amazing to have an easily accessible personal enclosed storage room that can be as large as 20 feet long in a condominium community. This amenity is certainly a selling feature.

Can you tell me more about the materials and finishes used in the condos?

We use an 8-inch post-tension concrete slab with an 8-inch suspended ceiling between floors with built-in sound attenuation. This has allowed us to mitigate sound transfer horizontally and vertically between neighbors. We have beautiful standard interior finishes such as frameless cabinets, large kitchen islands and many smart-home features throughout each home that set us apart from other communities.

How did you incorporate The Luxe’s surroundings—such as the golf course and Pinnacle Peak Mountains—into the remodel/expansion?

The Desert Ridge area boasts incredible views that attracted us to purchase the land. When designing The Luxe at Desert Ridge, it was important to incorporate expansive windows and patio sliders plus make the patios very large so that our homeowners can not only enjoy the beautiful golf course and mountain views from their patio but also the picturesque Arizona sunsets.

What was the most important thing to focus on with this project?

It was a combination of providing total usable space with the large, open floor plans, high ceilings and expansive patios to give the feeling of a single-family home, but also the convenience of maintenance-free living, luxury amenities and the security to lock and leave. I believe the efforts of working with an acoustic expert to assist us in mitigating sound transfer between neighbors is our claim to fame. We invested $400,000 to ensure that The Luxe is the most soundproof condo community in Arizona.

I’d love to hear more about your background in interior design.

I graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism and followed a different path in design after college, but growing up with a mom who is an interior designer and always helping her throughout the years, I had a natural passion for designing, decorating and being creative. I decided to follow in her footsteps, getting my real estate license and taking various design courses, and for the last 20 years, I have loved helping homeowners develop their home styles in our different communities plus helping design and decorate our clubhouses, senior houses and model homes.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Being around so many different designs, my aesthetic is often evolving. Currently, I love the calmness of the neutral woods we are seeing a lot of but I’m also moved by the impact and lasting impression that some natural stones make on an area such as a fireplace wall. I enjoy mixing a minimalist style with a punch of color or texture, which we accomplished at The Luxe at Desert Ridge.

What was your favorite part of this process?

My favorite part is the brainstorming and idea-building of the project and then, of course, the end and seeing the final product. Each community we build feels special as we all put so much time and care into building homes that we’re proud of. There’s nothing more rewarding than happy homeowners who love their homes.