About Black Dog Reno

Smiling couple posing with their happy black Labrador against a blue backdrop.

Who We Are

Black Dog Reno was built on a shared passion for thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship, and creating homes people truly love to live in. We’re Nathan and Melissa, and we serve homeowners and investors in the Verde Valley, Arizona (Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Village of Oak Creek, Camp Verde, Rimrock/Lake Montezuma).

Nathan brings a craftsmanship-driven, detail-focused approach to every project, with a commitment to doing things right, never cutting corners, and maintaining high standards from start to finish. Melissa leads the design vision, bringing an eye for flow, comfort, and elevated finishes that help transform dated or uninspired spaces into homes that feel cohesive, welcoming, and intentional.

And then there’s Gus—our black Lab and the inspiration behind the Black Dog name. He represents many of the values we bring to our work every day: loyalty, steadiness, and a genuine care for the people we serve.

Modern bathroom with glass shower and wooden vanity.

What We Do

Black Dog Reno provides thoughtful home renovations and professional home repair services throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley, Arizona, with a design-first approach and a commitment to quality craftsmanship. We don’t just update spaces—we improve how they look, flow, and function.

From the first conversation to the final walkthrough, we’re hands-on, detail-focused, and clear in our communication. Whether you have a vision in mind or need help bringing one to life, we provide honest guidance, thoughtful solutions, and precise execution.

We also offer professional home repair and finish work, from damaged tile and trim to doors and other everyday repairs. Homeowners, property managers, and vacation rental owners can count on us for dependable service that keeps their properties beautiful, functional, and well-maintained.

Sunlit desert landscape with red rock formations and a twisted dead tree in foreground.

Who We Serve

We serve homeowners, property investors, property managers, and vacation rental owners throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley, Arizona, who value thoughtful renovations, quality home repairs, and dependable service.

We love partnering with people who appreciate a design-first approach, attention to detail, and craftsmanship done right. Whether improving a personal home, renovating an investment property, or maintaining a vacation rental, our goal is to make the process clear, collaborative, and well-executed from start to finish.

It’s genuinely our heart to serve the communities we call home with professionalism, integrity, and care.

Our Story

Our story started in the Midwest, in Bloomington, Minnesota, where we both grew up. Our paths did not cross until years later, when, of all places, we met at a local bar. Not exactly the beginning of a renovation company, but apparently a pretty good place to start a life together.

As we got to know each other, we discovered how naturally our strengths fit together. Nathan had worked earlier in life with a home builder and a roofing company before spending more than 30 years as an automotive mechanic, giving him a deep background in hands-on work, problem-solving, precision, and craftsmanship. Melissa developed a love for design and taught herself how to see the potential in a space, inspired in part by her design hero, Joanna Gaines. She also built a strong business background as an Operations Manager and later as a Director of Finance and HR.

We first put those strengths to work on our home in South St. Paul, making improvements and renovations together. Later, we kept that home as a rental and moved to Plover, Wisconsin, where we took on a full remodel of a 1985 ranch that was still very much living in 1985. We transformed the kitchen, two bathrooms, laundry room, main level, and parts of the basement. The finished home showed us just how well our skills worked together.

Before heading west, we returned to our South St. Paul property and completed another round of renovations before selling it. By then, transforming homes had become a natural extension of what we each did best.

Before moving to Arizona, we heard from friends who are investors in the Sedona area that it was difficult to find reliable people who would show up when they said they would, communicate clearly, do quality work, and charge a fair price. We saw a need and an opportunity to build a company around the values that had always mattered to us.

So we took a leap, moved to Rimrock, AZ, and built Black Dog Reno from the ground up. Today, we bring together our Midwest roots, years of hands-on and business experience, a shared love of transforming spaces, and a simple commitment to our clients: show up, communicate honestly, care about the details, and do the job right.

About Black Dog Reno

Who We Are

What We Do

Who We Serve

Our Story

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