An outdoor fire pit, hot tub, kitchenette, theater system and fireplace provide all the necessary elements for entertaining the masses in this beautiful countryside—all year round! These features are encapsulated by a timber-framed structure and covered by a stunning pine tongue-and-groove ceiling. Difficulty combining existing roof structures in a way that maintains the mountain views and enhances the look of the home, while properly draining water, led to the creative use of a flat roof as a second story yoga deck. A folding wall of windows into the home’s kitchen creates flexibility in how this family entertains during each season of the year—think Super Bowl party on the patio while it’s snowing. The possibilities are endless!

The interior portion of this renovation was inspired by the homeowners’ former residence in Spain. In fact, the mural that wraps the walls of the half-bath was custom made from a photograph taken from their veranda while living there. Bright blue hues and bold patterns on tile, geometric oak cabinet highlights, and a variety of metal accents sprinkled throughout come together nicely to replicate that Spanish farmhouse feel. Light fixtures with unique shapes hang throughout the home, adding visual interest against a canvas of white.

The kitchen truly is the heart of this home! A large capacity range was custom built for this chef. Marble slabs were expertly placed to wrap the stove vent and provide a backsplash. Built-in appliances, such as a trash compactor, multiple dishwashers, vegetable refrigeration drawers, and lower cabinet microwave were specially selected and placed exactly to match how this family functions. The hidden butler’s pantry provides storage for additional cooking supplies. A custom beverage bar features instant hot water for when it’s a tea kind of day and a drink cooler for those dog days of summer.

The master suite already captured breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains. New finishes enhance the cozy feel of this space. Vanities in the master bath were sized specifically for each of its users. Old closet space was incorporated into the existing shower/bath area to create a more spacious steam shower. What a peaceful, relaxing retreat!

More and more homeowners desire to maintain their independence as long into their retirement years as possible. This new home was lovingly designed with just that in mind.

Possible long-term medical needs were considered in the creation of a care suite within the master bedroom, including a full laundry. Large doors between rooms, wide roll-in shower, and expanded passageways within the kitchen allow for multiple mobility situations, including wheelchair accessibility. Special framing techniques created a front door threshold free of steps. This allows for easy access to mountain views and fresh air on the front porch.

Beautifully crafted raised panels welcome guests into this home. In earlier stages of life, many bedrooms to house little ones was so important. Now large gathering spaces are the new necessity to gather groups of married children and grandchildren. This home features a large great room complete with a kitchen, dining area, and living room space to cozy around the fireplace. A wide staircase leads overflow crowds to another large rec room in the basement. The back door also opens out to a relaxing covered patio and beautifully landscaped backyard.

This home is equipped with numerous energy efficient features to reduce the impact of rising energy costs on retirement savings while increasing the overall comfort. Tyvek house wrap and foam-sealed penetrations help prevent air flow through the building envelope. Foam backed siding provides an additional layer of thermal protection on top of the 2×6 exterior wall blown-in-blanket insulation system. Extra layers of attic insulation and foam under the basement floor help the conditioned space maintain comfortable temperatures. A high-efficiency furnace, kitchen appliances, and light fixtures also help contribute to lower utility bills.

Exterior products were chosen not only based on aesthetics but to limit long-term maintenance required by the homeowners. High-quality vinyl siding provides beautiful shadow lines and eliminates the need for frequent coats of paint as traditional siding might. This is accented with cement trim and a masonry wainscot. While these items may cost a little more upfront, there will be future savings, leaving more time and money to enjoy retirement!

Door Placement:

Door placement and swing is everything! As we did the design walkthrough, one of the biggest complaints was how unusable much of the pantry was. A simple swing change so the door opened outward made the entire pantry more accessible and open. In another location, a pass-through opening between the kitchen and dining room created a barrier and made the living room feel disconnected from the heart of the home. Changing that window into a doorway created a natural traffic flow that draws you to the living room and made the entire space feel visually larger and brighter.

The original owners had built a beautiful inset sitting area off of the primary suite. As new owners, our clients’ use was as a home office with the only access being through the primary bedroom. We closed off the existing doorway from the primary bedroom and created a new door into the entry hallway. This gave a more centrally located access for family use, and contributed to making the primary suite a private oasis.

When a pool was added to the back yard, the owners really wanted to create a fun gathering place for their extended family and friends. We took out a set of basement windows and replaced them with a large, multi-glide glass door. The door has allowed the repurposed family room to become a great entertainment location for large gatherings and provide needed access to the previously secluded patio. Whether a winter Super Bowl party or a summer birthday celebration, the basement family room now has the flexibility they need for their busy lifestyle.

Lighting:

One big aspect our clients look for in a remodel is improved lighting. Old design trends tended to lean towards smaller windows and heavy window coverings. As we were working through the new kitchen layout, we could see the sink window was undersized. Enlarging this window not only allow greater amounts of light into the room, but it also pulls your eye outward. Removing the large plantation shutters during construction opened up amazing views the owners did not even realize existed. When the rebuild was complete, the shutters discarded and replaced with roller shades or curtains that are less bulky, but also allows more light while they are open. New LED lights replaced older, less efficient lighting throughout the home. All of these details pulled together to create well-lit and inviting spaces throughout.

Cabinetry:

Well-designed cabinetry can go a long way in helping declutter a space while providing aesthetic beauty. In this kitchen, all the appliances were originally stacked together on one wall with a very heavy brick texture in the corner as a focal point. The shape and location of the island, cause all the focus to be directed towards that heavy, dark corner. In the redesign, we used paneled appliances to help them get lost in the simplicity. We moved the stove out of the corner to give more work space and used a decorative hood as a focal point. We enlarged the island and changed the orientation, so as the kitchen is being used as a workspace, the focus is outward—towards the living room and dining room—creating a connection that didn’t exist before. The oven was moved to an obscure wall so it doesn’t demand attention and allowed us to hide an oddly angled wall. Lighter textures in finishes make the space feel bright and open.

In the laundry and primary bath, every wall was originally covered in cabinetry. While this may seem like a great way to create more storage space, deep corners are very difficult to access. The functionality does not equal the large space it requires. In both of these rooms, we derived ways the our clients use those spaces, so we could design the cabinetry into a “less is more” layout. By eliminating hidden corners, there is more floor space and all of the cabinetry is more accessible. Everything has a place, so it eliminates the clutter that can land on countertops. Both rooms ended up with optimal accessibility, better organization and a much more open feel.

The basement originally had a large, heavy entertainment cabinet. This was traded out for a sleek row of lower cabinets that are lifted off the ground. When pool parties are going on, guests can enter to fill their plates but puddles of water won’t damage the cabinets. When it’s movie time, the crowd can gather around the large screen TV that is lightly flanked with decorative shelving.

The transformation in this home is amazing. Using basic design principles, you can create better function and design without necessarily using more expensive products. A well-planned remodel gave this family their dream home, without the move.

There were many design obstacles to overcome in adding the additional space needed to enlarge the kitchen, add a butler’s pantry and mudroom, as well as connect a new third car garage. We had to work around existing second story windows, and stay true to the colonial architectural style of the home. After months of consultations to find out the clients’ needs and how they function, we worked through multiple concepts. This process yielded a design that provides proper roof drainage, takes advantage of
existing mountain views, and creates circular flow within the existing rooms of the home.

The centerpiece of the kitchen is the beautiful red stove. It provides a pop of color that compliments the deep black replacement windows and doors that were installed throughout the home. The backsplash is custom artwork of the family’s back yard chickens. It was painted by a local artist and then printed on tiles to create a personal touch. A large patio door system was installed with an operational door on each end to provide circular flow to the outdoor patio for large parties. These large windows also take in the great eastern mountain views.

A hidden butler’s pantry connects through a passageway hidden behind a cabinet panel. This space allows for messy prep and hiding any last-minute dirty dishes before guests arrive. There is custom-designed storage for all necessary supplies for hosting large gatherings and storing groceries. The large island comfortably seats 5 and spacious aisles allow for many cooks in the kitchen. The ceiling is adorned with perfectly spaced, hand crafted beams.

The mudroom has custom lockers to organize shoes, bags and coats. There is a built-in doggie cabinet for the family pet to sleep and store pet supplies. A hidden powder bath shares a sink that doubles as a doggie bath tub for easy clean up when the family pet comes in from a muddy run.

A doorway was created between the front music room and the family room. It allows cross lighting between rooms and adds visual space. Our in-house carpenters designed and custom made barn doors that add a decorative element, but can provide privacy between the two spaces when necessary. The brick fireplace surround pulls in the authentic colonial feel. Ship lap adorns the neighboring walls. The circular flow allows for comfort of guests when hosting large crowds.