In Ogden, a thoughtfully designed modern home blurs the line between gallery and living space—while forging a compelling connection to the outdoors and honoring craftsmanship at every turn
Photos by Nick Neuberger
George and Mary Hall are collectors. Collectors of art. Collectors of experiences. Collectors of interesting people. So, when concepting the design of their modern Ogden home, the Halls challenged Lauren Bald of A\Typical Design Studio and Robert Herman of EDA Architects to design around their vast assemblage of passion pieces—from furniture and pottery to textiles and plants.
Built with eco-conscious materials including brick and shou sugi ban—a traditional charred cedar siding–this modern, gallery-like Ogden home was built to blend into its natural surroundings. The effect is aided by wild, natural landscaping, punctuated with carefully placed concrete stairs that follow the grade of the property.
Step inside, and the home’s philosophy comes to life: This is a place that celebrates balance and craftsmanship. The clean-lined foyer, accented with sculpture alcoves and bathed in natural light, is designed around the Vedic concept of a Brahmasthan: the central zone of a building described in “A Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander and his co-authors. “The Brahmasthan is considered the most sacred and powerful area of a home, believed to bring together positive energies,” says Bald.
The light-filled entry is designed to reflect the Vedic principle of a Brahmasthan, or the central part of an architectural design from which vital energy and harmony quietly radiate through the home. Here, wood flooring is illuminated by light from a glass-paned monitor roof above. In the floor, embedded strands of brass face due north and magnetic north, grounding the home amid its natural landscape.
The front entry introduces the home’s unique palette materials: shou sugi ban siding and dark brick that lend stability and foundation. Cross-laminated timber overhead echoes natural tones from the courtyard’s nature-driven design. Matching Jim Jacobs benches sit on both sides of the floor-to-ceiling entry window.
That sense of harmony continues throughout the entire home. Materials are thoughtfully chosen to blur the lines between indoors and out, and each room is arranged to showcase art while never losing sight of function and livability.
In keeping with the Halls’ commitment to sustainability, the team selected ethically-sourced Belgian brick, cross-laminated timber and shou sugi ban siding—a traditional Japanese technique of charring wood to increase durability and create a striking, textured finish. These materials form walls that flow effortlessly from the outdoors into the living spaces.
“We really wanted an indoor-outdoor environment, so glass was an obvious choice,” says Mary. “But the wood elements really help warm up the exterior, so it wasn’t all dark brick and cold steel.”
Ebony wood tones along the perimeter kitchen cabinets echo the dark brick and charred-cedar siding outside, forging a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. The island’s custom white oak stain features green undertones to foster a cohesive color palette throughout the space, tying in hues from pendant lighting and upholstered ottomans around the room. Sconces by Allied Maker. Stools by Daniel Boddam.
White Macaubas quartzite adds warmth and balance to the dark perimeter cabinets. Atop the backsplash, an integrated quartzite shelf provides an opportunity to display artful ceramics. Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between indoors and out, showcasing views of the property and upper deck.
A patchwork scrapwood dining table and chairs by designer Piet Hein Eek makes a simple but arresting impact in the dining area, echoing both the neutral tones from the kitchen as well as rich patterns of pottery across the space. Adding depth and texture, a verdigris brass chandelier by Atelier 001 and a woven textile piece hung on lime-wash plaster walls add texture and warmth. Plaster finish applied by Art of Deception.
A\Typical’s hand in the interiors also helped soften the design, introducing a cohesive palette of greens and neutrals to foster the outdoor connection—just enough color to warm the space and modern architecture without stealing the spotlight from the Halls’ impressive art and pottery collections.
The focal point of the main living area is a display of handmade ceramic pots sourced from artisans native to Pueblo tribes, from the Mata Ortiz pottery tradition in Mexico and beyond. Displayed against dark shelves that accentuate their forms and rich, earthy finishes, the collection demands attention. To let these pieces take the spotlight, the surrounding great room features clean lines, neutral tones and modern furnishings that provide a serene, unobtrusive backdrop.
In the primary bedroom, the organic lines of a curated display shelf and leather-paneled Croft House nightstands lend a sense of softness, designating the room as a retreat. Against a hand-plastered wall, a walnut and mohair bedframe by De La Espada—with its low-slung profile and subtle ochre palette—quietly recedes, allowing the bedroom’s views to dominate. Sconces by Apparatus, rug by Armadillo & Co., shelves via 1st Dibs.
“This gorgeous floating staircase was the brainchild of EDA architects,” says Bald. Crafted of blackened steel and solid oak steps, the staircase appears to be floating in mid air. “We kept this part of the design simple and added some small lights at the base to accentuate the architectural details.” Sconces by Rich Brilliant Willing.
In the primary bathroom, a neutral, warm palette begins with white oak vanity paneling and continues through Fireclay tile and Watermark fixtures in the steam shower. Saint Laurent marble adds a dramatic statement, repeating from the countertop to the full-height backsplash. Sconces by Emmanuelle Simon. Vase by Kit Harrington.
“The furniture needed to be beautiful in tactility, form, function and authenticity,” says Bald. “We took special care to source pieces from all around the world, and most furnishings and lighting are one of a kind, made by true artisans.”
Among these treasures, the salvaged wood dining table by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek stands out. Its pattern of checkerboard taupe, charcoal and warm brown woods offers visual interest that carries the eye through the room, mirroring the textures of the pots across from it.
A vintage heirloom mirror towers above a guest bath’s limestone countertop inlaid with fossil imprints. Opposite the vanity, a graphic mural wallcovering by Nobilis connects with a spacious shower clad in dark Fireclay tile. In Common With sconces team with hardware hooks by Mi & Gei and plumbing by California Faucets to detail the space.
Pierre Frey grasscloth in a playful pottery-themed print was the first material selected for the design, setting the tone for the remainder of the home. To match, Bald selected a bold Sahara Noir slab from European Marble and Granite for its earthy tones. “Its strong striations were a nice juxtaposition to the organic wallpaper, and the color palette couldn’t have been more perfect,” says Bald. A U-shaped ‘Melt’ mirror by Bower Studios delivers even more character.
The courtyard is accessible from multiple points within the home, with natural paths connecting them all. Along the entry path, a flowing pond echoes the backyard creek, for added movement and natural sounds.
In the hall, two large, colorful paintings stand out amid the home’s neutral tones. Inside the office door, a vintage lounge chair from Salt Lake City’s The Green Ant, an oxblood floor lamp by &Tradition, a vintage Navajo rug and an original oil painting foster a collected look and feel.
In both the dining room and the primary suite, the designer enlisted Art of Deception to apply hand-finished lime wash plaster to the walls for added warmth. “With hard lines, steel framing and sleek surfaces, it’s easy for a modern home like this to feel cold,” says Bald. “Plaster helped us find that harmony between architecture and materiality, making sure these spaces felt natural.”
From walls adorned with hand-painted kachina dolls displayed beside lush landscape paintings, to swaths of vined houseplants framing bookshelves packed to the brim, the remaining rooms are also an ode to the couple’s many passions. The Halls’ home is an eclectic masterpiece celebrating craftsmanship, where the spirit of each artwork fills the home with warmth and soul.
Lauren Bald, principal at A\Typical Design Studio.
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