For decade, “home renovation” has been synonymous with swinging a sledgehammer. Somewhere along the way, HGTV convinced us that every good renovation begins with a designer in a hard hat declaring, “This wall has got to go.” Kitchens merged with living rooms, offices disappeared into great rooms, and open-concept became the gold standard. But after years of living without doors, many homeowners are rediscovering the appeal of rooms with a purpose. Turns out a little separation BUILT has its virtues. Quiet nooks invite creativity without interruption, projects can be left unfinished without becoming part of the décor, and sometimes the greatest luxury is simply being able to close the door.
Design principal Nicole Frazier, of EDI Utah, wasn’t interested in hiding her client’s passions; rather, she wanted to give him a room of his own. While creating a home layered with warm woods, raw materials, and serene, Zenlike spaces, she tucked an unexpected surprise beneath the stairs: a hidden drum studio designed for her client, Emmy Award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and professional drummer Clint Pulver. “Clint wanted a place to display the three drum kits that essentially launched his career,” Frazier shares.
Located just off a gathering space with sweeping views of the infinity pool and Utah Valley below, the studio gives him a place to rehearse, record, and create a concert-like atmosphere without disrupting the rest of the house. Heavy acoustic glass windows perform a clever double act, containing the sound while inviting guests to watch the action inside. Concert lighting bathes the drum kits atop stage-like platforms, transforming them into sculptural centerpieces, while backlit portraits of Pulver’s musical heroes turn the walls into a personal rock-and-roll hall of fame.
“The sound just vibrates inside that room,” Frazier says. “It really feels like being at a concert.” It’s also proof that today’s hobby rooms are about far more than storage. Whether it’s a music studio, an art atelier, or a couture-worthy sewing room, purposebuilt spaces celebrate the passions of the people who use them — and remind us that sometimes the best room in the house is the one with a door.
Strike A Chord
For her client, Emmy Award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and professional drummer Clint Pulver, design principal Nicole Frazier, of EDI Utah, transformed unused space beneath the musician’s staircase into a hidden drum studio.
King Pin
The line between hobby room and party space all but disappears in this spectacular home bowling alley, where a star-studded ceiling and richly detailed oak paneling set the stage. Tasked with carrying the home’s Old-World aesthetic into every corner, designer Shea McGee proves that even a bowling alley can be breathtaking. Equal parts recreation room and showpiece, it’s quite possibly the prettiest bowling alley we’ve ever laid eyes on.
Mini-Masters
Class is in session at this art studio, designed for in-home sewing and art instruction with children in mind. Designer Kylee Weathers of AVNI Design worked with the artistic homeowner to create a space perfect for young ones, complete with easels, personal paint palettes and paints, framed artistic creations, and plenty of natural light.
For The Record
Cleverly concealed and located just off a gathering space with sweeping views of the infinity pool and Utah Valley below, Frazier created a one-of-a-kind music space that offers her client the ability to rehearse and record without disturbing the rest of the home.
Growing Room
Growing a greenhouse takes more than a green thumb — it takes serious know-how. Built for a Highland homeowner by David Hoyal of Hoyal Construction, the attached garden is just steps from the kitchen, making vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh herbs part of the everyday menu. Masonry planting beds are crowned with wire-mesh trellises that coax climbing vines skyward, while a sun-angled roof, engineered to both capture and soften daylight, pairs with suspended circulation fans; the result is a perfect year-round growing environment.
Sew Lovely
With the charm of a Parisian fashion atelier, this sewing room crafted by Ali Henrie Design proves that utility can be downright glamorous. Conceived for a creative homeowner, the space pairs beauty with function: stylish task lighting illuminates a lineup of sewing machines, a spacious island makes cutting and pinning effortless, and dress forms and inspiration boards hint at designs in the making. A cozy window nook, furnished with an overstuffed chair and an ottoman, is perfect for paging through pattern books, hand-stitching a hem, or simply unwinding between projects.
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