Move over gray, you’ve had your moment. We’re ready for something more cheerful but equally chic. Enter today’s pastels. These aren’t the candy-colored hues of kids’ rooms and Easter eggs, but rather earthier, more sophisticated shades reminiscent of charming Scandinavian design. Ironically, the trick to creating this grown-up palette is tinging pure pastels with a hint of, you guessed it, gray. To see these pastels in action, check out some of these rooms.
Architecture and design buffs, get ready for a month loaded with tours, panels and films. Here’s the lineup:
Utah Architecture Week
The Utah Center for Architecture (the nonprofit associated with the AIA Utah Chapter) is hosting Utah Architecture Week to explore Utah’s innovative design ideas, businesses and minds. The best part? All events are free. Monday, April 9th, 6-8 p.m. Box City Event at Salt Lake Public library Tuesday, April 10th, 6-8 p.m. VR Night to demonstrate virtual reality they are using in a project Wednesday, April 11th, noon-1 p.m. Urban Walk along the 9-Line Bike Park Thursday, April 12th, 5:30 p.m. Downtown Walk through Regent Street, Edison Street to The Leonardo, followed by screening (at 7 p.m.) of film “Citizen Jane” followed by panel discussion
Photo by Lindsay Salazar. Click for full feature story.
“Eames: the architect and the painter” Free Screening and Panel Discussion Wednesday, April 11th, 6:30 p.m. Salt Lake Public Library Join Salt Lake Modern and Preservation Utah for a free screening of the documentary “Eames: the architect and the painter.” After the film, Preservation Utah’s Executive Director Kirk Huffaker will moderate a panel of local designers and mid-century enthusiast, including City Home Collective Senior Designer Pamela Jewell and Dan Evans, Associate Professor of U of U’s Department of Art & Art History. The evening is also sponsored by University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning. Head to Salt Lake Modern’s event page for more information.
The 47th Annual Historic Homes Tour Saturday, April 21st, 10 a.m. Preservation Utah is hosting their 47th Annual Historic Homes Tour in the Country Club neighborhood of Salt Lake. Tickets on sale now and available through Preservation Utah’s Facebook page.
Often in the Wasatch back, the terms fastest growing, biggest, best, most luxurious, recently constructed, most popular, exclusive and similar superlatives prevail in conversations and print about the area. It’s easy to get caught up and see the place as an ideal through others’ eyes. This week I am looking at it just as the place we call home, and it’s a beautiful place to call home. I’m thinking now of the beauty and fragrance of spring in the Heber Valley, and with that, how homes become special because they so personally reflect the lives of the people who live there. It’s difficult to picture this beautiful Provincial French garden and home restoration as the work of just one small-but-mighty woman who found a neglected pioneer home surrounded by fields in a rural corner of Midway in the 1970s on an outing with her dog. But, that’s the case. She worked for a long while at Adolph’s as a chef and for a time at Jan’s in women’s clothing. Jobs, not a career, supported what was really important, creating her home. Eventually she built a small studio in the midst of the garden where she sold her dried floral wreaths, original oils, and the occasional antique. Her art won awards and helped to support her. But it wasn’t easy to buy her creations. If you called the studio, a recorded phone message answered, “We’re here by chance.” Beautiful things should be shared, and she opened the doors of her art and book filled home to friends for Thanksgiving, New Years, and famously for Easter. Every meal was appropriately artful. This year, there will be no traditional Easter celebration. Shosho (Suzanne) Zipprich sadly passed away last month. This week was her birthday, so I am thinking of her. I think I will often think of her and how beautifully she lived. Perhaps that’s her greatest legacy as an artist. See more: #photofriday
When we go to our local nursery and select a favorite succulent, because well, succulents are everyone’s faves these days, we don’t consider where the plant came from. In St. George and the desert Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico and Southern California), chances are it came from V&P Nurseries, an Arizona-based grower/wholesale nursery specializing in sub-tropical and drought-tolerant varieties. And that succulent, a Blue Glow agave perhaps, may have began life in a jar as a V&P plant tissue culture. Then, as it grew, it was moved from multiple containers, then into a small pot placed among countless others inside an expansive, sunlight-filled greenhouse, before being presented in a decorative pot on the shelf of an independent nursery, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Costco. Yup, that agave has a interesting history. And so does V&P. To hear Niko Vlachos, the company’s V.P, tell it, his father Demetrios Vlachos began by selling Mexican Bird of Paradise plants from his backyard in the 1970’s. The showy red-flowered plants were a hit and the family business took flight. Decades later, V&P now boasts more than 280 acres in Queens Creek, southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.
Niko Vlachos, V.P. of V&P Nurseries.
About 200 of those acres are currently used to grow varieties from the world’s desert and sub-tropical regions, as well as to develop new and distinctive cultivars created to thrive in residential and commercial gardens. Today, V&P grows more than 200 plant varieties. As a self-professed garden geek, seeing them as I visited the nursery was pure heaven.
Succulent and cacti lovers would surely swoon over the large variety and beautiful specimens of these sculptural plants that V&P grows and sells.Countless barrel cacti resemble a sea of pincushions as they fill a huge greenhouse.
While touring the grounds with Niko, I couldn’t help but be captivated by his knowledge of and passion for plants, as well as his enthusiasm and ideas for improving and growing the business. And when it comes to growing, that’s the name-of-the-game inside the nursery’s many greenhouses.
With hundreds of species available, hibiscuses are the best selling plants at V&P and fill many greenhouses with their large showy flowers and intoxicating colors.
In these sun-filled structures, acres of potted plants sit side by side on knee-high tables. Amazingly, each individual plant is constantly trimmed, primped and primed by individual workers to ensure that it is at its flowering peak and ideal shape when it hits the retail shelf.
These young succulents began life as tissue cultures in jars before being moved to planting trays and then, one day, to individual pots.
For those of us who struggle with growing individual plants in our gardens, the carefully orchestrated timing of perfection seems improbable, if not impossible. Multiply the effort by thousands and you’ll get an idea of just how impressive this operation is. Thanks to this experience, when I select a new plant at my local nursery, I now have a much better appreciation for it and all it took to get there.
V&P Nurseries owns more that 280 acres in Queens Creek, located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.
Featured image: One day these V&P potted bougainvilleas will grow to smother sun-warmed walls with their brilliantly colored bracts and bright green foliage. This is the second best selling plant for the grower.
Here’s a winning way to spend a snowy day: Amuse yourself with these stylish puzzles, card sets, boards and more. Ideal for when life calls for some indoor fun and games.
“What’s your fascination with stairs?” I’ve been asked that question, not several, but many times. Frankly, I didn’t know I was experiencing a fascination until on retrospect I have to admit it’s possibly the case.
And in my defense, why shouldn’t I indulge in photographing something I find wonderful. After all, stairs are connections, they are sculptural, and they are functional.
I find also the detailing of the stairways show the mastery of designers and builders. That makes photographing stairways a natural for understanding their work.
“It brings everyone together,” says RSL’s Nick Rimando, explaining why his recently remodeled family kitchen is now the most prized room in his Harvard/Yale-area home.
Where once a peninsula counter separated an outdated kitchen from the adjacent living room, a new island opens the refreshed kitchen spatially, turning it and the nearby living room into a much-used, front-of-the-house gathering space. Here, kids do homework, the family watches TV, Rimando cooks up Taco Tuesdays and frequently pours his buddies spirits also served at Beer Bar, Bar X and The Eating Establishment—all of which he is a co-owner.
Rimando drove the room’s rustic-meets-modern redesign. Raw wood and exposed I-beams adorn the ceiling while driftwood-colored cabinets, black and white quartz countertops, small hex wall tiles and open shelves team to make the room a winner.
Dog bowls and shelves are built into the island’s end.Steel I-beams serve as open shelving.Small hex tile creatively spans the wall.A motorized cabinet door operates on a single touch.
So what if the kitchen was cramped and parts of the floor plan were as compartmentalized as a maze?Built in 1940, the single-level ranch house located in Salt Lake’s historic Yalecrest neighborhood oozed potential. Ben and Taylor Brown recognized the dwelling’s possibilities and sought a team of pros to turn the old house into a spectacular new home for their young family.
The job went to contractor/design team Tom and Cara Fox and architect Warren Lloyd, who collaborated with the Browns to renovate and renew the house designed by early Utah modernist Slack Winburn.The goal was to retain its original charm, enhance its elegant features, update the interior and create a large family kitchen and a second story to house a master suite and kids’ bedrooms.
Tom and Cara Fox, principals of the Fox Group.
Impressively sited, the colonial ranch homesits above the street and back on a large, pie-shaped lot overlooking the historic neighborhood. “When you talk curb appeal, there’s a lot of curb here,” Lloyd jests. And that’s exactly where the transformation began.
Replacing a grass-covered slope bottoming out at the street, a low wall, broad walkway and level yard now front the stately, two-story house. Swathes of hydrangeas and white roses overspill boxwood hedges while shaped trees and lush lawns comprise a formal landscape designed by Emily Brooks Wayment. These glorious gardens and the home’s new exterior details—including a cedar shake roof, copper rain gutters and traditional dormers—hint at the dynamic design waiting behind the front door.
An original elliptical foyer welcomes guests with its distinctive shape and refreshed décor. “We wanted to keep this space because it is so unique to the house,” Tom says. Here, he and Cara began their infusion of time-honored elements and masterfully continued them throughout the remodeled home.
Beautifully crafted architectural detailing prevails. Stately paneling, generous moldings, handsome casings and elegant millwork deliver dimension and classic character to walls, ceilings and custom built-ins. White oak floors perform like art underfoot, boasting centuries-old patterns. A palette of muted colors, from rich blue to dark gray and whisper-soft whites, provides depth and continuity throughout the interior.
“We take historically inspired concepts and incorporate them into modern day living,” says Tom. “These layered treatments make our homes timeless, sophisticated and unique.”
In the north wing of the house, herringbone-patterned white oak floors, large windows and traditional paneling define a wide gallery hall. These eye-catching features draw attention away from modest 8-foot high ceiling,” says Tom, describing the savvy strategy he used throughout the low-ceilinged main level. The light-filled hall opens to a number of beautiful rooms, none more alluring than the combined living and dining space.
High-gloss gray-blue paint envelopes the formal room with saturated color while leaded glass windows, a coffered ceiling, paneled walls and original masonry fireplace fill the space with sophistication and timeless style. “It’s our favorite room in the house,” Cara says. Nearby, a darkly painted office—replete with a geometrically patterned wood floor, paneled walls, fireplace and curved leaded glass windows—offers a quiet spot to retreat. At the end of the hall, a stylish playroom and a new home theater spectacularly built into the existing rotunda (with a gym located beneath) provide casual, finely finished spaces for the family to play and relax.
The opposite end of the home showcases the most dramatic changes to the original structure. Several choppy rooms, including the original cramped kitchen and small bedroom, were reconfigured and replaced with an open family room, kitchen and dining nook that distinctively join on the diagonal. “This is not your typical box,” Tom jests. A 17-foot island anchors the spacious kitchen, where an Italian brass sink, brass lanterns and a custom brass hood backed by a single slab of Calacatta gold marble bedazzle the room. “We chose unlacquered brass for its timeless finish,” Cara explains. Custom cabinetry by CS Cabinetry fully furnishes the room despite the fact that no upper cabinets were included in the design. “Uppers would have drawn attention to the low ceiling,” says Tom. Instead, lower cabinets, a full pantry wall and a hidden door leading to a working pantry provide plentiful storage.
Crowning the remodeled kitchen area, a dazzling ringed chandelier drops from an open, second-story addition, where the master suite and kids’ rooms reside. A beautifully crafted stairway is discreetly located off the kitchen and provides ideal access from the upper level directly into the active kitchen and family room areas. “It’s an extremely functional design for the family,” Tom says.
The 1940s house now enjoys a new life as a timelessly styled, functional home for the Brown family. What’s more, it looks and feels like it has always been that way. “With most of our remodels, the goal is to make an old house feel and work like new and still look old,” says Tom. “It’s not easy, but when we accomplish that, then know we’ve done our job.”
ICYMI the design pros at Humble Dwellings are definitely worth a spot on your interior design and décor radars.
The local mother-daughters design trio worked on two different projects that I’m excited to share with you. The first is a collab with J.Craft Homes for the 2017 Salt Lake Parade of Homes, and the second features a vacation home located in The Canyons community of Park City.
Both projects highlight Humble Dwellings’ inviting, organic-minimalist approach to interior design. Keep scrolling to find out more about their inspiration and to see more of their work.
Let’s dig right in. So, tell us a little about this project.
“This was definitely our favorite project from this past year and has some on-trend styling tips that we see continuing into 2018,” says designer Jasmine Meese.
“We wanted to bring in some world influence through various textures, colors and accessories to create a functional family home.”
What’s the design aesthetic you were going for in this home?
“Our focus was on bright colors but not anything too flashy. We wanted to add color in a subtle way to maintain a comfortable feel to the home.
We usually design with colors, textures and patterns that inspire our clients,” she says.
What sets you apart from other local designers?
“We want to help people become the curators of their own homes. So, we ask them to step back and think about what really fills them up. Instead of us telling them, you need to do it this way.”
“It’s important to feel inspired in your home because it’s the place where you come back to at the end of the day, so it should be a reflection of you and your lifestyle.”
What are some of your favorite current interior design trends?
“Design is so versatile right now because there isn’t one specific trend. Unless, of course, there’s a specific style or color you’re going for.”
Meese states that design is all about creating spaces that inspire us.
“When you’re in a space that inspires you, you’re able to be creative in all aspects of your life. It’s all about what feels calm and serene; and pouring focus, love and creativity into that.”
“The idea of being creative and being unique is so much more accepted. Eras and phases through interior design is one way or the highway, but it’s very versatile now. We’re able to pull things from different styles throughout time.”
“Nate Berkus once said that you need to love every single thing in your home. Find a desk you love and then find a chair you love to go with it. Remind yourself, you don’t have to settle,” she says.
What’s your recommendation on interior design for families with kids?
“The upstairs of the South Jordan home is the kids’ area. We had a clean, modern feel but wanted to add something a little playful. We used the photo of the yak at the end of the hallway, which we chose because the yak has a happy face, so it’s an uplifting and playful piece,” she says.
“Kids appreciate design too. If a space feels more mature, but still maintains playfulness it offers room for creativity and affects the vibe of the entire home.”
Project 2: Vacation Home at the Canyons in Park City
Tell us a little about this project?
“Our clients wanted a mountain-rustic feel, but didn’t necessarily want it to feel like a cabin. We brought in a variety of patterns to harness an eclectic-boho feel combined with assorted mountain elements. We ended up creating a sort of a mountain gypsy look. The rustic touches really warm up a space and make it feel more comfortable, cozy and inviting,” she says.
What’s a fun or unique texture that you’re using more of in your designs?
“Velvet is really coming back, it’s a fun funky trend right now and people are going for it,” Meese says.
Where did you find all of the gorgeous décor pieces for these projects?
“All the furniture and decor from these two projects came from Humble Dwellings. We’re sort of a one-stop shop. We want you to come in, and we’ll get you everything you need.”
Visit Humble Dwellings’ website to learn more (a USD preferred designer!).
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Feature image: “The focal point in this room is the velvet headboard which we tied together with velvet accent pillows. There are some of those blue-green undertones as well which we emphasized in order to bring some color into the room. We’re seeing the deep, dark blue-greens and dark jade-green a lot in design.”
Looking for some splashy bathroom sink design ideas? We rounded up some of the showiest vessels and bowls from the recent St. George Parade of Homes. House to house, bathroom design was, dare we say, awash with style.
Tic Tac Toe, $110, 
Beautifully crafted architectural detailing prevails. Stately paneling, generous moldings, handsome casings and elegant millwork deliver dimension and classic character to walls, ceilings and custom built-ins. White oak floors perform like art underfoot, boasting centuries-old patterns. A palette of muted colors, from rich blue to dark gray and whisper-soft whites, provides depth and continuity throughout the interior. 
The opposite end of the home showcases the most dramatic changes to the original structure. Several choppy rooms, including the original cramped kitchen and small bedroom, were reconfigured and replaced with an open family room, kitchen and dining nook that distinctively join on the diagonal. “This is not your typical box,” Tom jests. A 17-foot island anchors the spacious kitchen, where an Italian brass sink, brass lanterns and a custom brass hood backed by a single slab of Calacatta gold marble bedazzle the room. “We chose unlacquered brass for its timeless finish,” Cara explains. Custom cabinetry by CS Cabinetry fully furnishes the room despite the fact that no upper cabinets were included in the design. “Uppers would have drawn attention to the low ceiling,” says Tom. Instead, lower cabinets, a full pantry wall and a hidden door leading to a working pantry provide plentiful storage. 
The 1940s house now enjoys a new life as a timelessly styled, functional home for the Brown family. What’s more, it looks and feels like it has always been that way. “With most of our remodels, the goal is to make an old house feel and work like new and still look old,” says Tom. “It’s not easy, but when we accomplish that, then know we’ve done our job.” 
