Roberts & Lamb transform a lot deemed unbuildable into a canyon-cool retreat along Salt Lake City’s East Bench
Photos by Lindsay Salazar
When presented with the last lot in SLC’s Carrigan Canyon, designer Jana Robertson of Roberts & Lamb, architect Krysta Dimick, Michaelis Build & Development and Studio PK faced an uphill battle—literally. Backing up to a steep slope, the lot didn’t have much real estate to work with. Working from carefully drawn architectural plans inherited from Studio PK, Robertson selected natural materials in a warm neutral palette while the Michaelis Build team utilized clever construction tricks in order to craft a successful design to fit into the landscape, the neighborhood and the clients’ vision. The result is a comparatively small but mighty modern home that embraces the good, the bad and the beautiful that this challenging lot brought to the table.
Despite many structural hurdles, the lot does have one major advantage: sweeping views of the Salt Lake valley. And in the main living area, those vistas get to shine unencumbered.
A columnar fireplace, wrapped in dramatically dark natural stone tile, stands as a centering element in the great room, grounding the space without impeding views.
“We maintained a minimal, streamlined aesthetic in the kitchen to preserve the focus on the views,” says Robertson. Natural stone was a priority for both designer and homeowner, and here granite countertops provide clean, contemporary lines against paint-finished cabinets.
“This home has a very particular modern style, but we didn’t want it to stand out jarringly as the newest house on the block,” says Robertson. “I didn’t want to go trendy.” To help the home blend with its setting and its neighbors, the architecture and design teams worked together to select a mix of autumn-toned woods, which complements the mountain backdrop, and sleek steel to honor the modern architecture.
Striking blue tile from Daltile and a sculptural custom mirror make art of a small, angular powder bathroom. The Terrazzo Renata flooring is by Ann Sacks, the countertop is from Elegant Stone and the pendants are from Visual Comfort.
The kitchen design focused on a minimal aesthetic: clean lines and contrasting colors. The lower cabinets are finished in Benjamin Moore’s Dakota Shadow, a warm green that grounds the space, while the uppers feature Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe #26, a complementary warm grey. The custom barstools are by Vanguard Furniture and the granite is from The Stone Collection.
In the great room, walls of windows invite the outdoors in, and low-profile furnishings in the intimate living area allow the views to take center stage. The dining table was custom crafted by Old Biscayne Designs in a natural wood tone that matches the flooring and exposed beams overhead. Clad in organic stone tile, a columnar fireplace grounds the space without interrupting the space’s connection with the natural world.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room showcase impressive views of the Salt Lake valley. The dining table was custom crafted by Old Biscayne Designs in a natural wood tone that harmonizes beautifully with the flooring and exposed beams. The custom dining chairs are by Adriana Hoyos.
Similarly, the primary bedroom is surrounded by windows, creating the illusion of sleeping outdoors while cocooned in comfort. “We designed the bed and chair to be minimal and textural, allowing them to recede into the background,” says Robertson. The team also enlisted Treeform to construct custom cabinetry and nightstands that enhance—rather than compete with—the room’s intriguing architecture. In many areas, Studio PK’s complex architectural plans (drawn to fit the home into its irregularly-shaped lot) required more than a few creative interior design solutions. In the lower lounge, the living space is built directly into the mountainside, featuring one solid wall with no windows. “This was a constraint we transformed into an opportunity,” says Robertson. On the rear wall, a landscape-like Phillip Jeffries wallcovering delivers dimension and warmth to the sheltered area, and innovative Visual Comfort lighting adds quiet glow.
White oak and steel form a sculptural staircase that speaks to the home’s exterior, while the minimal silhouette allows natural light and landscape views to flow through the home’s lower level.
As another example: plans for the powder bath presented one of many asymmetrical rooms, opening directly into a corner. “Rather than fight the angles, we needed to fill the space very purposefully, and to me it felt it needed to be like an art installation.” Working with the builder, Robertson designed a custom, corner-bridging mirror to aid the space in feeling more welcome and integrated. Both the Anne Sacks terrazzo flooring and the sleek countertop match elements in the nearby entry, further tying the powder room to the rest of the home.
The primary bathroom was the only room not completed on the architectural plans that came with the home’s lot. This gave Roberts & Lamb the chance to work closely with the homeowners to create their ideal retreat, while honoring the material palette that defines the home. Zellige tile from Zia Tile and travertine countertops play off one another as they speak to the landscape. The plaster tub is from MLD, and the millwork is by Treeform.
In the light-filled primary bedroom, textural furnishings, rich grasscloth wallcovering and sleek built-in cabinetry fade peacefully into the architecture, enhancing the outdoor views. The millwork and nightstands were constructed by Treeform, the bed and chair are from Verellen, the wallcovering is by Maharam and the accessories are from Strawberry Mansion.
Phillip Jeffries wallcovering and custom Kravet and Hickory Chair furnishings deliver warmth to a lounge built into the mountain on the home’s lower level. Behind the sitting area, a small bar features a bookmatched stone backsplash. The sconces are by Visual Comfort.
Thanks to that attention to the flow of materials and views, combined with creative construction solutions and a careful commitment to their clean aesthetic, this team of pros was able to transform a perplexing design challenge into a thing of beauty, perfectly suited to its location. Robertson explains, “You can’t select materials and design direction in a vacuum—you have to take into consideration everything around the home to honor it.”
Jana Robertson, principal designer and founder of Roberts & Lamb. Photo courtesy of Roberts & Lamb.
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