Triumphant transformation is no easy feat. And yet, in the heart of Sandy, a talented team accomplished exactly that as it reimagined a decades-old event center into Twenty & Creek—a freshly conceived and crafted venue for weddings, retreats, conferences and celebrations.
Photos by Rebekah Westover
One visit to the Sandy property and 20 chandeliers ago, Megan Bonham gazed at the ornate chateau-style venue and envisioned something new, fresh and timeless in its place. She purchased the property and then hired The Fox Group’s Cara and Tom Fox, Ferran Construction, landscape designer Emily Brooks Wayment and architectural designer Peter Fillerup to help turn her vision into reality. “Our goal was to have this venue stand the test of time, making it as relevant today as it will be 20 years from now,” Bonham says.
The team saw eye-to-eye on a basic premise: Twenty & Creek had to be a uniquely beautiful and enchanting place where clients could make and memorialize their own special moments. But this objective produced a curious challenge: How do you create distinctive design that inspires and delights while still allowing each client’s individual style and personalized celebration to prevail?
“We had to create spaces that are warm, welcoming and elegant but not too taste-specific,” Cara explains. One of the best examples, the designer points out, is the grand hall. There, sparkling chandeliers, classic molding and a monumental cast-limestone fireplace impart elegance and distinct character to the soaring, open space. However, the hall’s white surfaces, light-toned wood floors and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows deliver a blank, albeit gracious, canvas upon which personal style and festive furnishings can be easily introduced. “This allows each of our guests to truly create their own special moments here,” says Julia Seamons, project and facilities manager. Nearby, the venue’s ethereal ceremony hall and broad, garden-wrapped patios similarly invite expressive styling and spirited staging.
Twenty & Creek’s more intimate spaces are decidedly more design-driven and wrought with details that give each an opulent, bespoke quality. Handsome walnut paneling wraps the foyer, hushed hues and dressmaker touches charm the top-of-stairs bride’s suite and dark indigo paint cocoons the handsomely paneled groom’s retreat on the lower level. Luxe fabrics, patterned papers, gleaming marbles and brass fixtures create a decorative thread that embellishes the more private spaces throughout, adding surprise and splendor to the otherwise understated décor.
In the center of it all, a stately staircase elegantly detailed with brass and iron railings gracefully connects the grand hall with the bride’s suite above. One of the main hall’s three enormous handcrafted chandeliers sparkles overhead. One can easily imagine a gorgeously gowned bride slowly descending the stairs to join her groom and guests in the nearby ceremony room. “This place is all about moments, and we knew that a beautiful staircase would be part of the most memorable experiences,” Cara says.
“For many people, this venue represents the best day of their entire lives. Love and happiness happen here, surrounded by family and friends,” Bonham explains. “It was important for us to create an environment that memorialized those special days, which meant creating spaces that were iconic and could capture the feelings of each client’s special day.”
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