I thought of Albert Hadley, one of the iconic designers of our time, and how his classic design elements carry a punch of unexpected surprise. We recently met with a client who owned a charming historic home.  Between the historic references to the home’s time period and the modern updates they had made, we knew this was going to be an amazing space.

Our client loves color, and is not afraid to use it. We met her with paint chip in hand of an amazing deep black for the walls. We used this as a springboard and pulled some inspiration from several amazing dark rooms. As we talked about the space she wanted to make sure that when people walked into her space, they would say “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you did that; but I love it!” After giving the walls this dramatic palette we knew the furniture would become the star of the room ; so we in turn selected pieces with great shapes and forms, but something to make the space comfortable and inviting.

We grounded the room with a dark rug, not quite as black as the walls, but something so the furniture didn’t feel like it was floating away. We wanted to highlight the fireplace that was flanked by beautiful, historic stained glass windows, so we put the television on a secondary wall. We put some unexpected flair on the central ottoman, silver leaf finish on the legs and upholstering it in a great linen zebra print. It becomes the piece that everyone can kick their feet up no and read a book or watch TV. We added a splash of color to a fun pull-up chair, and mimicked those organic shapes throughout the room.

In the end, this room found itself full of quirky design surprises, with just the right amount of unexpected to become the perfect space for this family.

- Natalie

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There are certain pieces in every space that dictate the spirit of a room. Whether it be a bold rug or a bazaar sculpture, interesting rooms are opinionated, sometimes irreverent and always unexpected!

While in the first stages of our kitchen remodel, Tom and I took a field trip to Euro Treasures in downtown Salt Lake to see if we could find something unique and found! As we walked deeper into the old, spacious (and semi decrepit) building, we stumbled upon such a piece. She was a stunner! Beautifully carved and fairly substantial – but what was she? Where had she been and what on earth was she used for? All I knew is she was placed in my path and I had to take her home with me! She would be my island! This 300 year old something from India would be my kitchen oasis!

When we had everything planned out in the space, we took her to the salon and our amazing cabinet maker, Scott Brown, got her all dolled up with three drawers on one side and a door on the other. I can’t show you complete after shots yet but let me tell you, this girl is smokin’! Without her in the space, it would feel ordinary, flat and less than special but I do declare, she is breathing a whole new life!

I don’t know what she was before being reincarnated but I’m happy to call her my own found curiosity!

- Suzanne

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“A house is an idea, a house is a thing, a house is you, a tangible embodiment of your dreams and desires and interests. Your house has its own personality and continuity and unity. Its parts come together as your home.”

- Mariette Himes Gomez

I love this quote and concur with Ms. Gomez as I truly believe a house isn’t a home until it starts speaking to you! It’s in the walls, the books, the images, even the fragrance! It’s in the emotional response that one gets when walking into a space that says, “This is so you!”

As my husband and I embarked on a small remodel of our attic apartment, I had to really sit down and ask myself what dreams, desires and interests I wanted to reflect in my own space! We do this all day everyday and I was temporarily stumped until I started looking through photos I’ve taken over the summer. It was then that I stumbled across the below image I took at Cascade Springs… This was it! The colors, the textures, subject matter and all – This was me and Tom!!! We are total nature nerds and are constantly inspired by its raw visual symphonies! Before I show you all the before, during and after photos, here are a few teasers!

- Suzanne

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Just when I think I’ve nailed down my style, a client comes along that inspires a new branch to my design tree.

The Nemrow’s are a young family with three sugar-coated lil’ girls living in a contemporary home in Pleasant Grove, and they sprouted this new style seed. In an attempt to make this home their own, they have remodeled and added areas but were stumped when they got to the unfunctional galley of a kitchen. They have a very edited yet animated aesthetic but translating that to hard surfaces in a kitchen can be trickier than to a living room or bedroom. when the Nemrow’s gave us free reign to shimmy walls and eject windows, Jess and I were elated when we began to think of the possibilities! By rotating the kitchen and allowing the eye to rest on one great focal wall, the universe was good again and a functional kitchen was born!

There is something so liberating about open shelving! it allows you to display the things you use and love everyday and forces you to edit! (I’m doing this in my own kitchen and am beyond excited to live a little more like Anjerie!)

That tile! Oh that tile!! What can I say but that tile is EVERYTHING! By taking it all the way to the ceiling, we pronounce that we just can’t get enough that tile!

This fish from Natural Curiosities is a good time! not only is the scale insane in the membrane, but he’s got a full set of teeth and we adore him!

- Suzanne

[photos by Meikel Reece]

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We began with a rug, the Congo rug to be exact. A luxurious touch you can’t wait but sink your feet into every morning. From there we placed a sunburst mirror above the bed – a true marvel of elegance! We decided to use a desk as a bedside table instead of the traditional nightstand. Not only does this look smart but it functions for our client as he works all hours of the night. We nestled a charming side chair with his desk and wrapped it in a traditional, cozy print – making working late nights a little more enjoyable. Above his desk we placed four breathtaking crystals. Can you believe these are purely created by Mother Nature herself?! When the bedside lamps shine on this work of art, they just sing! Gorgeous!

At the foot of the bed, the homeowners requested a cabinet for a pop-up television. Great for viewing your favorite shows late at night – not the greatest piece to walk into every morning. To disguise this necessary element of the room, we placed a luxurious, comfortable, and uber-inviting sofa at the foot of this cabinet. What pop-up television? Opposite this sofa, we placed two of the most comfortable chairs you have ever lounged in! Just to be a little more ridiculous, we covered these chairs in rich mohair-like fabric. Yum! Between the chairs, we placed an ottoman which not only acts as a coffee table but a peaceful spot to read a book, kick-up your feet and unwind for the night. This Master Bedroom retreat creates a place for daydreams, night dreams, and all dreams between! Sweet dreams Mr. and Mrs. Clarke.

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We were asked by a lovely couple that we had recently finished an office space for, to transform their covered front porch of their home. This was a meeting space not only for their own family but for their neighbors as well – so it needed to be functional, kid-friendly, and a great space for entertaining.

With the beautiful Craftsman style architecture of the home, we wanted the space to be eclectic, refined and to have that well-traveled feeling. A great indoor/outdoor rug and some fun, punchy fabrics for the pillows set the tone for the porch. We loved this foxy faux bois bench – constructed of steel and concrete which was a PLUS for the outdoors and the climate here in Utah! To make this space even more functional, we chose to use trunks as the cocktail table, to double as storage for quilts and blankets for those chilly evenings.  A little display shelf was tucked into the porch corner for pillows, plants and other entertaining necessities. With all of the main players in place, we added the patterned pillows and a colorful garden stool for the finishing touch!

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Occasionally we will come across a fabric that we just hold on to until the right client comes along.  It’s usually something a little more outlandish, colorful, gutsy and designer than the average Jane would go for but luckily a cute Arizonian came into my life that was born to live with this particular fabric!  Possibly my favorite fabric!  It has everything!  A sorbet of colors that is almost eatable every time I pull it out! As we began to design her family’s dining room, it became our window treatments so all could enjoy it top to bottom all day long!

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For my sister’s birthday in November, I designed a bathroom for her! I handed her a packet with the plans, paint chips, hardware and plumbing specs, artwork, etc. And put her on a path to give her subs precise direction to implement a darling guest bath!

We borrowed her Bombay chest from her entry for the vanity with instructions to paint it a high gloss white and top with white Caesar Stone counter, a vessel sink and tall gooseneck faucet from her local Home Depot.

Ta-da! We sold her the Venetian mirror from Alice lane, as well as the truffle colored glass knobs. Light fixtures, bath mats, shower curtain. The contrast is stunning! It’s a black and white classical story with a shot of majestic purple! Va-va-voom!

- Jess

Transform your own bathroom with these key pieces:

1. Venetian Mirror – 24″W x 36″H – $838
2. Sherwin Williams Paint – Expressive Plum
3. Ceiling Light – $312
4. Vanity Light – $310
5. Artwork – $88 each

*Tile by Gunner (435) 896-7782
Paint Specialists – Coating Pros (435) 705-3392

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Occasionally, you get a client who walks in the door and knows exactly what they want. Alicia Guerrero was this client! They moved into an existing home in Alpine five years ago and have loved the location, but the interior never reflected the heart of her family. Every time they returned from their Manhattan Beach residence, things felt heavy, cramped and didn’t feel like their home yet. When they decided to remodel, Alicia brought Benjamin Blackwelder, a close friend and insanely talented carpenter to come design the kitchen and fireplace. The before pictures are mind-boggling after you see what the space has evolved into! Light and breezy with layers of refinement was our goal and I do declare that we’ve succeeded!

Once the demo took place, we had to make sure every function was met. That meant we needed to give them a place to watch TV, dine, prepare and serve food. Not to mention, a quiet spot for Alicia and her husband to sip tea in the morning!

Once we started to design, everything seemed to fall into place. The hand-knotted Oushak rug felt like you were walking on water. The Elizabeth armoire from Oly Studio was a natural fit and mirrored the marble chest oh-so nicely. Not to mention the Moonz sofa filled with down feather goodness!

The dining space and small keeping room of the kitchen are precious! We had the table built by a local craftsman and the figured ash feels like small rivers and streams running through the room. Luckily we had a small pocket where we could place a settee and a high directoire table for Alicia and her husband to sit, sip tea and write thank you notes. Every day should start in a space like this!

[photos by Meikel Reece]

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I’ve always loved children’s literature! Perhaps it’s the simple vocabulary that most often rhymes, but mostly because of the pictures! It charms and enlightens immediately! Have you ever read a Dr. Seuss book that starts out dull before the plot thickens?!? Neither have I. Books written for children have to make an impact at the beginning or the kid will move on to something else fairly quickly. And for this reason, we used books and fantasy as our springboard for a nursery. A nursery for a boy named Jack. Jack Harlie to be exact.

Origami cranes out of pages form old novels make a charming mobile.

An ibex, monograms, and majestic horse drawings… what a sophisticated babe!

Take a look at the snake fabric that was made into the Roman shades… looks like something that came straight from a childhood storybook.

[photos by Meikel Reece]

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