One of our most recent clients came to us with a special request. “We have guests coming in February and need it completely furnished. Can you do it?” Of course we were up to the challenge, smiled and said “Yes!”

Our most important task for this bedroom was to make it as comfortable and functional as possible for her guests – making this bedroom their own cozy retreat. The room was already prepared with horizontal board and batten running up the wall. We loved the dimension and texture this brought to the room. However, we wanted to soften the hard lines with some graceful curves. our first thought – the Ingrid bed! The ideal companion with board and batten.

Instead of placing a nightstand on either side of the bed, we placed a desk on one side. This not only functions as a nightstand. It doubles as a comfortable spot for her guests to plug in a laptop, catch up on emails – or even write the host a nice thank you note!

Whenever I stay as a guest in someone’s home, I always need a spot to place my luggage and unpack. the relaxed tufted leather bench at the foot of the bed is a simple solution to this dilemma, yet also doubles as extra seating in the room.

Above the dresser we positioned a charming organic mirror. Again, the shape and style of this mirror loosens those horizontal lines. This also becomes a great spot for her guests to freshen up before returning to the party.

However, as a lovely and important as all these details are, my number one tip for making your guests feel like kings and queens – Matteo linen sheets! I can testify from personal experience these sheets will change your life the way you sleep!  They truly are the ultimate in luxury and comfort!

With these few thoughtful details, our client’s guests are sure to feel comfortable, cozy and welcome. However, I believe we may have one problem with this guest bedroom – her guests may never want to leave!

- Christy

We went back in time to design this gem of a playroom. Our ideas started with the glorious 19th century river boat that Walt Disney created for his Mark Twain ride. The railings were charming, gingerbread moldings perfect, and is an enchanting space for both children and adults. We wanted to go back in time, where play was as much about the elegance of the space and imagination as it was the toys inside it. We admired the meticulous craftsmanship of Disney’s boat, and wanted the same touches to exist in this space.

We started with making the playroom as open as possible. We worked with the client, and designed the playroom in “zones” to make the space functional for different activities children would love to do. While working on site with the finish working on site with the finish workers we detailed out many studies and sketches for how this room would become magical.

Walking up the stairs to the upper level of the playroom you will find yourself surrounded with a charming balustrade echoing that of the Mark Twain ship. On the upper landing is a small Cape Cod style playhouse, complete with kitchen and dress up area. A splash of bright paint gives this playhouse the charm it deserves.

Across the upper landing there is a slide tucked behind the walls, that twirls you around and drops you off in front of the window seat below. Flanked with books and a swing arm sconce, the window seat becomes the perfect cozy nook for reading a book.

Across from the window seat is a quaint custom upholstered daybed. The kids can pile on to watch a movie, or tuck in with a blanket for a sleepover.

The room wouldn’t be complete without an art center, full of built-in cubbies for supplies and a magnetic chalkboard, making this truly an enchanted playroom.

- Suzanne & Natalie

Tom and I live in a 100 year old attic. In reality, I guess most would call it an “apartment” but I prefer “attic”. It’s much more enchanting! We have lived here over five years and if it were up to me, I’d never move! This past summer we embarked on a small floor refinishing project which snowballed into an entire remodel! It was then that I committed myself to this place. Our itty bitty attic for rent has turned into a design laboratory! A vaulted sanctuary! A place I can’t wait to come home to every evening after work!

I introduce to you, our attic…

This is where it all began! Imagine a sea of teal carpet transitioning to a circa 1980 peel’n'tick tile… got it? Ok, now imagine 100 year old wood floors hiding beneath… Blasphemous right? I thought so too. I had been flirting with the idea of painted wood floors for a long time and was sold while watching a re-run of Million Dollar Decorators. That Mary McDonald spring boarded this get-up, and I thank her.

It didn’t end there though… while Senor Hall was ripping up the floors in the kitchen, he stumbled upon this! The original brick chimney! What?!? It was like Christmas! So of course we had to remodel the kitchen…

All those who know me well, know that I love food and therefore love kitchens! The birthplace of my husband’s cooking (and my occasional cookies) had to be special and a place where we could dine, talk and linger for awhile. I wanted each corner to sing to one another in a quirky, off-key Christmas carol! I think we did it – virtual high fives for everyone!

Our attic is a one bedroom, one bath, kitchen, living room and… an art nook! How lucky am I to have a place where I can doodle, watercolor, write love notes and dream of new projects?!?

It’s not big but every inch of it sings!

There are certain areas in everyone’s home that they naturally gravitate towards. For me, that would be my Living Room/ Family Room/ Everything Room! I only have one of them so I have to make it count!

My love affair with this space began with a sofa… That cutie pie tufted girl with the dimples in her cushions! We were destined for each other and through the Sunday naps and occasional salsa spills; she’s proven to be my most treasured purchase from Alice Lane!

I am in love with this season! Everything from the smells, the lights, the meaning and yes, even the commercialism I adore! I embrace it long before its socially acceptable and begin to decorate the second Halloween exits. People find reasons to give! Countertops are filled with family recipes and I am lucky enough to not just live in an attic but an attic above my mom and my dad in the home I grew up in. I am by definition a homebody because my home truly is my favorite place on earth!

- Suzanne

[photos by Meikel Reece]

She is a sophisticated, busy mom who wears many hats. When she finally returns home after an eventful day – all she wants is a little bit of peace and serenity. A spot where she can unwind, cozy up by the fire, put her feet up and visit with her family.

In order to achieve this ultimate comfort, we placed two sofas facing each other – these Thomas O’Brien tufted sofas can do no wrong! A mature placement, yet allows for easy conversation. We then placed an overscaled cocktail ottoman in the middle of the room. This cleverly designed ottoman features a removable wooden tray that is surrounded by a border of luxurious graphite leather. (Yes, style and function can coexist!) We wanted to loosen up the room by placing an unusual chair next to the fireplace. The Maude chair by Oly was the perfect gal for the job! We covered the seat in a silver velvet animal print – just thinking about it makes me smile! No room is complete without layering in a few lamps. Any time you can turn off your overhead lighting and use the quiet light from your table lamps, it will create a sense of calm in your surroundings. So, busy moms, don’t be afraid to hang up your many hats at the back door – make a quiet spot in your home where you can unwind, cozy up by the fire, put up your feet and visit with your family.

- Christy

A model home is always a good way to shake things up. As designers, we have the opportunity to create a story for a model- the family who lives there, what things they are drawn to. We recently installed a the Tuscany Village Model Home in Farmington.

Introducing – Berlin:

When entering the home, see a cozy little space with a linen upholstered bench next to the stairs..

The great room features a Martha Stewart rug with a linen sofa and a rustic coffee table with turquoise corbels – perfect for a family.

This Thom Felicia artwork adds color and brings a feeling of nostalgia. See that blue leather wingback in the corner? That’s James and he is amazing! So comfortable and stately.

A spacious kitchen provides great workspace and the white cabinets and backsplash make everything seem extra clean and crisp.

A charming butler’s pantry sits in between the kitchen and dining.

The mudroom – right off of the garage provides a cozy place to take off snowy boots.

In the Master, things are neutral and elegant with artwork providing color.

This armoire is stunning. A perfect hiding spot for a television.

The kelly green lamp makes quite the statement in this otherwise neutral kids’ room. Making things classic but fun.

Crisp white bedding was used to contrast the dark linen on the bed.

The laundry room was a favorite space of ours. All of the little details help make laundry fun!

You can visit the model home Monday through Saturday 10 am – 6 pm. The address is 187 East 1600 South, Farmington, Utah.

The very best part of my job is the people I get to play with every day! Now, most people may call it “associate” or “work” but I can honestly call it “PLAY” because it is so much fun. We get to create spaces stretching from traditional to contemporary and everything in between and today I’d like to talk a little about another style that we are doing called “Santa Fe Ranch”.

Back in February of this year, we met the most charming couple who were building a second home in Entrada, St. George. They and their family have traveled the globe and were able to draw from personal experiences to translate what they wanted the home to feel like! They wanted a Santa Fe Ranch. Meeting weekly and designing everything from the tile work in the showers to the cloisonne knobs on the cabinets, the collaboration was a dream and the desired Santa Fe aesthetic was indeed accomplished! The process has been such a joy and we are thrilled to be able to share a portion of the finished product with you today. I present to you, The Great Room!

Floor Plan

Great Room Rendering

Quilt Wall

Custom Rocker Cushion

-Suzanne

We started working with an Alpine family on their charming home this fall. The space had such good potential, we couldn’t wait to make it reflect more of who they were. The kitchen, nook and family room were calling for finishing details, and as we tweaked and fluffed we fell in love with the design of the kitchen nook. It started as a dark area that wasn’t getting used and loved as much as it deserved.

The family needed a functional, charming and fresh space for their great home. We started by removing the bar height square table and finding space for an amazing 76 inch round table. This really opened up the area and the circular table made the space more comfortable and inviting. We incorporated a curved banquette and upholstered only the back in an indoor/outdoor fabric. This left the wood seat easy to clean and wipe up. Four off-white leather chairs were tucked around the opposite side of the table. The lighter fabrics helped to break up the wood tones and give an airy feeling the space needed. We layered the walls surrounding the banquette in a gallery of their family pictures, interspersed with some fantastic carnation platters. We finished design off with a simple off-white drum pendant over the table; turning a once dark corner into an open, inviting area for the family to gather around. The changes to the space should finish up just in time for the holidays.

- Natalie

My bedroom – It is the room that I use the most. Somedays I get home when everyone is in bed. When I creep up the stairs in my heels with tired legs and open the door – this is what I see.

Pulling your Master Bedroom together is like designing for your soul. What speaks to you (and your spouse) – not what’s popular or trendy. What makes you want to melt in ultimate comfort and peace. You should wake up in this perfect little cocoon and fall asleep each night there.

Our Master Bedroom is the first room I did in the house. I needed to be comfortable and at peace with my surroundings before I fell asleep at night, and to be able to wake up the same way. This has been a gift in my life. Everyone should get to experience their own heaven on earth in their room – Whatever that is to you. You should attain it, on any level. Your personal space should be a great beginning and end to EVERY day.

People always put themselves last. The Master Bedroom is usually at the bottom of their list. It’s a sin! How can you start each day feeling great about whatever is about to challenge you?

My room is a story of natural fabrics and fibers. Linen sheets, feather down inserts, cotton percale duvet cover, silk shams, hair-on-hide and leather pillows on the lounge chairs – The colors are all natural. Slight variations in tone. And a few shimmery metals to add sophistication.

I won’t make my bed on Sundays – that gives me permission at anytime of the day to get back in it!

I need to say for the record, this is a home that we have been renting for the past 3 years while we’ve been busy building our business. So, it’s not MY home. But it feels like it now. We should all make ourselves comfortable wherever we may be. Temporary or not. There are enough things that make us uncomfortable out there. Our home shouldn’t be one of those things.

- Jessica

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

I’ve read somewhere that the Entry is like the appetizer for your home. It gives you a sampling of what’s to come… This is my entry. Sparkle and shine, angels and mohair – pear and metallic finishes and a little pop of color to keep it from getting too serious!

Here’s a little more detail – and why. A mirrored console is always a good trick. Mirror gets along with everything, because it reflects it’s surroundings. I nested a mohair ottoman below it. Low in contrast to keep the eye from stopping and brings a little warmth and texture. At the center of it all is Isabella, by James Christensen. I love just about any winged figure – it is angelic. She is peaceful and brings a reverence. Isabella is a patron of artists – allowing them to paint with encouragement and love of their art. The wings were painted on her because she served as such an inspiration to his (James Christensen) calling as an artist. I have always loved the arts. I majored in them. And knew from when I was a young girl that I wanted to be an artist. So with that – I had to bring Isabella home to watch over my entry. All the other details speak to the art. The lamps have a layered feathery texture – the carved finial also has a repeated feathery motif. And of course the carved wings that hang above Isabella.

I have a staircase that feeds to the upstairs opposite the entry. On the other side of the staircase is a keeping room where we gather for conversations while meals are being prepared. It’s a catch-all for all our comings and goings. A quick place to land and pull on our shoes, read a magazine, talk on the phone or entertain a neighbor that stops by for longer than a minute. It’s easily one of my favorite spots in the house. What makes it my favorite?
- The graceful linen loveseat.
- Oversized detailed silver floor lamp.
-Hand-knotted Martha Stewart Liana rug.
- Carnation wall sculptures.

Across from the loveseat is this contemporary Asian Chest. It’s a great secondary surface just off the kitchen – where we can set up a dessert buffet if we are entertaining. The original oil painting is by Chelsea James.

The kitchen table has been with me for over ten years now. It’s a robin egg blue french farmhouse table. I’ve had white linen aprons made to tie on the kitchen chairs – with every intention of having them monogrammed with white thread. Someday I’ll get around to that!

This is where we gather, eat, visit, do homework, watch the deer out that side yard window. It’s a comfortable spot adjacent the kitchen we can’t ever seem to get up from once we sit down.

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

HOME – It’s where your story takes place. This is where we live. My husband and I and our two darling girls, ages 6 and 11. It’s where we pile in at night and watch tv, play games and build the most magnificent structures out of Legos. There are plenty of surfaces to build on, put down a drink, phone, or plate of nachos.You name it, we live in here. This is our Family Room.

The home is a Spanish Revival home. Originally built in 1980 – We did a massive remodel and addition to the home about five years ago. Adding more traditional, neutral finishes and features that will make the home transcend time. The arched opening into the family room is one of the last Spanish features left. I love the thickness of the wall and the sense of entry it creates.

I begin each room with a rug – to me, it’s like buying art. The rug gives a definitive energy to the room, and sets the tone for how the room is used. In this case I chose Thomas O’Brien’s wool and silk Guilded Teal 9 foot by 14 foot rug. It has bits of teal and olive that dance along the off-white background. Then bits of deep brown scattered in sections that give the rug depth.

I chose a massive sofa for this room. it spans 108 inches in width, and is 41 inches deep. We lay on it, sit Indian style on it and stretch out and lounge. This isn’t a Living Room sofa where you are expected to maintain your posture. We puppy pile on our sofa… the more the merrier! I upholstered the sofa in a chunky linen the color of oatmeal – casual, natural, sofa… and comfortable.

I knew I needed to add height to create the illusion that the 8 foot ceilings were higher. I chose a pair of chairs opposite the entry that are forty-nine inches tall. By running a vertical band of leather up the center, it also lengthened the lines of the chair. One other elongating trick is mounting the drapery rods right next to the ceiling. Those long vertical panels did wonders for the room and framed in the magnificent views of the valley below.

I used Oly’s Thor Sliding Cabinet as an entertainment unit. The silvered resin doors add an austere depth and are a bit of throw back. I layered a photo of a horse behind the TV. On more trick to add height to keep the eye from stopping at the top of the TV – just like putting together an outfit, it’s all about the layers.

Some of my favorite moments in the room are:
- Daylight streaming through the collection of Beijing navy vases from Oly Studio.
- The large loosely painted landscape by Chelsea James. I love what it gives to the room – color, life, tranquility. It inspired me to use more purple in the accents of the room.

I filled my room with things that make us happy to look at and that are useful – usually both. Using things that are generally low in contrast allows your eye to move from one thing to the next without much pause. At the end of the day, we all just want to be comfortable, and a big part of that is surrounding yourself with the people and things you love.

Cheers!
Jessica

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]