You remember this home, right? Of course you do. No one forgets a house like this.
Some four or five years ago--when the old cityhomeCOLLECTIVE website (R.I.P.) was still shiny and new--we made our way to the East Bench and wound through the Foothills to find this place. We'd seen it somehow, this beacon of clean lines and structural purpose, and fallen squarely in love. We had to know the back story. We set out to meet whomever was lucky/wise enough to live inside, to tell the story of how this mecca came to materialization. In doing so, we made chums of Steve Goorman and Christa Zaro...purveyors of the good life, lovers of architecture, and the owners of this mid-century, Ed Dreier home of dreams.
The first home built on St. Mary's Circle in 1956, it has seen a few noteworthy owners...the founder of Smith's Food & Drug and the inventor of the artificial heart, to name a couple. When Steve and Christa purchased the property in 2004, they had no idea who Ed Dreier was, Christa recalls, "but we could see through the cobwebs and layers of stuff that had been added over the decades, and we knew we loved this house." They embarked on a complete restoration in pursuit of the home's former, original glory with the help of architect Brent Groesbeck, a former colleague of Dreier's, who was able to "capture Dreier's spirit" in the remodel. But even since we told the story for the first time a few years ago, the pair have made some worthwhile updates in, on, and around the property. So last month, we made our way back. To visit. To drool.
"The place is like a Tom Ford tux or a pair of wing tips. It doesn't go out of style."
The theme here hasn't changed. The home still wafts top notes of crisp perfection, but there's a base that is undeniably comfortable. It's perfectly lived in...built precisely to support this family of four. Exterior landscape lighting has been added, and "it's had a huge affect on upping the mood quotient," claims Christa (cue: this author, daydreaming of breaking into the home to take in views of crisp orange and yellow leaves, lit from below, while I sip wine in my favorite cable knit and listen to Orinoco Flow). "We also converted a bedroom on the main floor into our home office. I lean toward poppy colors (think: pink and orange), but I let my husband and our interior designer (Tally Stevens of European Marble & Granite) lead the way, and the finished product is moody, dark, and masculine. It's become my favorite space to write my blog or read a book." As an art collector, Christa also started to notice that, over time, some pieces (including personal photography) were beginning to fade or lose color. "I learned, thanks to my friend Lyndsie Orgill (a professional framer), that the frames I'd selected weren't made with UV-blocking glass or acid-free matting." Since then, the two have corrected and re-framed 25+ pieces in the Goorman/Zaro home.
"The home is captivating. it has a life force that is undeniable."
One of the biggest updates to the home has come in the form of a small overhaul to the "formal" living room. The favored spot in the house was previously the main bedroom--perched in the southwest corner of the home and touting glass walls that offer unreal views--where Christa felt like she was looking out from a cozy nest. But after 14 years of work, they've landed on a living room design and vibe that's in complete harmony with the Goorman/Zaro family. "We built a custom, walnut cabinet that surrounds and anchors the fireplace in here, and it's got hidden speakers and specially-designed storage to accommodate our record collection." They worked with Tally, who designed a few perfect elements and assisted in choosing rugs and pillows for the space, and they topped it all off with some pop art (see: James Verbicky piece below) to complement the commanding views.
"It feels a little rock-n-roll. We think Mick Jagger would feel 'at home' here."
According to Christa, the home is as seasonless as it is timeless. A blanket of snow makes for a warm glow and summer calls for the best views. Fall shrouds the place in all the most flattering colors. Everything looks good on this one (including us). Says Christa, "Sometimes, I just sit and look, and I'm in awe of what Dreier achieved." Same, lady. Same.
