Oh how we love our local shops, and especially those that are of the family variety. This particular one has quite the story. When things came to a grinding halt at the beginning of the pandemic, Tyler Anderson did some introspective thinking and realized that although he had achieved corporate stability, he really hadn’t lived out his dream…yet.

Tyler couldn’t help but think about spending more time with his four boys – Levi, Archer, Canon, and Burton – and how cool it would be to create something together with them. Tyler and his son Archer (a barista and bartender) were especially passionate about many things, but when push came to shove, the two standouts were classic motorcycles and really good coffee.

And queue the brilliant light bulb moment; Urban Sailor was born!

They worked tirelessly with local vendors to build their sip-serving sidecar.

The end result being a rolling work of art, brought to life by mobilizing the ultra-lux Mavam espresso machine, and grinding the livin’ beans out of Seattle roaster – Anchorhead Coffee Co. 

This allowed Tyler and his crew to brew a true specialty coffee.

(Btw, fun fact here, the term “specialty coffee” might be overused, but it’s truly meant for the purists of sorts, as it must be scored by the Specialty Coffee Association of America [SCAA] with a grade of 80 or higher.) Well these americanos certainly meet that standard of excellence, and it’s a major reason why Urban Sailor was a hit from the very start – booking events all over Salt Lake, Park City, and beyond.

Fast forward not even a full year, and the Urban Sailor team knew that they had to give their tried and true locals a place to legally loiter. They snapped up an amazing location just across from Sugarhouse Park, and (go figure) created a swanky-cool coffee lounge. They’ve parked the bike inside, but this time they’ll be serving you from the counter.

So please, do go check these guys out! You’re quite literally supporting a dream come true.

Urban Sailor | 1327 E 2100 S Suite 102, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

By now, you’ve most certainly decked your halls, strategically placed your mistletoe, and anchored your tree with a beaming topper. Good job, y’all! Now, in keeping that holiday spirit, we want to offer some festive children’s books for you and yours. Cuddle up with your hot cocoa, crackling fire and settle in (envisioning a Hallmark movie here, and are gonna roll with it). We took our own advice and did just that.

Meg Raby, SLC’s very own storyteller, was kind enough to join us and read from the following handpicked books below!

Central City is packed full of housing gems, no doubt, but this particular number, complete with a cute picket fence on the outside and an even cuter (and growing) family on the inside, might be the pick of the bunch. Built more recently than its neighbors (in 2003 to be exact), this home offers the intuitive features–like lofted ceilings, sensible floorplans, ensuite bathrooms, and smartly-designed laundry spaces–often lacked by more historical homes. Yet, for all their modern convenience, these digs still match nicely with their aged street-mates. Current occupants the Son family have created plenty of lovely memories in this adorable corner spot.

As such, here’s to the spaces they’ve been and the places they’re going.

This Sugar House bungalow has seen plenty of well-documented TLC over the years courtesy of its Instagram-influencing, design-inclined owners. When the Bexley Boys (@bexleyboys) purchased this number is was a veritable lemon. Now, however, thanks to no shortage of blood, sweat, and tears, it proudly sits as a tall (and likely spiked) glass of lemonade. And, while this pair’s projects over the years have yielded floors, fencing, railings, and entire rooms that are well-and-truly dialed, their crowning achievement is undoubtedly the Japanese-inspired garden out back. 

In short? These two have a knack for what they do and this city sure will miss them. 

Sugarhouse firmly sits as one of this city’s most sought-after ‘hoods—and for good reason. Situated close to both Downtown SLC as well as all the resorts, trails, and climbing routes you could ask for, this locationally excellent community also houses some truly splendid homes. Case in point, these particular digs owned by the Kopp Family. A stunning, light-filled remodel, this spot doesn’t skimp where “cool factor” is concerned and the hard work put into it by its current occupants is clear at every turn. 

All told, it’s one excellent spot.

Every once in awhile, we come across an idea or product that reminds us of just how grateful we are for the movers and shakers—globally, yes, but especially those mixing up the status quo in this town we call “home.” And when those ideas or products center around that which is our very bread and butter? Well, then all the better.

Enter Modal.

This forward-thinking co. is in the business of creating stunningly minimal ADUs (or “accessory dwelling units”). The vision, according to Modal’s Founding Partner and Design Principal, Dallin Jolley: “We want to move the needle in what’s known as standard living practice. Salt Lake City is one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire nation, and we have to have an answer for our lack of dense housing”.

Aesthetically speaking, the units are lovely—picture the beautiful (stackable! Stitch-able!) offspring of a tiny house and a shipping container home. With a base price of under $100,000 and a footprint of 432 sq. ft., Modal’s ADUs aim to “build small, but smart,” with spaces that “combine thoughtful design and quality materials.” One such unit is currently on display at Downtown’s City Creek Mall, and, when Modal approached our own cityhomeCOLLECTIVE design and styling teams with a proposal to stage the model unit, we leaped at the opportunity to get our hands on the tidy space. Senior Designer Pamela Jewell was happy to lend her creativity and elbow grease in equal measure (they needed a table? She made it. A side table? She welded it. Art on the wall? She painted it.), and our newly acquired Staging Manager, Drew Stone, styled it up and gave it some serious sprucing. 

The frame in which our talented team worked was a stunning one–in fact, this space is so full of life it might actually be to die for–but the finished product also wouldn’t have been possible without some of our team’s product collaborators: CM Ceramics, Adib’s Rug Gallery, and Dropit Modern. 


We sat down with Dallin at the newly designed unit to talk shop and find out the goods on Modal’s model. Read on…

What sparked the idea for a creative ADU redesign?
 It just so happened that as we were brainstorming the idea of [pre-fab construction], Salt Lake approved their new ADU code. That code-change officially sparked our excitement and became the vehicle to our highway so to speak. We are also actively conversing with the appropriate officials in the hopes of pushing [a larger, blanketed approval] forward. 


What do you see your end-user getting for these rent-wise?
- That certainly depends on the location, yard space, what’s included amenity-wise, etc, etc, but we’ve seen $950 on the low end, and up to $1250 on the higher end.

You currently have a one bed, one bath design. Any new floorplans on the horizon?
 We have what we’re calling a flex studio coming soon, which is a 13’ x 26’ space with Murphy beds and kitchen and bathroom spaces off to the side so there will a good 165 square feet of open space. It’s designed for those that want to use it for alternative methods such as yoga studio space, a home office, or something along those lines. It’s totally transformable, totally flexible, and definitely coming soon. 


What is the current build time for a Modal unit?
 Once we have the official green light, our build time is about 19-20 days. We have that part pretty dialed in, and we think that it is a necessary perk, because the permitting process can be lengthy. So as soon as that permit is issued—we are a total go.

How long does installation take?
 Typically just one day! We have all previous site work done, which takes about a week, where we trench and pull, and stub utilities in; we’ll also place the helical screw pile foundations in so we can simply transport, crane, set, and connect the Modal unit all in one day.


Lastly, how does one become a Modal citizen (that is, where do we sign up!)?
 The first step is to visit our website and fill out our ‘Does My Property Qualify?” checklist. If we think it might, then we would continue our own due diligence by visiting the property for a site assessment – which is free of charge. We would be looking into lot size, zoning, setbacks, and all of the other regulations that would be necessary to move forward. We can usually have an answer to you within 24 hours of visiting a property.


Have questions of your own? Shoot an email to [email protected], read the SLC’s official ADU handbook here, or check out livemodal.com.

The SLC housing market has been in a state of frenzy for the last few years, and really…we see no signs of a let-up anytime soon. And, while buyers are still out in full force, there seem to be far fewer frantically written offers and more methodic and thoughtful approaches to the process than in months and even years past—to which we say AMEN and YES, PLEASE. It’s a healthy market, to be sure, and we’re thrilled that while buyers are still out in droves, many more of them have more time to breathe while writing an offer on a space they love. On the flip-side, though, sellers in this market might be wondering why their homes aren’t flying off the shelf, as they may have expected. The truth is, if your listing agent has priced the home accurately, implemented a strategy, and—perhaps most importantly—set proper expectations, then any concerns should be easily laid to rest. This is allllll part of the process…

In the instance of this adorable Aves home, we knew that the price was right and that the number of showings was reflecting that. We’d prepared the sellers for this possibility, and knew to hold firm for quite a while before considering a price adjustment. It was 28 days before we received an offer, but when we did—wouldn’t you know it—we received two. And, while every transaction is different, a good agent can help you navigate through the process and problem solve along the way. (Hint: we happen to know where quite a few of them hold their office hours…). In short, this game we call real estate can be a tricky one, but when you’ve got a pro on your side, you’re far more likely to walk away with a win, metaphorical and otherwise.

For those with a proclivity for fastidious dress, Tailor Cooperative, a custom suit shop on Pierpont Ave, is a veritable paradise. A welcome departure from big box suiting stores, the pieces at this local spot—separates, full suits, tuxedos, and the like—are hand fitted and custom made with scrupulous attention to detail.

These guys do suits right.

What’s more, the entire methodology at Tailor Cooperative is as impressive as the finished threads they’re turning out. The haberdashers here are fully invested in providing people with clothing in a holistic manner, because as much as custom suiting is about measurements, it’s also about context. The store has tens of thousands of fabric options, which ensures that a client’s style goals and interests can always be paired with an appropriate shade, texture, and material. And, while the conversation surrounding this selection process can be slow going, it allows these talented folks to create each customer’s version of “perfect.” After the fabric is selected, dimensions are measured, fit is discussed, and, several weeks later, the newly made piece is all ready for pick up. Tailor Cooperative is entirely invested in the quality of all of its products and, consequently, the results are always sure to impress.

Tailor Cooperative | 333 Pierpont Ave, SLC

A cute home—one that’s bursting with mid-century delights and old school charm—is a bit of a no-brainer. And when it’s nestled in a neighborhood that’s just as cute, it begs just one question…

So…what’s your thing?

If it’s space for hosting your people, this home’s got the open layout that’s conducive to late night dance parties and Sunday brunches aplenty. If you’re itching for outdoor summer hangs, this place has got space for that, too: outside, there’s a fully landscaped yard, complete with fire pit, pergola, and an underground trampoline. If it’s having a place for your guests to crash, the basement here sports a super custom office/den, but was also remodeled to include a fourth bedroom, too. And if extra storage space is what you seek, this place has got an extra wide, extra long, two-car garage for your vehicles, camping gear, chainsaw art, or easels.

Whatever your thing, this Murray home’s got the solution for easy-peezy, lovely living. It’s listing next week, so you’d do well to watch this space…