One of the most exciting corners of our city that continues to grow at a whirlwind pace, The Maven District is an artsy little hot spot with over 100 locally-owned businesses, ranging from coffee shops and thrift stores to fine dining and wellness experiences.

Vibrant murals by local artists line the streets, where neighborhood markets and makers are a common sight. My current listing at the Marcat Townhomes is literally steps from this thriving and walkable community, providing an amazing opportunity for you to dive head first into Small Lake City’s enviable live/work/play lifestyle.

One of the things I love most about this area is that over 75% of its businesses are women owned, and supporting my fellow female entrepreneurs is an ideal way to spend Small Business Saturday – or any Saturday, for that matter.

Start the day with Loki Coffee, a hip spot where you can not only get killer coffee and pastries, but also attend workshops and community events (check out their cute calendar online.) Plus, they have the best merch! Gift Idea: the most adorable Loki coffee mug paired with a bag of Idle Hands brew.

Next up is my favorite vintage furniture store, Strawberry Mansion. Owned by sisters Josie and Danielle, this sweet shop has an incredible selection of mid-century furniture and wares at affordable prices. It’s the perfect place to get your home tuned up for the holidays or refreshed for the New Year. Gift Idea: vintage pottery. They have an array of one-off styles; drop in a plant from Beyond the Leaf or select a unique mug to share with your favorite tea.

Across the street, Revive Boutique will easily lure you in with its pink façade and promise of “pretty things inside.” Here, you’re guaranteed to score high-end designer and vintage clothing at incredible prices. Pro-tip: you get a free gift with any purchase on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday. Gift Idea: one of a kind handbag, vintage sweater, or shopping spree with your bestie.

Finally, treat yourself to a facial or massage at Basalt Day Spa, and cap it off with lunch next door at Manoli’s. Gift Idea: easily purchase and send gift certificates for both places straight from their website.

This is just one way you can spend an afternoon in the Maven District, which is also home to Normal Ice Cream, La Barba Coffee, Land of Salt, Mineral + Matter, Maven Pilates – the list goes on! Check out mavendistrict.com for a full directory.

Now, imagine casually strolling home to your modern townhome, complete with a rooftop oasis where you and your furry friend can relax and reconnect with nature on your landscaped terrace with sweeping mountain views. Meet me here this Saturday for an Open House between 11 and 1 pm during your Small Business Saturday in The Maven District.

Go ahead, treat yourself.

see full listing here

There are plenty of sweet neighborhoods in our city, but there’s one that has quite the hold on our hearts.

Not only does the 9th & 9th district boast some of our favorite places to eat and shop (Lola, Publik Kitchen and the Stockist, to name a few), but it’s also filled with unique homes – from well-loved bungalows to modern builds – and plenty of friendly, dog-walking folks. Familiar furry friends are a common sighting on Yale Avenue, which is a particularly special tree-lined street tucked away in the heart of this ‘hood.

Being a good neighbor is a prerequisite for living on Yale Ave:

this tight-knit community is a hard one to leave, which is why when my clients Jay and Karen decided to upgrade – we made sure to land them a home just a few streets away. And yet, when asked what they’ll miss most about their first home together, their answer was “the wonderful community of neighbors.” (Read more about what made this home so special, in their own words, from our Seller’s Full Disclosures.)

After just a few days on the market, Jay and Karen’s classic, stylish bungalow went under contract with buyers who equally value the charm of this home and street. We look forward to seeing the next chapter unfold for both buyer and seller, and to continue bringing great neighbors into their community.

This listing features original artwork and rugs from Loom & Kiln, which are available for purchase. Contact listing agent Kelly Carper for more details.

I love listing homes that uniquely express the personality of their owners.

The first time I visited this modern townhome, I quickly picked up on several things that my clients valued: great art, fine wine – and a good party. (A match made in heaven, no?) And while our friends have moved on to greener pastures (literally…their next project is a Gentleman’s Farm and Vineyard in the Willamette Valley), that didn’t stop us from experiencing some of the best things about life in their space.

Their love of hosting is evident from the many seating areas throughout their home – from the corner couch in the first-floor office to the giant green sectional in the main living space, to their favorite gathering spot: the rooftop sectional surrounded by lavish landscaping. Lined with lavender and walled with tall foliage, it’s the perfect place to take in the sunset with friends or wake up with a quiet cup of coffee, just you and the hummingbirds. It’s also the only unit in this community where this is possible – thanks to my client’s commitment to installing plumbing to the top level and adding an extensive drip system. Wishing your next gathering could look just like this? You got it: everything on the roof is included in the sale of this special spot (sofa, fire pit, grill and plants), so you’re ready to be hostess-with-the-mostess from day 1.

While taking in the pink glow of the mountains and sun setting over the city skyline, we raised a glass to this home’s past and future memories. Here’s a walk down memory lane, from the ones who are letting it go….

Why did you buy this house? Like, what really sold you on it? The views from the roof. Sunsets over the city and the glowing mountains in the background are spectacular. Its location is pretty great.

Are there any changes you always wanted to make here, but just didn’t get to? Is it possible to add more plants to the roof?! Probably not…

Describe your home in one word: Gewürztraminer – she’s complex and perfectly inviting. 🙂

Best time of day in your home? And where should you be sitting for it? Rooftop at 6 AM in the summer. Watching the sunrise with that first cup of coffee over the mountains can’t be beat.

How about seasonally speaking…what time of year best suits this place? Fall is pretty epic. The garden is in full bloom, the temperature is cooler, and sunsets are the brightest red. Light the fire pit and have a nightcap on the roof.

Tell us about the best party you ever had here: July 4, 2021. We had 20 people on the roof and a random thunderstorm rolled through. Instead of fireworks, we watched lightning from the bedroom! There may have been a few broken glasses fleeing the lighting strikes on the roof too…

If your house were a celebrity, who would it be (and why)? Britney! She was freed from her conservatorship shortly after we installed a new pink pendant above her portrait in the entry. She is extensively alarmed so don’t steal her!

What do you think you’ll miss the most about this place? Morning coffee with the pups on the roof.

Anything at all you want to say/pass along to the future owners of the home? (Approximate utility costs? Best spot for a candy stash? How deep your love runs?) The plants are a lot of work but totally worth it. They lower the temp on the roof a good 5 – 10 degrees and they create the perfect soft wall with the neighbors for privacy.

Click here to view the full listing

As part of our modern staging style for American Towers Unit 606, I’ve curated a selection of pieces by two local artists, Lydia Gravis and Colour Maisch, into this home’s design. Two wall pieces and several sculptures are currently placed in this listing for sale, and we’d like to extend this art-buying opportunity to our online followers and clients.

I’ve featured both Colour and Lydia’s work in gallery settings for exhibitions, so it was an exciting shift to curate their pieces in a home environment.

Colour’s sculptures easily found homes in the well-lit windows of this high-rise condo, where I displayed them with books in lieu of pedestals. The moody hues in Lydia’s framed drawing fit perfectly with the living room design, playing off the deep blues and greys throughout the space. Learn more about each artist below and contact me for inquiries on these pieces, or to request assistance with art acquisitions for your home or office.

Collective Orbit by Lydia Gravis is a 38” x 50” framed drawing made from acrylic, charcoal and graphite on paper. Utilizing simple materials, Lydia’s work “examines the inscape of the human spirit and the liminal space that exists between sensing and understanding.” She says in her artist statement, “I make drawings that transport viewers into these imagined realms of liminal psychological space. As I work intuitively, my drawing process becomes a responsive gesture, with each new mark reacting to the last. A lifeline that connects me to something beyond and within myself, my art practice is a meditation on the wonder that accompanies our beautifully finite human experience.”

Colour Maisch is another Utah-based artist who creates three-dimensional, monochromatic artwork focused on elevating organic textures from found and created objects. She says: “I work with traditional materials like porcelain, paper and ink, as well as less traditional mediums: drywall, industrial products, and foraged grasses. Compositions are minimal, and I rely on elements of time, evaporation, and seasonal weathering to mark the textures of these forms.” Learn more about Colour’s work from our recent studio visit.

One Thousand Moments I Never Saw is a 38” x 27” framed mixed media piece with a simple yet striking composition. This wall piece compliments the sculptures on display, which include multiple pieces that can be paired together.

While this property quickly went under contract, the art is still available! Contact [email protected] or call 540.290.4930 to see these pieces in person or to inquire about a purchase.

When we help our clients purchase a house, we know it may not always be their “forever home.” We aim to help our buyers find resonant, intentional spaces that suit (and hopefully, elevate) their desired lifestyle and fulfill their needs, however, it’s inevitable that seasons of life shift, families grow or circumstances change – and soon it’s time to move on.

But just because our lives are transient, doesn’t mean our homes should reflect impermanence.

Who is this mysterious future buyer who only wants white walls and generic minimalism? In my experience, homes that draw the most intrigue are the ones that have been truly loved and lived in – spaces where the owners are brave enough to express themselves with tasteful yet dramatic design choices, unexpected art and authentic style. If this is the goal, our clients Janelle and Zach have set the bar with their Spanish-style mid mod in Foothill, previously sold and designed by cityhomeCOLLECTIVE. We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon here talking all things art and home with owner Janelle.

When buying art for her home, Janelle selects pieces she connects with on a visceral level or that speak to a personal experience. She rejects the notion of buying art as decoration, which suggests a pleasing yet secondary consideration to a home’s design; instead, she’s drawn to art that stands out, creates tension, or tells a story. As a result, her collection is full of statement pieces that grab your attention as you move from room to room, where art inevitably becomes the focal point of every space.

Andrew Alba’s installation in the living room is a prime example, consisting of twelve panels that form an abstracted figurative painting. The raw gestural style and simple color palette contrasts the home’s surrounding eclectic design, yet somehow offers a feeling of completion to the room. Initially created as a performance piece at Vis, the painting’s construction is somewhat haphazard and wasn’t necessarily intended for a home setting. But Janelle loved the interactive element it brought to her space, and the idea she could easily swap the panels and change up the composition when the mood strikes. She also found a connection to her family in the figures. “I buy art that speaks to me,” she says of her collection, which ranges from pieces by established artists to sketches found in thrift shops. Acquired on a budget, accessibility is also an important factor when it comes to collecting art. “I don’t want it to feel so precious or that I have to protect it – I want to live and connect with it.”

In a true commitment to living with art, Janelle and Zach have fully embraced the fact that their home prominently features a permanent mural, which was commissioned by cityhomeCOLLECTIVE for the previous owner. Painted by Berlin-based artist Andrew Moncrief in his strangely beautiful and visually seductive style, the piece requires close viewer confrontation as it extends floor to ceiling over the home’s main stairwell. Janelle loves that it creates tension and intrigue, aligning with her belief that good art shouldn’t be passed by unnoticed. Leaving the piece behind for the next owner is a bittersweet gift, with the hope that its third guardian continues to acknowledge its integrity to the home.

We finished our visit in the home’s lower living space, where, as you descend past Moncrief’s mural, you’re met with an unexpected portrait of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This was a piece that Zach immediately connected with when they encountered it at the Utah Creative Chamber, and Janelle is drawn to the drama it brings to the space. The artist is Daniel Salah Tomas, who was born in Sudan but is now based in Salt Lake City. Most pieces in their home were discovered locally and purchased either directly from the artist or from independent art spaces. Zach’s strong response to this particular piece stemmed from his personal interest in Douglass’ life, and it’s now a prominent fixture in their collection.

Unlike the figures in Moncrief’s mural, Janelle says she doesn’t intend to be a fixture in this house forever, which brought up interesting conversations around the attachments we have to our houses and the things that fill them. When we design and live in our homes with intention, it can be hard to let them go. And while each art piece in Janelle and Zach’s collection feels like it was meant for that very spot, maybe it has yet to find its perfect placement. We’re eager to continue telling the story of this space, and are equally excited to follow the future projects of this creative couple.

Other artists in Janelle and Zach’s collection include Mary Ellen Hogle, Thomas Aaron, Tom Jean Webb, David Raleigh, Melissa Peck, Ashley Sophia Clark, Mallory Morrison, and others.

See full listing here

I recently had the opportunity to assist with a staging project for a very special cityhome listing, presented by our own Brian Tripoli. This quintessential modern home is architecturally decadent yet minimalist in design, with sky-high windows that allow natural light to fill its bright white interior. More than just a beautiful home, this space has all the makings of a contemporary gallery space – and with plenty of walls to feature local talent. As an art curator and real estate agent, I love combining these realms to help clients enhance their space while also supporting living artists in the process.

For this staging project, I chose to bring in original paintings by Salt Lake City artist Nolan Flynn…

whose abstract work added perfect pops of color to the home’s minimalist modern design.

Our staging team took a streamlined approach to furniture and décor, allowing the art curation to become a focal point in the design. Another element of art staging is that potential home buyers, other real estate agents or viewers of the home can also purchase the work on display. While this property is unsurprisingly already under contract, the paintings are still available for purchase for our community. Learn more about the artist below and click here for a price list of available pieces.

Nolan Flynn is a Salt Lake City painter, educator, and researcher whose paintings “challenge our notion of a complete piece, capturing the narrative behind decisions within the work.” His painting process includes scribing fleeting notes directly onto the canvas, which represent emotions or experiences associated with the painting’s creation. Shying away from typical notions of beauty, Nolan embraces unexpected color palettes, compositional styles and materials; he uses unusual mediums such as Crayola markers or airbrush paint, layered with more traditional oil media. The result is primal, gestural abstraction that captivates the viewer yet allows for open-ended interpretation.

CLICK HERE FOR AVAILABLE PAINTINGS BY NOLAN FLYNN – EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL 540-290-4930 FOR PURCHASE INQUIRIES.

What do you value most about downtown living? For us, it’s being surrounded by good coffee, great food, and local businesses run by friendly folks. My latest condo listing in the Sampson building at the corner of 3rd & 3rd hits all these marks and then some, which we experienced with friends on an afternoon dog walk through the neighborhood (yes, this building is pet friendly, and my Aussie Elby would easily meet their breed and weight requirements).

Starting with a lavender latte at Midway Coffee, we strolled the streets and visited friends at Paradise Palm to pick up some house plants before browsing our favorite vintage furniture shops on Broadway. As we meandered through and chatted with the owners of the Green Ant, Shadowplay, Urban Vintage and The Post, I found myself fantasizing about all the ways a buyer could creatively furnish the Sampson space with vintage pieces and artwork – sourced from just a few blocks away.

The space is certainly calling for something unique and one of a kind to match its own charm and historic appeal.

Built in 1906 by August Rudine, Sampson Altadena is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 3 1/2-story building is stone and brick, and gives a solid nod to Neoclassical architecture with features like Baroque-style balconies, Tuscan columns, accentuated keystones, and a dentilated pediment above the entry. Inside, an air of timelessness can be seen in the woodwork, moldings, exposed brick, and leaded-glass windows. Far from cookie-cutter, each unit is unique and offers true character (such as the stained-glass kitchen window in Unit 1).

We’re seeking a buyer for this space who is wanting to invest in Salt Lake’s historic architecture while enjoying all the amenities and community this downtown neighborhood has to offer. If you’re seeking this lifestyle plus a long-term investment (30 day rentals are allowed), this is most definitely the spot for you.

I am thrilled to be sponsoring a pop-up event with Loom + Kiln at cityhomeCOLLECTIVE on July 1st from 12:00-3:00 at our office on South Temple, offering an opportunity for our community to shop a hand-picked selection of antique rugs, vintage paintings and ceramics in person! RSVP here

You may recognize Hannah Leonard’s home as the online showroom for her creative business, Loom + Kiln, a curated shop specializing in antique textiles and vintage artwork. Without a brick-and-mortar location, she utilizes her own space for product shoots and marketing, which you can glimpse on her Instagram page and website. I was lucky enough to visit her home – which she impeccably designed with character and intention – as we plan an upcoming pop-up shop at cityhomeCOLLECTIVE for July 1st: at this event, we’ll feature a curated selection of her shop’s antique textiles, vintage paintings and ceramics available for your purchasing pleasure! If you’re like us, Hannah’s home will absolutely inspire you to bring an original piece into your own space.

A lover of all things vintage, Hannah is also a creative herself equipped with an art degree and studies in interior design. This foundation – paired with a love of travel and passion for other cultures – led to her development of Loom + Kiln in 2015. The shop began organically on Instagram and has since evolved into an online gallery with weekly product releases and exploding sales. As a small business owner during the pandemic and a mother of three, Hannah’s vision for the business has evolved and shifted over the years as she’s streamlined her focus to offering vintage European paintings and antique Turkish, Persian and Caucasian rugs. “That’s where my passion lies,” says Hannah, who initially offered contemporary art and ceramics at the onset. “This way I’m able to offer a really curated collection at affordable prices.” With this niche model, Hannah sets her business apart in the growing realm of creative digital marketplaces. “There are a lot of big companies who are trying to achieve a common denominator and appeal to the most people possible

– and I’m not trying to do that. I want to do something niche, special and meaningful, and that’s always how I’ve felt.”

Hannah has developed a distinct aesthetic for her business that naturally stems from her personal taste and style: her home in South Jordan is filled with original art, vintage furniture pieces and of course, antique rugs. Her personal art collection is largely mid-century, intermixed with special pieces by contemporary artists such Utah painters Sunny Taylor and Colby Sanford. Hannah’s appreciation for vintage stems from an environmental responsibility in a world of mass production, combined with the emotional appeal and mystery of objects from the past. “There is something romantic about old art, and there are such rich stories behind these paintings,” says Hannah, who loves to muse about the past artists’ experience with their subjects – whether it be a personal interpretation of an unknown place or an impassioned portrait. Artists at the time weren’t able to easily look up an image to replicate, so their imagery was surely based on an authentic experience, becoming a delightful mystery for today’s beholder.

For her home and her shop, Hannah sources a variety of designs and styles but is personally drawn to Scandinavian art from the 1940s-60s, which has a modern feel applicable to many different design aesthetics. This genre is typically characterized by landscapes, still lifes and portraits painted with gestural brushwork and raw emotion. Her rug selection is from the 1900s and is a mix of styles including Turkish, Persian from Iran, and Caucasian from the Caucasus region.

Learn more about how and why Hannah developed her distinct style and niche business model in our Q&A series below, which is sure to inspire all lovers of art, interiors and creative entrepreneurship:

Why is it important for you to live with original art? Can you share a little about your “why” when it comes to collecting?

I try to make supporting creatives a priority whenever possible. Whether that’s picking a small independent restaurant over a chain or buying an original piece of art over a mass-produced print. Your home should be a reflection of you, and I value living with soulful pieces that intrigue me and have a story to tell. Someone intimately poured themselves into this ONE piece of art and you’re the lucky one that gets to be the recipient of that every day. I look at the strokes of the artist’s brush and try to imagine what their state of mind was when they were painting or what this art piece meant to them – and it’s such a beautiful experience. Mass produced art prints only become that because they are palatable enough to be accepted by the general population. When you make the choice to purchase a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, it’s because it spoke directly to you and you alone. That’s an empowering decision to make.

What do you love about vintage art in particular? Do you have a favorite era or region that you like to source art from and why?

Owning vintage art is like owning little time capsules. It’s the individual artist’s interpretations of people, scenes and places from so long ago. Aesthetically speaking, I’m very drawn to expressive mid-century art from the Scandinavian countries. The more gestural and crude the brush strokes, the better! They tended to use shapes and colors in really playful ways in the 50s and 60s and I can’t get enough of it. I’ll get so inspired by these vintage art pieces that I’ll often design an entire room around the style and colors of it.

What about living artists? Anyone in your collection we should know about?

Absolutely, there are a couple local contemporary artists that I love, including Sunny Belliston Taylor and Meggan Waltman. I purchased several pieces from Sunny about 8 years ago, I’ve yet to purchase one of Meggan’s pieces but she’s always on my radar. I own several abstract Karina Bania pieces, and if you are drawn to textile art, I adore the work of Rhiannon Griego. I’ve struggled to find a lot of vintage artwork that is non realistic, so I often look to contemporary artists for abstract pieces to juxtapose my personal vintage collection.

You’ve really honed in on a seamless, recognizable style with your business and personal aesthetic. What’s your advice to others who are striving to do the same in their space or with a creative business?

It took me years to hone in on my aesthetic and to understand what really speaks to me. Some pieces I’ve owned for a decade and love them as much as the day I acquired them, and others I’ve gotten rid of and thought, “what the hell was I thinking?” With time, you’ll start to see patterns in what things have longevity for you. But also, you don’t know what you don’t know. So as you are starting this creative process, one of the best things you can do is just expose yourself. Attend local art shows, go down rabbit holes on Pinterest, gather inspiration as you travel to new cities and places. With more exposure you’ll continue to push the boundaries of what you thought you liked until you can confidently create something that feels intimately you.

UMOCA’s current exhibition, Haimaz, Heimr, Hjem, Heem, Hām, Home, is one that speaks directly to our hearts,

and allows us to consciously explore the notion of home on an emotional and physical level. For this wide-ranging exhibition, the Museum offers a multi-faceted perspective on the topic, defining home as “both a social and cultural construct that is influenced by family, community, geography, economics, politics, and personal experiences. For some, it is a physical space of comfort, refuge, and safety. Home can also be a feeling, a sense of belonging and connection within a community, or it can be a site of danger, longing, loneliness, confinement, trauma, or displacement.”

The exhibited artwork illustrates this range of ideas, as artists address issues such as housing affordability, gentrification, and accessibility, while also exploring the more personal aspects of our homes such as the complex emotional relationships and personal memories they hold. One of the first pieces encountered in the exhibition is We Are All Homeless by Willie Baronet, an installation of cardboard signs the artist purchased from un-housed people. The handwritten signs offer messages with tones that range from humor and hope to sadness and tragedy. The artist writes and allows us to muse: “What does it mean to be homeless: practically, spiritually, emotionally? Is home a physical place, a building, a structure, a house? Or is it a state of being, a sense of safety, of being provided for, of identity? I see these signs as signposts of my own journey…of reconciling…my judgments about those experiencing homelessness.”

Artist Frank Poor uses photography and wood to visually illustrate the duality of home for his piece, House-Milton GA, a sculptural replica of a typical house in the rural south. The image evokes nostalgia and memory for the artist, yet its shape is not fully three-dimensional and leaves empty spaces within its outline. The exhibition text states: “With the flatness of a stage set, the work only performs the role of home – an echo of a nonexistent past-without offering shelter or interior.”

Inequity for Sale is an insightful mixed media piece by Tonika Johnson that describes the challenges that Black populations have historically faced when it comes to home ownership, particularly through racist lending contracts in the 1950s and 60s. This mixed media work, which includes an informative video, was created in partnership with the National Public Housing Museum and is an important look at the predatory practices that have significantly shaped economic poverty in certain cities across America.

We were inspired by these and many other artists in this show (including our friends at Sparano + Mooney Architecture, who debuted a special complimentary exhibit that illustrates their concept and design process) and were honored to be an exhibiting partner. With our belief that truly finding home means looking within, our contribution was to offer visitors a solitary space in which you can share your own reflections on what home means to you. We have been inspired by your poetry, honesty, humor and deep introspection around the topic.

It is this community connection that motivates us to do the work that we do, and to continue to invite our clients, friends, and community to “come home.”

Haimaz, Heimr, Hjem, Heem, Hām, Home | March 10, 2023 – July 15, 2023

UTAH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | 20 S. WEST TEMPLE

Dax and Zak’s historic home on Madison Avenue is an authentic expression of their personal style, which feels like a curated mix of Italian Renaissance decadence and Victorian Gothic vibes. The home itself, which was built in 1911 and has no shortage of original charm and craftsmanship, was also a big influence on their design aesthetic. Leaning into its architectural era, they restored historic details like the original fireplace in the living room, and sourced vintage pieces for light fixtures and furnishings.

When it comes to art, Dax and Zak are obsessive collectors but intentional curators

-each piece within their maximalist gallery walls is purposefully placed, contributing to the overall story of their home and personal life experiences. As an artist himself, Zak has several of his own works intermixed throughout the space. The majority of their collection, however, is made up of original paintings found in thrift stores or sourced from online classifieds like KSL or Facebook marketplace. The couple’s creative (and dedicated) approach to collecting allows them to buy art more often and also to acquire larger pieces on a budget. “A lot of people think you have to have a lot of money to buy art, but I disagree,” says Dax. “It’s a lot more effort to go searching for good things, but you can find them if you look hard enough.”

This isn’t to say they don’t support living artists when they can:

the ceiling mural in their dining room was a commissioned project by professional painter Isabel Isaac, who was given substantial creative freedom in its design. They simply shared ideas around the concept of “Renaissance clouds,” which the artist articulated with beautiful billowy texture and golden light. The mural’s shape flows with the space while its black and gold border echoes the ornate frames and feel of the room’s curated gallery wall.

The art curation is typically led by Zak’s eye: for the all-over walls, he starts by mapping out the larger pieces to create balance then fills in the space with pieces that fit, while paying attention to thematic details and complimenting color palettes. His knack for visualizing pieces together means he’s constantly on the lookout for more. “My favorite thing is to see a piece in a thrift store that I like, and buy it even though I have no idea where it will go,” he says. “Then when I come home and place it in a room, the colors or style of the piece end up fitting perfectly with the space and the other things we have.”

Some might call this artistic intuition luck, but I think it’s more about knowing and trusting your own style without attempting to follow trends or do what’s “sellable” for your space.

I was honored to be the listing agent for Dax and Zak’s home, which was met with overwhelming interest and excitement from buyers as soon as it hit the market. We went under contract after multiple offers, proving that authentic expression within your home resonates with other homeowners who, more often than not, value creativity and character in their future spaces.