We adore the swatches and samples that come with a complete overhaul, but we also understand that the simplest of tweaks can result in an entirely new vibe for your space. A little paint, for example, goes a long way.
so We’ve got a few fall-inspired paint colors you can use year-round…
“Calke Green” by Farrow + Ball
If you’re the type who prefers to dip a toe before diving in head-first, consider painting the interior of a shelving unit. This is a good way to accentuate an architectural detail, but it’s also a surefire way to bring a little fresh life into the space. For this project, we used a cool, mossy green for the shelves–we also utilized the high-gloss version of the same color for the front door, which brought a fun bit of cohesiveness to this bright white home. View the full project here.
“Bold Brick” by Sherwin Williams
A definitive pop for any space, this rusty orange-red is the perfect warm accent to an otherwise cool palette. In this case, polished concrete floors and white walls ran the risk of feeling a bit anemic without this punchy accent. We decided to utilize Bold Brick on all of the interior doors as a nod to the red-rock desert landscape surrounding this project. View the full project here.
“Joshua Tree” by Portola
Inspired by the desert sunset, this cheery nutmeg hue will brighten up any room. It’s bold, yes…but when used with a black molding, crisp white ceiling, and neutral floor, it adds the perfect pop of color. We managed to add some character to this guest room without having to spend a lot on decor. View the full project here.
“Yorktowne Green” by Benjamin Moore
This deeply saturated, historic blue/green color can make a statement, but it’s also well-equipped to stand the test of time. For this custom floating vanity, it served to create the perfect balance of old and new when paired with a neutral background, marble, and some mixed metals. View the full project here.
High-gloss “Green Black” by Sherwin Williams
Bathrooms are as good a place as any to go bold. If you have a smaller space, sometimes the best answer is to utilize a dark color and embrace the coziness. You can create a dramatic effect by painting the walls, ceiling, and floors the same color. In this loo, a vintage-inspired toilet, collected art, and black zellige floor tile work seamlessly together. View the full project here.
At cityhomeDESIGN, we adore the paint swatches and wallpaper samples that come with a complete overhaul, but we also understand that sometimes the simplest of tweaks can result in an entirely new vibe for your space. One of our most recently completed design projects perfectly demonstrates that you don’t always need a complete overhaul to breathe new life into your home. Here are five little changes that can have a big impact on your space…
1. Designate an appliance garage. This tip is for those of us who try—and struggle—to be minimal. If you’ve grown tired of cluttered countertops, ugly toasters, or more cords than you can count, an “appliance garage” can be a major help. They can be made in many sizes/depths and tailored to your exact equipment needs. (Pro tip: don’t forget to add enough outlets and a light source…you’ll need to work that espresso maker before the sun rises.)
2. Use panel-ready appliances. There are plenty of economic options for panel-ready appliances these days, and it’s an ideal solution to the decision between stainless, silver, black stainless, or off-silver appliances. (For those not in the know, “panel-ready” appliances are made to allow a custom cover to attach to the face, meaning the finish’s appearance can be swapped out to match or accent your existing kitchen setup without purchasing a whole new appliance.) In this instance, we chose a panel-ready fridge/freezer and dishwasher, enabling these bigger items to disappear into the cabinetry. This is particularly useful in smaller kitchens—keeping the space from being broken up by too many different finishes or materials makes it seem much larger.
3. Mix and match lighting. It’s important to have task lighting in a kitchen, so don’t skimp on the can lights. That said, overhead lighting doesn’t need to—and shouldn’t be—your only source of light in the kitchen. Leave space for more decorative sconces that can dress up the room while still being functional.
4. Add personal touches. A sterile kitchen is only appealing when the literal definition is applied. Where design is concerned, however, we always prefer to incorporate personal items from our clients’ lives. Most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and we’re big proponents of filling the “popular” spaces in our homes with things that promote happiness or bring good memories. Layering a new space with vintage rugs and art will also add a bit of character and warmth to the space.
5. Get rid of your cabinets. From the standpoint of functionality, deep cabinets are more trouble than they’re worth. Ever done spring cleaning and found some canned goods from 20+ years ago stashed in the back? Relatable. Swapping out your cabinets for deep, lower drawers enables you to stay organized by keeping everything where you can see it. Stack your plates, cups, pots and pans, and even packaged food in a drawer (this will also eliminate having to stand on a stool and look through too-high uppers).
Click here to see more images from this project!
BEFORE: This builder flip galley kitchen felt closed in and cluttered and didn’t capitalize on natural light sources.
AFTER: We added some bold color, removed the unnecessary cabinetry, and added a custom walnut appliance garage and panel-front appliances.
Salt Lake City has lately become something of a melting pot, and so many of our residents now (yours truly included) are transplants from other states and countries. And while we love and preach about all the goodness that is SLC, we—like many of our readers—also do our fair share of traveling to and obsessing about other places on the map, as well.
Our design division has projects in a few other states, and as such, we occasionally have a layover here or there. To that end, we thought it might be nice to give a quick shout to the spots we frequent in cities outside our own. The Layover Lists series will simply be our way of saying something along the lines of, “Oh, you’re there? You should check this out….” (And if you have a city/town you think we need to check out or some recommendations in a place of familiarity, feel free to shoot to [email protected], or DM us on Instagram @cityhomeCOLLECTIVE).
One such place for us is Los Angeles (so this first one is technically our L.A.over List). We’ve got a few design projects in this sprawling city, and we’ve managed to wander into several shops/restaurants worth gushing about. If you find yourself in the city of celebs and sunshine, here are ten spots we think you should get familiar with…
1. Botanica: If you make your way over to Silver Lake, be sure to check out Botanica for brunch. This detailed, yet simple space boasts food and drinks that are anything but. They take “healthy” food to a whole new level of delicious. Big flavor and bold colors are the order of the day in this locally and sustainably sourced restaurant and market. 1620 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sun. 9:00a – 2:00p and 5:30p – 10:00p
2. Midland: After brunch, pop on over to Midland Shop. They’ve got a incredible selection of apothecary items, home accessories, and one-off clothing. If you need to pick up a last minute gift, we suggest you get the goods here. 1404 Micheltorena St, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sun, 11:00a – 6:00p
3. Esqueleto: Speaking of goodies, one of our personal favorites is a little home goods and fine jewelry shop known as Esqueleto. Visiting this shop is a practice in restraint. Think handmade, Mexican-influenced, cool-but-not-trying-too-hard laid-back luxury. It’s also a few doors down from Hotel Covell (one of our fav places to stay, should you need a rec for a room). 4618 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sun., 10:00a – 6:00p
4. Chicas Tacos: Just downtown, Chicas is an AMAZING little spot set up for some outdoors, picnic-style dining by an Airstream. Our own cityhomeCOLLECTIVE interior design team is also working on the design for two additional Chicas restaurants (think: classic L.A. street taco vibes infused with fun, quirky details). 728 S Olive St, Los Angeles, Mon. – Fri., 11:00a – 10:00p (open until 1:30a Fri. + Sat.)
5. Freehand rooftop: If you have some time to kill during your day in the city, do yourself a favor and check out the Freehand. You can buy a day pass to the rooftop pool and “get some work done” at the Broken Shaker bar…they whip up a few mean, tiki-inspired cocktails. Also a great hotel option, should you decide to stay an extra night, it’s in a great downtown area where plenty of good architecture spotting can be had (one of our very favorite buildings, The Eastern, is just around the corner). 416 W 8th St, Los Angeles
6. Hammer + Spear: It may require a couple minutes in an Uber, but it’s totally worth it. Hammer + Spear is a beautiful design showroom with high-end furniture pieces, exquisite scents, and inspiring art. The vibe here is equal parts sexy and moody–you’ll never want to leave. 255 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sat.,11:00a – 7:00p, Sun. 12:00p – 6:00p
7. Lawson-Fenning: If you find yourself over in Melrose, there are a ton of great shopping options. Our design team absolutely loves Lawson-Fenning, and we source from them quite frequently. It’s really great that we have the ability to see pieces in-person before we present them to clients, and there are loads of really cool makers and artists on display. 6824 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sat.,10:00a – 6:00p
8. Galerie Half: Just across the street from Lawson-Fenning, you’ll find Galerie Half, which features high-end antiques and vintage pieces. It’s a gorgeous and perfectly curated gallery where every piece is pretty much exquisite. 6911 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 Mon. – Sat., 10:00a – 5:00p
9. The Window: We love the quirkiness of this place. Another shop full of vintage goodies and treasures, you can spend a considerable amount of time in here, so best plan for it. 6825 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, Mon. – Sat., 11:00a – 6:00p
10. Auburn: If you’re looking for some amazing dinner plans, we suggest splurging a bit this time–treat yourself to a coursed meal at Auburn. It’s pricey, yes…but absolutely worth it. Designed by Klein Agency, the interiors are subtle yet refined, comfortable and luxurious. Every detail, from the concrete to the landscaping and handmade ceramic dishes, is so very on point. You deserve it. 6703 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, check for hours – reservations recommended
This summer marks the one-year anniversary of one of our fave cityhomeCOLLECTIVE design projects, Ero Edge salon, opening down on 9th South. It’s a true cityhome love story, this one: owner Alyssa Johnsen hired agent Paul Svendsen to help her find her space, and, once she’d snagged her spot, she tapped our design division to help create and compose her dream work environment. Better yet, in order to commemorate their first successful year in business, the salon is putting on an open house in conjunction with the upcoming 9th & 9th Street Fair during which their stunning space and tip-top services will be on full display.
As such, be sure to mark your calendars for September 14th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (274 E 900 S is the address in question) in order to pay the talented Ero Edge team a visit, and continue reading for more deets on the inception of the salon courtesy of aforementioned owner Alyssa Johnsen.
First off, why Salt Lake? Is this a “born-and-raised” situation or would you consider yourself a transplant? I was born and raised here in Utah. I have moved around a lot to different parts of the valley. With the expansion that we did, I settled myself and my business here in downtown Salt Lake and have been so in love with this city and all that is changing here.
What eventually lead you to commit to the grueling undertaking of starting your own business? I fell in love with the beauty industry at a young age and never turned back. A lot of the success we have had has been gradual and throughout the years we have focused on providing quality services with our clients in mind. It is easy to progress and grow in something that feels second nature. I wanted to create a space that emulated our values and provided a memorable experience when people walked through the door.
The process of building your own company seems to always be accompanied by unexpected pitfalls—are there any specific challenges you faced in opening Ero Edge? The process and challenges of opening a business were more internal than I could have imagined. A lot of the resistance I felt was not only the growing pains of the business but on a personal level. Going all in and trusting in your vision puts a lot on the line. I learned a lot throughout the process but mainly that you have to be tenacious with your dreams and jump at the opportunities that could bring them to fruition.
Space is certainly important to us, but what ultimately convinced you to spend a portion of your start-up capital on hiring a design team? I wanted our space to send a message and provide an experience for our clients and employees that they could feel comfortable and be in a space that they could thrive in. It was important to have a team that could bring these dreams alive.
Give us some insight into how your business revolves around its clients. Our services are tailored to our clients needs. We hope to inspire openness and trust that they are in good hands.
Do you have a fleshed-out business philosophy you’d care to share? At Ero Edge, we strive to provide a memorable experience by creating an open and comfortable environment that one can focus their energies to empower and inspire confidence.
Now onto the fun stuff—what do you love most about your space? I love the pops of color that we incorporated throughout the whole project. The look and the feel of the room is clean, modern, and fun!
If your place of business was a celebrity, who would it be and why? It might be my slight obsession that I currently have but I can’t help think Billie Eilish, she is vibrant, tenacious, and just getting started.
Just so we can get to know you as a business owner a bit better, do you mind naming three things you can’t live without? My two fur-babies, traveling, and Crumbl chilled sugar cookies.
Finally, to wrap this thing up, do you have any advice to offer other young entrepreneurs? Get going! No matter when you get started it is going to be intimidating so bite the bullet and get to work. As I always say “ don’t talk about it, be about it.”
It’s a no brainer that most people love soaking in the peaceful environment of a natural hot spring surrounded by awe-inspiring nature. However, the increasing crowd size at most of the spots accessible from SLC has the potential to diminish the serenity of the entire hot springs experience. Newly revamped and all-too-attuned to this issue, Maple Grove Hot Springs—located on the banks of the Bear River in Preston, Idaho—is set up specifically to ensure that its natural lithium pools can be enjoyed with a degree of peace and privacy sure to put even the most overworked at ease. And, given that it’s only a two-and-a-half hour jaunt from SLC to these generously refreshed springs, Maple Grove looks like the perfect place to quite literally soak it all in.
Like most anything in the awe-inspiring West, Maple Grove has existed in its natural form for thousands of years and was once a sacred meeting place for Native Americans—the Shoshone, in this instance. After becoming privatized, the land surrounding the springs changed hands a couple of times until it was ultimately run into disrepair and closed down in October of 2018. Having fallen in love with the beauty of the location during previous visits, Jordan Menzel, an SLC native, and bonafide hot springs resuscitator, quickly rounded up the requisite funding to purchase Maple Grove with the goal of restoring it to its former splendor. With the help of many local businesses, including frequent cityhomeDESIGN collaborator Limestrong Artisan Plaster, this spot is nicely positioned for a welcome return to form. And, after working tirelessly for 6 months to clean and clear the site, the springs, as of this week, are now accepting bookings.
The mission of this newly reopened operation is to protect and respect the natural integrity of the spring while also providing a quaint and soothing haven for anyone in need of a little recharge—this isn’t the hot springs you roll up to at 11:45 pm with a 30 rack of Natty Light (sorry, 23 year old me). In order to guarantee that its pools remain an escape from frequent, everyday stressors like noise and crowds, Maple Grove requires you make a reservation in advance of your visit and limits use of its facilities to no more than 20 people at any given time. With three soaking pools and one larger, recreational pool these policies mean that carving out your own section of balmy water is all-too-easy. Plus, if your group exceeds capacity, the springs are reservable for private events, as well. Beyond providing top-notch, mineral-laden tubs, the rest of the facilities at Maple Grove are equally up to scratch. The ongoing restoration is focused on creating spaces and sleeping arrangements that, through their composition, only augment the beautiful natural surroundings (a notion close to our COLLECTIVE hearts). The Property features a hydro microgrid, 40 acres of wilderness for kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and mountain biking, 10 canvas yurts, walk-in tent sites, a rentable yurt retreat center, and a cafe, meaning that, whether you’re heading up for an afternoon, weekend, or a week-long retreat, you’re sure to be comfortable and well-cared for.
For those interested in a quick trip to experience these revitalized springs, click here to make your reservation. And, be sure to use coupon code “cityhome2019” at checkout for $20 off any nightly stay this year!
Date: 3/23/18
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: CHC Design Studio, 645 E. South Temple (west door)
Yup…we’re teaming up with LOOM Imports for a trunk show! Think: silk rugs, alpaca pillows, handmade textiles, and plenty of other pretty exceptional wares. We’ve hand selected the goods…you only need come pick the pieces that’ll best suit your space. Stop by the cityhomeCOLLECTIVE design studio on Friday, March 23 from 4:00 to 7:00pm to peruse the carefully-curated artifacts. This event is open house-style, meaning you can come and go as you please (oh, and enjoy some wine and cheese while you shop…because winenot).
LOOM is an online shop whose mission it is to “promote the fine craftsmanship of international Artisans and foster careers in traditional arts,” and they support “sustainable community development without compromising traditional values and skills.” Paired with their diverse and stunning product collection (see it here), we thought a collaborative trunk show was a no-brainer. A peek at some of the good stuff we’ll have on hand is below. Come on by…grab a hug…
Find what your space has been missing.
We’ve got something of a blatant respect for design and architecture, to be sure, but we’re also raving fans of learning by doing and giving back to our respective communities. And since said values run entirely parallel with those of our friends at Design Build Bluff, we like to keep a close eye on what they do each semester through the University of Utah architecture program. (Unfamiliar with the work of DBB? Click here to be enlightened.)
It stands to reason, then, that when we were asked to help update the design and functionality of the student housing in Bluff, Utah, we were eager to lend a COLLECTIVE hand. The historic building is known as the Scorup House, and over the coming months we’ll be documenting our design process in helping faculty and students create a beautiful and functional campus.
THE PLACE IS BRIMMING WITH POTENTIAL.
Our first step called for a site visit last fall. Beautiful hardwood floors and antique hardware make for a charming place to start, but the space will require updates in the form of ADA compliance, kitchen and storage functionality, and a hearty dose of that homey feeling. We suggest you stick around to see what our design team has in store for this multi-use dwelling.
Any interested in helping by donating time or supplies to the effort can email design@cityhomeCOLLECTIVE.
Date: 6/17/17
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: 645 E South Temple (in the back parking lot off H Street)
Please join us for a parking lot truck sale this Saturday! We’re doing a little spring cleaning and getting rid of a BOATLOAD of furniture, art, and accessories. Love the homes you see on our website? Dress yours the same! First-come, first-serve! We’ll see you Saturday.
At cityhomeCOLLECTIVE, we believe that when one bit of SLC is improved, it raises us all up, which is why we are always looking for new ways to volunteer our skill-set toward the betterment of this magnificent city. So when Deborah Peterson from The Leonardo Museum approached us to see if we might be interested in donating or participating in the museum’s new exhibit involving Habitat for Humanity, we felt more than a bit drawn to the cause.
SLC + the arts + housing = up our exact alley
The resulting exhibit, which was dubbed “Where Children Sleep“, is a “tender look a the uncertain condition where children lay their heads at night” (and was a follow-up to the Leonardo’s wildly-successful “No Fixed Address” exhibit, which focused on the issue of homelessness). After meeting with Deborah and Ed Blake of Habitat for Humanity, we realized that this would be a great opportunity to utilize all branches of our COLLECTIVE for a good cause. So we rallied the troops. The real estate division donated funds and threw a fantastic fundraiser to help cover some of the costs for homes that would be built for a few local families. The marketing team donated time to spread the word. And our design team volunteered to design the bedrooms of the children who would live in the Habitat Homes. Below is the unveiling of the most recently finished home…a new space for Vanessa and her two boys, Vincent (12) and Nicholas (8).
A SPACE TO CALL THEIR OWN
and now, some thanks are in order…
Not all design jobs call for a full-on remodel. In fact, some spaces just need a little spruce to get them looking spectacularly livened-up (and, in some cases, refreshingly modern). These particular clients were looking to freshen up their home, which was built in the ’90s. We chose to focus this design project on modernizing the kitchen space, and creating a fluid unity with the nearby sitting and eating areas. Our clients wanted the cookery to be updated, more functional, and to have a more open feeling with a lot of natural light. And, since the home is in Olympus Cove, we wanted to capitalize on the amazing views, too.
The result is a clean, minimal kitchen, with subtle textures that pack a punch.
The existing kitchen was on the small side for the size of the home, and the layout was, shall we say, not conducive to a happy chef. We expanded the floor plan and took down a wall to create more space, a better flow for cooking and entertaining, and added a touch of storage (functionality = covered). We also made some matching updates to the adjacent living room in terms of furnishings, paint, and the fire place surround, in order to a make the whole space more cohesive. A few of our favorite touches: the continuous wood grain on the cabinetry, and the irregular hexagonal floor tile (and we love that our clients let us push the design to a more modern, clean palate). The result is a clean, minimal kitchen, with subtle textures that pack a punch.
