In Provo, tastemaker Angie Harrington enlists Alice Lane Interior Design to transform her family’s beloved home from tired to triumphant
An affinity for fashion and a fascination with aliens are two interests that don’t typically go hand in hand, but reality TV star Angie Harrington is anything but typical. “I’m a total nerd, and I think people don’t expect that,” says Harrington, laughing. Make that a stylish nerd. Yes, she’s a self-proclaimed “amateur UFO-ologist,” and she loves watching The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, but all while swathed in the comfort of a cashmere Hermès throw (its signature “H” nods to her last name).
The mom and philanthropist has made a name for herself on Instagram as a jet-setting fashion influencer (@angieharrington) and as a recent cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The latter is a role she stepped away from to spend more time focusing on her blended family, including her husband, Chris, her sons, Cole, 15, and Rome, 18, Chris’s three adult children, and the couple’s son, Hart, 4, who was diagnosed with autism last year. “They’re my everything,” Harrington says of her brood. “When Hart was diagnosed with autism last November, it was heavy and hard and we had to adjust, but we can see how special he is. He’s the light of our home.”
Harrington has used her public platform for good, speaking openly about her son’s autism diagnosis and ADHD, which affects Harrington and her two older sons. “We’re all neurodivergent, except for my husband,” she explains. The couple are also proud supporters of LGBTQ+ causes, including local nonprofit Encircle—an organization that hits close to home for Harrington and her husband. “Chris’s daughter came out as transgender about the same time Hart was born,” explains Harrington. “So many kids are in need of support. We were really fortunate to get involved. I think the human need is to leave this world better than we found it.”
While watching the RHOSLC, fans got a glimpse of Harrington’s personal life and a peek inside her private quarters. She says her home has always been her sanctuary, but it’s become even more so since the cameras have stopped rolling. “Before I started the show I had a little bit of a public life, and then when the show came along that put it on steroids,” she explains. “It can be very intimidating. I don’t mind if someone approaches me—it doesn’t happen all the time—but now I find myself spending more time at home.”
Photos by MANICPROJECT.
Fortunately, her posh Provo digs are perfectly suited for soaking up family time and hanging out with friends. The English Tudor-style abode was built in the early 1980s on a prime lot in the River Bottoms neighborhood. At first sight, the house looked like something out of a Charles Dickens novel, and Harrington was smitten. “I instantly loved it,” she says. “The home is large and statuesque, but also inviting. It still feels cozy.” Architectural details like antique European fireplaces and original leaded glass windows enhance the welcoming vibe of the 10,000-square-foot family dwelling.
With keys in hand, Harrington called upon Jessica Bennett and Suzanne Hall of Alice Lane Interior Design to breathe new life into the property. The design duo had previously collaborated with the Harringtons to decorate their condo in downtown Salt Lake City, so Bennett and Hall had a good sense of the couple’s personalities and aesthetic.
“You instantly like Angie,” says Bennett. “She’s a lot of fun and has an old soul. You want her to be your best friend. When you’re in her space, you step into her world.”
Harrington loves to travel and loves antiques, so she wanted the home to feel very collected and have a global mix of old and new pieces. “I like the idea of all walks of life being represented in our space,” she says. “We’re a blended family and I wanted the house to reflect that.” She was also inspired by the Spanish Colonial architecture she’d fallen for while on trips to Montecito, California and Mallorca, Spain.
Photos by MANICPROJECT.
With Harrington’s directives, Bennett and Hall got to work. The home had recently been remodeled so they didn’t need to change anything architecturally, but everything looked a little blah and bland. “It was important to combat the boredom with color and cool pieces,” Hall explains. They infused the space with fresh paint, fashionable furnishings, contemporary art and vintage rugs. “If you’re not fully renovating a home, the easiest way to update it is with a few simple tricks: paint the walls, distract with art, layer with textures and add interesting pieces,” Hall says. She notes that sometimes the more unusual the piece the better, regardless of how it might look with the rest of your space. “If you love it then somehow it all works. Don’t be afraid to pair things together.”
Photo by MANICPROJECT.
The resulting design is a fresh take on traditional style: it’s a little bit younger and bolder, but the old bones of the home and grandmillenial details like grasscloth, marble and figure sketches help balance things out. “It’s fashion girl meets Montecito,” Bennett says.
“We wanted to make each space unique and fashionable but still timeless,” adds Harrington. “I don’t like to dress or style things the way everyone else does—our house is a reflection of that.”
See more of Utah Style & Design’s Fall 2023 issue here.
