Reese and Barbie Harper had to make a big decision. Do they build a new home for their young family or do they completely overhaul their tired ‘80s house in Holladay? After much debate—and the creation of a full set of building plans—they chose to remodel. “We decided to make lemonade out of a lemon,” Barbie says with a laugh.
A bluestone walkway leads to the newly remodeled home. Its design was inspired by a wine country ranch house and features wood-shake shingles and dark framed windows that pop against the monochromatic beige palette. Landscape by Steven L. Gilbert, ArcSitio Design. Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
In the music room, Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallcovering creates a texture-rich backdrop for an Oly Studio chandelier and a large canvas by artist Holly Addi. “We used quite a bit of original art from local Utah artists that feel personal to us in some way,” says homeowner Barbie Harper. Styled by Noelle Wright. Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
To squeeze the most out of the extensive re-do, the couple enlisted a talented team that included interior designer Catherine Goodsell, Stevens General Contractors and architects Rob White and Clayton Vance. These pros tore the outmoded structure down to the studs and rebuilt it into the Harpers’ dream house.
The music room doubles as a living room for the Harpers’ active family of six. Texture drove the room’s design, where grasscloth wallcovering, sheer linen draperies and a plush rug from Adib’sRug Gallery enrich the classic-meets-modern décor. Styled by Noelle Wright. Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
The foyer’s large round mirror reflects large entry doors by Lecate Artisan Doors. V-groove paneling delivers dimension to the walls while the custom stairway introduces clean, modern lines.Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Founder of Dentist Advisors, homeowner and financial advisor Reese Harper often hosts podcasts from his new office. Custom double doors, richly colored walls and expertly lighted built-ins create an impressive backdrop for his presentations. Custom desk by Bradshaw Design; sconces by The Urban Electric Company; rug from Regency Royale. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
When pondering the style of her new home, Barbie searched for inspiration online and discovered a modern ranch home in California’s wine country that checked all of her boxes. “It had lots of texture, natural elements and a very organic feel,” she recounts enthusiastically. These elements became key building blocks for the house’s design, inside and out.
Designer Catherine Goodsell whitewashed the kitchen’s wood ceiling to prevent it “from being visually heavy.” Regina Andrew pendants create a modern statement above a handsome island topped with marble-veined Neolith countertops. Appliances, plumbing and hardware from MLD. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Goodsell created an angled panel detail to give the cabinet door’s shaker style a modern flair. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Goodsell differentiated the pantry space from the main kitchen using black-stained, wire-brushed white oak lower cabinets and handmade glazed subway tile. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
The exterior is clad in wood-shake shingles and warmed with an earthy, tone-on-tone palette. “It’s all about texture, inside and out,” Barbie says. Custom double doors open to an expanded foyer that presents the home’s warm and welcoming décor from the get-go. “The design is a dance between the rough and refined, classic and modern, casual and formal, feminine and masculine,” explains Goodsell, principal of Lecate Design. While juggling this mix, Goodsell took great pains to a establish a timeless foundation for a style that “straddles the worlds of traditional and modern.”
A Restoration Hardware table delivered the patina and lived-in look Goodsell craved for the casual dining area. She dressed host chairs in a performance fabric to add softness and no-fuss livability. Rug from Adib’s Rug Gallery; lantern fixture by Visual Comfort; floral painting by Jill Barton. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
A favorite gathering space, the family room opens to two patios. Layered linen and sheer draperies frame the large doors and windows while textural furnishings enrich the calm, inviting space. “My Japanese ancestry seemed to call out to me with this project,” Barbie says. “Many of the feng shui and wabi-sabi principles resonate with me—peace, imperfection, order, light, natural beauty.” Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
The designer dressed the majority of the walls in warm white, many of them clad in V-groove paneling. She flowed richly stained white-oak floors to anchor the interior and incorporated custom doors to elevate it throughout. To this, Goodsell introduced a mix of “authentic” materials including wood beams and paneling, wool carpets and natural stone elements. “They add depth and richness, and they never go out of style,” she explains.
In the primary bath’s wet room, the freestanding tub sits on a raised platform and hidden lighting accentuates the walls’ textured tile. Waterfall-style cabinets add a decidedly modern edge to the vanity area, where polished nickel plumbing adds sparkle to the otherwise earthy palette. Hardware by Rocky Mountain Hardware; custom mirrors from A Gallery/Allen+Alan Fine Art; shower wall tile by Porcelanosa. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Grasscloth wallcovering, a velvet upholstered bed and a mixed palette of navy, pink and goldenrod interweaves masculine and feminine style elements in the primary bedroom. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Goodsell furnished the primary bedroom’s nook with a cozy chaise upholstered in linen. Woven blinds and a stump stool add textural interest to the serene spot. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Once the foundation was in order, Goodsell tackled the décor. Her objective was to create an enduring style with a number of unexpected touches that satisfy Barbie’s love for of-the-moment decorating. “I’ve always been a design junkie,” the homeowner confesses. In the main-level music room, for example, Goodsell juxtaposed an unexpected coral chandelier and bold art by Holly Addi with a traditional hand-knotted rug and custom Dedar linen draperies. In the open kitchen, domed pendants accented with gold-leaf hang above a clean-lined central island crowned with marble-veined Neolith countertops. Goodsell balanced these with beloved hand-cast bronze hardware. “It’s a rich, classic material that won’t date the home,” she explains. Other surprising elements of note include the family room’s mod, triple-armed chandelier, the music room’s color-mixed pillows and the primary bedroom’s shapely ceramic lamps. “You can have fun with design knowing everything doesn’t have to be a forever piece,” the designer explains.
Custom sliding doors open the entry space to the music room. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
A large painting by Alex Gerrard makes a bold statement in the décor. Art from 15th Street Gallery. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Goodsell has a knack for layering a décor, and this home was no exception. Textured Phillip Jeffries grasscloth enriches the music room and master bedroom walls, subtly patterned rugs anchor cozy living areas and finely trimmed custom draperies dress windows throughout. “I love draperies and the way they soften spaces,” she says. The designer also has a command for color, pairing pink with goldenrod, navy with robin’s egg blue. “We were inspired by a lovely vintage rug,” Barbie says. Equal attention was paid to custom doors crafted by Lecate Artisan Doors. Rustic wire-brushed double doors open to Reese’s handsome office, expansive front double doors fill the foyer with abundant light and large windowed sliders close off the music room’s performances without eliminating foyer views. “This is a great house that deserves great doors,” Goodsell says.
A large round mirror softens the hard edges of a bathroom’s custom cabinetry.Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Floating shelves add dimension and display space in the relaxed family room. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
While designing the home, Goodsell also focused on avoiding VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as much as possible. “Barbie is highly sensitive to VOCs, so everything from paints to processes, adhesives to furnishings had to be considered,” she explains. Barbie also consulted with Eco Nest’s Paula Baker-Laporte for advice. “I wanted our home to be healthy and relatively green,” Barbie says. With a lot of research and deliberate choices, that’s exactly what Goodsell and the team delivered.
A floating wood shelf and wire-brushed, white oak cabinets visually warm the light-filled laundry room. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
A custom plaster hood teams with a marbled backdrop to enrich the kitchen’s range wall. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
A clean-lined, steel-and-oak banister defines the entry’s new staircase. Styled by Noelle Wright.Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
Thanks to strong collaboration between the homeowners and their talented pros, the choice to overhaul the old house resulted in a beloved ranch-style retreat that caters to the Harpers’ active lifestyle and captures their desire for relaxed, natural spaces. “This is a young family with great energy, and their new home reflects this,” Goodsell says. For Reese and Barbie, remodeling was a decision well made.
Catherine Goodsell, principal of Lecate Design. Photo by Lindsay Salazar.
