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Nestled in Salt Lake City’s 15th & 15th neighborhood, the tiny 1930s home retained its charm while receiving an expansive remodel, front to back.
The scant side yard, like many in Salt Lake City’s charming 15th & 15th neighborhood, was little more than a buffer zone between the tiny house and its next-door neighbor. That was until Lloyd Architects teamed with homeowners Erynn and John Montgomery to rethink their family’s cramped quarters and deep, narrow property. In multiple stages, they built a garage with a second-level office near the back of the lot and added a second story to the reconfigured house up front. To link them, Lloyd devised a 28-foot-long interior gallery and an adjoining courtyard using the side yard in between. “It is the heart of our home,” says Erynn, describing the connective indoor-outdoor space.
Explore the image below to learn more about patio details
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The gallery is much more than a front-to-back passageway—it is a destination. Lloyd designed a solid wall with high clerestory windows on the west side of the room. On the east side, he fashioned a disappearing wall of folding glass doors that opens the interior to a semi-enclosed deck area performing as a cozy courtyard. “Outdoor living is clearly important to the Montgomerys,” Lloyd explains. “They could have expanded their kitchen but chose to use the space for the gallery and courtyard instead.”
Inside the gallery, the couple placed a piano, a Barcelona Couch and sleek furnishings that define its welcoming, modern style. Above it all, four paintings by Utah artist Zachary Proctor capture each of the daughters dressed in the same dotted frock at age five. “Thus the term gallery,” Erynn says with a laugh. The Montgomerys use this cherished space for music, relaxation, rest and family time together. And when the clan wants to take the fun outdoors, they simply fold the glass doors back and the gallery’s living area doubles in size. “The outdoor area works in conjunction with the gallery, nearby kitchen and yard,” Lloyd says.
To make the outdoor area as inviting and comfortable as the gallery indoors, the team zoned the spacious deck with a sitting area anchored by a raised fire feature that also serves as a convenient coffee table. Beside it, an outdoor rug grounds the dining area’s modern table and shapely orange chairs. Grass-filled, corten steel planters perform as low privacy walls that semi-enclose the deck, and a pair of steps lead to the side yard’s lush lawn. Retractable awnings shade the space during summer and festive party lights illuminate the patio with a carefree, festive vibe.
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A second level was added to the main home, as was the new gallery and outdoor living area. “For these spaces to work, they needed to be adjacent to the kitchen because that is where parties always begin and end,” Lloyd explains.
The project is a successful example of how big thinking can transform the livability and style of a small property. Not only does the central gathering space connect the two main structures while making the most of a narrow lot, it also cleverly blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor living. “Because the gallery and patio area are about the same size, they feel equally important and inviting,” Lloyd explains. Erynn agrees. “When the doors are open, it feels like the gallery doubles in size and the outdoors has become part of our home.”
All photos by Mark Weinberg
Interior Design by Susan Taggart Design
Explore more inspiring Before and Afters here.