Helm has been furnishing Utah’s finest homes since 1976. That’s because it caters to a variety of clients, offering luxury brands like Baker, Century, Bernhardt, Hickory Chair, Lexington, Massoud and more. Homeowners can find everything they need—including professional design guidance—to achieve their vision and maximize the true potential of their homes. But Helm is so much more than a furniture store.
It’s also a secret weapon of the state’s top interior designers and decorators, who partner with Helm through its industry-best partnership program. “By allowing Helm to manage all of the logistics of ordering, shipping, receiving, warehousing and more, designers can focus on taking care of their clients and designing homes,” says owner Chris Ross. “We’ll handle the administrative work, so designers can do what they love.”
A true partner to design professionals, Helm offers access to volume discounts from a worldwide network of furniture manufacturers. Designers can use the local 30,000 square-foot showroom as if it were their own and bring their clients to browse, see and touch the furniture, fabrics and other materials. “We also offer instant off-the-showroom-floor sourcing of furniture for urgent needs, short- or long-term storage with no warehousing fees and white-glove, blanket-wrapped delivery,” says Ross.
“Helm is the No. 1 furniture store in Utah and is even a top choice for homeowners and professional designers in surrounding states. For homeowners, Helm is a designer resource with experts that leverage floor plans and in-home visits to help design spaces and select the perfect furnishings.”
– Chris Ross, Owner/Principal
Ask the Expert
Why do peoplechoose Helm?
People come to Helm to get exactly what they’re looking for to design their entire home—from furniture for every room to lighting, rugs, art and accessories. They may see it in the showroom or get it by connecting with one of Helm’s many high-quality manufacturing partners who custom build the perfect pieces.
What are three wordsthat best describe you?
Luxury custom furniture.
What sets yourproduct apart?
Furniture purchased at Helm is literally unlike anything available through other retailers because it is completely customized. With the help of professional designers, homeowners select their own fabrics, leathers, wood finishes and more. The end result is stunning, high-quality furniture that perfectly aligns with the homeowner’s design style and vision.
With design emphasis on reception lobbies, offices are becoming more welcoming, friendly, and comfortable.
Making architectural photographs for as long as I have done, I have had an opportunity to observe shifts in design trends and approaches. Earlier, offices were very pragmatic spaces with strong attention paid to “usable space,” meaning area that produced revenue. Office lobbies were confined, unfriendly, and furnished in a manner not to enhance comfort. To me, they conveyed the message, “Get in, do your business quickly, get out, and consider not coming back.”Â
Now, things have changed. I have previously commented on the hospitality design influences I see in senior and assisted living and medical spaces. Now I see the influences of hospitality design in offices and businesses. As a point of reference, the photo above is a very inviting lobby space in the Goldener Hirsch in Park City. (Designed by Olson Kundig with Think Architects, Salt Lake City; built by Okland Construction) The opening shot is BioFire in western Salt Lake City, built by Okland Construction and designed by FFKR Architects.
As you scroll through my shots, perhaps you will also see the influences of hospitality design.
Above is the public lobby of 95 Main, a Salt Lake high rise. The colorful image is a video projection that changes, each highlighting the natural beauty of the Western landscape. The corridor continues and connects to Social Hall Avenue. (Built by Okland Construction; architecture by Skidmore, Owings & Merril)
The lustrous finishes, Art Deco touches, and black-and-white color scheme are found in the lobby of Divvy in Lehi. Built by Okland Construction.Â
Ever wonder what the interior of the eBay building in Draper looks like? Dynamic, innovative, and exciting are my adjectives. After making these photos, I sounded like a recruiter when I spoke to job seekers, singing praises of what a cool working environment it offered. (Designed by the architects, SmithGroupJJR; built by Okland Construction)
Park City’s community-based public radio station, KPCW, has a lobby that welcomes guests with a window view into the workings of the station. (Elliott Workgroup, architect and interior designer)
Few know that there is a World Trade Center in City Creek. (Built by Okland Construction)
The woodwork in this City Creek office is eye-catching. (Built by Okland Construction)
The edgy modular furnishings for this office suggest the emphasis the company puts on innovation and creativity. (Built by Okland Construction; architecture by GSBS)
The furnishings pick up the color in the logo in this large reception area. (Built by Okland Construction; architecture by GSBS)
Okland Construction’s own offices have a waiting area offset from the reception desk that resembles a living area. The yellow stair railings lead upstairs, and in the second photo you can see how the yellow unifies the transparent glassed workspaces and conference areas. (Designed by WRNS Architects and built by Okland Construction)
Curving planes of textured materials frame the reception area at OC Tanner. (FFKR Architects)
Timeless furnishings greet visitors to this new but slightly rustic Park City office building. (K Rocke Design)
A long curving sectional extends the length of this gas-burning fireplace in the lobby of this Lehi building. It was particularly welcoming on the early winter day when I made photographs. (Built by Okland Construction)
Wood, stone, and pendant lighting draw attention to the reception desk on an upper floor of the same building. To the left you can see a hint of the salt-water fish tank, which I feature in more detail to the right. (Built by Okland Construction)
Over a 40-year career, you see a lot of changes. I particularly welcome the warmth and life of new office spaces and the sense of welcome a well-considered reception lobby provides.
As vacation getaways go, Italy is hard to beat. But the country is more than Rome, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. Dreamy destinations, of course, but they’re hardly undiscovered. As the masses flock to Italy’s better-known holiday spots, do as I did last fall and escape to less touristy and off-the-beaten-path places for your next vacation. Here are three favorites I discovered along the way.
Less celebrated than nearby Como, Lake Maggiore is a paradise of crystal-clear water and garden islands backed by towering mountains and breath-taking landscapes.
Lake Maggiore
It’s an unseasonably warm October morning, and I’m perched on our room’s Juliet balcony fronting the esteemed Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees in charming, lakefront Stresa. Looking over a tree-lined promenade, I gaze over Lake Maggiore. Its rippling blue surface melds into a backdrop of towering, purplish peaks formed by the Alps. Isola Bella enthralls as it rises from the sparkling water like an elaborately embellished confection. The isle is almost completely covered by the Borromeo Palace, a Baroque residence and tiered gardens sculpted over the centuries.
British garden celeb Monte Don colorfully described the sight, saying “Its true public face screams across the lake, a tipsy drag queen of a garden ready to party.” Who can resist that? A short ferry ride later, my partner Don and I are soon strolling through the opulent residence and its perfectly coiffed giardini—a jaw-dropping interplay of formal terraces adorned with sculptures, fountains and choreographed plantings cascading to the lake.
Located in the iconic Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, the Hemingway Bar in Stresa is named after the famous writer who stayed there.
Our next boat stop is Villa Taranto, a parklike hillside garden on the lake’s western shore. There, expansive grounds teem with rare and exotic plants, towering conifers, fountains, terraces and pavilions. The beautiful gardens are arranged in thematic sections connected by ribbons of paths and walkways. Like the porcini risotto we enjoy at the venue’s cafe, Villa Taranto is meant to be savored slowly. We take our time and eventually board the ferry to return to Stresa, stopping along the way to visit the more informal gardens of Isola Madre. Showy peacocks strut across sun-dappled lawns surrounded by woods, lush greenery and flowering azaleas and rhododendrons. Rows of palm and citrus trees soak in the afternoon sun. That evening we dine in Stresa’s compact town center, crowded with people eating outdoors and strolling with gelato in hand. Over plates of pasta, we plan the next day’s lakeside drive to Locarno, Switzerland, above which we’ll hike in the Alps and be back to Stresa in time for a cocktail in our opulent hotel’s Hemingway Bar, named for its most famous and frequent patron.
In Stresa, an open-air restaurant overlooks Lake Maggiore.
Where To Stay
With its elegant Belle Époque architecture and easy-going charm, Stresa boasts stunning views of Lake Maggiore and easy access to its Borromean Islands. The Swiss Alps are nearby and Stresa’s railway station makes the lake-front town a super starting point from which to explore the surrounding area.
Piedmont Wine Country
Move over Chianti, Piedmont is a region rich with famous grapes, truffles and a tapestry of scenic destinations.
Ceretto Winery’s domed platform overlooks its vineyards and the surrounding countryside.
My 6-foot-4-inch frame makes me an unlikely driver of the vintage Alpha Romeo convertible parked in front of our 18th-century hotel crowning the ancient hilltop town of Guarene. But in my imagination, those are the wheels we’ll be taking tomorrow as we explore southern Piedmont’s undulating wine country that flows and folds below our hilltop perch like the sweeping train of a Valentino gown. Instead, we drive out in our Lancia coupe headed for Alba, a market town where medieval towers cast shadows over lively piazzas and streets lined with boutiques, wine bars and sidewalk cafes.
Medieval towers overlooking Piazza Duomo in Alba.
This is truffle season, and the earthy gem dominates menus, from gnocchi to gelato. We chose polenta, infused with truffle oil and topped with aromatic shavings. The dish teams with a robust red—we’re in the land of Barolo and Barbaresco, after all. Sated, we depart for a tasting at the nearby Ceretto Winery. It begins with a tour of the “Grape”—a transparent domed platform that serves as a tasting room, jutting out from the hillside like a bubble floating above the vineyards. Its futuristic architecture starkly contrasts our hotel Castello di Guarene—a lavishly decorated 18th-century palace constructed on the grounds of a medieval fortress overlooking the Langhe vineyards. We return in time for an evening stroll through the parterres and shapely topiaries of its terraced gardens, reflecting on today’s adventures and planning more of the same for the rest of our visit.
The formal gardens of the luxury hotel Castello di Guarene.
“Piedmont, where every vineyard tells a story, every bottle is a poem, and every sip is a journey through rolling hills, truffle-scented air and the artistry of winemaking.”
– Anonymous
Tagliatelle al Tartufo Nero, one of many dishes served during Piedmont’s truffle season.
Don’t Miss Out
Alba, the small Langhe town once known as the City of a Hundred Towers, is at the epicenter of Italy’s truffle trade and boasts many Michelin-rated restaurants. Its vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, producing internationally famous Langhe wines including Barolo and Barbaresco.
PortovenereÂ
The charming coastal town of Portovenere remains a hidden gem, offering a serenity that sets it apart from its more popular neighbors in Cinque Terre
With its small harbor lined with colorful houses, Portovenere is a picturesque port town south of Cinque Terre.
I sit on the fig-shaded terrace of our hillside villa overlooking Portovenere’s coin-sized piazza and quiet harbor. So this is what Italians mean when they say, “dolce far niente”—the joy of doing nothing. Not that there isn’t plenty to do. This morning, we wake to the rhythm of the village coming to life, fishing boats motoring out to sea and pastry shop doors being thrown open. We walk into town and pass along the waterfront to reach San Pietro perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Ligurian coast of the Italian Riviera.
Chiesa di San Pietro overlooks the Ligurian Sea.
Early morning bathes the Romanesque church in glorious light and awakens views of upcoming adventures that surround us. There’s nearby Palmaria Island, where we’ll trek trails while gazing at the sea and Bay of Poets, there are hidden coves and Byron’s Grotto that we’ll discover by small boat, and of course, the narrow cobblestone streets of Portovenere’s core where we’ll dine late into the evenings. One day we’ll lunch cliffside in Vernazza and then hike the famous footpath above Cinque Terre. Exhausted, we’ll return to our villa and watch the water turning from brilliant blue to deep purple as another glorious day ends.
The Sentiero Azzurro, the Blue Path, connects Portovenere to Cinque Terre’s five famous villages.
Add To Your Itinerary
Accessible by boat or car, Portovenere is frequently visited in concert with nearby Cinque Terre villages, creating a remarkable coastal itinerary. There is a ferryboat service that departs or arrives hourly (almost, hey it’s Italy) to and from Portovenere to Cinque Terre.Â
Stylemaker Emily Jackson prioritized classic elegance, serenity, and timeless glamor when deciding to create her new home with husband Taylor in Alpine. They wanted to evoke the charm of grand English country manors. Tom and Cara Fox of The Fox Group brought these visions to life in the family’s magnificent residence, highlighted in our feature “Classic Move.” Explore the remarkable home through these additional photos not featured in our print story, and savor the unforgettable tour.
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY SALAZAR
ABOVE: Designer Cara Fox and homeowner Emily Jackson strike a pose in the spacious primary bathroom, where a glamorous Visual Comfort chandelier hangs from a vaulted ceiling clad in tongue-and-groove paneling. Beautiful marble anchors the space, illuminated by natural light streaming through large windows dressed with custom Roman shades by Uptown Drapes.Â
In the breathtaking living room, beneath a soaring barrel ceiling, hand-painted Gracie wallpaper creates a burnished metallic backdrop that reflects glorious light streaming through a wall of windows. “The room’s exaggerated scale contributes to its sense of glamor and luxury,” notes designer Cara Fox. Throughout the home, a harmonious palette predominantly favors warm whites and neutral tones, fulfilling Emily’s quest for serenity.
Spanning over 13,000 square feet, Emily and Taylor Jackson’s new Alpine residence, crafted by The Fox Group, is enveloped by breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. Drawing inspiration from English countryside manors, its shingle-clad exterior is accentuated by copper gutters, stone chimneys, and a porte-cochère. “I really wanted a home that is traditional, timeless and nothing trendy,” shares Emily.
Upon opening the front door, painted in a rich navy hue, guests are welcomed into the grand foyer. “The glamor begins with the sheer scale of this space,” remarks Cara Fox. Designed to fulfill Emily Jackson’s vision, the impressive three-story foyer boasts intricately paneled walls, a sweeping wrap-around staircase and a striking black-and-white checkered marble floor. “It’s an extraordinary entrance experience,” notes Cara.
Designer Cara Fox opted for vertical tongue-and-groove paneling and a cast limestone mantelpiece to adorn the towering fireplace in the elegant living room.
Cara Fox matched the custom hue of the two-story powder room to its Gucci wallpaper, creating a luminous effect as light streams in through the window, accentuating the gleam of the trim and high-gloss ceiling paint. “We weren’t afraid of going bold; it’s just a powder room,” Emily Jackson explains. The built-ins by Christopher Scott Cabinetry and lighting from Visual Comfort enhance the room’s allure. “With its spectacular window, the space shines, while the high-gloss paint adds a touch of glamor,” Cara adds.
In the striking kitchen, two smaller prep islands take the place of a single larger one, allowing for seamless navigation within the space. These islands also frame a view of the personalized L’Atelier range adorned with monogrammed knobs. Beneath a majestic marble hood, a slim shelf showcases small oil paintings above the cooktop. With 12-foot-high diamond coffered ceilings, finely paneled walls, and herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, the kitchen emanates an air of luxury and English charm.
The memorable butler’s pantry, painted in a rich navy blue hue, features built-ins brimming with storage and open shelving. “It was designed to evoke another ‘wow’ moment with its abundance of cabinetry and the striking contrast of color,” remarks Cara Fox, seated within the space. She has curated an array of collections to enliven the decor. “Arranging groups and collections of single items makes a big impact and is a fun way to fill a space,” she further explains.
LindsaySalazar-134 copy (family room with dining)
Down the hall and out of sight from the entry is the welcoming family hub featuring generous, 12-foot ceilings and loads of natural light. The open space includes a relaxed family room and a casual dining spot hugged by a bay of floor-to-ceiling windows. “I didn’t want a formal dining room that we’d never use,” Jackson explains.Â
LindsaySalazar-128 copy (primary bed)
The expansive primary bedroom beckons with its vaulted ceiling, vertical tongue-and-groove paneling, marble fireplace, and tranquil neutral palette, offering a haven of luxurious repose for the entire family. “It’s like a second family room, where we’ll come together to enjoy movies,” shares homeowner Emily Jackson. The bed is sourced from Oly Studio, complemented by bedding from Annie Selkes.
When you step into Gatehouse No. 1, you’re not just shopping, you’re experiencing furniture with luxurious textures and vibrant hues. “Our expert design team guides you through every step of the process to help you transform your dreams into a stunning reality,” says owner Stephanie Holdaway. “From our professional design and delivery teams to our custom furniture, curated accessories and everything in between, quality matters,” she explains.
Gatehouse No.1 has been a staple in the design community since 1979. Owners Stephanie and Doug Holdaway, as well as their expert team, have helped thousands of clients create custom furniture or choose from high-end furniture to adorn their favorite rooms. An unflinching dedication to high quality is at the heart of this local furniture store and interior design studio.
Your home design experience can be fun and deeply satisfying. “Yes, you can have it all,” says Doug. “We can help you craft a space that seamlessly blends functionality and beauty while infusing your personality and existing collections to each space.” With a 10,000-square-foot showroom full of gorgeous in-stock furniture and a team of professional designers, Gatehouse No.1 offers an easy design experience.
“Looking for a spring refresh? Bring the outdoors in with earthy tones and organic materials. Invest in comfortable and timeless furniture pieces. Then, layer lamps and vases filled with quality faux spring blossoms and greenery stems. Finally, add texture and patterns with pillows, statement chairs, window treatments and artwork to add personality and give your home a burst of renewal.”
– Doug Holdaway, Owner and Creative Director
Ask the Expert
What’s new and noteworthy?
Our 2024 Utah Valley Parade of Homes in June with Raykon Construction will be a must-see. Follow us on Instagram or read our blog to see exciting new construction projects and several remodels. Check out our online shop for more everyday home and lifestyle pieces starting with a fresh spring drop. Watch for our set changes and design segments every month on Good Things Utah.
What sets your business apart?
Our showroom is loaded with furniture and accessories, so it is not only visually inspiring, but you can touch, feel and sit on everything. That way, you know exactly what you’re getting.
What are you best known for?
Our warehouse is filled with furniture from our showroom, in stock and ready for quick delivery. Visit our design studio and talk to our team of trained designers; we’ll help you customize pieces to fit your personality and style. We’ve got the fabrics, leathers, stains, nail heads, trims, finishes and more to create a finished piece that’s just right for you.
If you want to create seasonal flower pots that look like they were professionally planted, commit these three words to memory: thrill, fill and spill.Â
Planting your warm-weather flower pots doesn’t take much thought. Dig holes, plop in the plants and add water. Pretty simple, right? Except, when was the last time anyone told you how amazing your planters look? In fact, when did they really excite you? Well, there’s a simple design approach gardening pros often use to give containers the look and love they deserve. And here’s the good news: It isn’t any more complicated than thrill, fill and spill.
The practice involves positioning an upright plant that “thrills” in the center of the container. Then, mid-sized plantings are positioned to “fill” the area around the vertical plant with complementary color and texture. Finally, trailing plants are added to “spill” over the edges of the container, softening the composition and draping greenery and blooms down the planter’s sides.
THRILL Center a tall, upright plant and center it in the container as a primary focal point. Choose a specimen with dramatic form, foliage and/or flowers. Plants to consider: dracaena, canna lilies, flax, ornamental grasses, dwarf spruce and tall flowering plants like hydrangea, tall phlox, snapdragons, diplandenia and butterfly bushes.
FILL Surround the upright plant with mid-level plants that fill the area around the centered specimen while delivering color, texture and volume. Select foliage and flowers that add color and texture without overwhelming the “thrill” plant. Plants to consider: petunias, geraniums, marigolds, coleus, sage, African daisies, small zinnia and begonias.
SPILL Plant trailing flora that grow beyond the rim of the container and cascade over its sides, visually softening the arrangement and the planter’s edge. Plants to consider: sweet potato vine, trailing lobelia, lantana, ivy, verbena, creeping Jenny and cascading petunias.
Spring’s arrival doesn’t just mean a change in your wardrobe. Your rooms deserve a fashionable update as well. Use Valentino’s latest collection as your muse and accent with dimensional flowers and frills in the freshest of whites.Â
1. Nightbloom Hanging Lamp by Lladro, $5,050, lladro.com
2. Ceramic Wall Decor by Elizabeth Wicker for Chelsea House, $311, perigold.com
3. Coco Mirror, $4,202, Alice Lane Home Collection, Draper, alicelanehome.com
4. Tyrol Bedside Table by Only Studio, $2,525, The Fox Shop, Holladay, thefoxshop.com
5. Sweetheart Wall Sconce by Currey & Company, to the trade, Curate to the Trade, curatetothetrade.com
6. Dakota vases by Arteriors, Set of 2, to the trade, Curate to the Trade, curatetothetrade.com
7. Jasmine Porcelain Bowl by Palecek, $1,438, Gatehouse, Orem, gatehousestyle.com
Eighteen I-beam columns elevate the hovering structure of the 1964 glass-and-steel modernist home over the lush East bench mountainside. “The John Sugden-designed home is arguably the most Iconic home in Utah,” says contractor Alan Cottle, who partnered with Doug Smith on the renovation.
In the shadows of Salt Lake’s Mount Olympus, a once-hidden modernist gem gets a new life sixty years after renowned architect John Sugden pioneered its design.Â
“The fact that we have this landmark piece of American architecture in our backyard, and we don’t know about it, is crazy,” says photographer Scot Zimmerman, who has documented more than his fair share of architecturally significant buildings during the past 40 years. The 1964 Seigel House—named for its original owner and built into Salt Lake’s Mount Olympus hillside—ranks high among them.
The crew restored all entryway finishes—walnut paneling, terrazzo flooring, modular storage closets and circular staircase railing—to their original state. The decor includes an Indonesian sculpture, Godfrey Hirst rug, a CB2 console and artwork by Doug Smith and Danny Setjo.
Recently, a few discerning eyes have taken note of the glass-and-steel home’s pedigree, designer and artist Doug Smith, in particular. “It is a rare architectural gem of midcentury and International Style that had been hidden for 25 years,” he says.
Modernist design dictated new rules of residential living with an open layout, a far departure from the Victorian and Craftsman era that preceded it. Restoring the main living room with original 1964 photos in hand, the crew removed fluorescent lighting, window coverings and a dropped acoustical ceiling added after the initial construction. New ceiling height and LED track lighting now showcase clean lines and maximize window exposure to the site, exposing the white steel skeleton of the structure. Anchored by original terrazzo flooring, the dining, fireplace lounge and living room areas make the open space ideal for entertaining large groups.
Forest overgrowth and a weather-worn fence shrouded the home and site until late 2023, when Doug Smith and his team of designers, builder Alan Cottle and talented landscapers painstakingly renovated the property to reflect its origin—one with a thoroughbred lineage.
“St. Charles was the Rolls Royce of cabinets in the 1960s,” says Doug Smith, describing two rows of upper cabinets the team preserved in the kitchen. They also saved the glazed tile flooring. Everything else? Gone. To soften the stainless steel, the team installed custom, oil-rubbed, flat-panel walnut cabinetry from Timber Mill to fill in the rest of the kitchen. The polished space houses built-in Thermador and Bosch appliances, Black Granite Co. countertops and a Daltile stone backsplash.
True to modernist philosophy, mass-produced cabinets, storage units and bookshelves divide the single open spaces instead of a wall, as shown here from the living room looking into the kitchen.
The boxy residence owes its pedigree to architect John W. Sugden (1922-2003), one of the “last disciples of Mies [van der Rohe] and the Bauhaus-inspired modernist,” according to his Salt Lake Tribune obituary. Midcentury architecture academics and aficionados revere Sugden for pioneering modernist design in Utah.
The modernist, flat-roofed structure overlooks its lushly wooded property beneath Mt. Olympus.
In 1952, Sugden moved to Utah from Chicago where he studied under famed German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Van der Rohe launched the “less is more” concept of International Style in the U.S.—flat-roofed structures with minimal ornamentation, asymmetrical composition, emphasis on volume and bands of windows set into a rectangular form—making him one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Sugden also assisted Mies on the Farnsworth House—the famous 1951 modernist residence in Plano, Ill.—that changed how Americans thought about residential living.Â
A sculpture by artist David Holz centers the entry doors and is positioned to be seen from the street. Due to the linear nature of the house, Doug Smith chose the curvaceous sculpture as a complimentary juxtaposition. Pimento red pops against the stark white. The landscape retained local clump maple, pine and scrub oak trees, but the designer added sweet sumac and various ground covers and grasses.
Jack Smith already knew of Sugden’s illustrious portfolio when he—a young architecture student at the University of Utah—first ran into the established architect in the 1950s. “I met him at the Sport House, [a] kind of club for skiers and ski racers,” recalls Jack Smith, now 91. “I asked him for a job, but he said he didn’t have one.” Eventually, Sugden hired his fellow ski enthusiast.
Downstairs, the team removed walls and old window coverings to create a large, open entertaining area with walkout access to the patio, creating an easy indoor-outdoor flow. The existing drop ceiling houses the home’s utilities, so it was cleaned and updated to maintain access to electrical, plumbing, HVAC and lighting. Designers Doug Smith and Danny Setjo sourced furnishing from CB2, Crate and Barrel, Keeksdesign and Eternity Modern.
Jack Smith became a draftsman under Sugden on the Siegel House, one of the few homes on the Mount Olympus hillside in 1964. “I know the house inside and out,” he says. “It was kind of a design-build with [Sugden] as the general contractor. Basically, [another draftsman] and I also built the house as construction managers and managed the subcontractors.” Thanks to his time with Sugden, Jack Smith went on to design his own landmark and award-winning projects—including Snowbird Resort’s iconic concrete-and-glass buildings constructed in the 1970s. Today, the lively retired professor still practices in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Glass plays a pivotal role in the home, as it embodies the architect’s principle of transparency and blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
“The Siegel House is an advanced technical structural innovation, every bit as important as the Farnsworth House,” Jack Smith professes. Like the Farnsworth House in Illinois, the Utah home bucked the traditional notion of residential living at the time.
The fireplace retains its original walnut casing and smoked-black glass, but a new gas-burning stove with concrete fireballs replaces the old wood-burning one.
Modernist philosophy showcased simple forms: a flat roof, a steel box structure hovering over the landscape, industrial materials including steel and glass and a single open space separated into rooms divided by furnishings and mass-produced cabinets, storage units and bookshelves.Â
The primary bedroom retains Sugden’s original walnut closet modules but loses drab curtains and shag carpeting. Rove Concepts walnut night tables, a Keeksdesign chair and Uttermost lamps reflect the midcentury ideology of simplicity and allow unfettered views of the creek bed that runs beneath the room.
But the building is more than what the average eye sees. “Architecture isn’t architecture until it becomes art,” Jack Smith says. “When you walk into the Seigel House, there’s a different level of understanding. It takes you—like music does—to a higher realm of happiness. It’s pure joy.”
The team replaced a dark, 1980s patchwork of bathroom trends with a freestanding tub, large master shower, walnut and Carrara Marble vanity, 60s-style Lumen lighting and Brizo hardware.
It’s that scale of emotion the renovation team targeted. And they achieved it. “Doug restored it beautifully, in a very honest and truthful way,” says Jack Smith, who argues that much of today’s interior design doesn’t honor the architecture of a space. “Doug furnished it in an appropriate way. It isn’t decorated. If something is already perfect, you don’t need to decorate it.”
Scaling back 60 years of wear and tear on any home is no easy task. “At first, it seemed daunting, but it became an education and delight as layers were peeled back to reveal its 1964 simplicity,” says Doug Smith, principal of Smith Setjo Group.
This Siegel House once hid behind an overgrown forest of scrub oaks, aspens and pines. House guests entered through a back door because the front entryway was lost at the end of a haphazard paver trail. The pool (added in 1974) leaked and its travertine tiles lay broken by Utah’s harsh winters.
Downstairs, the team removed walls and old window coverings to create a large, open entertaining area with walkout access to the patio area, creating an easy indoor-outdoor flow. The existing drop ceiling houses the home’s utilities, so it was cleaned and updated to maintain access to electrical, plumbing, HVAC and lighting. Designers Doug Smith and Danny Setjo sourced furnishing from CB2, Crate and Barrel, Keeksdesign and Eternity Modern.
The interior felt just as bleak. “When we got the house, it had this nasty chrome-suspended ceiling with fluorescent lights. It was like you were sitting in an IBM office in the 80s,” says Doug Smith. A former event designer, he leaned into this renovation, wielding expertise in space design, crowd flow and visual surprise.
The renovation became a tightrope walk of restoring a historic build and updating the home for life in 2024, all on a strict deadline. After removing six dump-truck loads of debris, Doug Smith and his team injected the midcentury home with modern amenities, a warm aesthetic and glamorous details. “It is rare in a design career to be able to work on a historic project of this nature,” he says. “We were committed to architectural preservation and purity in restoring the structure to a new life for a new generation.”
Not all renovators become stewards of notable architecture, but in this case, they did.
Jack Smith gives his nod of approval. “When you go into a really beautiful chapel or church, don’t you sometimes get goosebumps? An excellent piece of architecture should make you do that. It can be a residence or even a shed. A shed can be as noble as a cathedral if it’s done right. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive. It just has to achieve the art form. The Siegel House does that.”Â
The original vintage circular steel staircase—now with fresh paint and new carpet treads—leads guests to a fresh indoor-outdoor entertainment space. “This area was imagined to be a vertical gallery to feature artwork reminiscent of the 60s—largely white with pops of color,” says Doug Smith.
Making of a Modernist Marvel
Architect Jack Smith weighs in on the Seigel House’s most innovative features
The Steel: “Sugden makes an art form out of steel. It’s in the connection made between steel beams and columns.”Â
The Eyebrow: “Mies’s buildings had no overhangs. Sugden added the eyebrow, an overhang to protect you from the sun and rain. The eyebrow John came up with requires the [steel] detailing to be completely different. The column must be internal to the beam across the top.”
The Glass: “Glass is what we call a noble material. It’s a miracle because it never changes with age. It lasts indefinitely. That’s a miracle.”
The Relationship to Nature: “Glass allows you to live in nature. It can rain. It can snow. The wind can blow. It can do all kinds of things and here you are with just this little thin piece of glass between you and nature. Talk about a connection to nature—it’s just one step away from being in it.”Â
The Truth: “The steel frame of the ceiling is exposed. If a beam is made of steel, it needs to show that it’s a steel beam. That becomes an honesty or a truth, if you will. It’s a philosophical positioning. There’s nothing fake or false about architecture. Nothing. So, truth is probably the most important principle in architecture. It’s probably the most important principle in life, isn’t it?”
Doug Smith (right) and Danny Setjo,
principals of Smith Setjo Group.
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Finished to Perfection Marco masterfully finishes an integrated sink custom fabricated in Tiffany Blue Quartzite.
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DesignBuildBLUFF celebrates its 20th year with a legacy of sustainable homes donated to clients.
It’s rare that I meet a University of Utah trained architect who participated in the DesignBuildBLUFF program who doesn’t describe it as the most meaningful part of his or her graduate education. It’s a collaborative program between the Navajo Nation and the University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning that emphasizes green-build techniques and creative solutions to remote building sites lacking power, water, and sewer lines. In keeping with small budgets, home construction relies on on-site, recycled, and donated materials.Â
Architect, former professor, and long-time friend Hank Louis recently reflected on the origin and early beginnings of the DesignBuildBLUFFprogram, and I find his story worth sharing. He can track the moment of inspiration. In the mid 1990s, an architectural magazine profiled the Rural Studio with images of homes designed and built by undergraduate architectural students in the Black Belt around Newbern, Alabama, with photos of a community center fronted by automobile windshields, a chapel made from tires, and the Hay Bale and Butterfly houses with their modern design influences.
It resonated with Hank Louis’s own experience of hand-building his own home in the Costa Rican jungle. For over two years he felled and milled trees, sorted gravel, hauled sand, mixed and poured concrete, and piped in water. After this experience, he attended architectural school, remembering the importance of doing and understanding.Â
 At the same time the Rural Studio’s accomplishments grabbed his attention, Hank had the opportunity to invite Sam “Sambo” Mockbee, founder of the Rural Studio, to speak at a symposium Hank had founded at the U (named for his grandmother, Henrietta Johnson Louis). Mockbee ignited excitement at the U, and momentum was in place to do something.
Mockbee’s Auburn University Rural Studio program sought to serve an impoverished rural area in Alabama and focused on projects for the Black population. By chance, a meeting in the Four Corners area with the Utah Humanities Council brought provided Hank’s inspiration. At the meeting, he looked across the San Juan River near Bluff to the vast area of the Navajo Nation. The harsh desert conditions, a deserving low-income population with strong cultural traditions, and the dramatic beauty of the sandstone formations could provide the University of Utah architectural students a parallel experience.
The home’s recipients and the site were identified before design began. The client collaboration is evident in how the students created this art studio. (The exterior of this home is featured in the two preceding photos.)
Building materials could be gathered, salvaged from discards, or donated. Bluff’s climate ranges from below 20 degrees in the winter months to the upper 90s in summer, so insulation plays a strong role in design and construction. Many different wood-burning stoves have been tried out and measured for efficiency.Â
Alone under a big sky, the design takes care to protect from the elements. While standing, waiting for the light, I noticed a spec on the horizon moving toward me. Finally, I could see a hefty golden stallion who continued to gallop until it was on top of me and the tripod. It swerved at the last minute and continued to gallop off in one of those moments when you question reality. Did this really happen?
It’s the magic hour, and you can see Monument Valley on the horizon. Off the grid, there was no electricity. For the photos I brought flashes and flashlights.Â
For this Blanding project, the students built a fence from the willows along the river to shield the home from western glare and wind.Â
The jutting overhang carefully anticipates the movement of the sun.
You can see the overhang at the end of the same home as it shields the house and gives this simple building a modern flare.Â
A sloping lot inspired this design.
Through the 20 years of DesignBuildBLUFF, the architects have implemented techniques to conserve water and energy and maximize the use of onsite materials through efforts like passive solar, rainwater catchment, permaculture, earthen plaster, rammed earth, straw-bale construction, cellulose and Icynene foam insulation, reeds, and clay. Also, a plant opened in the Navajo Nation that makes FlexCrete, a type of concrete block using available materials, making a good building material available locally.
It has been my privilege to be invited to photograph many of these homes. I offer a hearty congratulations for the program’s 20 years of success, and I wish it many more years.
