It’s the time of year to rake leaves and sip apple cider. There are some traditions in Utah that are nearly set in stone, and one is that autumn definitely arrives by the UEA school break and the beginning of the general deer hunt. This week we sit on the precipice of rusty fall colors on the mountains and golden cottonwoods along the Provo Riverbank, knowing and hoping that the first snow isn’t too far away.
A good place to enjoy this week is perched on Lilac Hill, the hillock above Deer Valley Drive just outside of the Old Town commercial area in Park City. This home is part of a small complex designed by Elliott Work Group and built by Mike Mercer with Aerie Construction. Natural Instincts designed the interiors and Nomad Soul staged it. Small historic miners’ homes were partially preserved in building the new homes.
From the stairs, this photo looks down into a seating area by the entry and across to the living area with the marble fireplace. The open plan allows light to penetrate the entire space and windows capture the views and provide a sense of place on the hillside. The white of the walls, area carpets, sectional, and marble brighten and unifies for a sense of wholeness, a favorite treatment for small spaces and cottages.
In this photo I draw back toward the door to show how the glass wall protecting the staircase seems to disappear. The vertical wooden beam, essential to the structural soundness of the home, is an unavoidable challenge in making the photographs.
In an L-shaped arrangement, the dining area is on the opposite side of the marble fireplace. Continuing beyond the dining area is a spacious kitchen with generous storage.
The nearly invisible glass and narrow metal railing of the staircase provide an open view from the upstairs landing. The master suite is on the top level, and the other bedrooms and a family room are on the lowest.
The natural light made it possible to shoot the home with very little supplementary lighting. In the overall shots I wanted to show the connections and how the design optimizes the living space and windows while still conforming to the rooflines and design limitations inherent to preserving the historical building.
See more of Scot’s photos here.