2020 Home of the Year: Dazzle Us

A family invites a blue-ribbon design team to create their legacy property in Park City, Utah

October 19, 2020

Tate Gunnerson,

Photography by Roger Davies

May the best design prevail. That was the idea when a Southern California family set out to create the ultimate getaway on a 14-acre property with panoramic vistas in Park City, Utah. At the suggestion of builder Frank Gallo, who had worked with them on their primary residence, the owners launched a design competition, ultimately narrowing the selection of architect to three contenders. “We sent them some photographs, a site plan and a little bit of information about the family and said, ‘Dazzle us,’” Gallo explains.

“Dazzle” was exactly what happened when architect Bill Poss and project manager Keith Howie flew to California to pitch their design. “Their presentation astounded us,” the husband recalls, describing the design as timeless. “This is a legacy sort of property.” Indeed, the project is Mountain Living’s 2020 Home of the Year.

A long driveway leads to the meandering mountain dwelling, which features a series of pavilions, each with fantastic views of the verdant natural surroundings.

Built into a slope high over a scenic lake, the expansive abode features one- and two-story pavilion-like forms clad with chiseled Indiana limestone. The main public areas are housed in a volume with soaring ceilings overlooking the 25-yard-long negative-edge swimming pool. “You can’t compete with the views, so you’re designing a house that captures them,” Howie says.

“It sits very comfortably on the land,” Poss adds. “The pool and terraces step down the hill and connect just like the indoor rooms connect.”

In the handsome entry foyer, a beautiful handblown leaded crystal pendant casts light on a modern leather-and-metal bench by Holly Hunt.

WRJ owners Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer with their design team furnished the space and worked hand-in-hand with Howie to select most of the materials and finishes throughout. The original plans called for a steel roof, for example, but they felt slate would be more fitting for the setting. And they flew the homeowners to Jackson, Wyoming, to show them the bronze windows by Brombal they envisioned for the project. According to Jenkins, it was love at first sight.

The refined glass stairway railing nicely contrasts with wood paneling, Indiana limestone and basalt flooring in the front entry.

Slide the heavy metal doors open, and inside and out become one large living space. Under the covered poolside patio, chairs and a pair of sofas offer a relaxing spot to converse when the sun is overhead. When night falls, the family enjoys sitting around the fire table in a sunken conversation pit alongside the swimming pool. Structural native grasses and plantings such as salvia add color and texture. “The balance between hard and soft is pretty special,” says landscape architect Nick Soho. “The landscape flows like water through the architecture.”

A vintage rug by Mansour Modern adds a touch of pattern to the formal dining room, where leather chairs by Joseph Jeup surround a chestnut dining table with a metal base by Holly Hunt.

The basalt stone hardscaping, cedar rain screen and chiseled limestone walls likewise flow into the front foyer, enhancing the connection between indoors and out. The same stone defines the fireplace in the double-height great room, juxtaposing the wood ceilings and imported fumed oak flooring—the result of a close collaboration between all parties involved.

Floor-to-ceiling draperies made with Loro Piana fabric soften the lines in the great room, where a magnificent landscape painting by Clyde Aspevig holds its own against the astonishing natural vistas.

It’s a jaw-dropping focal point for a taupe mohair sofa and a pair of soft blue chairs around a custom walnut cocktail table with a live edge. “The interiors should be informed by nature and the surrounding environment,” Jenkins explains, pointing to the landscape painting by Clyde Aspevig in the open formal dining area.“Otherwise, you’re not going to have that harmony.”

“When you go through the house, it’s like a fabulous novel, and you can’t wait to turn each page.”
— Interior Designer Rush Jenkins

Sleek wooden cabinetry with brushed-nickel insets by Bulthaup juxtaposes the chiseled Indiana lime- stone walls and wooden ceilings with steel beams in the cavernous kitchen, where clerestory windows frame scenic views of the mountains and sky.

The designers likewise left their mark on the kitchen, incorporating Bulthaup cabinetry with brushed-nickel insets and leathered quartzite countertops. Over the cabinets, clerestory windows frame mountain views while drawing the eye up to the peaked wooden ceilings with metal beams.

Basalt, hardwood and Indiana limestone elevate one another in a long hallway leading to a bespoke refrigerated 800-bottle wine cellar.

For informal meals, the family often defaults to a well-appointed breakfast area overlooking the swimming pool. There, a ring-like bronze-and-quartzite chandelier appears to float above a walnut table and chairs. Linen sheers soften the architectural lines, adding “a sensual quality,” Baer says.

In the serene master bedroom, a branch-like cast-bronze bed with a wool headboard by Jiun Ho pays homage to the natural setting.

The vistas are perhaps even more breathtaking from the second-floor master suite, where a bronze four-poster bed with a branch-like motif by Juin Ho references both the natural landscape and bronze windows overlooking the magnificent pool, spa and landscape.

Facing the bed, a contemporary leather sofa with linen cashmere cushions and a swivel chair covered in a midnight-blue velvet offer a spot to take in the views of the Deer Valley ski resort and the lake below. “When you go through the house, it’s like a fabulous novel, and you can’t wait to turn each page,” designer Jenkins says.

Graceful handblown leaded-crystal pendants from Holly Hunt make an ideal foil for the rustic Indiana limestone wall behind the floating vanity in the relaxing, spa-like master bathroom, which offers astonishing views of the natural surroundings. Floor-to-ceiling draperies likewise play off the smooth limestone slab wall and complementary dark limestone tile flooring. The accent chair is by Holly Hunt.

To ensure story continuity, he and Baer repeated many of the materials throughout—for example, using the same dark limestone flooring in all the bathrooms. In the master suite, it’s accented by a mix of chiseled and smooth limestone slab walls and a quartzite countertop. Centered in front of the window, a linear soaker tub invites reflection and relaxation.

“The landscape flows like water through the architecture.” — Landscape Architect Nick Soho

One of a pair, an oil-rubbed bronze-and-lead-crystal chandelier by Johnathan Browning appears to float over the cozy seating area in the great room, which is furnished with a comfortable sofa, a pair of chairs and a tufted upholstered ottoman with metal legs by Fitzgerald Company.

According to Gallo, teamwork was key to achieving such a cohesive result. “This was an incredibly smooth project,” the builder says. “We were all on the same page from the beginning.”

Just outside the great room, a pair of outdoor wicker sofas and complementary chairs create a wonderful spot for long talks—one of the home’s many outdoor seating areas.

The owners are equally pleased with their home away from home, spending up to three months a year there, often accompanied by family and friends. While skiing is the big draw, they have also enjoyed horseback riding, fly-fishing and other outdoor activities. Not to mention a lively New Year’s Eve bash attended by about 100 guests.

“Our children are really excited about it and want to spend time there with their friends, which makes me happy,” the husband says. “We’re very pleased with the result and are grateful we have the opportunity to have a home like this.”

Illuminated steps lead to the mountain manse’s tall glass front door, offering arriving guests a tantalizing glimpse of the panoramic views that await inside.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECTURE

Poss Architecture
Aspen, CO, 970-925-4755

ARCHITECTURE PROJECT STAFF

Bill Poss
Keith Howie
Les Rosenstein
Kip Kummer
Hana Maclean

INTERIOR DESIGN

WRJ Design
Jackson, WY, 307-200-4881

INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT STAFF

Rush Jenkins
Klaus Baer

CONSTRUCTION

Gallo Builders
Laguna Beach, CA , 949-715-9874

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STAFF

Frank Gallo
Chris Gallo
Todd Shelton
Logan Gayler
Marina Martinez

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Soho Design Studio Landscape Architects
Basalt, CO, 970-948-7646

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Nick Soho

LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION

Eschenfelder Landscaping
Park City, UT, 435-649-6434

FRAMING/MISC., CARPENTRY

Madrone Construction
Park City, UT, 626-825-0617

FINISH CARPENTRY

Snake Creek Design
Heber City, UT, 435-714-1934

MASONRY

C & E Masonry
Woods Cross, UT, 801-631-6598

ELECTRIC

Chesley Electric
Park City, UT, 435-655-0382

MILLWORKS

Fineline Woodworks
Costa Mesa, CA, 714-540-5468

PAINTING

Marsh Painting
Park City, UT, 435-640-1405

CUSTOM ADDITIONS

DRAPERY
Susan J Creations

CAST-BRONZE CUSTOM MIRROR
Ben Roth Design

LIVE-EDGE COFFEE TABLE
Packsaddle Road

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Robert Singer & Associates Inc.
Aspen, CO | Scottsdale, AZ; 970-963-5692

SUBCONTRACTORS

3X Specialties LLC
A&C Stone Masonry, LLC
Able Access Elevator
Allied Tile LLC
A.M.I. Roofing, Inc.
A-Team Cleaning Management
Baldhead Metal Cabinets
Barlow’s Wood Classics
Bishop Woodcraft
Blackridge Metal
C&E Stone Masonry LLC
Carver Sheet Metal Works, Inc.
Custom Carriage House Doors
Cell-Crete of Utah
CEM Aquatics
Charles D. Thomas Construction
Chesley Electric
Diamond Concrete, Inc.
Earth Elements Design Center
Eschenfelder Landscaping, Inc.
European Marble & Granite, LLC
Fineline Woodworks, Inc.
Gordon Wilde Construction, Inc.
Gough Contracting Specialties, LLC
Hansen / All Seasons Insulation
Hearth and Home Distributors of Utah
Joe Griffith Plumbing
Lifestyle Electronics
Madrone Construction
Marsh Painting, Inc.
MC Scaffolds LLC
Mid Mountain Fire Protection
Moffat Plastering
MTF Construction Inc.
New Concepts Glass Design
Picasso Gate, Inc.
Picus Custom Woodworkers
Premier Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Waterproofing
Scott Schofield Construction, Inc.
Skiby Drywall Inc.
SKJ LLC
Snake Creek Designs
Sundance Window Cleaning
Thornton Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
TNT Development
Veranda View
Water Science, Inc.

RESOURCES

ENTRY BENCH leather and metal from Holly Hunt PENDANT hand blown leaded crystal from Holly Hunt MIRROR cast bronze custom ANTIQUE ENTRY TABLE late 17th Century French Louis XIV Library Table with hand-forged iron accents and drawers from 1st Dibs GREAT ROOM CHANDELIER O]oil rubbed bronze and lead crystal from Johnathan Browning CUSTOM SILK RUG from Mansour Modern CONSOLE pierced oak panels with interlace carving from Gregorius Pineo MAPLE SLAB COFFEE TABLE oxidized maple, cast bronze rod legs CHAIR Smoked oak base with COM fabric from Bolier and Company SOFA Holland and Sherry COM throw pillows from Verellen FLOOR LAMP Steel and cast bronze from Tuell and Reynolds CUSTOM DRAPERY Loro Piana Fabric CUSTOM BENCH Tufted top with bronze patina metal legs from Fitzgerald Co. Inc. SIDE TABLE Dark bronze base with Habano stone top from Holly Hunt DRINK TABLE Dark bronze base with stone top from Holly Hunt DINING ROOM CUSTOM RUG from Mansour Modern DINING TABLE European chestnut with metal base from Holly Hunt ARMCHAIR Holly Hunt COM leather from Joseph Jeup SIDE CHAIR American walnut and leather from Joseph Jeup KITCHEN BAR STOOL Walnut and Anodized Aluminum from Holly Hunt PENDANT Handblown glass with hand burnished brass details from 1st Dibs BREAKFAST AREA CHANDELIER Dark Bronze and crystals from Christopher Boots VINTAGE RUG from Mansour Modern DINING TABLE Walnut from CASTE ARMCHAIR Solid walnut with linen and cashmere fabric and leather from Joseph Jeup CUSTOM CURVED BENCH Loro Piana Fabric from Fitzgerald Co. Inc. MASTER BEDROOM CUSTOM RUG from Mansour Modern CHANDELIER Nickel and Asfour Crystal from Quazar BED Cast bronze posts with wool headboard from Jiun Ho SOFA leather with Loro Piana wool COM from Poltrona Frau CLUB CHAIR from Jiun Ho SCONCE Hand blown leaded crystal with dark amber patina from Holly Hunt COFFEE TABLE Dark Bronze and Resin from Luma Design Workshop MASTER BATHROOM PENDANT Hand blown leaded crystal from Holly Hunt CHAIR from Holly Hunt STAIRWELL CHANDELIER Dark steel and clear lead crystal from Jonathan Browning OUTDOOR FURNITURE from JANUS et Cie UMBRELLA from Tuuci