One of the homes in this years Venice Garden & Home Tour featured an amazing outdoor kids play place. This takes the typical tree house to the next level. Note the shading device on the “tepee” framework. I also love the horse swing with a gunny sack saddle and bicycle tires as its frame work!


Notice how unique even the climbing ladder is.

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Outdoor Kids Play Places
May 16th, 2013Venice Garden & Home Tour- Fence Detail
May 14th, 2013The exteriors and landscaping of the homes on the Venice Garden & Home Tour are just as impressive as the interiors. The fence detail at each of the homes was unique and inventive. Here are a few of my favorites:
This metal panel fence with an open spaced metal garden gate creates an industrial feel.

For a unique and organic fence, recycled stacked branches trimmed from trees and shrubs are stacked with re-bar supports on two sides spaced 10″ apart by 36″.

Notice how this fence detail utilizes a sliding gate on rollers so as not to break up the uniformity.

Recycled overhead garage door hardware and 1/8″ round rods in a grid pattern make up this one of a kind entry gate.

This privacy wall has been created using sonar tubes bundled together.

Venice Garden & Home Tour- Stair Detail
May 8th, 2013I was impressed with the stair detail in many of the homes on the Venice Garden & Home Tour.

Here you can see the interior stair case detail reflects the exterior of the home as seen in the photo below.


The wood and iron in this stair case are a great combination of organic materials. The design gives fluidity to a typically rigid wrought iron frame.


Venice Garden & Home Tour- Interiors
May 7th, 2013I am enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery of California. I spent the weekend at the Venice Garden & Home Tour. Here is a sample of the beautiful interiors. The designers are always thinking outside the proverbial box… I love this tour!!

The window centered above this bookcase creates a “painting” to the outside.

This home had a nice balance of colors with white walls, white floors,white counters, white upholstery and natural finished woods in the furniture, frames and cabinets.

In this room note the combination of bright colors contrasting with white traditional arts and crafts panels.
The bright accent color is also used in the skylight above the shower.

There are so many creative and inventive ideas throughout this tour. The lighting coming through this interior space creates a fantastic collection of spots.

I love the use of indoor outdoor spaces in so many of the homes.

This breakfast room has a glass floor and glass walls that flow into a private garden courtyard!

McArthur Park
May 2nd, 2013After building Dorlen I built McArthur Park. I lived in this home for several years and loved living near the wonderful neighbors. My goal in building this home was to establish single family residential housing in a commercially divided neighborhood. I also wanted the home to look established. To achieve this I used landscaping as well as the architecture of a classical design because of the older homes that were built on the street. After it was completed many thought it was a remodel and had been there for years. McArthur Park will always stand as one of my signature homes as I patterned it after my logo.
Dorlen
May 1st, 2013After building the Lorell, I built the Dorlen (named after my parents Dorothy and Glen who have been such great role models and parents to me).
Lorell
April 25th, 2013The 1977
April 23rd, 2013In the process of moving and planning for my next house. I thought it might be fun to go down memory lane and show you a few of the houses I have previously built and lived in. Part of the reason I like to build is to experiment with different materials and spaces so when designing for others I can offer personal insight and opinions.
The 1977 is one of the first homes I designed for myself. I couldn’t find the original photos…these photos were taken a few years ago when we had a Utah Designers League Association tour and one of the talented designers in our group owned the home.

I love the lot that I build this house on. You get a peak of the amazing landscape that is the backyard from this last photo.
Farewell to La Camille
April 17th, 2013It’s moving week! I am so happy to sell my house to a dear friend whom I have know since 1984. She is a designer and I know she will appreciate every detail in the home. Here’s one last peak at the main floor, upper floor, basement and casita.


I am so fortunate to have found a place to stay in my same neighborhood as I plan for my next house!
La Camille was a remodel see before and after pictures of the exterior and interior here.
Laird Street Remodel
April 10th, 2013I am excited to be working with Mike Baird (you may know him best as Flip Man Mike) on a remodel to a charming home in the Yalecrest district of Salt Lake City. My goal with the remodel is to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood with respect to the existing heights and details of the home. The home will be rich with details from the local area including a bracketed porch, columns, a Romeo & Juliet style balcony, as well a large covered patio addition.


The new covered patio will provide beautiful outdoor living space with a new master bedroom above and theater below (all added to the back of the home). I have also drawn up a detached garage that will be as cute as can be with a steep roof line and cupola to match the style of the original home.



We have high hopes for this home to be featured in the upcoming Salt Lake Parade of Homes so we’ll keep you posted!












































This Family’s Home
Designing with Robert McArthur