Park City Blog

Browse by Lifestyle, Design Type, Amenities

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
May 24, 2016

One of the many clever new features of berkshirehathawayhs.com is the ability to search for property based on lifestyle interests such as skiing, fishing, schooling, etc...

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Further, you can browse by design features such as modern architecture, stucco, outdoor fire pits, etc...

Screen Shot 2016-05-24 at 1.53.05 PMAll of these new features, combined with the international functionality of the site, allow for you to find EXACTLY what you're looking for...

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Local Business Love: Julie Nester Gallery

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Feb 10, 2016

JN Blog6Park City may be a small ski town, but it has a full-fledged cultural scene that includes a diverse family of art galleries. Perched in a warehouse space just off of Main, Julie Nester Gallery houses contemporary art pieces that range from photography to oil paintings.

Expertly curated by the Nesters, longtime art aficionados who have been doing their best to keep Park City’s taste as elevated as its altitude, this gallery remains one our favorite haunts when it comes to padding out our spaces with beauty.

The bright space is ideal for taking a moment and thinking high-and-mighty aesthetic thoughts. From a designer’s standpoint, the gallery offers a wide array of mediums and artists, but all fall under the general umbrella of modern.

We’re pretty outspoken fans of bringing contemporary design trends to our neck of the woods; so, it’s no surprise that we’re quite fond of Tor Archer’s sculptures, Audra Weaser’s mixed medium acrylics, and Nine Francois’ charming animal portraits. Each featured artist truly differs from the next, and this gallery sets the bar in terms of bring cosmopolitan creations to our mountain setting.JN Blog5

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Making Color Work: Choosing Paint Colors

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Dec 30, 2015

Don’t be offended if an agent suggests that you paint before placing your home on the market. They understand “color psychology.” Since people’s reaction to color is immediate, it can have a tremendous influence on their daily choices.

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You can make your home stand out from the competition, sell more quickly and at a higher price if you use color effectively. Blues will feel cool, reds and oranges feel warm. Deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity.

Lighter exterior colors are favored because they can make the property seem larger. For older homes, you may want to consider historical accuracy, as this could be a big selling point as well.

For the interior, consider the purpose of each room. Kitchen and dining areas painted in “food colors” such as coffee browns, celery greens and scrambled-egg yellows will make the rooms feel more natural. Hallways are a great place to bring in the exterior colors for overall harmony. Master bedrooms in medium shades of green or blue for warm selling seasons, and rouge red for cooler weather. Other bedrooms can be painted in creamy tones of green, blue, or a pale shell pink. Shades of blue, green or lavender can form a relaxing atmosphere in the bathroom.

When thinking about color, common sense helps. You should match other things in your home and keep a comfortable environment as well.

Announcing | The Enclave at Sun Canyon

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Sep 01, 2015

Art in Architecture | Contemporary, Built for Living, Surrounded by Nature. 

 

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Enclave at Sun Canyon. We specialize in developments; and, under the guidance of the Enclave agent team, we will continue to position the Enclave at Sun Canyon as one of Park City's most forward-thinking developments in terms of design, quality of life, and community.

 

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Enclave at Sun Canyon is a community of 33 luxury townhomes and four custom homes, designed to blend with their natural surroundings. Located in the heart of Park City, Enclave is just minutes from three world-class ski resorts, Utah Olympic Park, Redstone Village and Historic Main Street with premier dining, shopping, theater and festivals. The Salt Lake International and private Heber Airports are within 35 minutes of home.

Constructed of stacked stone, floor-to-ceiling glass and a combination of grass and metal roofs, these residences have been designed to capture their mountain surroundings and offer residents a contemporary living space esconced in nature. Both the one acre homesites and the 33 town homes have been carefully situated to take advantage of views, sun exposure and access. Careful architectural guidelines ensure utmost quality and respect for surrounding nature and allow for custom homes ranging in size from 5,000 to 6,000 square feet (the town homes range from 3,500 square feet to 6,500 sq ft).

Life at Enclave includes majestic alpine scenery with more than 60 acres of open space and private trails and an additional 1,000 acres of adjacent Mid-Mountain Trails for hiking, biking, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

Click for site plans, FAQs, and details on the residences.

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Down to the Details

From natural grass roofs, to stone counter tops, to heated floors (the heated floor are only in the bathrooms, the rest of forced air), and contemporary interiors, the residences meet the highest standards of modern aesthetics and amenities, offering owners an unparalleled living experience.

Outstanding features include:

  • Stone and cedar siding with reclaimed heavy timber accents
  • Combination corrugated metal, rock and natural grass roofs
  • Open metal railings and staircases
  • Heated driveways
  • Heated flooring in bathrooms
  • Stone slab countertops
  • Euro-style frameless shower doors
  • Dual vanities
  • Adjacent walk-in closet with washer/dryer
  • High-efficiency, forced-air heating and air conditioning
  • Unique gas fireplaces in great rooms and masters
  • Wood and natural stone flooring
  • Floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors
  • Metal-clad wood frames
  • Built-in Thermador kitchen appliances
  • Granite and quartzite countertop options
  • Kohler faucets, toilets and shower heads
  • Hydrotherapy tub option
Click for a complete list of features.

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For secluded mountain modern living, Enclave offers residents seamless natural living with all of the features, down to the truly detailed, that make life in Park City a dream.

L.E.D. lighting can make a real difference

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
May 29, 2015

Most homeowners want to be eco-friendly, yet they worry that making changes in that regard might be costly and time consuming. Incorporating energy-efficient lighting is a great way to make a big impression with green-conscious homebuyers. In fact, studies have reported that 80% of homebuyers identify energy savings and comfortable surroundings as key factors when deciding between listings.

It isn’t just limited to fluorescent tubes or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). LEDs are an energy-efficient light source that began growing in popularity around 2007. LED lighting can be used as accents to better showcase the home’s features. From track lighting over the fireplace to under-counter cabinet lighting and recessed lighting in the hall, LED fixtures can cast dramatic light on your home’s best features, while at the same time, remaining cool to the touch and easy on the wallet.

Here are some interesting facts about LED lighting:

  • Offers the same bright white output as incandescent lighting
  • Uses 75% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs
  • Uses 75% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs
  • The Department of Energy estimates that replacing regular light bulbs with LEDs could potentially save 190 terawatt-hours annually—the equivalent of lighting over 95 million homes
While buyers can make these changes themselves, savvy sellers know that they will judge your eco-friendly actions in a positive light and may be more inclined to deal with you.

Strategic Selling: Go Green.

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Apr 28, 2015

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Today’s sophisticated homebuyers are seeking green features partly for ethical reasons and partly for cost efficiency. Incorporating green features and sustainable tactics is an inexpensive way to add value to your house.

Here are some cost effective eco-friendly upgrades to incorporate in your home:

-Replace all the light bulbs in your home with CFLs or LEDs.

-Seal, upgrade and insulate (it can reduce your annual heating bill by $100 according to Department of Energy figures).

-Consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. (There are tax deductions and rebates that make this more affordable. Modern appliances can be a very attractive selling point.)

-Tankless water heaters are known for energy efficiency and water conservation.

-Update your yard with hearty, drought-tolerant greenery that can save many gallons of water each month.

When showing or marketing your home:

-Be sure to list and mention all of the eco-features of your home.

-Educate any potential buyers on the economic and health benefits of going green.

-When staging, instead of using bottled water, offer a chilled pitcher of filtered tap water at the ready. Add some organic fruits or vegetables and eliminate excess packaging.

-Advertise online and consider marketing around the sustainable features of your home.

Employing any of these tips will paint a desirable picture for today's prospective, eco-conscious buyers.

New Digs! New Growth!

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Apr 27, 2015

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Salt Lake flagship office space. Located centrally in the modern community of Old Mill, this modern space provides real estate professionals with a forward-thinking open plan space that is the latest in the company’s succession of growth plans. “With over $1.8 billion in sales, we are the most successful brokerage in Utah,” commented CEO, Steve Roney. “We wanted a building that would provide our agents with room to build on that track record. We are thrilled.”

This move comes after our most successful year to date, and we want to ride that wave and provide our agents with a cutting edge startup inspired space.

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Our Listings: Current Interior Looks We are Loving

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Mar 20, 2015

Here are some interior looks we are loving from our luxury listings. Reach-out to your BHHS Utah agents for more information on any of these homes.

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Building Healthy Homes

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Feb 24, 2015

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Sustainable green builds are more than just positive for ecosystems and your finances; they’re also beneficial for your health. In his keynote address at the latest Green Building conference in New Orleans, famed guru, Deepak Chopra, discussed the measurable ways in which "green" builds and features support health. The entire conference focused on inhabitant health, which has become the latest reason to embrace green building.

Green building has become a huge selling point as both a mark of a sophisticated, newer build and as a money-saver. According to the US Green Building Council, residential homes account for approximately 20% of carbon dioxide emissions in America; and to date, more than 1 million green homes have saved consumers an estimated $200 million annually in utility bills. At BHHS Utah, we feel that green building needs to be looked at holistically.

Rather than seeing sustainable homes as separate systems of different technologies, strategies, and materials, they need to be viewed as individual human habitats. Up until recently, discussing green building in any depth required a solid background in building or LEED certification (standardization for green building). Green Building has evolved to where builders are able to utilize sustainable technologies to build you more than a home, but a habitat that promotes wellness...in addition to meeting your standards of design, functionality, and sustainability.

While kitchens with built-in juicers, hydroponic herbariums, and bathrooms with reflexology stones and teak steam rooms might seem a bit over the top, adopting a few principle features of sustainable building can improve your emotional and physical health drastically. By using building materials with minimal off-gassing, like wood, and increasing natural light, you can decrease your risk of cancer and ward off environmental-induced depression.

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In a recent quote, Deepak Chopra stated in support of building for human health: “This is the next step in the real estate industry — understanding that sustainability should begin in the home. Our bodies are sustainable but exposed to pollution, no different than the environment.” We agree and are doing what we can to champion healthy homes. Reach-out to your BHHS agent for more info on which homes near you are adopting this trend.

In Conversation with Gallery MAR

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Feb 09, 2015

In Conversation with Maren Mullin, Owner of Gallery MAR on Main St. 

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1.     What do you find inspiring in art at present?

Artists who take risks and work with media in new and interesting ways. Like many collectors, I love to be surprised.

2.       What art trends are taking place currently? What are some of your current favorite artists and why?

I try to avoid trends at Gallery MAR, and work with artists whose work and careers will continue to have a lasting legacy. We are seeing a resurgence of enthusiastic (wax) work across the board, and one of my personal favorites in the gallery is Bridgette Meinhold, who works in this media and is a local artist. Her paintings are serene and evoke a feeling of being lost among the pines in our beautiful backcountry.

3.       What inspired you to open Gallery MAR in Park City?

I always knew that I wanted to run my own business, and the art world is an always-changing, fascinating business. I love working with artists, and seven years ago felt that the time was right to take a risk and go out on my own. We have an incredible group of female business owners and entrepreneurs here in Park City, and I continue to be inspired and encouraged by them.

4.       How has Park City’s art community developed in recent years? Do you see Park City as an artistic community?

Thankfully, we are seeing more and more destination visitors who are coming to Park City to expand their art collections. Indeed, we ship artwork allover the world. Park City is a town full of creative souls, but most of our artists at Gallery MAR are from all over the country.

5.       What’s your background?

I moved here to live with my husband Matt Mullin and seven years later we got hitched. I grew up in Seattle and lived in LA prior to moving here and was gratefully exposed to fine art and music in my childhood.

6.       How do you think art improves interiors?

I believe that we should surround our selves with beauty -- our decor should all bring us joy and be beautiful. Artwork is a way to express yourself. Artwork improves our interiors, but also our lives. There is no doubt that a household that has been staged with fine art will sell faster.

7.       Which art trends and artists should homeowners buy into that would have the highest return on investment?

I always say, "buy what you love!" and I will continue to. We each have such personal and interesting tastes, and with artwork you should always go with your heart. Very few collectors want to re-sell their artwork in their life time, and instead buy what they love... and move it from house to house as they themselves move on.

If you are just starting your collection, look around and visit our beautiful Park City galleries. You will find a plethora of options, at all price points.

8.       What’s your process when you select artists to showcase in your gallery?

I work with artists whose artwork will fit a contemporary mountain home. We are very careful curators, and only bring in a few new artists every year. Our variety is great, but each artist is highly credible and high quality.

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Rapid Fire Questions:

1.       Park City resident since: December, 2003

2.       Favorite Park City Restaurant: My neighbor, Purple Sage

3.       Favorite thing to do in Park City: You're asking this mid-winter? Spaaaahhhh!

4.       Biggest source of inspiration: My incredible husband

5.       Your passion: My Family; especially my newly toddling daughter Jane

 

In the Know: Design Predictions for 2015

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Jan 15, 2015

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Color will make a comeback.

Don’t get us wrong, we freaking love Scandanvian minimalism, but we are ready for the return of vibrancy. The Norse design block, headed up by Sweden, seems to have a challenger in Spain. We love the colorful flair coming out of the inspired minds of Madrid and Barcelona’s interior maestros. We expect to see more oranges, yellows, and pinks this year and a general infusion of more color and patterns. Check-out the playful interior of Casa de Luis Galliussi in Madrid for an idea of what we’re talking about.

Simple will be traded for sumptuous.

Practicality and functionality have been controlling design philosophy for a while now, but interior mavens like Roman and William (one of our all time fave design teams), have started to rebel. Stark furniture and tidy floorplans are being undermined by opulent furnishings, eccentric ornaments, and dramatic neo-gothic color schemes. Think Addams Family meets Martha Stewart. It works, really!

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Small is the new big.

It used to be about the square footage. Now there’s a whole branch of architecture devoted to “tiny living”. We are especially fond of the Vipp Shelter and the Outdoor Research Tiny House. The OR Tiny House is home to professional skiers, Molly Baker and Zack Griffin, who hitch their tiny shelter to the back of a truck and park it at the base of whichever ski resort currently has the most snow. Millennials are a very different demographic than has ever been seen before, and unlike baby boomers, they are used to cramped apartments and feel strongly about having less of a footprint environmentally. This generation can be expected to promote functional spaces with little to no excess.

Healthy homes.

At the annual Green Building Conference, which took place in New Orleans in 2014, the theme was healthy living spaces. In depth scientific studies found that interiors that incorporate wood, plants, and light keep us happy and healthy. Architects have taken this information and incorporated it into designs—indoor flora, expansive wood ceilings, natural settings, etc…will all be trending now. Behold, the stacking green house.

Outfitting Your Home in Utah

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Oct 20, 2014

So you have your dream home, now you need to outfit it. Here are our top picks for furniture and decoration stores in northern Utah. From established stores carrying the best in luxury lines to colorful boutiques boasting an assortment of unique treasures, here’s a short and sweet list of where to go to make your home truly yours.

CJ Sparks For rugs and tactile global-inspired accents, CJ Sparks is a great haunting ground.  Every home should have a personality--this boutique will help you find pieces to articulate yours.

Now & Again offers colorful vintage quirk (of the artistic, rather than the rubbish variety) and coveted bargain mid-century furniture. Whether you’re looking for a rustic wood mirror or clean line Swedish platform bed, this cute shop is a good place to start.

Elemente for modern-leaning vintage furniture like Danish oak dining tables and stylish mid-century chairs, Elemente is a gem of a treasure house. We’re always in the hunt for affordable ways of bringing the latest in interior design to our homes…Elemente delivers in a major way.

Urban Vintage Funky. Fun. Urban Vintage is a generation-now antique store with a penchant for find-nowhere-else items that will add flavor and variety to your home. From hip industrial lighting fixtures, to worn maps, linen postcards, unique furniture pieces, and succulent planters, Urban Vintage has your tastes covered.

Right at Home is one of Park City’s treasures. This beloved local shop offers a wide range of antique furniture that includes mountain rustic beds, stunning Asian bureaus, and contemporary glass numbers.

San Francisco Design ranks as one Salt Lake’s most respected high end furniture emporiums. The brand specializes in ultra-modern, predominantly Scandinavian pieces that will bring contemporary to your home. The quality is first rate as is the service.

Madison McCord Interiors will have that one statement opulent piece you’ve been looking for but have been unable to find. From brightly colored velvet upholstered dining room chairs, to luxe covered head boards, items here can’t be found anywhere else.

Ikea : Hate it or love it (most likely a combination of both), Ikea has its time and place, and there is one located in Draper. From those Swedish meatballs, to dirt cheap mod beds, and Strandkrypas (pattered table runners) and other goofy Scandinavian tid-bits, well…you know where to go.

In the Know: Design trends to adopt.

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Sep 30, 2014

We are ridiculous design nerds. As big proponents of bringing cutting-edge architecture and design to Utah, we make sure we are on top of all the best trends from corrugated metal, to Scandanvian minimalism, to geometric patterns. Part of Championing Contemporary in our marketplace means informing current residents of what we think are some cool design ideas being put forward globally and locally. Here are some looks we are geeking-out over currently:

 

  1. Dining areas that double as contemporary art galleries.
Food and art just go together. Dining is already a communal activity and art facilitates meaningful discussion. We love the look of this fabulous French restaurant in Hong Kong. The combination of eclectic modern pieces with ancien regime parquet floors and exposed brass ventilation pipes creates a space of vibrancy--one that is both intimate and energetic. Looking for some statement art pieces at low cost to bring this concept to your calorie-consumption zone? Check-out the great online gallery by Austin Texas shop, Poster Cabaret.
  1. Wallpaper.
Wallpaper is having a moment. A big one. And, we could not be more thrilled. We are loving the bold wallpaper illustrations of Columbian artist, Catalina Estrada and innovative floral prints used by Wall&Deco. Wallpaper functions as large scale art and offers a unique way to give a room a mood. This generation’s wallpaper champions have re-invented the industry, incorporating large scale prints, custom illustrations, tactile textures, and brave colors.
  1. Room dividers.
Rather than putting in permanent walls, interior decorators have reintroduced the room divider. Over-segmenting homes and living spaces limits movement and light flow. A divider allows you to define an area’s functions without shrinking your living space. Clever dividers also double as additional storage and art pieces. Win-win.
  1. Frame stacking.
Forget everything you were told about hanging art. The new way to hang art is however you want to. Period. New options to showcase art include not hanging it (simply lean frames against a wall), layer frames, hang lots of pictures together in a group with varying amounts of space between them. Do what you want! It’s not chaos; it’s creative!
  1. Black accents.
Black is always the new black. While the signature shade of the stylish has never gone out of style and never will, it’s having a bit of a revival in the world of interior décor. Historically, black has been mislabeled as a color to stay away from when conceiving of inside spaces. Thank goodness the theory that black has no place on walls or on floors has been de-bunked, and dark features are being included to give rooms more gravitas. From accent walls to black wooden floors, our favorite non-color is everywhere. Hallelujah. For inspiring ways to utilize black to add weight or mood to a room, check out design mavens Roman and Williams.
  1. Bar Carts.
Bar carts are the natural companions of craft cocktails, which are also presently all the rage. So, don’t just stick your High West Whiskey on the dusty top shelf of the pantry. For the non-drinkers, have the fixings to whip up a limeade or a classic Shirley Temple. Either way, you’ll be known in your circle as the consummate entertainer. Plus, pretty crystal glasses and bottles full of elixirs just look cool.

BHHS Utah gives you all the stuff that's Good to Know.

 

 

Prepare Your Home for Winter

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Sep 22, 2014

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Are you taking your home maintenance seriously enough? With El-Nino coming this winter, it is especially important that you prepare your home for the upcoming winter. While we’re the first to say homeowner maintenance guides can be overwhelming (no, I am not going to seal my driveway 3x a year-whoever does that deserves an award from Home Depot), there are a few basic precautions every owner should take before cozying up to a fire and busting out the long Russian novels.

  1. Clean the gutters. After raking the leaves on your lawn (and allowing the kidlets a few leaf-pile cannonballs), be sure to clear them from your gutters and roofing drainage systems. Clean gutters prevent roof leaks and ice damage in December. Dealing with leaks is always a pain, dealing with one when the entire extended family is in town for the holidays is more than your average pain. It might also be time to invest in quality gutters with built-in leaf guards, which will save you hassle in the future.
  2. Prepare the chimney and fireplace. We are not especially big fans of carbon monoxide poisoning and recommend that you service your fireplace properly before winter. Besides, is there any better combination than a warm fire and a Utah winter?
  3. Service major appliances. Ever had to wait two weeks to get your furnace or water heater serviced in the winter? No good. Set yourself up for success. Get your major appliances looked at, serviced, or replaced in time for winter.
  4. Caulk the windows. Caulking your windows prevents heat from escaping and water and ice from coming in. It’s a simple preventive measure that could be the difference between one comforter and 5 extra-fluffy down numbers. Be smart.
  5. Check for plumbing problems. Again, you don’t want to be dealing with plumbing issues in the dead of winter. Water damage is the number one cause of home value depreciation. The best way to ensure your home’s longevity and re-sell price is to take steps to prevent water damage.
  6. Make sure the snowblower is functional. Ya. We live in Utah. Don’t be caught unprepared by that freak October storm we get once a year.
 

Have a lovely fall. Enjoy your pumpkin spice lattes, trick-or-treating, squash soup, and Ugg boots. We sure are.

Contemporary has arrived in Utah

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Sep 08, 2014