Text by Holly Seng
After completing the basement remodel of their Highland, Utah, home, Summer and Scott Dunn were ready to continue their partnership with Remedy Design Firm—along with building company Patterson Homes—to refresh the upstairs. Working closely with Remedy’s senior designer, Katie Phelon, Summer was able to ensure a stunning, seamless design—all while discovering her personal style in the process.
“We kind of coined the term ‘Modern Sundance,’” says Katie, describing the homeowner’s newfound aesthetic. The layered look takes clean lines and pairs them with both rustic and vintage inclusions for a space that’s equal parts cozy and contemporary.
Setting the tone for the home, the entry brings in natural textures with a woven basket and a noodle bench to offset the stylized landscape artwork, sourced from the design firm’s sister retail company, Elements by Remedy. A twist on a classic, the light fixture blends playful lines with milk glass.
Cool gray tones emphasize the great room’s striking focal point: a cast concrete fireplace surround and matte plaster accent wall flanked by custom built-ins. Cut on-site, the vertical shiplap walls highlight the room’s high ceilings. A tan mohair sofa, sure to be an heirloom piece thanks to its durability, imparts a warmer tone as it balances out the blue-gray hues of the rug, stools, and leather pillows. With its rustic top, sleek silhouette, and gold metal banding, the coffee table ties together the essential elements of Summer’s signature style.
Accustomed to the drama of a darker kitchen, Summer opted for Black Blue by Farrow & Ball for the perimeter and lower cabinets. To break up the deep tone and coordinate with the great room, Katie brought back the white oak custom stain of the built-ins for the upper cabinets, island, and floating shelves, adding a plaster hood above the stove. The matte gray sink offers a nice contrast to the island’s quartz countertop while the handmade tiles of the backsplash lend texture. For a glamorous flourish to finish off the design, Katie incorporated a mix of metals—from antique burnished brass to honeyed bronze and luxe gold—for the hardware and lighting.
Expansive windows in the dining room capitalize on the Dunns’ unobstructed views of the mountains and reservoir. A floating banquette, made extra welcoming by an abundance of pillows, invites a modern feel as its back echoes the great room’s vertical shiplap. The table was custom-made by a local metal company and boasts a leathered quartzite top.
The home’s soothing scheme continues in the primary bedroom, where what started out as a fix to the early 2000s trend of tray ceilings resulted in a captivating statement ceiling that showcases paneling in a honeyed hue. Layers of textiles, like the wool rug, infuse the space with luxurious comfort.
Cohesive design blends bits of old with new for a home that’s timelessly tailored to Summer’s tastes. “The whole [design] process was trying to figure out what her style was,” says Katie. “Through this process, we were really able to hone into that style.”
