The vision: a contemporary home with stunning mountain views in Old Town. It’s a seemingly simple request, but building in Old Town is no cakewalk. “These sites are very tight and regulations extensive,” says architect Jonathan DeGray. “Meeting the client’s needs while maintaining compliance with restrictions is always a challenge. Here, the desire was to do a modern interpretation of the design guidelines.”

DeGray had previously worked with the client—a family from California—on their first abode in Park City, so he was familiar with their aesthetic. “Jon designed our home in Empire,” says the homeowner. “We work well together, and he really knows Old Town and the process.”

DeGray’s creative approach resulted in a three-story home that features five en suite bedrooms (one converted to a gym), two half bathrooms, a ski locker, a media room, and an office, as well as an expansive patio and decks—all in under 4,000 square feet. Bonus points for views on a lot not considered to be a view lot. “We got all the main living spaces on the upper level,” says DeGray. “This allows for beautiful views from the spaces and decks.” The front deck, for example, offers a fabulous vista of the valley.

The project took just over a year and required seamless collaboration. “Building in Old Town is always a challenge,” says contractor Rob Wolff. “But having great clients makes a huge difference.”

Once the house was built, interior designer Raili Clasen stepped in to add some dazzle to the dwelling. “I love Park City, especially downtown, and wanted to honor it,” she says. “This house needed to blend in with the Old Town neighborhood, so we pared back a little and softened the contemporary glass, steel, and concrete with natural woods and organic fabrics. The end result is amazing.”

The homeowners split their time between Park City and California. They have two young boys and wanted a place where they could entertain family and friends. “We wanted something fun and playful,” says the homeowner. “Raili is based in Southern California, where we spend some of our time, and we connected with her because she’s not a traditional, cookie-cutter designer. She makes it personal, is super fun to work with, and lets the house reflect the owners rather than the style du jour.”

Like so many people, the family first came to Park City for skiing, discovered mountain biking and hiking, and ended up staying. “It’s been wonderful to spend time here,” says the homeowner. “We love the location. We can walk out the door and down to Main Street for dinner, or walk to ski or bike.”

Because much of their time spent here is often with extended family, they needed something that could comfortably host two families for holidays. A small media room for the kids gives them their own space to play games or watch movies, and a big ski locker houses all their gear and even has a waxing station.

“They wanted something very casual and comfortable,” says Clasen, “so nothing in the home is too precious. We chose a warm, neutral color palette to soften the white walls and plenty of natural wood to ground the spaces.”

The result is a breathtaking balance between contemporary architecture and Old Town mountain charm, with quiet nooks for moments away from buoyant entertaining and retreats for comfortable nights after adrenaline-packed days.

Sources

Architect
Jonathan DeGray, 435-649-7263, degrayarchitect.com

Contractor
Rob Wolff, R.W Wolff Construction, 435-640-2448

Interior Designer
Raili Clasen, Raili CA Design, 949-922-9684, railicadesign.com

Cabinetry
Peirce Cabinet Inc., 435-654-2052

Doors and Trim
Park City Mill & Door, 435-940-9020

Hardwood Floors and Stairs
Signature Floors, 801-519-8906, signaturefloors.com

Steel Handrails
Innovative Iron, 801-886-3390, innovativeiron.com

Tile
High Country Tile & Marble Inc, 435-783-6155