You could say Jo Ann Howa has seen it all, or most of it at least, when it comes to Park City’s growth and development. The seasoned designer and founder/principal of Natural Instincts Interior Design (1571 Redstone Center Dr, #115, 435-602-5824) has been working in the area for more than 30 years. A frequent traveler and former flight attendant, she put down roots in the Wasatch Back after purchasing a cabin in Midway. She opened her first local showroom in 1990 and recently opened a new showroom in Redstone, which she runs with her team of six women.

Howa has added her signature touch to a fair share of projects around the city and beyond, from luxury properties at the uber-exclusive Wasatch Peaks Ranch to historic renovations in Old Town. She shares design advice and her thoughts on trends—what’s in and out—for those building or remodeling a home in Park City.  

Start with the right team: My best advice to anyone who’s building is to hire your team right away: architect, general contractor, and designer. Understand who is going to do what and what each team member is responsible for. We focus on delivering an elevated experience to our clients and start with an extensive discovery process to understand their needs and style. Are they [in Park City] full or part time? What do they enjoy? How do they live? Make sure you are in tune with the team and that everyone understands what you want and what you are trying to accomplish. Collaboration and communication are key. 

Understand your budget: The most common mistake I see is clients not understanding their budget. We can do great design within any budget as long as we all know the expectations, style, and parameters of what can be done within the budget.

Have a connection with your designer: Personality is key. You need to feel comfortable with your designer and know their background. Can they offer you the latest and greatest? Changes happen so quickly in design. For example, steam ovens are the hot new appliance. There are also new lighting guidelines—incandescent lighting is a thing of the past. Make sure your designer has knowledge across the board, from which toilet to use to the latest in textural fabrics.

Get inspired by nature: I named my business Natural Instincts because I was inspired by my surroundings in Park City. Most people come here to ski, myself included, but now I live here for the summers. More people are living in Park City year-round. Look to natural elements like snow in the winter and lush greenery in the summer to inspire cozy and fresh interiors. Bring the outside in with a variety of textures and finishes like boucle fabrics and wire-brushed cabinets.

Consider dark, moody colors: Aubergine, rust, deep green, and dusky grayish-blue have been popular. A simple trick is just painting one or two walls in a room—an accent wall makes a bedroom pop—or paint all the walls a darker color for added flair. Murals with texture on walls also add a lot of personality.
Design for durability: If you are planning to rent your home or are designing a vacation home, you need durable furniture and fabrics. For example, rustic wood finishes hide scratches and nicks, and there are many new fabrics that are beautiful yet forgiving of accidents.