My Houzz: Modern and Moody Nostalgia in Salt Lake City
Dark, masculine and nodding to the past, this 1911 apartment is a haven for contemplation
Salt Lake City’s historic Maryland building was built in 1911 as a luxury apartment house for successful miners. That dichotomy — between rugged working stiff and stylish bon vivant — appealed to Cody Derrick, a 33-year-old property consultant and designer who makes his home in one of the old prospectors’ flats.
“The wealthy miners needed a landing pad while they built their mansions on South Temple,” says Derrick, the founder and owner of cityhomeCollective, which pairs interesting individuals with unique spaces. “It’s basically a throwback to a different era, where classy gents lived in minimansions disguised as flats with other highbrow dudes. My heaven, naturally.”
Derrick worked tirelessly with a few design colleagues to turn the plain interior into one that pays tribute to the building’s architectural history and original wood features. “We had to make it current for 2013,” he says. “How do you create old and fresh at the same time?” After months of staining floors, adding wallpaper, renovating the kitchen and adding lighting, he now has a modern space that elegantly nods to the past.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cody Derrick and his dog, Pearl
Location: Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City
Size: 1,100 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
“The wealthy miners needed a landing pad while they built their mansions on South Temple,” says Derrick, the founder and owner of cityhomeCollective, which pairs interesting individuals with unique spaces. “It’s basically a throwback to a different era, where classy gents lived in minimansions disguised as flats with other highbrow dudes. My heaven, naturally.”
Derrick worked tirelessly with a few design colleagues to turn the plain interior into one that pays tribute to the building’s architectural history and original wood features. “We had to make it current for 2013,” he says. “How do you create old and fresh at the same time?” After months of staining floors, adding wallpaper, renovating the kitchen and adding lighting, he now has a modern space that elegantly nods to the past.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cody Derrick and his dog, Pearl
Location: Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City
Size: 1,100 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Derrick describes his design style as “a modern yet nostalgic mix of dark, moody interiors.” Local contractors helped him refinish and stain the hardwood floors, and built a custom desk and benches in the side rooms. With the help of cityhomeCollective colleagues Andrea Beecher and Leigh Anne Parmer, Derrick also added new chandeliers and art.
Lighting: Retrospect and Jonathan Adler
Lighting: Retrospect and Jonathan Adler
“This home was definitely designed to be a resting place — a spot to hunker down and think, read or meditate; a place to write letters,” says Derrick. “I do all these things daily, so it has been a perfect spot for this time in my life. Perfect for living alone and focusing on work, and to contemplate … next steps in life.”
Derrick likens this space to a cozy drawing room. Modern furnishings lend a lively spirit that keeps the dusky room from feeling gloomy.
Derrick likens this space to a cozy drawing room. Modern furnishings lend a lively spirit that keeps the dusky room from feeling gloomy.
Derrick built a custom wraparound bench for this room. “The space we occupy affects us,” he says. “A room with a view encourages something inside us entirely different than one with a fireplace would. A small space elicits different interaction amongst its inhabitants than a sprawling home.”
With this idea in mind, Derrick added plush cushions to create a space where he loves to read and relax with his dog, Pearl.
With this idea in mind, Derrick added plush cushions to create a space where he loves to read and relax with his dog, Pearl.
The sunroom is the smallest space in the apartment, but it’s where Derrick spends the most time. “It’s where my morning ritual takes place,” he says. “It’s where I light the incense, read, watch the sun come up and have my coffee.”
Chairs: Classic Walnut, Cherner; desk: custom
Chairs: Classic Walnut, Cherner; desk: custom
When Derrick moved in, the walls and radiator were cream. He chose a dark gray for the lower part of the wall under the chair rail and painted the radiator to match. He painted the ceiling a bright white and chose a plush white area rug to add more light to the moody space.
Derrick added dimmers throughout the condo, allowing him to create the perfect mood for any occasion. He also added a surround-sound system, so he can listen to music while relaxing or enjoying a dinner party with friends.
Derrick rotated a diamond-patterned wallpaper to better suit the rectangular hallway. The hanging shelf is custom. “My grand hallway is a great landing spot to drop keys, bundle up before heading out, check your face in the mirror, feel sorta fancy,” he says.
Chris Anthony’s limited-edition framed photograph is titled “Emily #3.”
Chris Anthony’s limited-edition framed photograph is titled “Emily #3.”
“The most interesting thing about my house is how the structure encourages you to live,” says Derrick. “I love how separated and formal it is. The formal dining room encourages dinner parties. It’s different than a lot of open spaces that are much more the norm these days — I love it.”
He especially loves being able to close the French doors that separate the dining room from the den during cocktail hour, then open them again when dinner is served. “It’s a nice callback to the fancy days of yesteryear,” he says.
He especially loves being able to close the French doors that separate the dining room from the den during cocktail hour, then open them again when dinner is served. “It’s a nice callback to the fancy days of yesteryear,” he says.
When Derrick moved into the condo, he struggled with how to design and furnish the dining room, because of its vast size. “I had a 9-foot table made, added a hutch at one end of the room and a built-in bench with a coffee table for premeal drinks or postdinner coffee.” He added a Jonathan Adler chandelier and decorated the table with books and plants.
Meurice Rectangle Chandelier: Jonathan Adler
Meurice Rectangle Chandelier: Jonathan Adler
Derrick’s kitchen design preserved the original built-ins but completely changed the feel of the space. He removed a white refrigerator that had covered the kitchen window and had made the space feel much smaller. In its place he installed a long countertop and added an undercounter refrigerator and freezer beneath.
When Derrick designed the kitchen, he wanted it to feel like a place that people could hang out in. He brought in an armchair and art to give the space, in his words, “a homey vibe and less of a sterile feel.” He also designed the unique oven and cooktop unit.
The existing built-in cabinet is filled with books and white dishes. The tile flooring is original.
Derrick carefully designed each aspect of the bedroom to make it an ideal sleeping space. “The bedroom was small and chopped up, with many different colors and odd shelving,” he says.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, Derrick painted it all one color, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” says Derrick. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches. He also installed large framed whiteboards above the bed, so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants.
Since it’s the only bedroom in the house, Derrick painted it all one color, including the trim, to make it feel larger, and added dramatic floor-to-ceiling drapes. He designed the platform bed with an oversize perimeter; recessed storage cubbies are hidden under trapdoors in the top, “both for simplicity’s sake and to hide cords,” says Derrick. The art lights above the bed double as reading lights, with remote switches. He also installed large framed whiteboards above the bed, so he can change the art in the room whenever he wants.
Finished with the condo, Derrick, shown here, is already thinking about his next residence. “The low-maintenance condo has been a great break from my last [home],” he says. “But I am dreaming of building on a lot of land with a pool and a garden and a place for my dear ones to come and cook and play.”
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All the woodwork and trim are original, and the walls are lined with Andrew Martin’s Library wallpaper to create a cozy feel.