My Houzz: Eclectic Repurposing Fits First-Time Homeowners in Utah
DIY projects using reclaimed materials add rustic style to an open-layout Salt Lake City home
Described as a "sort of mutt," this 1911 home in Salt Lake City was an ideal match for first-time homeowners and stepbrothers Ian Wade and David Kamp. The pair benefited from upgrades done by a previous homeowner, who had gutted and remodeled the home after it had been neglected for decades. Two add-ons increased the living space: a back room, which the stepbrothers have since transformed into a lounge space with a DIY bar, and a second floor, which they turned into a guest room.
The inviting, open layout was a major draw for the two, who share passions for creating art, entertaining and cooking meaningful meals for loved ones. Wade, 24, says he has "filled the shoes of a philosophy student, bartender and athlete"; he is now co-owner of fashion boutique Fresh. Kamp, 25, describes himself as an "aesthetic scholar and explorer," and works as a freelance designer and a server at a local pub. Through their combined backgrounds, a hybrid minimalist-meets-rustic style has blossomed.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stepbrothers Ian Wade and David Kamp, and their bichon-terrier mix, Earl
Location: Sugar House neigborhood of Salt Lake City
Size: 2,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The inviting, open layout was a major draw for the two, who share passions for creating art, entertaining and cooking meaningful meals for loved ones. Wade, 24, says he has "filled the shoes of a philosophy student, bartender and athlete"; he is now co-owner of fashion boutique Fresh. Kamp, 25, describes himself as an "aesthetic scholar and explorer," and works as a freelance designer and a server at a local pub. Through their combined backgrounds, a hybrid minimalist-meets-rustic style has blossomed.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stepbrothers Ian Wade and David Kamp, and their bichon-terrier mix, Earl
Location: Sugar House neigborhood of Salt Lake City
Size: 2,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
A large reclaimed wood table fills the dining space, where Wade, in white, and Kamp enjoy coffee and dinner with friends (not shown). The table is from the early 1900s and was originally used in a farmhouse and then by a traveling salesman.
Dining set: Urban Vintage; pendant light: Elemente
Dining set: Urban Vintage; pendant light: Elemente
Wade appreciates pieces that achieve a lasting effect through thoughtful design, like this early-20th-century coffee table from Urban Vintage and midcentury green chair from Elemente. "My decorating style is one that adheres to utility," he says. "I don't like clutter, and I don't like things to be there without a real purpose."
Couch: Lofgrens
Couch: Lofgrens
"I would call my style a rustic fusion of midcentury and turn of the century," says Kamp. This blend of styles is seen in his pairing a century-old coffee table that originally was an old hay bale cart with a midcentury-style tufted couch. The corner painting, by friend and painter Morgan Richard Murphy, is creatively hung using binder clips.
Kamp and Wade chose not to hang curtains or blinds on any of the double-pane windows, so they would have to rely more on natural light than artificial.
Kamp wants to eventually replace the carpet with reclaimed wood.
Kamp wants to eventually replace the carpet with reclaimed wood.
The stepbrothers found this old ladder outside an antiques store, and Kamp had the idea to use it as a shelf to balance out the low profile of the other living room furnishings. They simply closed the ladder shut and leaned it against the wall, creating shelves on each rung for book display.
"Aesthetics are the largest driving factor in my life, from my house down to my smallest trinkets. I like the world I build to represent me as honestly as possible," Kamp says.
"Aesthetics are the largest driving factor in my life, from my house down to my smallest trinkets. I like the world I build to represent me as honestly as possible," Kamp says.
Kamp and Wade kept the kitchen simple, since it is a high-traffic area that tends to get dirty quickly. But it soon became Wade's favorite spot. "We have a record player and coffee there. Being able to put on an LP and make great coffee are two things that give me so much satisfaction," he says.
Kamp's bedroom is filled with things that show his personality and resourcefulness. The large typographical painting was given to him by the artist, Morgan Richard Murphy; it reminds Kamp of when he lived in Portland and went to school with Murphy, when they were both beginning to develop their creative talents.
Kamp cleverly repurposed an old photography enlarger as a shelf.
Wade repurposed old crates as shelves in his bedroom, to display some of his more cherished things in a boutique-like way.
Wade purchased the crates via Craigslist from a set designer. He believes that a bedroom should be a place for sleeping and getting ready for the day, so the shelves were designed with practicality in mind. The bottom shelf displays items that he usually puts in his pockets. The next one holds watches and similar items.
The rear add-on to the original house is where Wade and Kamp like to entertain with their homemade bar. The windows look out to the backyard, where the two plan to add a garden.
One of Wade and Kamp's first projects for their home was the bar, made from repurposed old crates and salvaged shipping pallets. The crates serve as shelves and are neatly styled with mason jars and bottles.
Here Kamp takes a turn throwing darts at a board set up in the bar space. The two leaning scoreboards were a DIY project made using scrap pieces of plywood and chalkboard spray paint.
The stepbrothers found the house through a group of young Realtors and designers known as the City Home Collective. Both were drawn to the diverse and growing Sugarhouse neighborhood, full of new eateries and a healthy mix of young professionals, first-time homeowners and small families. Kamp says, "I love the potential of my city. It's young and cheap, and is filled with beautiful old buildings and homes just waiting for the right owners."
Share your creative home with us
Share your creative home with us
The stepbrothers kept all the furniture pieces neutral, so when they would finally all sit under the same roof, they'd be cohesive and work well with the existing tan walls. "Each element would show up in spurts. We got the dining room set up, then the couch showed up, and all the pieces came together real quick," he says.
Wade recalls the first evening alone at the house: "After the hustle of moving in and getting things sorted in their right place, I spent a Saturday night unwinding from this process with a few beers, and it sunk in that this was my home."