Interior designer Hillary Taylor reimagined a spacious Salt Lake City home, using color, pattern, and architectural layers—especially on ceilings—to add personality and balance to an otherwise cavernous space.
- Ceilings become focal points with color and texture
- Design respects homeowners’ meaningful possessions
- Warmth added through layered patterns and architectural details
What happened
Hillary Taylor redesigned a 4,000-square-foot home built in the early 2000s in Salt Lake City, aiming to soften its modern feel by introducing warmth and scale through architectural details. Originally, the ceilings were disproportionately high compared to room sizes, creating an unbalanced, cavernous atmosphere. Taylor worked with Jackson LeRoy Construction to adjust flooring, lighting, cabinetry, and other surfaces to build a more inviting environment.
Distinctive ceiling designs became a key focus, from blue painted ceilings to raffia coverings, drawing the eye upward while making spaces feel cozy rather than overwhelming. Instead of covering or replacing meaningful family items, the design intentionally incorporated treasured pieces like artwork, a piano, and personalized chairs, melding old with new in an authentic way.
Why it feels good
The layering of textures, patterns, and colors gently tames the modern architecture’s starkness, creating a home that embraces human scale and comfort. Repeating a palette of pale blues, botanical greens, and deep reds throughout the rooms connects the spaces visually, while ensuring no area feels isolated or overly formal.
Taylor’s approach integrates personality through ceiling treatments called 'the fifth wall,' a concept that enriches a room’s atmosphere by transforming typically overlooked surfaces into design highlights. This, combined with a thoughtful balance of floral, geometric, and striped fabrics, promotes a welcoming, lived-in feeling.
What to enjoy or watch next
Home enthusiasts can appreciate how thoughtful architecture and decor choices can elevate a modern house into a home filled with warmth and stories. Look out for similar design ideas focusing on ceiling treatments and layering textures to personalize spaces.
For anyone inspired to refresh their living space, taking cues from authentic pieces and combining them with fresh patterns and colors is a great place to start. Explore creative wallpaper, custom lighting, and playful ceiling colors to turn overlooked details into room-defining statements.