Original Beauty
A rare midcentury gem in Utah gets a refreshingly minimal update.
A rare midcentury gem in Utah shines with original wood paneling, Terrazzo, built-ins and so much more.
LD HOMES ARE A FAMILIAR AND WELL-LOVED FRIEND TO THE COUPLE BEHIND OLD HOME LOVE. Throughout the years, Andy and Candis Meredith have visited, renovated and lived in more their fair share of historic homes in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. They even spent their wedding day giving tours of their house at the time— which they were in the process of renovating.
Despite being well-versed in the world of older homes, the couple views finding a midcentury home as hitting the jackpot. Channeling all of their passion for renovation and preservation, Andy and Candis wrote Old Home Love— a book detailing their many adventures in the world of saving old homes.
MAKING MOD MUSIC
Andy and Candis got the opportunity to work on the home of English musician Joe Jackson, a situation they describe as “wonderful.”
Joe’s home is a perfect example of preservation at its finest. Luckily, the home has remained almost entirely true to its original design—thanks to owners who treasured elements like the wood paneling and were hesitant to make any major renovations. Andy and Candis praise how this home kept its original detail, emphasizing how rare it is to find a midcentury house that has been so well preserved.
“Joe (and the previous owners) have been so true to this home that it looks as beautiful today as it did the day it was built—maybe even better,” Andy and Candis write. “Whenever you are considering changing something that was original to a home, ask yourself two questions: Is there a far superior material that could make my way of living significantly better? Will I regret this change, even a little, in 20 years?”
PRESERVATION WITH PERSONALITY
While Andy and Candis encourage homeowners to think carefully about renovation, the couple feels strongly about the balance between preservation and modernization— reminding homeowners to add their own touch of personality.
“Even when staying true to a home’s original design, it is still important that you don’t feel like you are living in a museum, paying homage to a particular time period,”
Andy and Candis write. “We never hesitate to add our own personality to homes—we just try to make sure that it fits with the home’s personality.”
One of the challenges Andy and Candis faced in this project was reviving the home’s many original details. Elements like Terrazzo flooring and fireplace surrounds, built-in closet organization systems, wood paneling, door trim, built-in planters and so much more were carefully revived in true old home love fashion. “Every era of architecture has a story to tell,” Andy and Candis write.