When Lisa Harrison, the designer behind Midcentury Modern Rescue, happened upon an abandoned gem in a historic SLC neighborhood, it felt as if it had been waiting for her. A longtime design fanatic, Harrison’s mission with MCM Rescue is to revive iconic midcentury homes, updating them for modern life while preserving their retro appeal. When it came to restoring this crumbling rambler, Harrison had two primary goals: honoring the home’s original architectural essence, while also upgrading to modern environmental standards. To help with that fusion, she enlisted Lauren Bald of A\Typical Design for her trademark eye in blending vintage and contemporary interiors, and Aaron Hedlund of Hedlund Construction to implement the vision while also working toward a net-zero energy footprint.
The structure itself came with severe design challenges: a cramped floor plan, damaged finishes and a collapsing roof, to name a few. According to Hedlund, the ceiling was priority number one: “To raise the ceiling to meet the lines of the existing butterfly roof, we basically sistered every single joist to flatten it out, and had to get creative with HVAC systems to accommodate the lost ductwork.” The resulting vaulted ceiling vastly expands the main living area and allows the home’s period architecture to shine indoors as well as out. Just below, the fireplace’s original cinderblock gets a fresh coat of paint, echoing updates to the home’s exterior materials.
Next on the list? The small square footage. “This job was a 100% full gut,” says Hedlund. “To meet those net-zero standards, we replaced all gas utility lines and went fully electric, with solar panel support. We also reworked the layout to allow for better access to bath spaces, along with just providing better flow overall.” The kitchen’s linear galley gave way to an open workspace with repurposed hardware. A demo doorway through cinderblock provided ensuite access to the primary bedroom. Laundry areas condensed into bedrooms allowed more living space. And connecting them all, a fresh set of finishes with old-school charm.
Those much-needed finish updates were where A\Typical’s skills became invaluable. “Respecting and honoring the original intention of the house, the original color palette, the functionality, the materiality,” she lists. “That’s what we were ultimately hoping to do.” While the original parquet was salvageable in the bedrooms, extensive damage from years under a compromised roof meant the great room needed an update. For the main living areas, a midcentury staple terrazzo floor — complete with the modern luxury of radiant heat systems — took center stage. In the adjoining den (which Harrison lovingly dubbed the “rumpus room”), a lavish hand-woven shag custom-fabricated by Rug and Kilim imbues undeniably cozy, quintessentially ’70s flair.
The kitchen’s backsplash carefully echoes the home’s architectural masonry. A custom-built dining bench sports a rich walnut finish, echoing the definitive paneling of the home’s former decor. Playful green Fireclay tile pairs with a custom formica vanity in the guest bath, while in the primary ensuite, a dazzling poured-terrazo sunken tub stands at the ready for relaxation. And in tandem with these intentional surface treatments, a mix of vintage furnishings and period-inspired takes this classic style into a new age of beauty.
A true team effort, this puzzle of a project required careful planning from every angle. Bald, for one, embraces the challenges: “So much of restorative design is accepting the reality of what the home’s construction requires, and trying to fix those problems in an aesthetically pleasing way,” she says. “For us, it’s a lot of exciting problem-solving to make a home both functional and beautiful.” Hedlund echoes her sentiment, with endless stories of the puzzles this project presented. “Historic renovations are rarely easy,” he shares. “But in this case, we were lucky enough to have an amazing client who was willing to invest what it took to allow this home to speak for itself again.”
Exterior
Before getting the revamp treatment by this team of pros, this midcentury masonry home stood abandoned in a historic Salt Lake City neighborhood. For the exterior facelift, Hedlund Construction reinforced structures to support the home’s roof and original glass paneling, and installed period-inspired breezeblock for stability. Lauren Bald of A\Typical Design Studio delivered an extra dose of flair with a custom garage door painted in Ghost Ranch, a rust hue by Backdrop Paint. Breezeblock is from Clay Imports.
Restoring the home’s once-collapsed midcentury butterfly roof was essential to preserving its architectural integrity, but required significant updates to drainage systems to prevent repeated damage, according to Hedlund.
Great Room
In the great room, the original cinderblock fireplace stands as the now-sole barrier between kitchen and living areas. “The original kitchen was super tiny, very linear and completely cut off from the rest of the house,” says Bald. “That's not really how people utilize space these days.” The new layout favors a modern ‘work triangle’ floorplan, and prioritizes flow between work and entertaining areas.
Living Room
The living room bar features vintage-inspired smoked glass and a classic angular light fixture by Serge Mouille. “We wanted something we could angle around the structural post, since it couldn’t be moved,” says Bald. On top of built-in cabinets by Blue Spruce Cabinetry, a Breccia Pernice slab from European Marble and Granite subtly echoes the ochre, blush and green palette of the interior. Noguchi coffee table.
Dining
Bald enlisted Chad Parkinson of The Furniture Joint to craft this custom dining bench in a rich walnut tone, honoring the classic paneling of the home’s previous decor. Levi Jackson chairs via Storehouse. Vintage brass chandelier via Chairish.
Kitchen
Parkinson’s handiwork can also be seen in the kitchen’s cabinetry and millwork, where he introduced curved edges and fluted finishes. On every cabinet, the home’s original hardware gets a second chance and a fresh coat of Clare Paint’s Dirty Martini. The backsplash is Farmhouse Brick tile by Cle, selected to mimic the home’s masonry. Countertops by European Marble & Granite.
Green Bath
Fireclay tile in Clover clads every square inch of the guest bath, from the vanity backsplash to the walk-in shower. In keeping with the retro mood, Bald commissioned a custom formica vanity and a cleverly sliding steel medicine cabinet. In both of the home’s bathrooms, the plumbing hardware was sourced from Water Monopoly, a UK company dedicated to reproducing vintage fixtures.
Guest Bedroom
Custom pocket doors by Wilderness Design Build were carefully designed to match the home’s exterior glass paneling. In both bedrooms, Hedlund’s team carefully refinished the home’s original parquet flooring.
Rumpus Room
Boasting perhaps the most daring revival of classic 1970s design within the home, the ‘rumpus room’ features custom shag carpet hand-woven by Rug and Kilim, a striking walnut chandelier by Roman and Williams and a bold coat of Sherwin-Williams’ Empire Gold.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom sports a playful mashup of modern and period pieces, including sculptural Nelson pendant lights and a pristine vintage bed with built-in storage and iconic midcentury silhouette. Custom drapes in Cowtan and Tout fabric.
Primary Bath
Refusing to settle for a basic bath experience, Bald and Harrison designed a luxurious sunken tub design, and cleverly remixed the home’s materiality by outfitting it in flawless pink terrazzo poured by the artisans at Morales Terrazzo. “The sunken tub was something Lisa and I were on board with from the very beginning,” says Bald. “It required re-leveling the foundation of the house — we were so glad Hedlund was willing to work with our vision.”
