Small dwellings that share a building lot with a larger primary home are a huge deal in mountain towns where real estate is expensive and in short supply. Amanda Evans, principal designer at Blackdog Builders, walked Mountain through the remodel of a gracious and cozy Park City accessory dwelling unit (ADU). 

“This is a second residence for Dan and Bea Elbert, parents of Doug Elbert whose wife, Alex, and I went to high school together here in town,” Evans says. Dan and Bea, who live in Illinois, wanted a small home in Park City so they could spend time with their children and grandchildren — but they also wanted to have their own space.

“This is ideal,” says Bea. “The grandkids can just walk on over whenever they want, and we can get together as an extended family in a way we couldn’t if we were staying in a hotel room.”

The original ADU was a log-clad cabin built in 1994 that shares a garage with the main home occupied by Doug, Alex and their kids. It was made up of a series of disjointed and seemingly unrelated spaces that didn’t take advantage of the spectacular mountain views. “Our goal was to blend the old with the new, to modernize but keep the space warm and inviting,” says Evans.

The 2,700-square-foot ADU is on three levels, with each level covering 900 square feet, a number that didn’t change with the remodel. Before the work could even begin, Blackdog Builders, which offers both construction and interior design services, discovered structural problems. “The upper level was sagging, and we had to sister (reinforce) the joists,” she explains. 

The next task was to change out all the windows so they frame views of Park City Mountain Resort and Silver Creek. The doors to the deck also were replaced and topped with glass transoms to maximize the amount of light coming into the home. “We wanted to pull in as much natural lighting as we could,” says Evans.

Blackdog Builders created spaces that flow more efficiently and take advantage of the extraordinary panoramas overlooked from the upper level, where the open-plan living area includes the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. “In the kitchen, for example, we reoriented the island so … while you are sitting there, you can enjoy mountain views,” she says. In the sleeping area, the large and comfortable bed is strategically placed opposite a bank of windows to capture the play of early morning sunlight on the mountains. 

For the completely reconfigured bathroom that includes a washer and dryer, Blackdog Builders installed a knotty alder sliding barn door, which not only serves as a rustic touch but is a smart choice as it frees up floor space that would otherwise be needed by a conventional door. For comfort in the cold and snowy winter months, electric heating pads were integrated under the bathroom flooring, around the kitchen island and in the walk-in closet. 

Perhaps the biggest transformation was the living area that is now anchored by a dramatic stone fireplace wall. “The white stone, called ‘White Mountain,’ is locally sourced,” says Evans. The mantel (from North Dakota) was crafted from reclaimed wood, pulling in the old with the new. Built-in shelving and elegant cabinets surround the fireplace but also conceal a surprise. There’s a hidden door in the cabinetry system that conceals a little nook. Previously used for storage, it is now a secret playroom for Dan and Bea’s grandchildren.  

The middle level of the ADU consists of the connecting garage, where the renovation checklist included tasks like painting, installing new windows and sistering the joists in the ceiling and upper-level flooring. Once an unfinished basement used for storage, the lower level was transformed into a flexible area that serves as a gym, houses a golf simulator and provides a place to entertain. “It is now a great space with beautiful windows that face the mountains,” shares Bea.

The creation of the overall look and selection of furnishings, art, accessories and materials were managed by Blackdog Builders’ design team. “I focused on using a variety of wood and textures throughout the home to create a mountain-cozy feel,” says Evans. The kitchen has green paint-grade cabinetry with rift-sawn oak uppers while walnut was selected for the bathroom, with all cabinetry completed by Marwood Design. The kitchen backsplash and the fun green zellige tiles around the bathroom mirror were sourced from Zia Tile. 

“Designing a home from far away could have been a challenge, but Blackdog did a great job of communicating and made us feel comfortable every step of the way,” says Dan. The initial meetings were face-to-face and involved walking through the space together. After that, it was Zoom calls and emails with attached images and mood boards to visualize the various options. Dan confirms, “When it all came together, it brought the space to another level.”