Welcome back to Zen House, the newly remodeled home of our co-owner here at The Black Goose Design, Joe Long. Joe also owns GV Construction and has put his specialized touch on many homes throughout Utah. We’ve loved seeing time being devoted to his own space. And what a striking space it is, too! See the first half of this two-part reveal here. 

 

GV Construction specializes in remodels, and this home is a gorgeous example. It was built in 1969 by iconic Utah architect Ron Mullen. What a cool starting point for the GV/Goose team! To give you an idea, take a look at this awesome before/after shots.

 

 

“Going into this project, we knew we wanted to honor the original architect’s style but elevate and modernize things,” Jessika Long, lead designer on this project, said. “From the flat roof and skylights to the sunken pit living room and fireplace focal point, the home already had so much character!”

 

Walls were removed. Additional skylights were put in. Fixtures were replaced. Ducts and piping were even moved!

 

“When we cut into the flooring, we found asbestos piping from the ‘60s,” Joe noted. “Knowing that needed to be replaced, we made the decision to overbuild the roof and place these fixtures above. Doing this makes the home far more energy efficient and adds to the overall mass of the home.”

 

“That’s the kind of thing that happens when you work with a company like GV Construction,” Jessika added. “These aren’t ‘quick flips.’ Thought and expertise are put into every stage and every aspect of the process.”

 

This home is so open and bright, which is quite impressive for a house built in the ‘60s. 

“The lighting might be my favorite thing about this house,” Jessika said. “From all of the natural light coming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and added skylights to the LED touches, it really does create ambiance.”

 

“I love that you can go into the half bath and not even have to turn on a light,” Joe added. “The light coming in from the skylight is all you need.”

 

The relaxing vibe extends to the outdoors, where you’ll find a fireplace, a zen garden, and other special touches.

 

“Because this home is a one-story rambler without a basement, I had to consider my storage space,” Joe recalled. “Not wanting to clutter up the garage, I decided to go with a shed. We built this one in such a way that it functions as storage as well as part of the overall landscaping. By extending the roof of the shed out, we were able to create a covered patio for the hot tub.”

 

The cold plunge and sauna are also in this relaxation equation. What a lovely way to start any day!

 

Of course, there’s a finishing touch on the front, exterior wall that really sets the tone for this Zen House.

“I work on many projects with a stone mason who treats every project like a work of art,” Joe noted. “One day during the building process, I came out to find a covered pallet. It held a yin-yang made of stone. I loved it and knew it belonged right on the front of the house. Now, I have neighbors and passers by stopping often to tell me how much they love the design. I was touched to receive such a gift.”

 

“That’s the thing about GV Construction,” Jessika added. “They’ve fostered amazing relationships and quality partnerships with their subcontractors. Working with them, you know you’ll have dedicated, skilled artisans involved with your project.”

 

Want to embark on a remodel of your own? Contact GV Construction at 801.566.8903 or reach out to Joe directly at joe@gardnervillage.com. At The Black Goose Design, we’d love to help fill your newly remodeled space with the perfect furnishings and décor details. For ideas and more examples of Jessika’s work, including projects completed by GV Construction, check out @JesskiaLongCollective on Instagram. Finally, we’d like to thank Lindsay Salazar Photography for providing most of the images in this post.

 

Don’t forget, you can see more of Joe’s calming Zen House here. We hope it leaves you feeling relaxed, recharged, and inspired!