Welcome to Zen House! We’re so excited to share this remodel with you. We love all of our design reveals, but this one holds an extra special spot in our hearts. The home belongs to our co-owner here at The Black Goose Design, Joe Long, who also owns GV Construction, our sister company and the company who worked on this job. This is a two-part reveal. You can see the second half here. 

 

“Joe works so hard on each and every project he and his team do,” Jessika Long, the lead designer on this project, said. “It’s really nice to see that same love and effort be put into his home.”

 

Jessika is a not only the talented real estate agent and interior designer on this home project, she’s also Joe’s daughter. Who better to know just what vibe to create for his home?

 

“Getting to know my clients is an important part of my process, both as a real estate agent and a designer,” Jessika said. “I need to understand their vision and hopes for their home. Designing for my dad made that part easy. I loved working with him and selecting things that felt perfectly suited to his tastes and personality.”

 

“What a blast it was doing this project with my kid,” Joe added. “It’s really awesome to now live in this home and see her special touches throughout.”

 

The great thing about working with Jessika, GV Construction, and The Black Goose Design is that you don’t have to be family to be treated that way. Knowing you is always a top priority, and attention to detail is never sacrificed.

 

On this, the Zen House, you’ll see that quality throughout!  

 

“I wanted my home to be open enough for family and friends to gather while really focusing on everyday living,” Joe said. “That’s where the name Zen House came from; I wanted the surroundings to create a calm, light, relaxing atmosphere.”

 

“I know how important Joe’s morning routine is to him,” Jessika added. “That very much factored into our design choices. The outcome is peaceful yet intentional. Every space is used well and suited to Joe’s lifestyle, including the cold plunge, hot tub, and sauna, which he uses daily.”

 

The vision for this space started before the “sold” sign was even up.

“Before we even made an offer on the home, Joe and I were walking through it and bouncing ideas off each other,” Jessika recalled. “For instance, we knew we’d want to build on to the main bedroom to create a true owner’s suite. This kind of collaboration is what makes walkthroughs so much fun. Plus, it helps clients feel more confident and excited about their purchase.” 

Once the paperwork was complete and the home was Joe’s, everyone set to work on the remodel. This including building out into the yard to create the spacious owner’s suite. It features 10’ ceilings, includes an en suite bathroom (something the main bedroom didn’t originally have), and adds an impressive closet.

 

 

DESIGN SELECTION

Every color, material, and finish comes back to Joe’s personality.

 

“Knowing Joe, I knew this home had to have a mountain flavor,” Jessika said. “We started by selecting hardwood flooring and stonework. Wanting to cover much of the drywall, we then incorporated various natural elements. The walls transition from stone to concrete panels to metal. It all works together to create an earthy atmosphere.”

 

FURNITURE & FINISHING TOUCHES

One of the more challenging aspects of this redesign was making the furniture flow well.

 

“Because we took out so many walls to open up the space, it eliminated some of the more obvious furniture placement options,” Jessika noted. “My goal was making it easy to pass from one space to another. My challenge in doing so was making this open area also feel like separate, cozy spaces.”

 

Digital renderings, drawings, and tape to the rescue! It’s one of the many reasons it makes sense to work with a professional designer. They know how to create and furnish a floorplan in a way that supports how you’ll use the home. Plus, you won’t run into unwelcome surprises when a piece of furniture doesn’t fit or feels too small. The same is true for the exterior as well. It all gets concepted before the reality comes to be. Here's a look at the original landscaping art.

 

“Drawing everything up on paper and on the computer makes all the difference,” Jessika said. “I also measure and tape areas off to mark where furniture will go. Having visuals helps all involved!”

 

What about the task of creating separate spaces? It’s all in how you group your furniture. Rugs also work to mark the foundation of a seating area.

 

Like the foundational choices, the furniture and accents evoke a natural feel. Through earth tones, natural finishes, plants, and nature-inspired artwork, the calm created by the great outdoors can definitely be felt throughout.

 

There is more to see and learn about the Zen House, including the always-fun-to-see 'before' photos. Join us again next week for part 2. In the meantime, love something you see? Odds are we can get it for you. Contact The Black Goose Design or stop by to see what’s new. For more on GV Construction, you can reach email Joe directly at Joe@gardnervillage.com or you can call or text 801-566-8903. To see more of Jessika’s work and projects done by GV Construction, check out @JessikaLongCollective on Instagram.

 

A special thanks to Lindsay Salazar Photography for providing most of the photographs used in this post. 

 

See you next week for more!