In real estate, perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Ranging from a charming Old Town roost as intimate as it is chic, to a mountaintop estate that hosts some of Park City’s most elegant fundraisers, the properties in this issue couldn’t be more different. Each will appeal to a very different individual. But whether the goal is a family headquarters in the heart of the action or a showpiece with a view of forever, for the right person, these homes will be the perfect fit.
A Fresh Spin
After a farsighted transformation, a commercial site shines with family-friendly appeal.
1375 Park Ave. $2,289,000. Cooper Wynn Real Estate, Linsey Hampton. 208-484-3980
For years, Silver King Suds commanded a prime spot in Old Town, spanning a double-size lot between Park and Woodside avenues. The former destination for ski bums lugging bags of laundry is now the site of a charmer of a home where “drier” more often refers to a guest’s martini preference.
Perfectly aligned with Old Town aesthetics, the simple front porch opens to a double-story living space, cleverly organized to accommodate a generous lounging zone with an open office area on one side. While this is a home that invites dogs, kids, and feet-on-the-furniture living, there’s also plenty of mountain contemporary flair: vaulted ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, and hardwood floors throughout. Most stunning is how the homeowners used straight-grain Douglas fir to enclose a former loft, creating a striking treehouse effect above the dining area.
For entertainers, this is a turnkey party space. The gleaming kitchen is command central, opening to a massive custom dining table, a breakfast bar, and an additional drinks area. You can sprinkle parsley on your frittata while keeping up with the conversation. Upstairs are three full baths and four bedrooms, including a master with fireplace and balcony. Follow the spiral staircase to the roof and you’ve got the rarest of Old Town perks: an oversized hot tub, whose installation required a special permit, a crane, and an open checkbook.
Rarer yet are the property’s four parking spaces. It’s no surprise that a two-car garage and additional driveway parking — plus its extraordinary location between Main Street and Park City Mountain Resort — make this home a hotly sought-after rental property. But then again, who wants to leave?
House of Dreams
It’s the magic of the mountains that gives this top-of-the-world fantasy its genuine allure.
9806 Summit View Dr. $17,900,000. Resorts West Real Estate, Jeff Spencer. 435-640-4770
Some Park City properties feel as though the architect’s only directive was “make it big”: The entryway is large enough for an elephant, the great room could double as a tennis court, and finding the guest wing requires a GPS.
This Deer Crest estate, though undeniably grand, is none of the above. If a 13,536-square-foot home could be described as having its feet on the ground, this is it. The great room, while easily accommodating the most splendid fundraiser, is also perfect for two couples chatting around the fire. The professional kitchen is a place where teenagers can gobble burritos at the breakfast bar. The entry’s African mahogany staircase is as welcoming as it is magnificent.
Make no mistake, there are plenty of “wow” moments, starting with the extraordinary location. Perched atop Little Baldy Peak with 4,500 square feet of heated outside deck, you can watch sunrise as you sip your morning coffee, then monitor the sunset over a goblet of pinot noir. Tracking storms as they roll across the Uinta Mountains is a thrill, and when those storms bring fresh powder, a private ski bridge takes you to the Mountaineer run.
This is first and foremost a ski house, and the builders recruited readers of Ski magazine to contribute their ideas to its design. That’s why in addition to the most beautiful ski-prep room you will ever see (double-height windows, lockers with boot warmers and driers), you’ll find a ski-in bar and a grotto tucked into the full-size pool, heated to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
And then there’s the family room, outfitted to the Nth degree, even by Park City standards (yes, that’s a DJ booth above the bar). There are all sorts of ways to “live the dream.” This might be the one that’s closest to heaven.
New Kid on the Block
Sleek spaces, jewel-box elements and the state-of-the-art tech bring sexy to upper Old Town.
491 Echo Spur. $5,200,000. Jess Reid Real Estate, Chris O’Neill. 432-901-0832
Can a kitchen seduce you? Can a powder room incite lust? Can a home office stir the soul?
This swanky hideaway, built fastidiously over three Old Town lots, proves that home is where the heart is — along with a host of other emotions. While the interiors are fine-tuned and modern, this is no chrome-and-glass cube: With its human-scaled footprint and generous nod to Park City’s mining past (rustic paneling, corrugated steel accents), this home is meant for living.
Albeit, living here comes with plenty of techy details: Your phone controls lights, air, and security; a fully wired butler’s pantry conceals any less-than-gorgeous appliances; and built-in sprinklers keep the heated doggy lawn fresh. And while your pup will appreciate that dedicated zone, everyone else will be wowed by how the outdoor spaces were engineered to take full advantage of Old Town vistas, whether you’re relaxing in the meditation garden, entertaining on the balconies, or toasting the sunset beside a firepit, one party-sized, the other designed just for two.
The home boasts three levels of uncluttered design. Up top, the office overlooks Deer Valley runs, the mudroom window frames Quittin’ Time, and a balcony feels as sweeping as a ship deck. On the main floor, a lofty great room leads to the seamlessly walnut-clad kitchen, bi-fold doors open to the patio, and the master bedroom, with its full-frontal views of Old Town, is hidden behind the staircase. Below lies the guest floor with three additional bedrooms and a lounging area connected to a kitchen and laundry, a sweet setup for self-sufficient visitors.
The only problem with their nest, say the homeowners, is that people tend to come for a few days and then linger until the next group arrives. It’s not surprising. Once you install clothes hampers in the guest closets, you’re asking for it.