Trends played no part in this Salt Lake City new build's creation.

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Its owners, empty-nesters relocating from Chicago, wanted the interiors to nod to the honest surrounds of their pioneer ancestors. Pretty counter skirts and floral wallpaper might be in vogue right now, but for Marianne Brown, founder of W Design Collective “the intention was to evoke something very authentic to them, regardless of what was happening in the design world.” Working with the contractors and the architect, Hebden Studios, from the ground up, she ensured that the property carried the simple English cottage-style architecture and lofty, 12-foot ceilings found in historic homes in Utah.

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Marianne drew references from across the pond—“said pioneers came over from England, so it made sense,” she says—which is how the Expert landed on contrast paintwork and a furniture-like approach to the kitchen cabinetry. The pantry entirely drenched in Farrow & Ball’s De Nimes blue with pretty delft tiles and blousy counter skirts marks a colorful turn for the self-taught designer who founded her firm in 2011 and has projects spanning both coasts, as well as a hearty tranche in her home state of Utah.

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Specializing in new constructions, Marianne relished this project for a number of reasons (it also happened to be around the corner from her own home). One was the novelty of conceiving a space for retirees: “It was fun that they’ve already had a life in a lot of ways,” she says. “We wanted to reflect that rich family history versus projecting the future, which is what happens with younger couples.”

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Another bonus was the wealth of art and furniture that the well-traveled owners had acquired, and which the decor had to align with. “I enjoy having a jumping-off point,” enthuses Marianne. Designer and client worked symbiotically together: when the latter presented their much-loved Chippendale table and chairs set, Marianne suggested a patterned wallpaper for the surrounding dining space. “It could have looked 1980s fast, so I knew that a print would help pull the space together and make the reddish wood tones feel more elevated than if the walls were just painted,” she explains. Existing sofas and chairs were reimagined through fresh upholstery, and Marianne gave the owner’s impressive plate collection pride of place by hanging some of it on the study’s walls like works of art.

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But the main element that flexed Marianne’s creative muscles was the budget limitations. Not that you’d ever know; the walk-in shower and double vanity in the principal bathroom are indulgent moments, but Marianne was savvy with her spending. She chose inexpensive tiles for the floor (and the laundry too), and Carrara marble instead of Calacatta for the shower enclosure’s walls: “You should pay for the nice marble with bigger slabs where you notice the veining, but when it’s cut to a small subway tile, you don’t have to spend as much.” The eye is instead drawn to considered accessories and interesting colors.

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Scaling back on the amount of bespoke millwork was an instant save, but specifying off-the-peg picture rails and decorative trims and painting them in contrast shades suddenly adds richness and dimension you wouldn't have had before. Choosing eight different paint colors for your home doesn’t sound economical, but it's way cheaper than a lot of other things and made it all feel very custom, explains Marianne. Of course there were some splurges too. The designer’s affection for lighting (she has since launched her own range, W.D.C Home) sees a handsome cast of delicate wall sconces, flush mounts, and statement pendants serve as more than just illumination.

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This might just be one of Marianne’s most satisfying projects. “I really love it when our clients have a strong point of view, and my role is to find a way to elevate it or to express it for them. On some level, we all need help with that…”

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