Whichever your preferred house style, Utah has it

From modern to rustic, the local housing market offers every architectural design.

There are perks to living in Utah. The people are friendly and the economy is thriving. Then there’s the incredible scenery. You’ll find deserts of red sand, mountains of powdery snow and a lake full of salt. That diversity extends to the architecture as well. From pueblo revival homes to rustic mountain homes, you’ll find a variety of styles within just a few miles — or less — of each other.

Victorian

On a saunter through the 100 blocks that make up the Greater Avenues of Salt Lake City, you’ll find many Victorian-era style houses. Beginning in the late 1800s, single-family homes were built in Tudor, Gothic, Queen Anne and Spanish Colonial Revival styles, among others, sometimes just blocks apart.

The style is distinct, with its ornate trims, multiple angles, curves and occasional towers or turrets. Roofs are steeply pitched, perfect for sloughing off Utah’s snow. 

The Victorian style isn’t limited to the capital city. As more people moved to smaller cities and towns across the state from the 1880s to 1910s, the architecture popped up everywhere. It was embraced again recently, in South Jordan’s Daybreak community.

Pueblo revival

In southwestern Utah, Pueblo revival homes became the go-to style for many years and continues today. It’s easily recognizable, with earth toned stucco walls, tile roofs and rounded corners. They tend to meld into the desert landscape.

In Washington County, neighborhoods around Ivins, Santa Clara, Washington and Hurricane have been filled with homes in the style since the 1980s. Traditionally, roofs are flat, but many have more standard rooflines today — albeit with shallower angles — to prevent leaks.

Mid-century modern

Many newer neighborhoods around Utah are embracing the mid-century modern architectural style. You’ll recognize it by the expansive, floor to ceiling windows, which are meant to enhance your connection to the outdoors. These homes are geometric, with either a flat or slightly angled roof. 

Inside, there are many partial walls and steps between rooms to create depth between spaces. Mid-century modern homes have been popular in and around Park City and St. George in recent years, but are now popping up in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch counties.

Modern desert oasis

Can’t decide between a modern or pueblo aesthetic? You don’t have to. Modern desert oasis adopts both. Built with minimal, clean lines, these homes are stark like the landscape around them, with neutral exteriors. They typically have open floor plans with large windows and high ceilings. These are popular in the southern Utah desert, but also in northern Utah builder communities.

Mountain rustic

With Utah’s amazing peaks comes mountain rustic architecture. This style of home is popular in higher elevation areas such as Summit County, but it’s also found on suburban blocks. Timber and stone are used to match the surroundings, while vaulted ceilings mimic the great outdoors. Expansive windows in rustic mountain homes let you take it all in while you cozy up to a large fireplace.

Modern farmhouse

Farmhouse architecture has been around for a while — since people built barns, in fact. Modern farmhouse houses incorporate many of those classic elements, such as an A-frame roof and a board and batten exterior. Shiplap and rustic wood are commonly used both inside and out, as are industrial accents such as black metal door handles and fixtures.

The simple style embraces straight lines in its structure, staircases and even cabinets, to create a clean aesthetic. Most modern farmhouse homes are subtle colors, although builder communities such as Daybreak in Draper and Hill Farms in Kaysville feature bright exteriors.

Find your style

Whether you’re looking to live in the city or suburb, or a more rural area, start your search on KSL Homes. You’ll find listings for both new and existing digs across Utah and Idaho.