Susannah Holmberg Reimagines Desert Living in Moab Residence

"The scalloped brick ceiling in the kitchen of this Moab, Utah residence reveals itself through layers. First, one will notice the warm terracotta hue - an echo of the red rock formations visible through nearly every window. After, the rhythmic pattern of curves comes into focus, creating a rippling effect across the space. This ceiling is not simply decorative - it embodies the central tension that animates the entire 5,000-square-foot home; how to create a dialogue between contemporary domestic life and an ancient landscape."

"When designer Susannah Holmberg approached the Juniper Hill home for a family of seven, she confronted a challenge familiar to those working in regions of extraordinary natural beauty - a looming temptation to create a themed environment. Yet as Holmberg explains, "We tend to think that southwestern design has become a watered down interpretation of Native American symbolism and Americanized versions of Spanish influence. Our preference was to avoid both and create something entirely new.""

Susannah Holmberg designed the 5,000-square-foot Juniper Hill home in Moab, Utah, for a family of seven, resisting clichéd regional motifs to craft an original interpretation of place. The kitchen’s scalloped terracotta brick ceiling echoes red rock hues and introduces rhythmic curves that mediate between contemporary domestic needs and ancient landscape presence. The palette draws maroons, rich browns, deep blues, and greens to translate chromatic influences without literal mimicry. Material choices respond to climate and sustainability: tile floors play a functional role in a passive-solar strategy tailored to Moab’s extreme temperature swings. The design prioritizes sensory restraint and respect for the landscape.

Read at Design Milk