7 min readBy any stretch of the imagination, 25,000 square feet makes for a large home. There’s not much you don’t have room for at that size, so designing a functional and beautiful space is less about cramming everything in and more about making sure the home still feels intimate and digestible.
Such was the challenge that sat at the heart of designer Ali Henrie’s recent project in Bluffdale, Utah, where she was tasked with creating a home expansive enough for a growing family—and the countless friends, relatives, and guests who regularly fill it—while ensuring every room felt personal, stylish, and layered. The clients, who had recently stayed at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel and fell in love with the interiors, were drawn to a sense of relaxed sophistication, but were uninterested in recreating a trend. Instead, they wanted a house that reflected who they were: colorful, eclectic, welcoming, and unabashedly themselves.
"The goal was to create a space that felt timeless, minimal, and reflective of their lifestyle," Henrie explains. While many large homes lean formal or overly polished, this one was designed to feel welcoming and inclusive from the start.
Still, the scale alone presented a unique challenge. With eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a sports court, golf simulator, arcade, and a separate 2,000-square-foot pool house, every inch required careful consideration. "We wanted each space to reflect the client's style and vision, while maintaining a thoughtful, holistic approach throughout," says Henrie.
What makes the finished home so compelling isn't any single showstopping feature, though there are plenty of those, including a 17-foot kitchen island, a custom U-shaped banquette designed to bridge the kitchen and family room, suspended mirrors in the primary bath, and walls finished in plaster throughout nearly 90 percent of the home. Rather, it's the way those moments work together to make a house of this size feel surprisingly intimate.
Henrie leaned heavily on natural materials, layered textures, mixed metals, and custom furnishings to create warmth and depth. Pattern appears often but thoughtfully. Color shows up in unexpected places. Even the most playful spaces—from the arcade tucked beneath the garage to the bunk room designed for sibling sleepovers—feel connected to the larger story.
“I love how the finished home really reflects the personality of the family who lives there,” Henrie says. “Large homes can sometimes feel overwhelming, so we focused on creating moments of intimacy and connection through layered materials, thoughtful seating areas, and spaces designed for gathering. Even with the scale of the home, its expansive rooms and vaulted ceilings, it still feels grounded and comfortable.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Ali Henrie
Architect: Hebdon Studios
Builder: Robison Home Builders
Location: Bluffdale, Utah
The Space: An 8-bedroom, 13-bathroom new-build home across 25,000 square feet
KITCHEN
An expansive window over the sink offers unobstructed views of the backyard.
Packed with color, texture, and standout stone, it’s hard to pick a hero feature in the kitchen—but if she had to, Henrie would give the 17-foot island that accolade. “While it turned out to be an incredible feature, we had to be very thoughtful with the design to make it intentional and not overwhelming,” she adds. To achieve this, she visually separated it with materials, highlighting a functional butcher block in the center seating section with a countertop on either side.
Nearby, a custom plaster hood and marble slab backsplash add additional layers of luxury. “We searched extensively to find the right marble with strong, contrasting veining, and the result brings a real sense of character to the space,” says Henrie. “The plaster hood softens the space and brings in that cozy, lived-in feel we always aim for.”
DINING ROOM
Beams on the ceiling add a subtle touch of heritage.
Located right off the kitchen, the formal dining room is fit for a crowd, with cocoon-like barrel dining chairs that encourage dinner party guests to linger. “The view into the room is anchored by a limestone fireplace with commissioned artwork above,” adds Henrie. “White the simplicity of the walls is balanced by the color and texture introduced through the chairs and rug.”
LIVING ROOM
A mixture of natural materials and understated texture adds warmth.
One of the first places you see when you walk into the home, Henrie wanted to make sure the living room set the tone for the rest of the house. “It blends earthy materials with soft, subtle, and playful patterns seen on the tan sofa,” she says. “At the same time, the plaster walls and textured stone fireplace help ground the space, creating that ‘lived-in’ feel.”
POOL HOUSE KITCHEN
The blue cabinetry plays off the nearby outdoor space.
In the pool house, Henrie leaned into the fun, relaxed feel of the space with blue kitchen cabinetry that ties back to the pool setting. “One of the best features of the kitchenette is the pass-through windows, which open up completely and connect to an outdoor bar area with extended countertop seating,” she adds.
PLAYROOM
An oversized desk creates ample room for homework and art projects.
The site of many a childhood memory, the centrally located playroom has a spot for everything, from building blocks to learning math. “The abstract floral wallpaper adds a playful touch, with colors that tie in seamlessly with the cabinetry,” adds Henrie.
SON’S ROOM
A dedicated window reading nook brings the charm.
Designed for the couple’s youngest son, this handsome space is replete with sophisticated details that will allow it to grow alongside its young occupant. Oak-lined walls bring richness and texture, while a wallpapered window nook encourages imagination.
BUNK ROOM
Full-sized beds are comfortable enough for adults and kiddos alike.
Located in the basement, the bunk room was designed as a simple yet effective retreat for guests, regardless of age. “The custom built-in bunk beds maximize the space while still feeling inviting and comfortable,” adds Henrie. “We accented the room with a soft green tone to keep it feeling fresh and added drapes to the top bunks for a detail that softens the overall look and adds another texture.”
DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM
Artwork acted as the foundation for the space.
“We wanted this girl’s bedroom to feel playful, while still offering something she could grow into over time,” explains Henrie. The window alcove is lined with a soft, feminine floral wallpaper, while a mix of materials—linen on the bed, boucle on the stools, velvet on pillows—adds quiet contrast. “The art on the walls was picked specifically by our client. She has loved this artist for a while and knew these pieces belonged in her daughter’s room, so we were excited to incorporate them in a way that feels both whimsical and meaningful,” the designer adds.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
Inky walls create a moody, mystical retreat.
“We do a lot of light colored and neutral bathrooms, so we were excited when the clients were up for a more moody primary bathroom,” says Henrie of the primary bathroom, which she swathed in Railings by Farrow & Ball. “We offset the dark by bringing in lighter limestone and marble floor tiles to create a checkered floor pattern.”
HER CLOSET
Soft color drenching brings understated glamour.
“‘Her’ closet was the perfect opportunity to design a custom makeup vanity and create a functional closet with just the right amount of feminine touches,” says Henrie. Alongside herringbone wood floors and color-drenched walls, the chandelier is made of a beaded material and accented with brass details, helping to “soften” the room and add a warm, layered feel.
OFFICE
Ample natural light allowed the design team to go darker with the palette.
A pair of business owners, the clients asked Henrie for a home office that was functional yet appealing as a backdrop for Zoom calls. “The space gets a ton of natural light, which gave us the chance to bring in some darker tones and a more masculine feel without making it feel too heavy,” she adds. “We continued the oak tongue-and-groove wall paneling used throughout other areas of the home, but instead of painting the paneling, we did a darker stain in here to add more depth and richness while still seeing the grain of the wood. Paired with charcoal cabinetry and a walnut desk, the space ended up feeling warm, moody, and inviting.”
LAUNDRY ROOM
Checkerboard floors lend an old-world appeal.
One of two laundry rooms in the space, this upstairs zone sits just off the primary suite for convenience. “While it has great proximity to the closets, it also sits at the end of a hallway, which has a public view,” explains Henrie. “We took this as an opportunity to create a thoughtful, composed vignette that anchors the end of the hall. Every detail was considered, from the flooring and cabinetry to the scale and pattern of the wallpaper.”
About the Designer
An Ali Henrie space is best described as timeless interiors for everyday living—characterized by her ability to create memorable, classic spaces without sacrificing the comforts and customization of home. After living all over the country, Ali and her family relocated to Utah, where she founded her namesake design studio. Her diverse résumé includes working for Emily Henderson Design as well as a stint as a fashion stylist, which made her adept at mixing tones, textures, and patterns. When she isn’t designing, you will find her looking for inspiration in her daily life as she practices yoga, skis, and spends time outdoors with her family.
