A Skyridge Masterpiece
FROM HIBBS LUXURY HOMES & LH DESIGN
Written By: Lisa Johns
Photos By: Jahshua Grover
Kelly and Matt day knew they wanted to build their post-retirement home in Park City, Utah. Its dramatic landscape and vibrant recreational culture made it a family vacation destination for over 20 years. Summers were spent exploring the lush valleys and hiking in forests thick with Aspen and Fir trees, while winters transformed the mountains into their ski haven. Indeed, Park City’s buzz and beauty beckoned. They answered by purchasing land in Skyridge.
Nestled between the Jordanelle Reservoir and Wasatch Mountains, the new community offers year round adventures, luxurious amenities, and access to premier ski resorts. The vision for their mountain retreat was befitting its future location. An oasis where they could comfortably host family and friends alike, it would evolve from a vacation home into their forever home. With the dream location and concept in place, they only needed a dream team to make it happen.
However, the Days, who lived on the East Coast, did not know any local builders. They started their search with recommendations from their real estate agent, followed by thorough online research. With a pared down list, they booked a trip to Park City to interview prospects in person. After all, this was personal. On the other end of the construction timeline, it was more than a house, it was a place they would call home. Perhaps, then, it is no surprise that they chose Hibbs Luxury Homes, a family owned custom home builder that delivers the intimacy and attention of a smaller firm with the services and capabilities of a larger one.
Founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife team Kim and Jan Hibbs, Hibbs Luxury Homes initially catered to clients in St. Louis, Missouri. Their expansion into the Park City market happened rather organically, as the couple has long standing ties to the area. For the last three decades, the Hibbs family has split time between St. Louis and their family home nestled along the Park City golf course. “We were actually sitting at the Park City Parade, talking about how we wanted to expand the business. And that was where the idea was born, I’ll never forget it on Main Street at the Fourth of July Parade,” Kim recalls. Within a year, that casual conversation on Main Street became the reality of a fully operational Park City branch of Hibbs Luxury Homes.
They quickly distinguished themselves from other builders as one of the only ones in Wasatch Back focused exclusively on ground up home construction. Hibbs Luxury Homes has never built the same home twice. They are also one of only a few RESNET high performance builders, demonstrating their commitment to building energy efficient homes that are more affordable to maintain and more comfortable to live in. In fact, Kim has been a Master Certified Green Professional a highly specialized certification for industry professionals proficient in green building science and strategies for 15 years. High-performance techniques and high quality materials result in high-end homes that are more durable, resource efficient, and provide a healthier environment for their occupants.
Hibbs Luxury Homes also happens to be the preferred home builder for the Days’ SkyRidge community. But if you ask why they partnered with Hibbs, the Days cite more than their decades of experience, superior materials, and meticulous craftsmanship. Ultimately, it came down to relationships. As Kelly observes, “We knew going into it that we would be working closely with whomever we selected for a long time, and we just felt comfortable with the Hibbs team from day one. They were honest and responsive in a way that gave us confidence we would enjoy working together and we have!”
Kim echoes this sentiment: “What really makes the difference with what we do, what makes the project special, is developing a relationship with the client.” That partnership is strengthened through trust, which Hibbs Luxury Homes nurtures by embedding their core values into every aspect of their highly structured approach. Unmatched communication, unwavering integrity, and dedication to detail guide each project from discovery to warranty. “We have written processes that everyone in the company follows. Over the last 20 years, whenever we hit a pinch point, we would update our manual. So, it details everything,” Kim continues. “If the builder is organized, transparent, and communicates exceptionally well, it can actually be a rewarding process.”
“We knew going into it that we would be working closely with whomever we selected for a long time, and we just felt comfortable with the Hibbs team from day one. They were honest and responsive in a way that gave us confidence we would enjoy working together and we have!”
–Kelly Day, Homeowner
However, Hibbs Luxury Homes does not just hold itself to these standards; it partners with others who share their commitment to excellence. So, when the Days needed someone to translate their Pinterest and Houzz boards into a cohesive design narrative and guide them through the many decisions along the way, Kim was quick to recommend Lydia Huffman, the owner of LH Designs. As Kim puts it, “The LH Design team is extremely organized and process and procedures based, like us. It’s just a good, comfortable fit.” Seattle based with a nationwide clientele, LH Designs’ approach is consistent.
“For us, designing remotely is exactly the same [as designing locally]. The steps we take with our clients and builders are identical state to state,” Lydia says. Their philosophy of simplifying the building process is evident in their thorough design packages, which help connect the dots between vision and execution. By documenting choices, pacing decision making, and maintaining communication with builders, they want to make the experience not only stress free but also enjoyable for their clients. Lydia shares, “It is about pouring love into each and every project. The client knows we love what we do, which is contagious!” The Days certainly felt it. Following a successful in person interview, LH Designs was invited to round out their dream team.
A custom home begets a custom experience, and Hibbs Luxury Homes and LH Designs respect the uniqueness of each client relationship. Everything from progress reports to communication cadence is tailored to individual needs. Self described Type A personality Kelly requested full access to detailed Gantt charts, budgets, and real time schedules. With a robust infrastructure and sophisticated technology, the team provided this insight so she could focus on immediate decisions without feeling overwhelmed by the project’s overall scope. It also helped ease the angst of managing a remote build. With a few exceptions, most Hibbs Luxury Homes clients are building their dream home from afar, so it helps to have a team with a bias for process and precision. As Lydia puts it, “After Kim introduced us to the Day family, right off the bat, it was the builder, client, and design team all moving forward with the Days’ vision in a synchronized format.” Working in true partnership, Hibbs Luxury Homes and LH designs deliver a more seamless experience, keeping clients connected to their team and their homes, no matter the distance.
“If the builder is organized, transparent, and communicates exceptionally well, it can actually be a rewarding process.”
–Kim Hibbs, Hibbs Luxury Homes
Construction began on the Days’ SkyRidge lot in April 2023. By June 2024, the 5,381-square-foot sanctuary with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms was completed. Poised on a premiere lot at the base of Deer Valley Resort, this luxury home is a master class in how mountain charm meets timeless elegance. Generous glass panels and sliders showcase sweeping views of the Wasatch peaks and the Jordanelle waters. Full length, covered patios provide a serene option for enjoying the outdoors. The primary bedroom, the only one on the main level, adjoins a private office and offers direct access to the central patio. In its ensuite bathroom, a soaker tub takes advantage of expansive windows that frame the Jordanelle. The kitchen boasts a full butler’s pantry and an oversized island for intimate parties. For larger gatherings, the adjacent dining room includes custom banquette seating oriented toward stunning panoramic views. The lower level affords plenty of space for family and friends to relax, and a built in popcorn bar in the corner of the family room adds cinematic flair to every family movie night.
“For us, designing remotely is exactly the same [as designing locally]. The steps we take with our clients and builders are identical state to state.”
–Lydia Huffman, LH Design
The client knows we love what we do, which is contagious!”
–Lydia Huffman, LH Design
Interestingly, some of the home’s most notable design features were outside the original plans. When asked how they could make the dining room unique, the LH Design team recommended a herringbone design in white oak for their box ceiling. The StackStone on the fireplace wall, the arched entry to the butler’s pantry, and even the custom entry door, with its mix of black powder coated metal and organic wood, were all inspired at later stages of the project. It is a testament to how Hibbs Luxury Homes and LH Designs’ established systems create an opportunity for creative freedom.
By the time they got to the interiors, many of the requisite decisions had already been made, so, as Lydia observes, “We have these things sequentially done, and then we got to just dive into the fun stuff!” And the result is, as the Days anticipated, more than a house instead, it is a forever home. As Kelly shares, “Everything about our home, from the floorplan to fixtures and finishes, was carefully planned to work with our style and exactly how we know we like to live. It’s been even better than we anticipated. I’m looking forward to when we can live there full time in a few years.”
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