A Place for Everything, and Everyone
Photography: Douglas Burke
Philadelphians Robin and Steve Altschuler bought their Old Town cottage in 2004 as a vacation home. “We never skied on the East Coast — we always flew out here,” Robin says. “As we began to fall more and more in love with Park City and spend more time in our Park City home, my husband said, ‘I don’t like the kitchen cabinets.’ Well, you know what that means. We ended up tearing the whole place apart.”
The 1870s miner’s house was lifted off its foundation, and the work began with architect Todd Mather at the helm. Though the Altschulers honor the history of the home, they also desired sleek functionality and simplicity — a place for everything and everything in its place. The entry room abounds with shelving, open cubbies and hooks. “Everything is visible,” says Robin, “because if it’s not visible, my husband will ask me where it is.” In the guest bath, open shelves hold towels and toiletries, so houseguests don’t have to search for them. “You’ll never see a shelf that doesn’t have something on it,” explains Robin. “I don’t do excess. I don’t do baskets. If you can’t find something, it’s because it’s not there!” she laughs.
The focus of the kitchen is Steve’s 600-bottle wine cellar/chiller. The doors on the cellar are glass, with stainless steel handles. Even the refrigerator doors are see-through glass. “I love having people over, but I don’t like to wait on them,” says Robin. “This way they can find what they want on their own.”
A circular chopping block with a small hole in it fits sleekly over the garbage pail, so that vegetable trimmings can drop right where they need to go. The kitchen cupboards, (which started this whole remodel) are curved to “soften” the metal surfaces. The kitchen shelving is open, like that of a restaurant, with shiny pots and pans and boxed ingredients lined up ready for use. Everything has its place, and it’s all visible. There’s even a place in this kitchen for family reflection. Tragically, the Altschulers lost one of their two sons, David, in a drowning accident several years ago. A friend crafted a quilt from David’s clothes and other treasures, creating a poignant piece of artwork that hangs framed on the wall, honoring his memory.
The Altschulers also sought to use as many natural products as possible in tiles, glasswork and stone throughout the home. There are pebble floors in restrooms; Brazilian rainforest wood floors; seaweed pressed into a glass counter, giving it a clean, Asian and organic feel. The walls throughout the home are a silvery grey. “I wanted everything neutral so that our accents would show,” explains Robin.
The “accents” are the Altschuler’s eclectic collection of art, furniture and crafts lovingly selected from around the world. A handmade needlepoint piece by Robin. A colorful painted table from Park City’s Paisley Pomegranate. Pillows, a sculpture and paintings from many family trips to Paris. Artwork from Thomas Anthony Gallery in Park City, such as a black and white painting of New York’s Central Park. A large collage of antique Tibetan fabrics, artifacts and beads. A coffee table featuring a colorful Navajo rug from Park City’s annual sale shown off under the glass. A piece of art crafted in Mexico by an artist who derives his colors from natural fibers from the plants in his garden. A funky, modern-looking fireplace with a flame that defies gravity.
“We don’t have any Western looking paintings here,” explains Robin. “I didn’t want a ski lodge. In Philadelphia, we have a painting of the Wasatch Mountains, but not here. I can see the real thing out my windows.”
Steve is president and CEO of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Robin had a successful baking business there. “When David died, I had to sort of reinvent my life,” Robin explains. I used to center my focus on both of my sons, David and Ben -- and now it’s just Ben. This home gave us a new place for new memories. A fresh start. It has really worked for us.” Married for 32 years, Robin says she and Steve (who comes out most weekends, while Robin spends about 90 percent of her time here) do “everything together,” enjoying the area’s skate and downhill skiing, hiking and road biking. Robin is also an avid runner and enjoys doing 10-mile loops in Round Valley. She loves Park City because, “Every day feels like Saturday. In Philadelphia, I have a closet full of gowns. Here, I have a closet full of workout clothes and blue jeans.”
The Altschulers’ dining room is perhaps the emotional center of their home. It features a wood inlay ceiling over the table built piece by piece by local Mike Vaughan. “The idea was to make the dining room its own space without walls. The wood really sets it off,” says Robin. And now it’s the setting for family gatherings. The Altschulers’ son Ben married Paula Fabel last summer, so the family unit numbers four once again. “Paula filled a seat at our table,” says Robin. “She filled a void in our lives. I love our Park City home because this is where Ben and Paula are now, where they’ll always come back to visit, and where my friends are always welcome.”
Writer Kristen Gould Case was touched by both the physical and emotional beauty of this family home.
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