PROPOSALS | Newlywed Life
Character Building LARKYN MUNGOVAN knows old homes. She is a city girl at heart—by way of San Francisco and Buffalo, New York—who renovated her own turn-ofthe-century Foursquare in Salt Lake City. Now, other old-home lovers, living in the historic neighborhoods surrounding the University of Utah, call on Mungovan when tackling space redos. “I love the challenge of renovating historic homes,” says Mungovan, the owner and lead designer for Larkyn Interiors. She lets a home dictate its own story. “Uncovering the bones of a house, especially the details with historical significance, is the best kind of project for me. It’s the quirky peach bathtub a client with a 70’s home loves or the original egg and dart crown molding from an 1890s Victorian in the Avenues—
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those features and architectural details deserve to be celebrated, especially if they bring joy to the homeowner.” Historic homes have the same set of challenges as a newlywed’s pocketbook: small and dark. But on both accounts, there’s room for growth and a little fun along the way. A peek into any of Mongovan’s boho-chic redos unveils a penchant for warm woods, colorful tile and lively patterns. “If you’re going to use pattern, I say go big or go home. I love working with young families because they are more adventurous. They might be more willing to take a risk on a wallpaper with pink birds or choose a bright blue tile for their bathroom. Design should be timeless and classic, but why not also add in an unexpected pop of pattern to make it memorable?”
PHOTOS LOGAN WALKER
Old-home advice for the newly betrothed