A waterfall graces the living room wall, and clouds are painted on the ceiling.
Flowers and a religious verse brighten the kitchen.The Capitol Hill home of Kyle and Annie Kopitke was designed with a generous creative hand and an intent to carve out a refuge from the stresses of daily living.
The Salt Lake couple are among a growing population of homeowners who personalize their living quarters according to interest - bright paint, unique architecture and intricate detail. They also belong to an even larger group of do-it-yourself renovators.
"When people purchase a home, if it's a home they're going to be in for a long period of time, of course they want to make it their own," said Jan Lowe, a real estate agent with Lewis, Wolcott & Dornbush and a member of the National Association of Realtors.
"One of the great benefits of the market that we've had in the last few years is that any improvements they do make on the home, it's very cost-effective for them," Lowe said. "It's worth it to renovate."
While the Kopitke house may be considered an extreme - the bedroom walls are fuchsia - it's typical of the urban renewal that's attracting a younger, professional crowd to some of the city's older neighborhoods.
"We came back from (a Peace Corps duty in) the Philippines and we bought this house," Kyle Kopitke said. "I said to my wife, `Let's make it a happy, cheerful house so that after you come home from fighting the world and the eight-hour rat race, you can feel at peace.' "
The house, at 333 N. 200 West, is nearly a century old and apparently includes design traits typical of some of the city's historic government and religious centers. The story goes that the house was originally owned by a buggymaker who constructed carriages in a rear workshop.
Rather than renovate the structure to its former appearance, the couple opted to impose their own designs. They admit it has perhaps made it difficult for them to sell the home. They are leaving the area to serve a mission in Samoa for their church. The house was on the market for several weeks and was recently relisted.
"Generally, the people with creative minds really like it," Kyle Kopitke said. "Some people feel it's too distinct.
"We've had some people say, `We don't want to touch the wall murals,' " he said. "And then we've had other people say, `We want to personalize it ourselves.' "
While buyers usually appreciate neutral colors - the trend now is toward a natural look with light wood and airy chambers - a customized job is not always a negative, property specialists say.
"You know the home has at least been cared for," Lowe said. "It may not be to your taste, but it's always better to say, `I don't like the color scheme,' than, `Gee, there's a lot of deferred maintenance in the property.' "
For buyers who can recognize that potential, the savings are there, Lowe said.
"That's a very good opportunity for people who can see past (the redecoration) and who are willing to put in the work," she said. The advice is true especially with what realty experts call "grandma" houses those with a decor sometimes 15 or 20 years old.
"That will seriously affect the purchase price of the property, just because there are so few buyers who can see past that and say, `Gee, with paint and different wallpaper, I can make this a very updated house,' " Lowe said.
Do-it-yourself projects like the Kopitkes and other, more extensive renovations have made the Salt Lake home-improvement market extremely competitive, retailers say.
"People are doing their own sheet-rocking, their own painting, their own cabinets and cabinet installation (and) light fixtures," said Randy Hull, a former contractor and now sales manager for the paint and hardware departments at Ernst Home & Nursery in Bountiful.
"Women and men are doing it all," Hull said. "It's really not as hard a project as people once thought it was, and people are discovering that as they go. I used to do contractor work. Now, I'm here selling because a lot of people are doing it themselves."
A strong housing market is among the reasons Utahns are directing their spare time back into the homeplace, say homeowners and real estate agents.
"Most people are realizing to invest their money, the best way to do it is into their house," said Glenn Smith, assistant manager of the Ernst Home & Nursery store in Brickyard Plaza. "That's why this whole market is exploding with home-improvement stores."
Unlike 20 years ago, people are buying entire kitchen or bath setups to install themselves, said Rob Girard, assistant store manager for the Eagle Hardware and Garden center in Murray.
"They're doing everything from putting in a kneel-angle shower to putting in a pedestal sink," Girard said. "(Customers) are drawing out their own plans and saying, `This is what I want. Show me what you can get me and tell me how I can put it in, because I want to do it myself.' "
The Kopitkes said they've enjoyed their home and will likely redo their next one similarly.
"A home should be a husband and wife's castle and refuge from the trials of daily life," Kyle Kopitke said.