Perched at the edge of a quiet mountain neighborhood in Draper, Utah, this family home is a compelling study in balance—between architecture and environment, family life and retreat, modern precision and organic form. Adam Frederico with Frederico Outdoor Living refers to the style as “Mountain Modern,” a term that may not yet be formalized in design textbooks, but one that feels immediately intuitive when experienced on-site.
At its core, Mountain Modern is about contrast and cohesion. It takes the strict geometry, right angles, and industrial elements of modern architecture and softens them through a thoughtful relationship with the surrounding landscape. Rather than imposing a manicured aesthetic on a rugged mountainside, this project allows the home and landscape to feel as though they belong there nested into the terrain, shaped by it, and responsive to it.
The home sits at the end of a single road, far removed from any urban context. From the outset, the location dictated the approach. This was not a cityscape in need of clean borders and formal lawns, but a mountainside environment that demanded respect. The surrounding views—rolling hills, distant valleys, and the Rocky Mountains beyond—became one of the project’s most important design elements.
Rather than framing the house with tall plantings that might obstruct these vistas, Frederico and his team intentionally kept much of the landscaping low and open. The result is a front yard that feels expansive and inviting, offering uninterrupted sightlines into the surrounding landscape. Standing on the property, the home feels less like a boundary and more like a viewing platform into nature.
This sense of openness was essential to the homeowners, who value time outdoors and wanted their property to feel like an extension of the mountains themselves.
One of the defining strengths of this project was the timing. Frederico was brought in early—while the home was still under construction—through a referral from a custom homebuilder with whom his family had a long-standing relationship. That early collaboration allowed the landscape design to evolve alongside the architecture, rather than being treated as an afterthought.
Being part of the process from the beginning meant walking the site while it was still an open canvas. Slopes, sightlines, runoff patterns, and access challenges were all considered in real time. This design-build partnership allowed for a level of integration that’s difficult to achieve once a home is already complete.
The site itself presented significant challenges. The property sits on a steep hillside, with elevation changes that required extensive retaining walls and thoughtful grading to create usable outdoor space. Machine access was limited, particularly in the upper portions of the property, requiring creative solutions—including pulley systems—to move trees and materials into place.
While the aesthetic is refined, this was never meant to be a purely showpiece landscape. The homeowners are a family with children, and the design needed to support both play and relaxation.
One of the most prominent family features is a custom in-ground, spring-free trampoline set into an artificial turf play area behind the home. Rather than surrounding it with decorative plantings, the space was intentionally left open and durable, allowing kids to run, tumble, and play freely. It’s a pragmatic decision that reflects an understanding of how families actually use their outdoor spaces—without sacrificing the overall design integrity.
At the same time, the parents wanted an oasis of their own. Throughout the property, quieter moments are woven into the layout: secluded seating areas, meandering paths, and water features designed to draw adults outdoors and encourage pause.
Water plays a central role in the emotional experience of this landscape. Multiple water features are strategically placed to provide both visual interest and ambient sound. One of the most meaningful is positioned near the primary bedroom. From inside the home, the homeowners can see the water feature through the window—and even hear it from bed. That sensory connection to the outdoors was intentional, reinforcing the idea that nature is not something you visit occasionally, but something you live alongside every day.
One of the most striking aspects of the design is how it encourages movement. Paths wind gently around the home, deliberately avoiding straight, utilitarian routes. Instead of leading directly from point A to point B, the walkways curve, turn, and reveal new perspectives as you move through the space.
This design choice slows people down. It transforms everyday movement into an experience—one that invites observation, reflection, and appreciation of the surroundings. The paths are not racetracks or shortcuts; they are invitations to look up, notice the mountains, and engage with the landscape.
Closer to the home, the pathways incorporate clean concrete lines and modern stepping patterns that echo the architecture. As you move farther away, those elements gradually give way to more natural materials, softer plantings, and organic forms. It’s a subtle but powerful transition that reinforces the Mountain Modern philosophy.
Sustainability is embedded throughout the project, often in ways that feel natural rather than performative. Plant selections focus heavily on native and water-wise species well suited to Utah’s climate. These plants provide seasonal interest while minimizing water use and long-term maintenance.
Artificial turf was used selectively in high-use areas where traditional lawn would require constant mowing and irrigation. In contrast, large portions of the property are finished with decorative rock, weed fabric, and meadow-style plantings that allow the landscape to mature naturally over time.
Stone retaining walls are another defining feature, and many of them were built using materials sourced directly from on-site excavation. In mountainous regions, boulders are often an unavoidable byproduct of construction. Rather than hauling them away, Frederico’s team reused these stones to create walls that feel inherently connected to the site. The result is a landscape that looks as though it emerged organically from the ground.
With steep slopes comes the challenge of water management, especially during snowmelt and heavy rains. This project addresses runoff thoughtfully through grading, drainage, and the inclusion of a dry creek bed that winds down the hillside.
The dry creek bed serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. During periods of runoff, it channels water safely through the property. During dry seasons, it becomes a visual feature—an echo of natural mountain streams, framed by evergreens and textured stone.
As plantings mature and trees grow taller, much of this infrastructure will become more subtly integrated into the landscape, further enhancing the sense that the property is part of a living, evolving ecosystem.
Not every area of the property is fully programmed, and that’s by design. Some spaces were intentionally left open, finished simply with compacted gravel, to allow flexibility as the homeowners grow into the space.
This approach acknowledges an important truth: people don’t always know how they’ll use a new landscape until they live in it. By avoiding over-design in certain areas, the project leaves room for future phases—whether that means outdoor dining, hosting large gatherings, or adapting the space as children grow and family needs change.
Many of the photos captured shortly after completion show young plants and newly installed features. But this project was always envisioned as something that would evolve. Trees planted along the upper hillside will eventually restore the natural canopy disturbed during construction. Groundcovers will fill in around stepping stones. Meadow areas will soften and blend more seamlessly into the surrounding terrain.
Over time, the contrast between modern structure and natural landscape will become even more pronounced—and more harmonious. This project exemplifies what Mountain Modern can be: a design philosophy that honors both human needs and natural context. It’s family-friendly without feeling casual, modern without feeling cold, and sustainable without feeling restrictive. The result is a place where architecture and environment coexist, where play and tranquility find equal footing, and where the mountains are not just a backdrop, but an integral part of daily life.
Adam Frederico, CEO/Owner
Frederico Outdoor Living
Pleasant Grove, UT
fredericooutdoor.com