Project House 2023: A Fox Tale

For this Project House 2023 installment, we are talking shop—specifically, The Fox Shop. It’s a dream destination for homeowners, where Cara Fox offers her local Utah community luxurious pieces and curated collections.

While not everyone will be able to live in the Fox Group’s handiwork when the Project House 2023 is complete, anyone can get a little bit of The Fox Group’s refined design aesthetic at its brick-and-mortar shop, aptly named The Fox Shop. With its stunning blue façade and a diverse collection of wares, including custom furniture, European antiques, lighting, rugs, dresses, jewelry and art from international artists, the shop is a transportive experience, whether you’re a customer or just a local passing by. And that’s exactly why the shop brings Cara, owner of The Fox Group, so much joy. “My shop is my happy place,” she says. “It’s like a collection of all my favorite things brought together.”

The Fox Shop storefront white with blue details — Charmed, I’m Sure. If Cara could use one word to describe the exterior for The Fox Shop, it would be “charming.” A striped awning adds instant charm as well as a classic feel. It’s painted in Old Navy by Benjamin Moore. “I think navy is the most classic and timeless of all the blues, so I ultimately chose a bright navy for our exterior,” she says.

Holladay Utah with Rocky Mountains, home of The Fox Group and Fox Shop — Charmed, I’m Sure. If Cara could use one word to describe the exterior for The Fox Shop, it would be “charming.” A striped awning adds instant charm as well as a classic feel. It’s painted in Old Navy by Benjamin Moore. “I think navy is the most classic and timeless of all the blues, so I ultimately chose a bright navy for our exterior,” she says.

Art Gallery. Art is by far the most popular item at the shop, with original and giclee oil paintings, antique art and custom-commissioned art all available for purchase. As for the rest of the inventory, Fox Shop visitors can expect classic and timeless décor with pops of modern fun available too. “Every piece in our shop is special and unique—and that’s the way we want it,” Cara says.

The Fox Shop storefront with blue and white awning and blue trim and door — Window Shopping. The window designs change throughout the seasons. “Our windows are meant to give customers ideas for decorating for the seasons and also give a sense of what they will find inside our shop,” Cara says. “We love displaying our favorite and new finds here!”

blue and white antique couch at The Fox Shop — Window Shopping. The window designs change throughout the seasons. “Our windows are meant to give customers ideas for decorating for the seasons and also give a sense of what they will find inside our shop,” Cara says. “We love displaying our favorite and new finds here!”

Big-City Fun, Small-Town Warmth. The Fox Shop is located in Holladay, Utah, where Cara grew up, and it is a beautiful gift back to the community that raised her. “The shop is in the same little downtown area I walked around as a child and youth,” she says. “I always dreamed of being able to do this. To see the shop and watch my own children, neighbors and friends come by and pop in is absolutely amazing.” It isn’t simply customers she helps at her shop; it’s her neighbors, friends and community. “It’s an amazing feeling to help the people I love decorate their homes with special finds from my shop,” she says.

Fox Shop with gallery wall showcasing different artists' work — Moment of Maximalism. Cara is passionate about bringing the classic New England traditional style of maximalism to Utah. “It’s gaining a lot of popularity here in the last couple of years,” she says. “It allows for fun patterns and colors to mix and be over-incorporated, creating so much character and style into a single room. It’s an abundance of delight for the eye!” This is a corner of The Fox Shop that spotlights different artists. The wall is changed monthly, so it’s always different when customers come in.

Holladay Utah home remodeled and renovated by The Fox Group working on Project House 2023 — Moment of Maximalism. Cara is passionate about bringing the classic New England traditional style of maximalism to Utah. “It’s gaining a lot of popularity here in the last couple of years,” she says. “It allows for fun patterns and colors to mix and be over-incorporated, creating so much character and style into a single room. It’s an abundance of delight for the eye!” This is a corner of The Fox Shop that spotlights different artists. The wall is changed monthly, so it’s always different when customers come in.

Local Love. Holladay is a family friendly place with small-town charm and big-city access, situated right outside Salt Lake City. “We have our local pharmacy next door where everyone knows your name,” Cara says. “There are incredible restaurants, a locally owned grocery store and several bakeries that have been there since I was a little girl. They have the most delicious breads and cakes you could imagine. I used to work at one of those bakeries in high school, so it’s especially special to me!”

scalloped edge shelving in Fox Shop — Sweet Scallops. A shop shelf features a delicate scallop design. “I will never say ‘been there, done that’ to a scallop,” Cara says. “They are my absolute favorite shape and I love to use them whenever I can.” They were inspired by her travels to England and especially the Cotswolds, where she saw similar shapes in the cute shops and homes there.

canopy style bed with antique French bench — Sweet Scallops. A shop shelf features a delicate scallop design. “I will never say ‘been there, done that’ to a scallop,” Cara says. “They are my absolute favorite shape and I love to use them whenever I can.” They were inspired by her travels to England and especially the Cotswolds, where she saw similar shapes in the cute shops and homes there.

The Fox Shop is the perfect culmination of Cara’s experience. “After years of doing interior design for clients, curating special pieces and sources, along with creating relationships with so many artisans and craftsmen, it’s a place where I can share all of our finds with my friends and family,” she says. It’s truly a community hub, bringing Holladay together through art and design.

ARTO tile has been selected for the 2023 Project House. Here’s a tiny peek into a few of the 25 tile styles that will be used:

1. Kitchen walls: White & Blue Caballo

white and blue tile with horse for Project House 2023 — 1. Kitchen walls: White & Blue Caballo

2. Laundry room floor: Oleson in Aloe Vera

Laundry room floor for Project House 2023 — 2. Laundry room floor: Oleson in Aloe Vera

3. Jack-n-Jill bathroom floor: Oleson in Battleship

Jack-n-Jill bathroom floor tile for Project House 2023 — 3. Jack-n-Jill bathroom floor: Oleson in Battleship

4. Basement powder room floors: Arabesque in Charcoal

tile for Project House 2023 powder room floor — 4. Basement powder room floors: Arabesque in Charcoal

Views from Viewmont Street

Our project house is making progress!

1. July 2022: This empty lot in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Holladay, Utah, is just the beginning.

2. August 2022: The foundation is in and the main-floor framing and exterior walls have begun.

3. September 2022: Framing for the entire home is finished, revealing the profile of the build.

4. October 2022: All the interior framing and walls have been finished.

exterior of Project House 2023 under construction

5. November 2022: The staircase framing has been installed and the window sizes have been cut and finalized. Window metal strips on the exterior have also been installed. The weather barrier on the roof is being laid.

interior stairway construction of Project House 2023

6. January 2023: The plumbing has been installed and framing on the house is almost done as well. Next up: drywall and window and door installations.

house construction of Project House 2023

Stay tuned for more as Project House 2023 develops! In the meantime, if you love seeing the transformation of a home, catch up on our Project House 2022. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!