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Show Pag 2C, Laksld Review, May V' 6, 1981 teif t J ; 'yt; ,; ; :. .V; , X .V : vy .t t Ur f', 'tf f . , ' ,v ,V 8 , :' ) ,: si ' r '..' y . ' ; Vr ' '. I J i S:r Ceisil' Hieilhi By Marilyn L. Karras Staff Writer f:. J LAYTON A lot of people dream of. someday owning a home high on a hill away from crowds and noise. Nearly everyone has an idea of what that home would be like, but not everyone actually gets to live in their dream house. Gary Willeys dream is of a unique house like an English castle, with private woods and waterfalls, towering ceilings, lots of open space and windows. And Willeys dream is different it is from most in another way true. coming ; Willey says there are other homes as big as his, and some may even claimas spectacular a view, but there are no other homes just like Willeys castle it is an original. i Situated on the edge of Forest Serv-vic- e land at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains in Layton, it can be seen above the trees and neighboring homes, the pinnacles of its turrets giving just a hint of its distinctive design. But, it is Impossible to see the entire structure from any single viewpoint. The forest hides it from view as the visitor drives up winding streets toward the house, and when you finally arrive, the size of the different portions that make up the vast expanse of the house cannot be appreciated until seen from ' several angles. The exterior setting of the home is almost too perfect to be real; its more like something out of a Disney animated movie, surrounded by trees, and mountains and overlooking the green valley and Great Salt Lake. The view from Willeys front door, or what eventually will be the front door,; is unreal. On a clear day, you may not be able to quite see forever, but a glimpse of the mountains of California seems distinctly possible, i Construction crews, headed by general contractor Jay McDonald of Layton, have been working on the house for about a year, Willey said. .Its taking longer than I thought it would; weve probably got another eight to 10 months to go before its finished, he said. Already, the home is a popular for area residents and even some from out of state. McDonald estimates that 2,000 people visit the home on an average week, most of them on Saturdays and Sundays when it creates practically a traffic jam. : Willey said he doesnt mind people walking through the home while its being built, but sometimes it gets so the carpenters cant get their work done. will be stained glass. Tall chimney to the left will house a bell. Three-ca- r garage is to the far left Area above entry will be upper level den with ONLY A SMALL PORTION of the front of Gary Willeys magnificent home in Layton is visible in this photo which shows the front entry which will be set between two round, pointed turrets. Many of the huge front windows THIS VIEW looks down to living room from upper level. Celling In the living room 23 feet high and In the adjacent foyer it vaulta to 32 feet. outdoor deck. mi He has put up a large sign which warns people to keep their children off the scaffolding, which is nearly 40 feet high ii some places in the magnificent foyer and living roon - family room area. The home, being 'built to Willeys the heavy, old English mode of the exterior with the airy, open feeling of more modern architecture inside. I like open space, with high ceilings and few walls, Willey said. As he guided this interviewer through the more than 8000 square feet of the home, Willey left the distinct impression that he is having a lot of fun with the project; At 44, hes a man who enjoys building, enjoys the challenge involved in huge construction projects. Owner of Village Properties, a development company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Willey supervises the construction of large projects, primarily hotels. He has own design, incorporates A concrete and stone stairway surrounded by windows will lead from the family room, behind th the fireplace to an upper level room above the three-ca- r garage. This area, which will include about 1,700 square feet, will enclose a recreation room with billiard table, television and a trophy room for animal trophies Willey brought home from hunting trips to Alaska and Africa. Also in this upper area will be a maids completely apartment with kitchen, bath, bedroom and sitting room. A deck over the garage doors will include a barbecue area and is built with brass and 8 by 6 inch wooden beam railing. The two towers flanking the front entry had to be built on the ground and cranes lifted into place by 100-fobecause of the Intricate framework involved, Willey said. The north tower will enclose a cirbuilt hotels including Hiltons, cular oak stairway to an upper level Sheratons and Rodeway Inns in seven area again surrounded by windows. states and 13 cities. The tower south of the entry will be Currently he is building a Rodeway used as a gallery for art pieces. An ' Inn and Hilton in Wyoming and a level study over the foyer is Sheraton Hotel near the Tucson, upper accessible from another circular Ariz., airport. He has also built several stairway in the tower and features large apartment complexes, including another deck. 2,000 units near Brigham Young University. To the right of the foyer is an office He developed an appreciation for old den with rock fireplace and beyond that English architecture during frequent is Willeys foot master trips to Europe where he stayed in old bedroom. A third tower is . homes. castles and castle-lik- e located in the bedroom and encloses a Most of the homes 8,000 square feet hot tub and terrarium area with an are on one level, with about 2,000 square upper level breakfast area which, feet on upper levels. When complete, Willey said, has the best view in the the front entry will greet guests with a house. porch encompassing the French doors lead from the master front of two round towers or turrets. bedroom to the by Heavy wrought iron gates will enclose swimming pool outside. , The huge oak front doors. An electric light-ga-s bedroom area also includes a steam with inhalation room. torch combination will light the room-saun- a Another high ceiling in the room is fanentry. Inside, Willey explained that a huge shaped from the double doors to the open area, with ceilings 23 to 32 feet tower. high, includes the elevated living room, Two guest bedrooms and baths are family room, kitchen and foyer. Two located at the rear of the house. will in holes the be flooring large Willeys dream home is set on two planting areas with trees 25 feet high and a waterfall, he said. Oak railing acres bordered by Forest Service land on the east and 22 acres of county picnic will separate the areas. There are six fireplaces in the home. area on the south. His nearest neighOne in the living room will be of marble bor is 1,000 feet away to the north. I havent had any complaints from and oak and the family room fireplaace will be constructed in a unique way of the neighbors yet, he said. I think its stone, copper and oak with a hood because Im kind of isolated here. cantilevered out from the fireplace People have been very neighborly. ot 1,650-squa- 700-foo- tWO. ' ; Many of the large front windows will be of stained glass. Willey designed unique features into the exterior, with wrought iron in the shape of a peacock on one tower and a sun dial on another. A bell in the top of one of the uniquely-shape- d chimneys will contain a musical chime. Willey, who Is single after the recent death of his wife, has two teenage sons from a previous marriage who live nearby. He said his dream of a castle on a hill began forming when he was a teenager himself. Ive looked at houses since I was 1 guess Ive walked on 18, he said. just about every piece of property between Lagoon and Weber Canyon, looking for the right site. Willey grew up on a farm west of Ogden in ' an home, but a ordinary farmhouse-typ- e bedroom he shared with a brother was an addition not connectected to the 65-fo- ot 17-1- of tile from California with copper roofing on the towers. wood-wor- k in the house 4s done being by McDonald and other subcontractors are also from the Davis-Sa- lt Lake County areas. Intricate Jim McMurrin, an architecture at the University of Utah helped Willey with the design and plans. The open style of the design allows a person in the bedroom area to look the student entire length of the home to the area ' over the 157 feet. From the garage upper level study over the foyer, 4,000 square feet of open area is visible.. , The price tag on Willeys dream house will be about $1.3 million, according to builders estimates. Two. people have been impressed enough with the house to convince Willey to allow them to build the same one in Denver and one in plan California. He said it wouldnt bother him if someone copied his design, because he it was gets satisfaction knowing, ' ; original with him. The thing I like about it is that nothing in the design was taken from any other house, he said. . re 20-fo-ot conopening enclosing a versation pit. A greenhouse will be located behind the kitchen area which will include two eating areas, one in the center of one of the planting areas. t main house and quite cramped. Though hes a bachelor now, Willey plans to have a lot of company at his new home. He estimates he can entertain 400 people at one time inside the two main areas of the house. Traveling for both business and pleasure takes much of Willeys time. He owns a condominium in Park Gty and plans to buy another in San Diego. houseboat He is also having a built for trips to Lake Powell and California. , I have a goal to visit 100 foreign countries, Willey said. Ive been to 78 so far, so I try to tour another country each year. The interior will be decorated in traditional style, continuing the old English mode of the home. Willey said most of the furniture will be built by a company outside of Los Angeles that specializes in custom furnishings. Most will be in oak. The home will be heated by three separate heating systems.. Electric heat will be used in the bedroom area, with forced air and hot water heat in other portions of the building. Willey said he talked with seven roofing contractors before he found one that would attempt to work on his steep, 2 pitch roof. Hie roof will be behind the house. The propertys fifth waterfall, 15 feet high will cascade to two ponds in the front of the house. Fourteen rock columns, 8 and 10 feet tall, will line a winding walkway to the entry. The house sits 250 feet from the street and a t circular driveway connects the 40-fo- ot 23-fo- ot Willeys back yard will include a s court, several waterfalls and a aviary-typ- e area with birds and miniature animals. A seperate garage w ill also be located sports-tenni- half-acr- e v-- v . - .1 ; ; v, ' j;-- , -- - : y.xyr S' - , ? - HUGE WINDOWS like these in one of the rounded turrets la the front of the home are numerous in Gary Willeys house, house. Willey said he wants to bring the outdoors inside as much as possible. Many will be stained glass of the structure, In the front if; " .'.v. ' ; " ..jJLf: b achieved by the intricate framing inside the tali towers or turrets which had to be built on the A SPIDER WEB effect ' ground and lifted into place by 116-fo- cranes, |
