Seven Homes In: How the Dunyons Design for Warmth, Light, and Hosting

Some homes look beautiful in photos. This one hits you the moment you walk in—light pouring through oversized windows, steel and wood balanced just right, and a layout that somehow feels cozy for two people and effortless for a crowd.

In this Ogden Valley interview, Jen Dunyon shares how she and her husband Dave have built seven homes over 20 years, what they learned from this one, and the simple mindset shift that makes building feel like an adventure instead of a burden.

Watch the full interview here:

Seven Homes In, Still Excited

Jen and Dave didn’t stumble into building, they chose it. Early in their marriage they bought a nearly finished home on 25th Street in Ogden and finished the basement and yard together. They liked the teamwork, the progress you can see, and the feeling of turning a space into something personal. Over the years, that turned into a rhythm: build, live, learn, evolve. This home marks their seventh project in two decades, still guided by the same idea—if you’re going to spend a year building a home, you might as well love the process.

“We’re going to spend a year of our life on this—so we’re going to love it.”

The “Dunyon” Signature—Warm, Welcoming, and a Little Bold

When asked what makes their homes feel different, Jen doesn’t point to a single design trick. She points to intention. They don’t treat building like a chore, they treat it like a creative project that should feel welcoming when people walk through the door. And they build with real life in mind: how the kitchen functions when multiple people are cooking, how the layout flows when friends stay late, how the home feels on a quiet night when it’s just the two of them.

Steel, Windows, and the Art of Making It Feel Cozy

Steel beams were Dave’s idea, and Jen admits her first reaction was basically industrial loft…in Ogden Valley? But they found the middle ground. They kept the bold structure, then softened the feeling with warm finishes, neutrals, and texture. Their design “training” isn’t formal. It’s lived—travel, photos, home shows, idea boards, and constant back-and-forth. Jen describes it as an ongoing conversation. Dave sends a photo, she sends one back, and the style emerges.

“We don’t have training—we travel, we see things, we take pictures, and we gather.”

A House That Works for Two—or 350

The ultimate test of a home isn’t how it photographs. It’s how it holds people. Jen tells the story of hosting their daughter’s wedding. With about 350 guests flowing in and out, the pool and deck were finished just in time. The garage even got extra attention as a weather backup plan. That’s the theme that keeps showing up. This house was built to be shared—weddings, graduations, holidays, even girls camp—without feeling like a museum when it’s quiet.

What’s Next: Breezeways, Wellness, and Flow

For the next build, Jen says they’re keeping what worked and evolving what they’ve learned. More breezeway elements. Older kids = more suites with private bathrooms. A pool again. A golf simulator. A wellness/fitness room and sauna. Same warm palette with taupes, light greys, tans, and controlled pops of color. They’re not chasing trends, they’re refining what fits them.

Advice for People Nervous to Build Right Now

Right now buyers are nervous about building—costs, decisions, timelines, equity. Jen’s advice isn’t “just do it.” It’s more nuanced than that:

• If you’re new to building, start smaller—buy a home and remodel.
• Use a builder if doing it yourself feels overwhelming.
• Create clarity by collecting 100–1,000 inspiration photos, then find the pattern.
• And most importantly: decide, commit, don’t spiral.

The Takeaway

The best part of this conversation isn’t a single finish detail, it’s the partnership behind it. The Dunyons build homes the way they live: intentionally, welcoming, and built for real gatherings. And in Ogden Valley, where lifestyle is the point, that mindset is the difference between a “nice house” and a home people want to stay in.