Neutral by Nature

CH&L: You were hired by a group of families to renovate and redecorate their Crested Butte vacation home. What was their vision? 

Interior designer Jessica McIntyre: Vacation homes are usually approached differently than primary residences; homeowners are a little more laid back with the design process. In the case of this home, which is fractionally owned, I was given a lot of freedom with the design once an overall tone was established for the project. They wanted a clean, fresh and comfortable mountain home that didn’t include the typical log furniture and animal motifs you see from many out-of-state homeowners in Colorado. No one wanted it to feel like a theme park. We started with the clean envelope of walls painted in a simple palette and continued by selecting furniture with rustic finishes and clean lines.  

This house certainly feels fresh and clean—yet with a mountain sensibility.
The interior design was important to us, but so was the home’s durability—its ability to withstand both the families and their guests really living in the space. For the chairs in the main living room, we went with a dark, indoor-outdoor acrylic fabric that looks and feels like velvet, but can be easily cleaned. The owners were not interested in a vacation home that appeared too stuffy or staged; they wanted a comfortable destination that fit well with the town of Crested Butte itself... laid back and casual. 

Laid back is a good description—the palette is pretty mellow.
It was decided right away that the interior needed to get away from the previous owner’s bold use of yellow, red, blue and chocolate-brown paint. Color certainly has its time and place, but our goal for Vista Butte—the name given to the property by its owners, for the vast views of the Gunnison Valley—was to create a timeless color palette that all partners would be pleased with. Two classic paint selections from Benjamin Moore were used throughout the entire project: Manchester Tan on all walls and ceilings—except in the powder room, where dark walls give an intimate feel—and Bear Creek [a darker shade of taupe] on all interior doors. 

Of course it took more than paint to transform this space. What else did you do to reinvent the home?
The ‘before’ house had ‘good bones,’ as a designer would say. The essentials were all in the right place and the floor plan was great on paper, but the interior finishes were bold and distracting in person. Previously, the bar, den and dining areas were all chopped up with different floor materials. By changing all of the flooring to hardwoods, it opened up the space and enlarged it visually. And then there was what I affectionately call the ‘mantel monstrosity’ [the fireplace surround], which was the focal point as you entered the home. It was out of scale, made up of a strange conglomeration of materials—including a hand-carved Indian mantel propped up on stones—and not at all functional within the main living space of the home. The most important step I took was to remove the entire thing and start over from scratch. Now the fireplace and mantel with ash-gray stone is the centerpiece of the entire project, and the gathering space for many fireside evenings.

For the chairs in the main living room, we went with a dark, indoor-outdoor acrylic fabric that looks and feels like velvet, but can be easily cleaned. The owners were not interested in a vacation home that appeared too stuffy or staged; they wanted a comfortable destination that fit well with the town of Crested Butte itself... laid back and casual. 

Laid back is a good description—the palette is pretty mellow.
It was decided right away that the interior needed to get away from the previous owner’s bold use of yellow, red, blue and chocolate-brown paint. Color certainly has its time and place, but our goal for Vista Butte—the name given to the property by its owners, for the vast views of the Gunnison Valley—was to create a timeless color palette that all partners would be pleased with. Two classic paint selections from Benjamin Moore were used throughout the entire project: Manchester Tan on all walls and ceilings—except in the powder room, where dark walls give an intimate feel—and Bear Creek [a darker shade of taupe] on all interior doors. 

Of course it took more than paint to transform this space. What else did you do to reinvent the home?
The ‘before’ house had ‘good bones,’ as a designer would say. The essentials were all in the right place and the floor plan was great on paper, but the interior finishes were bold and distracting in person. Previously, the bar, den and dining areas were all chopped up with different floor materials. By changing all of the flooring to hardwoods, it opened up the space and enlarged it visually. And then there was what I affectionately call the ‘mantel monstrosity’ [the fireplace surround], which was the focal point as you entered the home. It was out of scale, made up of a strange conglomeration of materials—including a hand-carved Indian mantel propped up on stones—and not at all functional within the main living space of the home. The most important step I took was to remove the entire thing and start over from scratch. Now the fireplace and mantel with ash-gray stone is the centerpiece of the entire project, and the gathering space for many fireside evenings.

Tell us about the elements in this house that nod to both Colorado and Texas.
The artwork in the foyer, an oil painting of a cow in a field, was selected because it could easily be a scene from Texas or Colorado, and because it had the right combination of color and subtlety. Antlers were used throughout the design to reinforce the natural
element of the project. We wanted to use animals, in some form, without indulging in the typical bear-holding-skis motif. The antlers were a comfortable choice, since
hunting is a popular recreation in Texas.

Now that everyone’s settled in, have the families started any new traditions?
The homeowners are using the antique shoemaker’s rack in the dining room as a guest book by having guests sign their recently-emptied wine bottles and displaying them on the rack. It’s a unique way to remember the happy times had in this beautiful new space.

INTERIOR DESIGN Jessica McIntyre, Allied Member ASID, Jessica McIntyre Interiors LLC, Dallas, TX, (817) 366-0332, jessicamcintyreinteriors.com GENERAL CONTRACTOR Robert Boyle, Red Mountain Builders Inc., Crested Butte, CO, (970) 275-5684, redmountainbuilders.us ENTRY WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com TRIM COLOR Benjamin Moore 1470 Bear Creek, benjaminmoore.com  ART “Bovine” oil painting by Guildmaster, to the trade, (800) 269-9907,  guildmaster.com (no longer available) CONSOLE TABLE Concrete Faux Bois Redgrave Console by Currey & Company, to the trade, (877) 768-6428, curreycodealers.com (no longer available) TABLE LAMP Old Cast Pedestal Lamp by Aidan Gray Home, to the trade, (888) 273-4229, aidangrayhome.com (no longer available) FOYER WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com SIDEBOARD Louis Sideboard in Black by Four Hands, to the trade, (512) 371-7575 fourhands.com ART Landscape by Guildmaster, to the trade, (800) 269-9907, guildmaster.com (no longer available) CANDLE HOLDERS Stag Horn Candleholders by Uttermost, to the trade, (877) 376-6777, uttermost.com WALL SCONCES Wrought Iron Wall Sconce by Aidan Gray Home, to the trade, (888) 273-4229, aidangrayhome.com SIDE CHAIRS Distressed Kate Chair with Burlap Seat by Zentique, to the trade, (770) 368-3000, zentique.com RUG Kilim Rug, Shaver-Ramsey, Denver, (303) 320-6363, shaver-ramsey.com DEN WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com CABINET Josef Cabinet in Bleached Pine by Four Hands, to the trade, (512) 371-7575, fourhands.com SOFA Lee Industries custom sofa in Tightrope Mushroom, leeindustries.com SIDE CHAIRS Lee Industries custom swivel chairs in Flanders Bark, leeindustries.com MOOSE RACK Moose Antlers in Cast Resin by Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com FIREPLACE ACCESSORY Suzuha Large Finial by Uttermost, to the trade, (877) 376-6777, uttermost.com OTTOMAN Birmingham Ottoman by Aidan Gray Home, to the trade, (888) 273-4229, aidangrayhome.com FIRESIDE STOOLS Dark Gray Upholstered Stools by Blue Ocean Traders, to the trade, (502) 637-1840, blueoceantraders.com FORMAL DINING ROOM WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com DOOR COLOR Benjamin Moore 1470 Bear Creek, benjaminmoore.com DINING CHAIRS Distressed Kate Chair with Burlap Seat by Zentique, to the trade, (770) 368-3000, zentique.com CHANDELIER Durango 8-Light Chandelier in Bronze Finish by Arteriors Home, to the trade, (877) 488-8866, arteriorshome.com WALL DECOR Wall Brackets from Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns.com; Pewter Chargers from Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com; Antler Trophies by Two’s Company, to the trade, (800) 896-7266; twoscompany.com, Antique Chinese Water Vessels by Club Cu, to the trade, (888) 992-5822, clubcu.com CONSOLE TABLE Reclaimed Elm Console in Crackle Black by Club Cu, to the trade, (888) 992-5822, clubcu.com RUG Tonal Damask Rug, Shaver-Ramsey, Denver, (303) 320-6363, shaver-ramsey.com KITCHEN WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com COUNTER STOOLS Abacus Counter Stool in Black Finish with Burlap by Noir Furniture, to the trade, (310) 527-5501, noirfurniturela.com PENDANT LIGHTS Antiqued Glass Pendant by Regina Andrew, to the trade, (734) 250-8042, reginaandrew.com ART Hanging Antler Chart by Design Legacy, to the trade, (214) 478-5118, design-legacy.com RANGE Viking, vikingrange.com ART ABOVE RANGE “Enjoy Yourself – It’s Later Than You Think” metal sign by Sugarboo, to the trade, (770) 643-0069, sugarboodesigns.com BAR TABLE Rustic Pine Bar with Two Drawers by Vagabond Vintage, to the trade, (404) 351-6484, vagabondvintage.net BREAKFAST NOOK WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com  DOOR COLOR Benjamin Moore 1470 Bear Creek, benjaminmoore.com COWHIDE White Cowhide from IKEA, ikea.com BREAKFAST CHAIRS Isola Wicker Chair in Kubu Grey by Artesia Collections, to the trade, (305) 445-3212, artesiacollections.com TABLE Philadelphia Elm Dining Table by Zentique, to the trade, (770) 368-3000, zentique.com ART Old Tobacco Label on Wooden Panel by Park Hill, to the trade, parkhillcollection.com MASTER BEDROOM WALL COLOR Benjamin Moore HC-81 Manchester Tan, benjaminmoore.com COWHIDE Brown Cowhide from IKEA, ikea.com KING BED Roma Bed in Hand Rubbed Brown Mahogany by Noir Furniture, to the trade, (310) 527-5501, noirfurniturela.com BEDDING Antique Suzani Textile from Wisteria, wisteria.com; antique tapestry pillow, client’s own collection SIDE TABLES Burlap Cube Side Table by Noir Furniture, to the trade, (310) 527-5501, noirfurniturela.com BEDSIDE LAMPS Aged Pedestal Lamps by Aidan Gray Home, to the trade, (888) 273-4229, aidangrayhome.com MIRROR Sunburst Mirror by Wisteria, wisteria.com (no longer available) SEATING & OTTOMAN Linen and Whitewashed Elm Side Chairs by Aidan Gray Home, ottoman also by Aidan Gray Home, to the trade, (888) 273-4229, aidangrayhome.com TABLE LAMP Ellington Gray Weathered Table Lamp by Arteriors Home, to the trade, (877) 488-8866, arteriorshome.com UPSTAIRS DEN/GAME ROOM FLOOR LAMPS Chance Brown Tall Drum Rattan Floor Lamps by Arteriors Home, to the trade, (877) 488-8866, arteriorshome.com SOFAS & CHAIRS Stone Linen Sofas and Chairs from Weir’s Furniture, Dallas, (214) 528-0321, weirsfurniture.com PILLOWS Kilim Pillows from Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com MEDIA CABINET Distressed Green Media Cabinet from Nadeau, Dallas, (214) 655-1440, furniturewithasoul.com SLIDING DOOR Custom made reclaimed barn wood door POWDER ROOM MIRROR Stag Horn Mirror by Uttermost, to the trade, (877) 376-6777, uttermost.com SINK CONSOLE Avalon Two-Door Cabinet by Four Hands, to the trade, (512) 371-7575, fourhands.com TOWEL HOLDER Resin Buck Antler on White Base by Lazy Susan, to the trade, (888) 578-7288, lazysusanusa.com