Variations of Purple Permeate Throughout this Remodel
Violeta marble inspires a downtown redesign.
Dining Room A round pedestal table helps with traffic flow. Backless stools tuck neatly under the counter, providing extra seating without blocking sight lines. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Although Isaac Newton did not identify purple as one of the colors in the spectrum, it exists in the popular imagination nevertheless. And purple snuck right into the heart—and home—of Laura and Mark Rabideau, a creative couple who relocated to Denver as empty-nesters. Their two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo near downtown offered spectacular views of the mountains, but the interior proved to be less majestic. The Rabideaus hired Kristi Dinner of company kd to help them refresh their dated space. Dinner, who likes to choose materials with her clients, took the homeowners shopping for tile, which is when they found a must-have.
“It was one of those things I saw and I just fell in love with it,” Laura Rabideau admits. Dinner remembers that moment too: “They loved this Violeta stone.” So Dinner and the homeowners went with it, embracing the lovely lilac. “That really started everything,” Dinner says, “and it was a great starting point.” Dinner likes to mix high, medium and low in all interior design projects. The marble was expensive, but getting creative with other materials allowed her to give the Rabideaus what they wanted. That Violeta marble covers the floor of the primary bath, creating a sumptuous look full of meandering striations and subtle color variations.
Living Room A group of five George Nelson Bubble Lamps hang at different heights, adding drama and warm light to the space. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Purple made its way into the primary bedroom as well, in a floral wallpaper. This was Dinner’s suggestion: “I’m a huge wallpaper fan. I have so many people say to me that wallpaper feels so old-fashioned—and I always say, ‘It’s not your grandmother’s wallpaper!’” The Rabideaus were open to the idea. “We felt the bedroom was a room where you could add a little bit of whimsy,” Laura Rabideau says. “We really wanted the space to be ours, to be romantic and playful,” Mark Rabideau adds.
When the homeowners decided to remodel, they chose to do it all at once. “It’s a big commitment,” Laura Rabideau stresses. “You are packing up and moving out.” The Rabideaus had remodeled their previous home in stages, and they were ready to design holistically. “Laura wanted a comprehensive design both in terms of form and function,” Mark Rabideau explains. “We wanted all the spaces to be in conversation with each other.”
Kitchen Combining stained-wood and painted cabinetry adds texture while maintaining a cohesive color palette. A mosaic backsplash with a chrysanthemum pattern adds a touch of shine from Decorative Materials. Above the peninsula, a trio of pendants echoes the shapes in the living room lighting . | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
The gray and white from the Violeta marble made their way into the other rooms. In the kitchen, Dinner combined neutral grays in the cabinetry, and a silvery backsplash adds dimension and pattern. In the living room, a gray metallic wall covering rises above the fireplace. Everything in the great room is harmonious—for good reason.
“Music is a huge part of their lives,” Dinner explains, “and it’s not a very big space, so we had to accomplish a lot in each area.” Mark, a music professor, and Laura, who plays the piano and flute, like to entertain. “We have a lot of musician friends; we host house parties where they’ll perform,” Mark Rabideau says. With clever planning, the space works. “We’ve already hosted up to 50 people,” Laura notes. Adds Mark, “We love having a space that can bring people together.”
Fireplace The two-story fireplace gets dressed up in geometric tile topped with metallic grasscloth wallpaper that stretches to the ceiling. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Bathroom The violeta marble that inspired the homeowners makes the bathroom feel luxurious. Mosaic tile with lavender pieces uses the same colors on a smaller scale, from Decorative Materials. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Interior Design: company kd
Construction: Dynamic Property Management
Tile: Decorative Materials
