From the Editor: Mountain Magnetism
Darla Worden reflects on CH&L’s stories celebrating the beauty of high-country homes across Colorado.
Photo: Courtesy of Darla Worden
Colorado is famous for our mountains—and they’re the reason many of us moved here, for skiing, hiking, camping, fishing or just breathing the pine-scented air. Our annual Mountain Issue takes a look at some stunning high-country homes in their many iterations from remodeled to new construction, condos to chalets. An active family of four recognized the potential of a 1970s home in downtown Aspen with good bones and a great location.
At 3,750 square feet, it was spacious, boasting good light and high ceilings, but needed a refresh. They brought in Joe McGuire Design to infuse their family’s personality into the home’s “partial remodel,” as McGuire describes it, painting dark wood in light colors and updating the kitchen with an efficient island and custom cabinetry. The connection to outdoors is maximized with glass panels to enhance Aspen mountain views for a reimagined retreat where the family enjoys a space customized just for them.
In Crested Butte, a well-used chalet-style house built in the 1970s from a kit receives a complete makeover, jettisoning the original shag carpeting and avocado green kitchen to bring it up to the homeowner’s current more grown-up standards and transforming it from mere ski crash pad to stylish ski chalet. The homeowner hired Freestyle Architects and Sarah Noel Interiors to translate his vision for a comfortable escape for family and friends. When I saw the resulting abode, I thought, “Be careful what you wish for,” because the new look is so inviting, guests may never want to leave.
Ever wonder what a top home builder’s personal kitchen looks like? Briston Peterson, founder of Basalt-based Brikor & Associates, has been constructing homes for one percent of the one percent for years, including building the first bulthaup kitchen west of the Mississippi. When time came to create his own high-country culinary space, of course he turned to the designers at bulthaup Denver to fashion his dreamy—and multifunctional—kitchen “pavilion”.
