Elevated Living: Colorado Homes & Lifestyles’ 2026 Home of the Year

Designed for altitude, a Breckenridge residence balances rugged conditions with refined design and panoramic mountain views.

2 hours ago

Mindy Pantiel,

Opposing garages create a minimalist entry court, and typical mountain materials like wood, metal and stone complement the dramatic backdrop. Stone and wood repeat on the interiors, blurring the lines between inside and out. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Building a home at 10,250 feet above sea level is not for everyone. Winters arrive early and settle in, with heavy snowfall, extreme cold and high winds conspiring against even the most carefully orchestrated construction schedules. And then, of course, you have to live there.

But after years of residing in the Breckenridge area, one couple with two sons came to appreciate the rewards of life at altitude. “The weather is totally different than in town, where the sun disappears by 4 p.m. in winter,” says the wife. “But up here it lingers, and the wildlife viewing is incredible.” And as for the realities of building in such conditions, time was a luxury they could afford.

Living Room View “Until you come up those few extra hundred feet you don’t even know this view exists,” exudes the homeowner. The spectacular vista encompasses Peak 10 and the Tenmile Range. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Fifteen years prior, the Kansas City transplants purchased 23 pristine acres in Western Sky Ranch—then waited. “We already had a wonderful place to live and felt we needed time to design a house worthy of the locale,” the husband explains, noting that the land’s sweeping, uninterrupted views of the ski area demanded intention. “Nailing that view and framing it from just the right angles was key.”

That imperative became the first challenge for architect Ken Adler of KA DesignWorks, who recalls that the original rectangular disturbance envelope was very limited. “There was no place for grading and moving equipment, and visualizations we did early on indicated the orientation wasn’t optimal for capturing the views,” says Adler. In response, he successfully lobbied to rotate the buildable area about 20 degrees. The subtle shift allowed for every major space to capture the drama of Peak 10 and the Tenmile Range.

Entryway Arriving guests can peer through the front door to the vistas beyond. The low ceiling contrasts with the soaring spaces to come, and a cascading light fixture by Hubbardton Forge lights the stairwell. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

From the outset, the architecture incorporated a contemporary mountain sensibility, blending typical materials like wood, metal and stone with expansive glass. Those elements are evident in the single- and double-story garages that form a courtyard-like arrival, and inside, where a stacked-stone wine wall anchors one side of the great room, balanced by a sleek metal-clad fireplace on the other.

Tucked discreetly behind the wine room, a flexible space enclosed by pocket sliders serves as both a homework area and office. Beyond, a deck perched above the walkout lower level spans the home’s entire view side, creating a seamless extension of the main living area.

Living Room The soft curves of a sprawling Vanguard sectional offset the crisp lines of the metal-clad fireplace. Oak floors here and throughout are by VANTIA Hardwoods. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

But it is the glass that defines the experience. In both the great room and primary suite, entire walls disappear, placing the mountains on full display. For builder Doug Gurlea of New West Partners, this transparency came with complexity.

“When you introduce wide openings and minimal visual interruption, the structural support has to be transferred into steel,” he explains. “As a result, a significant number of steel beams were incorporated into the structure to support those large openings while maintaining the clean, open aesthetic envisioned in the design.”

Dining Room Material like the dry-stacked stone that articulates the wine room connects the gathering area to its surroundings. Kravet wallpaper defines the adjacent room that doubles as a homework room and breakout space. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

While the architecture established the framework, mitigating the strong lines of stone and metal fell to Twyla Gurlea of ColorView Design. She called on her expertise as a certified color specialist to develop a palette of layered neutrals punctuated by intentional moments of color.

“Oak flooring, a wood ceiling and layered textiles—like the sofa’s performance fabric upholstery, which introduces softer textures alongside the harder wood surfaces,” work in concert with rounded forms. In the great room, for example, a sweeping curved sectional allows room for the entire family to pile on, while round-backed dining room chairs and sculptural lighting introduce movement.

Bar Area With the homeowner’s ties to the distillery business, designer Twyla Gurlea crafted a backlit display area to showcase various spirits. Cutting Edge Woodworking did the cabinets; the pendant lights are by Hubbardton Forge. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

In the kitchen, durable Dekton countertops and clean slab-front cabinetry with layered matte and wood-inspired finishes add depth, but the room’s overall design was orchestrated by the husband, who in 2008 turned a passion for fine spirits into the founding of Breckenridge Distillery. “We also have a restaurant, so I engineered our kitchen into a place where you could cook for 75 people with three ovens and two full-sized induction stovetops,” he says. “It’s a bit of an extension of the distillery.”

That aesthetic continues on the lower level, where the mood shifts to playful. A graffiti wall sets the tone behind the pool table, along with other pop art moments. The commodious room includes generous seating for movie nights, and a backlit bar showcases a curated selection of spirits.

Pool Room/Theater The lower level is designed for entertaining and unwinding. A family room with ski-area views flows into a game room and fully outfitted bar. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Then comes the unexpected moment: a hidden door reveals a speakeasy. “It always gets a big reaction,” says the husband about the intimate space. Richly layered with a tin ceiling, crystal chandelier and a bar fashioned from an antique apothecary, the room evokes another era. “It’s the best place to drink a glass of whiskey,” he adds.

Back outside, gathering areas and a multi-seat hot tub, all oriented toward the mountains, are part of the home’s immersive experience. “If you are lucky enough to have it, a house can provide different places to go depending on your mood,” the wife reflects. “Here, when you need to unwind, the bedrooms are soothing, the lower level is high energy, and when you want to connect with nature, it’s right outside your window—wherever you are.”

Speakeasy “It’s fun to pop open the door and see how people react,” says the homeowner about the hidden space. The velvet furniture and crystal chandelier evoke a bygone era. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Primary Bathroom Sierra Pacific windows that frame the mountain range provide optimal views from the soaking tub. Caesarstone counters meld with the stain on the slab cabinetry. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Primary Bedroom “The home features strong architectural elements and large windows, so a layered neutral palette was the most appropriate choice here and everywhere,” says Gurlea, who selected the Vanguard furnishings. “The neutrals enhance the natural light.” | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Back Deck Perched above the walkout lower level, the deck spans the view side of the home and creates a seamless extension of the main living space. | Photo: Dallas + Harris