Designed for the Times, a Victorian-Style Home Gets a Mountain Modern Refresh

A family residence in Aspen's historic West End undergoes a thoroughly modern makeover.

3 hours ago

Suzi Mitchell,

Egg-shaped chairs by Arhaus are a modern addition to the covered porch, which looks to Red Mountain. The exterior of the Victorian-inspired design was left virtually untouched. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

When Erin and Brian Kelly bought their Victorian-style Aspen townhome in 2020, the couple, then based in New York, anticipated a weekend bolt-hole in the mountains. They came for a month, staying in a rental property they liked so much that they tracked down the designer and set about finding their own place.

“They called me and said, ‘We love living in this house you remodeled,’” recalls Karla Kelly of Mountain Dogs Design. “I ended up driving them around to look at properties, giving them feedback about possibilities.”

Kitchen Barstools custom made in cashmere velvet and leather by Thomas Hayes line the island. A Wolf range and pendants by Kelly Wearstler blend practicality and style. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

The search led them to a leafy street in Aspen’s historic West End, where a property built in 1997 ticked most of the boxes. “The house had great bones and offered so much potential for what they wanted,” Kelly continues.

Erin and Brian’s original remit had rentals in mind. “We want it to appeal to a mass audience; it was never intended to be our full-time home,” Erin says. By the end of 2021, they had changed their minds and swapped the hustle and bustle of city life for mountain living.

Living Room Stained glass windows matching those in the door were removed on the opposing wall. A custom sofa by Grant Trick in Holly Hunt fabric adds a soft separation between the sitting and dining area. The Pinto coffee table by The Invisible Collection adds glamour. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

As a result, the house went through a second phase of renovation, with Erin putting her own designer stamp on it. “Karla led the interior architecture in phase one, and I focused on shaping the interiors, layering materials, adding color, furnishings and new lighting to bring warmth and personality,” Erin says.

When the multilayered remodel began, the interior was entirely gutted, with one wall repositioned and two skinny stained-glass windows and extensive woodwork removed. “There was so much cherry on cherry between the floorings, doors, trim and cabinets,” Kelly says. “The layout was good, but the house needed to be stripped down to let the light in and create a more contemporary finish.”

Primary Bedroom Farrow & Ball’s Beverly green paint complements black-and- white artwork by David Yarrow. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

All window frames and trim were repainted. The cluttered dark kitchen metamorphized into a sleek space with custom cabinetry and a built-in bar, in a nod to the couple’s urban roots. “I knew they wanted to give the place a more modern feel,” Kelly says.

The original fireplace wall surround in the living room was expanded for design impact and to accommodate a television for cozy nights in. A bathtub in the primary suite was removed, making way for an oversize walk-in shower with statement tile walls. And the media room on the lower floor was reworked into a bunk room to maximize space for guests.

Primary Bath The pink chair by Mason Louis Drucker adds a vintage touch. | Photo: James Ray Spahn

Erin chose to tackle the final alterations herself. Walls painted in dreamy Farrow & Ball tones, playful wallpapers and thoughtfully sourced furnishings and lighting reflect the couple’s love of old and new and personalize the property. Erin added a nursery for their first child and an office to support her new occupation after graduating from the Rocky Mountain School of Design.

Infused with character, the house now reflects the couple’s adapted lifestyle, where muddy boots, children and their energetic vizsla happily coexist. The Victorian facade remains largely unchanged, but beyond the front door lies a carefully curated transition to modern living.