A Chic Mountain Chalet Welcomes an Active Family Home

Amy Casey turned a dated ski-in, ski-out townhouse in Beaver Creek into a home that’s elegant for the adults and comfy for the whole family.

April 9, 2024

Alison Gwinn,

Dining Room Kid-friendly custom bench seating, a custom table and custom hair-on hide barrel chairs maximize the space in the dining area. All sit beneath a David Yarrow photo, “The Usual Suspects.” | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield

It took some clever design work to turn this dated Beaver Creek townhouse into a welcoming home that manages to mix luxurious adult touches with family-friendly coziness and comfort. What the 30-year-old residence already had going for it: A fabulous location at the base of the mountain, within walking distance of the village.

But when the new homeowners bought it, the home had an ornate Versailles vibe (think heavy gold drapes) that didn’t suit their modern, sophisticated tastes—or the needs of their active family of five (two girls, ages 12 and 15, and a boy, 13).

Living Room The living room includes a custom sectional sofa, a leather rocker from Mater Design and a handwoven wool rug from The Scarab in Minturn.To add to the room’s young, fun vibe: “Gucci Holdup” art by Tracy Stuckey, from Visions West Contemporary; a custom crystal chandelier by Lawson Glass; and, “grazing” behind the sofa, the family’s own arty sheep. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield

So the couple, whose main residence is in Austin, Texas, brought in Amy Casey of Casey Company Interior Design to do a “total gut job,” with no room left untouched. The goal was to create a luxurious, one-of-a-kind “chic chalet” that friends and family would be eager to visit. “We said, ‘Let’s make it really nice and really fun, a place that’s memorable where we are excited to go,” they say.

The homeowners wanted a vibe that was, they relate, “hip and modern and moody— and a bit eclectic, with a little bit of old and a little bit of new—with a feel that we were in the mountains but that was also very on trend.” But they also wanted a home that was very family-friendly, which meant using durable, indoor-outdoor fabrics that could stand up to their kids and two dogs.

Kitchen Custom cabinetry by Moreno Enterprises, highlighted by Nest Studio hardware, blends with Brazilian quartzite countertops, which match the fireplace surround. The Holly Hunt chandelier is a statement piece. The fabric on the chairs is durable and stain resistant, but according to the homeowners,“has the feel of a Chanel jacket.” | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield

“We wanted the home to feel inviting, where no one is afraid to sit on anything or touch anything. We wanted this home to be used.” The other big challenge: Though the house has four bedrooms and five baths, it is only 2,500 square feet, so space had to be used judiciously.

That meant creating custom furniture throughout, like beds with drawers discreetly tucked underneath, a bunk room for the girls and their friends, built-in cabinets in the guest bedroom for neatly storing travel clothes, and a loft in their son’s bedroom where he could hang out with his pals. “It’s almost like living on a yacht,” say the homeowners. “We didn’t get massive furniture pieces, and we built in as much as we could.”

Ski Room The mudroom floor tiles are from Decorative Materials, and the oak wall boards match the living room. On the far wall are two Matthew Carden photos, from Curate Art & Curiosities. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield

Ever since the yearlong remodel was finished, the family has been learning how to use the house year-round. “We started going to Beaver Creek 11 years ago, but only in the winter,” the homeowners say. “So summer was new to us last year.” Now, in the warm weather, they go hiking, horseback riding or whitewater rafting—and when home, they can leave the windows open and hear Beaver Creek burbling nearby.

“We were blown away by the beauty,” say the homeowners. “And the kids can walk everywhere—they’ll go pick up pizza or ice cream. The fact that they can just run out the door and go into the village is the coolest thing. We don’t have that in Texas.” Casey says the “dramatic transformation” was a further surprise. “It was decidedly unsophisticated before. Now it’s incredibly comfortable and chic.”

INTERIOR DESIGN – Casey & Co.