A Cozy Loft in LoDo

The dark, rustic-themed loft becomes an open, warm pied-à-terr

When Louisville residents Lisa and Pete Estler decided to purchase a loft, they thought it would be in nearby Boulder. But once Lisa experienced a sparkling winter’s night stroll in LoDo, that all changed. 

“It was a freezing-cold night,” Lisa recounts. “My friend and I went to dinner and were walking around afterward, when I realized, ‘oh my gosh, I love being down here.’”

The Estlers intended the loft to be their entertainment getaway in the city, so they chose a third-floor space in a historic building across from Union Station. At 2,060 feet, the loft was plenty big, and the couple loved the original, exposed brick and timber. But its rustic ambience wasn’t their style, so they brought Ashley Campbell Interior Designn in to update the space. 

“There’s a process where you get to know the clients and their wants and needs,” designer Ashley Campbell says. “But there’s an intuition to it, too—in this case, understanding the historical value and presence of this particular space and filtering that with Lisa’s vision.” 

Campbell furnished the loft with neutral tones and organic textures for warmth and comfort—the perfect antidote to all those cold winter nights.

DINING ROOM

Eyes go immediately to the textured table, handmade by Clubcu of reclaimed elm, salvaged from dismantled industrial buildings. Other unique surfaces include silky Phillips Collection host/hostess chairs crafted from recycled seat belts, a plush custom settee and artisan blown-glass “gems” on the Hammerton chandelier.

“We had 28 people here for a champagne toast on New Year’s Eve,” Lisa says. “And what’s great is we have all these little collection places—people gathered in the living room, at the bar, in the kitchen and dining area—the 28 people felt like nothing.”

KITCHEN

Campbell collaborated with Gustason and the Aspen Leaf team to create an expansive kitchen and bar area that, by necessity, had to work within the loft’s existing footprint. The standout wood backsplash is from Ann Sacks Petrified Wood. 

FOYER

“My husband’s one ‘mandatory’ was a really cool wine cellar,” Lisa says. Overall, the wine unit demanded the most in terms of research and creativity. Anna Gustason of Aspen Leaf Kitchens was instrumental in creating the grand, built-in wine wall, a focal point that welcomes you into the loft. “We ended up approaching it as an art piece,” Campbell says. “It’s quite a statement.” 

LIVING ROOM

The room’s heart is the fireplace, an artistic pièce-de-résistance of custom concrete and walnut, designed in collaboration with Distinctive Mantel Designs in Denver. Together with the foyer’s wine wall, it delivers a beautiful balance of old and new. The sleek sectional sofa floats on a wooden plinth and is covered in soft chenille.

MASTER BEDROOM

Chivasso Linwood fabric from JAB frames the city-view window, while Roman shades provide privacy. The artwork is by Madison Morrell, the lamp and nightstand are from HW Home in Cherry Creek, and the bedding is from Macy’s.

DESIGN DETAILS
INTERIOR DESIGNER Ashley Campbell Interior Design KITCHEN AND CABINET DESIGNER Aspen Leaf Kitchens