A New Chapter for a High-Country Home Creates a Fresh Perspective

A mountain home in need of an update finds its modern soul.

January 5, 2026

Mindy Pantiel,

Entryway A custom staircase railing by Cactofab updates the original log staircase. Brownstone Furniture wingback chairs, an All Modern chaise and geometric patterned rug from Feizy Rugs create a colorful conversation grouping. | Photo: David Patterson

Eight years ago, Mary Pat and Mike McCurdie found themselves drawn to the solitude of a Steamboat Springs mountain home. Built in the 1990s and set on three acres just minutes from downtown, the home’s notable amenities included soaring ceilings, an open floor plan and great views. But its rustic design features—dark wood beams and twig railings—felt more dated than timeless.

“We liked the bones, but the kitchen was poorly planned, and when we prepared meals we were always bumping into each other,” says Mary Pat. “And there was no enclosed office space for Mike to make business calls.”

Living Room A pair of Rene Cazares chairs provides cozy seating by the fireplace with its refreshed surround. The fluted wood ceiling was inspiration for the design of the latter. A coffee table from the Roberta Schilling Collection rests on a Feizy rug. | Photo: David Patterson

Still, when they met with interior designers Lindsey Jamison and Morgan Blinn of Rumor Designs for the first time in 2017, all they requested were some new furnishings. The pieces they selected—tailored blue wingback chairs, a chartreuse bench and a geometric rug—would ultimately set the tone for a more extensive remodel a few years later.

When the time finally came for a serious overhaul, rather than stripping the home of its original personality, the design team opted to embrace the structure’s architectural roots. In the stairwell, for example, log steps now pair with a streamlined metal railing, creating a thoughtful blend of past and present. That same philosophy guided the living room refresh, where the fluted wood ceiling inspired custom millwork throughout—from the new fireplace surround to the primary suite’s headboard wall.

Log Staircase The design team embraced the home’s rustic past yet updated it with a streamlined metal railing to the original log staircase. | Photo: David Patterson

Redesigning the kitchen was central to the remodel, and builder Ron Davies of Fair & Square Construction helped convert an unused crawlspace into livable square footage, allowing the kitchen to expand dramatically.

“The challenge was to create extra space so it would work with the design of the kitchen, along with room for ductwork and plumbing lines,” he says. Davies’ team also turned a half wall in the living room into a full wall to form a private office space for Mike, and revamped the mudroom with a built-in bench and dog wash.

Kitchen Fireplace Arto tile adds distinction to the fireplace wall while the bench mimics the fluting on the other side. The hearth chairs are from Lee Industries. | Photo: David Patterson

In addition, the newly excavated crawlspace made way for a wine room that “sparkles like a piece of jewelry,” says Jamison. Clad in split-faced limestone and adjacent to a
plum-toned bar, it offers both storage and style—an Old World tasting cellar making a contemporary statement. Immediately adjacent, the live-edge dining room table with a chrome base continues the conversation between rustic and modern.

A similar idea pervades the overall interior design theme. “Mixing elements defines this house,” says Blinn, pointing to the black-and-white concrete tiles paired with a distressed wood door in the entry as an example. In the primary bedroom, hand-painted terra-cotta tiles nod to a cottage aesthetic, while an Eames chair and metal-clad fireplace add a modern edge.

Kitchen The back cabinet wall by Nickels Cabinets provides contrast with the lighter wood on the stove hood and island. The quartzite countertop and backsplash are from Arizona Tile, and the stools are by Lee Industries. | Photo: David Patterson

A floral-patterned bench at the foot of the bed channels Scandinavian whimsy. “We call it eclectic modern,” Blinn says. “It pulls inspiration from everything including rustic, contemporary, traditional and a little grandma chic.”Equally unflummoxed by bold colors, the design duo added an array of purple tones to the previously established blues and greens, creating a dynamic thread from room to room.

Plaid kitchen stools echo the plum tones of the bar cabinetry, while peacock paisley dining room chairs and deep red leather hearth seats extend the warmth. Other textural elements, such as grass-cloth wallcovering in the living room and split limestone on the fireplace, ground the vibrant palette. Thanks to a design team unafraid to embrace color and contrast, the once-dated mountain home now feels effortlessly of the moment. “Everyone embraced the eclectic vibe,” says Jamison, adding. “Now, the house is a vibrant reflection of the homeowners’ style and spirit.”

Dining Room and Wine Room A glass-and-metal door from Rustica Hardware opens to the newly created temperature-regulated wine room sheathed in split-faced limestone. Lee Industries chairs sporting peacock fabric from Schumacher complement a Phillips Collection table. | Photo: David Patterson

Mudroom Wall tile from Arizona Tile and flooring from Glenrock Distributing helped transform the previously empty, concrete-walled space. The addition of a built-in bench and dog wash further upped the functionality. | Photo: David Patterson

Primary Bathroom Sconces from the Hudson Valley Lighting Group cast a warm glow on the Porcelanosa vanity top. The flooring is from Arizona Tile and the shower hardware is Delta Brizo. | Photo: David Patterson

Primary Bedroom Fluted wood creates a headboard for the upholstered Vanguard Furniture bed.A Lostine pendant light hangs above a nightstand from Made Goods. The bench is also from Made Goods and layered pillows and bedding add warmth. | Photo: David Patterson