Front Range Living Reimagined with Timeless Architectural Design

A Boulder remodel is a pleasing contrast of old and new.

6 hours ago

Elizabeth Mehert-Ab,

Living Room The architect and designer Jane Snyder opened up the view during the remodel of this Boulder home. Comfy seating in the living room to take in the view includes DWR Soffi swivel chairs and RH Modena sofas. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

An outdoorsy couple from Florida found a home in Boulder that appealed to them but needed some work. “When we first walked through the house, we could tell it was built with real care and attention to detail. The style wasn’t quite us, but we knew the bones were great,” the homeowner recalls.

They hired architect and interior designer Jane Snyder of Mosaic Architects & Interiors to help them realize their vision. “It was all about mixing something old and something new, something soft and something hard, some man-made with some natural,” Snyder says. “If you do a little bit of that in every room, you’re going to end up with a timeless piece of architecture that is both pleasing and comforting as well as inspiring and cozy.”

Kitchen For the newly opened kitchen, Snyder specified Taj Mahal quartzite slabs from floor to ceiling paired with a central island surrounded by five white Denver Modern stools with leather-strap backs. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

While the home was in a very desirable neighborhood with expansive views of the majestic Flatirons, the project was a significant undertaking. The existing interiors were typical of the old Craftsman style of architecture, with smaller windows, lots of cherrywood detailing, low ceilings and unfortunately placed columns. The renovation goals were simple: “Our task was to take out everything that was ugly and open up the view,” says Snyder with a laugh, “to flatten off the unfortunate level changes and create a coastal vibe with a lighter, fresher color palette.”

Noting that she and the other members of her firm “speak words and pictures,” Snyder set about sharing images of potential structural and interior design concepts with the clients, as well as determining a color palette, after which the plans were underway.

Powder Room The powder room features a Lylian oval brass mirror from Pottery Barn and turquoise blue Yohen border tile. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Now, beyond the front entry a whitewashed blonde wood stairway rises to an upper level. While considering the approach to the kitchen, Snyder recalls having an “aha moment.” “We worked with a three-dimensional model and decided to partly raise the roof to make room for a private rooftop deck above.”

For the now open kitchen, Snyder specified Taj Mahal quartzite slabs from floor to ceiling, with a central island surrounded by Denver Modern stools with leather-strap backs. For the adjoining dining room, she selected Sea Collage Raffia wallpaper by Christopher Farr Cloth, which she notes really activates the space.

Dining Room To help activate the space, Snyder chose Sea Collage Raffia wallpaper by Christopher Farr Cloth and an RH Oslo dining table. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

The RH Oslo dining table is surrounded by CB2 Inesse green bouclé dining chairs. Seating in the living room, which offers a dramatic view of the Flatirons, includes DWR Soffi swivel chairs and RH Modena sofas. An RH Oslo pedestal coffee table and RH rug complete the setting.

Altogether the project took a few years, moving from the design to getting through the permitting stage and then engaging the contractor, Cottonwood Custom Builders, with whom Snyder has worked for 35 years. The end result? “We are really thrilled,” Snyder says. “We established a palette for the whole house, but every room feels really different.” Says the homeowner, “Reworking the layout opened up the mountain views and created a space that feels modern, warm and easy to live in. We’re so glad we took the leap.”

Stairway Rising to the second level, the stairway was constructed of the same washed blonde wood as the kitchen floors. | Photo: Dallas + Harris

Primary Bedroom With views of the nearby Flatirons, the primary bedroom features an LA bed by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. | Photo: Dallas + Harris