Step Inside a Light-Filled Contemporary Aspen Home

A dark and dated house is transformed into a contemporary retreat with plenty of beds.

9 hours ago

Irene Rawlings,

Living Room The sofa is A. Rudin (covered in Pierre Frey fabric). Swivel chairs by A. Rudin are covered in Holly Hunt fabric. The coffee table is made by Gregorius Pineo. Roll & Hill created the white resin “antler” chandelier. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

This story begins with a winter visit to Colorado. “We swim, water ski, and ride horses. We’re a very active family,” says Barbara Lopez. So, when this lively Mexico City-based family decided that their children should learn to ski, Aspen-Snowmass became their home base.

They returned the following year and the year after that. “Our Aspen friends told us, ‘If you love it in the winter, you have to see it in the summer,’” she says. During a bike ride through the West End—a quiet, tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly enclave within easy walking distance of Main Street—an idea was born. “We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s buy a house right here…right now.’”

Their Aspen retreat became a place to exhale and relax far from the hectic tempo of Mexico City. Cozy and cabin-like, it suited them perfectly at first. But as years passed and the family grew to include grandchildren, the house began to reveal its limits. They considered moving but ultimately chose to invest in what they already loved. “This home holds so many good memories,” says Lopez.

Exterior Updates included a new roof and a dramatic pivot door. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

The couple turned to Aspen-based Ali & Shea Designs to transform their home. “They had lived in this house for more than 10 years, so they were very clear about what they wanted,” says Carrera Shea, co-founder and principal interior designer. The mandate: to create a lighter, brighter and more contemporary retreat and to reconfigure the interiors to accommodate a generous open-plan kitchen, two new bunk rooms and a sleeping loft.

Outside, updates included a new roof, streamlined porch railings and a striking pivot front door. Inside, the renovation was guided by simplicity and light. Heavy window trim was stripped away, walls were brightened, oak floors were laid, and the staircase was opened to allow the flow of natural light. “We also removed the big stone fireplaces because they were never used and intruded into the living spaces,” says Shea.

Kitchen Originally, a wall of cabinets divided the kitchen from the dining room. Cabinets removed, family and friends can gather around the kitchen island topped with Della Terra Quartz. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

“The homeowners’ most important request, however, was beds and more beds,” Shea adds. Every bedroom was redesigned to welcome children, grandchildren and guests without sacrificing comfort or style. In the custom bunk rooms (one for girls and one for boys), each bed is outfitted with hidden outlets and individual reading lights. An attic was turned into a sleeping loft, further expanding the home’s guest accommodations.

Because Vicente Lopez (Barbara’s husband) loves to cook, the kitchen was expanded. A wall of cabinets that once separated the kitchen from the dining room and great room was removed, and Shea introduced custom millwork with a tailored mix of standard and deep drawers, along with a pantry fitted with roll-out shelves. The expanded island is the home’s social and culinary hub. “People are always gathering around when Vicente is cooking. Maybe we’re making salads or mixing drinks or just chatting,” says Lopez.

Ali & Shea worked closely with contractor Bunchman Enterprises of Carbondale, Colorado, to deliver a home that is maximized in function and restrained in interior design. “The homeowners were thrilled with the result—and with the fact that the project was completed ahead of schedule, in just four months,” says Shea.

Dining Room The Christophe Delcourt dining table is surrounded by comfortable vintage Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova chairs. “Perfect for sobremesa—lingering after a meal to enjoy each other’s company,” says Barbara Lopez. | Photo: Gibeon Photography

Girl’s Bunk Room “We had fun with the feminine colors, fabrics and window treatments,” says Carrera Shea. Because this (and the boys’ bunk room) are on the lower level, good lighting was very important. | Photo: Gibeon Photography