A Condo Purchased on a Whim Captures the Heart of a New York Native

Luxe design and furnishings make every inch count in an Aspen residence

November 5, 2024

Suzanne S. Brown,

Photo: Dallas & Harris Photography

Chris Desino wasn’t planning on buying a condo when he stepped into a unit at The Gant in downtown Aspen a few years back, especially after having a bit of sticker shock at the real estate prices and realizing that the space needed to be remodeled. But he had to have it. “I purchased it on a whim,” admits the Florida developer.

A native of Rochester, New York, Desino grew up skiing competitively and traveled in the West, yet had never visited Aspen. “Then I spent 24 hours and was in love,” he recalls.“Aspen has the convenience of a big city with the charm of a small town. You walk outside and everything you need is there.” While this was the first condominium remodel Desino had undertaken, he had renovated four historic properties in Charleston, South Carolina, and his business specializes in horse property real estate.

Photo: Dallas & Harris Photography

So, he was prepared for the effort and resources that would be needed for permitting, demolition, construction and furnishing the two-bedroom, two-bath residence that measures just 1,060 square feet. “I settled in and realized that there’s demand in Aspen, and it wasn’t time to cut corners,” he says. Desino found solid partners in Anne Grice and Whitney Norton of Anne Grice Interiors.

They had a tight timeline, due to an HOA requirement that construction must be done between the end of ski season and the beginning of the summer season so that it wouldn’t disturb guests at The Gant. Another motivation to get the project finished—Desino was getting married and wanted to be able to enjoy the remodeled home with his partner following their June wedding. Grice has overseen multiple remodels at The Gant, which was built in the early 1970s, and got to work turning Desino’s visions into reality.

Photo: Dallas & Harris Photography

“We had quite a few meetings where we laid everything out room by room,” she says. “He wanted something very upscale in natural materials. There are wood walls and a cabin feel, but the style is more formal and sophisticated.” Desino envisioned the interior to be lasting, not trendy. “I’m not in it for the moment. I think that if it is maintained nicely, it will be a true timeless look. I had seen a lot of white boxes and didn’t want that. I wanted it to feel cozy in winter but fresh in summer.”

Speaking of boxes, Grice refers to the condominium as a “jewel box,” and it won the ASID Crystal Award in Colorado and New Mexico for 2023 for the best remodel under 5,000 square feet. “Every surface was thought through and works together,” she says, noting they incorporated beautiful accents such as the collection of framed Hermes silk scarves in the dining room, the Franz Viegener gold plumbing fixtures and such custom furniture pieces as a green velvet banquette. “Each piece can stand on its own but together makes up a jewel box.”

Photo: Dallas & Harris Photography

Grice worked closely with Janckila Construction and Aspen Cabinets, deciding early on to use the same white oak on the living and dining room walls, shelves, ceiling and window valances to provide visual harmony to the space. The bedrooms have built-in white oak cabinets to provide storage and eliminate the need for excess furniture. Bathrooms have stone tile floors and walls tiled from floor to ceiling. “There were tears when they walked in here,” Grice adds. “Chris has done a lot of remodels, so it was rewarding to us for him to be so happy.”