A Traditional Telluride Swiss Chalet Brings the Outside in

Interior designer Kara Childress placed Darlana Lantern pendants by Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting above the kitchen island, with bar stools by Lee Industries in Fog leather. The jute-and-wool area rug is by Stark Carpets, and the fire-log basket is from Schumacher. | Photography by Julie Soefer

“God had given us the most beautiful painting; we just needed to frame it properly.” So says Ken Newberry, founder and project architect of Newberry Architecture in Houston, who took a gamble and decided to blow out an entire wall of a 1990s-era Telluride home to make room for a view. The venture paid off—opening up the wall could potentially increase the home’s value by a million dollars or more according to Newberry—and made a family of five from Texas extremely happy with an updated Swiss chalet with a jaw-dropping vista.

A Schumacher basket is placed next to a Verellen high-back bench in GH Leather. The Crystal Antler chandelier is by LWSN in Austin, and the antique chest is from Brendan Bass in Dallas. The oil painting is by Helen Durant.

With their extended family already owning multiple homes in Telluride, the 50s-something couple wanted a place for themselves and their three college-age children in the idyllic community. After looking at real estate for months, Newberry and the homeowner got 15 feet into the front door of their future home project and turned to each other and smiled. “We hadn’t even seen the rest of the house,” remembers Newberry. “I said, ‘You’re going to buy this home.’ But when we looked and saw the solid back wall, we knew we had to make it all glass—then, it would be magical. We needed that mountain view.”

A dining table from the homeowner’s private collection is flanked by chairs by Lee Industries in Performance Linen with Auskin shearling pelts. The ottoman is by Lee Industries in Saddle leather. The chandelier is Ralph Lauren by Visual Comfort.

The 10,000-square-foot log home and detached guesthouse sit on 5.8 acres in Mountain Village, above the original mining town of Telluride. Though dated, the home had dramatic and strong elements that Newberry and project manager Hana Abuelaish addressed in tandem with Houston-based interior designer Kara Childress. Together they refashioned the house into a contemporary mountain residence that stays true to its Swiss chalet vibe.

The table and chairs are from Restoration Hardware, placed atop a hair-on-hide rug from Saddlemans. The vintage sofa is Illuminati Antiques in Atlanta, with a side table from Arteriors. The acrylic-framed textiles are from Natural Curiosities.

In addition to adding the massive floor-to-ceiling steel-and-glass window in the kitchen, Newberry removed a spiral staircase in the primary bedroom and renovated the media room, bunk room, bathroom and kitchen.

An antique trunk was retrofitted to house a hidden television, while a corner table by Ateriors sits between two boucle wool armchairs from Gorsuch Home. The bench is from Joyce Horne Antiques, and the bedside tables from Made Goods. The Travers natural linen draperies were sourced by Heines Custom Draperies. The custom antelope rug is by Stark Carpets.

For the soft furnishings, Childress used a “Brunello Cucinelli” palette, she says, referring to the Italian fashion designer’s preferred color scheme of taupe and warm gray with neutral green undertones. “Instead of patterns, I used textures and let the outside speak for itself. I didn’t want anyone to be distracted by the furniture, so I used smooth leathers, sherpa and bouclé wools,” explains Childress, who sourced 90 percent of the soft furnishings from custom vendors, adding a few high-end items from Gorsuch and Restoration Hardware. Everything is covered in stain-resistant high-performance fabrics for the next chapter … grandchildren.

In the bunk room, the Restoration Hardware Callum Storage bunk bed features bedding by Pom Pom, custom pillows with Wood plaid fabric by Fabricut, and an Auskin shearling. In the bath, the towel ring is from Rocky Mountain Hardware and the hand towel is Bella Notte.

For now, however, the sports-loving family uses the home just as much in the summer as the winter. Because the house is ski-in, ski-out, friends and family are continually stopping in on winter ski days. Says Childress of the homeowners, “They casually entertain in their slope-side residence, skiing in morning, and then setting out lunch and hot chocolate for everyone who stops by. It’s the perfect location for just coming in and out. You feel very welcome there. Nothing is pretentious or precious.”

Although still a traditional log cabin from the outside, the 10,000- square-foot home has been updated to a modern mountain chalet with organic, contemporary elements throughout. The chalet sits on 5.8 acres in Mountain Village.

The designer’s favorite spot in the home is the living room area by the crackling fireplace. “It’s a large and generous home with dramatic ceilings and beams, so I like the cozy space for conversation,” she says.

The rustic yet elegant primary bathroom showcases a bench by Joyce Horne Antiques in Houston, Texas, with an Auskin shearling pelt rug. The sheer roman shades are from Heine’s Custom Drapery in Katy, Texas, and the towels are Matouk.

As for the homeowners, nothing beats the kitchen view. “The large window makes it feel like you’re sitting outdoors overlooking the San Juan Mountains range,” the wife says. “And if you look down the mountain, you are facing the slopes below. You’re inside but feel like you’re outside—in nature.”

DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECTURE Newberry Architecture
INTERIOR DESIGN Kara Childress, Inc.
BUILDER Fortenberry & Ricks | 970-728-4321
PHOTOGRAPHY Julie Soefer