A Full House Inspires a Mountain Modern Vacation Home
The fun begins when this Texas family and friends decamp to their colorful Aspen home
Exterior The glass and stone residence was 80 percent completed when the homeowners bought it, allowing them to select their own finishes. It was designed to offers views from inside and out, spanning the seasons. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
When it was time to build their vacation home in Aspen, a Dallas couple knew it had to have room for not only them and their four kids but also their children’s friends, adult friends and family members. Upon learning about a five-bedroom Bob Bowden – designed house for sale that was 80 percent finished, the Texans jumped at the prospect. Just as quickly, they brought interior designer Morgan Farrow on board. “They are a very vibrant, fun and energetic family,” Farrow says of her clients. Her mission was to help make the house “an expression of who they are as a whole” by creating multiple zones where the family and their guests can gather, dine, relax, be entertained and sleep. Furniture had to be comfortable, neutral and multipurpose, while artwork and lighting would add pops of color and personality.
“We loved the location, just east of Aspen,” the homeowner says of the hillside property. “It has both mountain and valley views. It’s a five-minute drive or a 30-minute walk to town.” Mark Janian, general manager of B2Builders and a partner at Bowden Homes, says his company builds a lot of spec homes because buyers want the convenience of having the siting, permitting and early stages of construction out of the way. “It takes a long time and is an arduous process,” he says. The home’s Mountain Modern design, open layout and outdoor living spaces were appealing to the homeowners, as was the fact that they could still customize cabinetry, countertops, tile and other aspects of the design.
Dining Room The custom dining table has an 11-foot-long live-edge top and a cast bronze base. Chairs from Arhaus are plush yet compact. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
The 5,750-square-foot home is the largest allowed per zoning requirements, and every inch inside was thoughtfully designed for maximum use. Janian explains, “We oriented the house to have a two-story living room with glass on one side to get the best views and light.” It’s spacious enough to contain the family plus many friends. Another priority was a comfortable primary bedroom suite and a welcoming guest bedroom suite. Additional bedrooms needed to have flexible sleeping options. That’s where interior designer Farrow’s expertise came into play. “This house was considered moderate in size,” Farrow says. “Knowing they are a big family and it was on the smaller size for how they live and travel, we had to maximize the sleeping areas.” Most of the bedrooms contain king-size beds, so that either the children or an adult couple is comfortable sleeping in them.
In addition, sofas in multiple spots convert into beds when it’s a full house. The philosophy extended to eating areas. “We wanted to get as many seats as possible around the dining table,” Farrow says. They sourced a tree for the 11-foot live-edge table and had it custom made with a cast bronze base. The chairs have a club-style back with no arms, so they are plush yet compact. From both the dining areas and bedrooms, doors lead outside. “I love the fact that the rooms have a door that goes to a balcony or patio space. We spend a lot of time outside,” the homeowner says. There’s a trout pond behind the house and a hill for sledding. Winter sports include skiing for the kids, while the summer is filled with hiking, biking, golf and trips into town. “We usually spend six weeks in the summer, and also come in the fall,” the homeowner says.
Outdoor Patio Multiple outdoor spaces for gathering and dining appeal to the Texas family. Low-maintenance but comfortable furnishings off the living room include an RH sofa, Lexington Home chair, and a concrete-and-resin Made Goods table. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Entertaining is often on the agenda. “We’ve hosted a wedding shower for a friend, I’ve brought girlfriends up, and we’ve had couples’ trips.” Farrow recalls, “I knew when we started this project the interior was going to be more earthy because of the location. We needed to find the balance between what makes [the homeowner] happy but also the kind of warmth and coziness you think of in the mountains. “ The collaboration between the homeowner and designer resulted in a residence that has more color and pattern than is typical for a Colorado mountain home, and that reflects the homeowner’s aesthetic. The designer enjoyed curating the art and introducing color that reflected the family’s approach to life. “It was so much fun discovering artists and making each room come alive with the art we chose.” “I love color. It makes me happy,” the homeowner says.
Kitchen The mixture of woods on the ceiling, cabinetry and floor were chosen to complement the wood on the home’s exterior and to add texture. Bar stools
with woven leather seats are by Thomas Hayes Studio; the waterfall island is made of leathered quartzite. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Wall Art Artist Christina Watka was commissioned to create a version of her Murmurations series, a collection of hand sculpted glazed porcelain pieces in white, cranberry and gold that cover a curved wall and appear posed for flight. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Living Room Comfortable seating options include a pair of George Cameron Nash sofas in leather and tweed and geometric patterned Holly Hunt armchairs. The custom coffee table has brass clips at the sides holding a shagreen leather-wrapped top. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Entryway The homeowner and designer saw art by Vicki Sher at an Aspen gallery and commissioned pieces for either side of the entry hall. The chandelier from M2C Studio is overscaled to make a statement in the two-story space. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Outdoor Dining Space The family enjoys hosting alfresco meals around an RH table with Palacek chairs in woven rope and teak. The materials were chosen for their ease of maintenance and style. Custom lanterns top the adjacent stone columns. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Primary Bathroom With its many windows, the upper- level primary bathroom feels like being in a treehouse. The shower is surrounded by glass, and the soaking tub lends a spa-like quality. Calacatta Gold tile and an antique Turkish rug add warmth. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Guest Bedroom Neutral colors in the bedroom offer a soothing backdrop for bright accent furnishings, including block prints found on Etsy above the bed, and Laura Park pillows. The night table is from Villa & House, and the green resin chair was found at a pop-up in Aspen. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Guest Bedroom An antiqued brass canopy bed from Arhaus features a leather headboard. The stools with chunky bouclé tops are from Worlds Away. Woven baskets make an artful statement on the wall behind the bed while a vintage-look Oushak rug is layered over a sisal rug on the floor. | Photo: Nathan Schroder
Interior Design: Morgan Farrow Interior Design
Design: Bowden Homes
Construction B2 Builders
Architectural Drawings: Bill Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design
