Written By Obsessions |  2021

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Inspiration comes from many different places. From design blogs to the runway and trips to market, I find inspiration all around me. But hitting the reset button every so often is a necessity for me. I find nothing helps me refocus and gets my creative juices flowing more than putting myself in a different environment. What destination is at the top of my list to renew my interior design inspiration? Aspen, Colorado.

Aspen, Colorado is one of the places I love going to when I need a change of scenery. From music festivals to outdoor activities and the premiere Food & Wine Classic, Aspen has so much to offer. What I love most about visiting Colorado is the perspective shift it offers. The peacefulness of the lush mountain scenery provides a welcome change from the flat landscape and hustle of life in the city.

Nature plays a huge role in our designs. The lush landscape may inspire the color palette we use in the home. Or a river stone fireplace might create the perfect focal point. And natural elements like wood and stone are a fabulous way to bring organic shapes and unique textures into a design. They add warmth, depth, and visual interest. But the structure of the home and where it’s located on the property is also important to understand. The surroundings, natural light, and physical space the home occupies influences our design. These elements are the foundation on which we create interiors that maximize the home’s functionality and beauty.

COLORADO HOME DESIGNS

Though we no longer call Aspen our “office home”, we are still inspired by the beautiful surroundings. I’m so excited to announce that the Laura U team will be heading back to Aspen this summer! Our official countdown to Colorado and wrapping up a fun new project has definitely got me dreaming about beautiful mountain homes. Today I want to share a few of my favorite mountain homes with you.

LAURA U DESIGN COLLECTIVE

Contrast is one of the essential elements of Classically Current designs. The tension of color, texture, and pairing pieces that aren’t supposed to go together is what makes an interior design interesting. With our Mountainview project, our goal was to bring the organic, beauty of nature together with clean, modern lines. The color palette of rich browns and stark whites was inspired by the gorgeous landscape surrounding the home. It brings the beauty of the outdoors inside and provides the perfect backdrop for the home’s views. Natural wood elements add warmth and visual texture while the fireplace’s industrial facade and these leather accent chairs give the room a modern touch. And fresh florals add a pop of color, making the space relaxing and calming. Bold Aztec print pillows create a bit of depth and a cozy bench beckons guests to sit down and stay a while.

CHARLES CUNNIFFE ARCHITECTS | STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATES

VAIL CUSTOM BUILDERS

Located in Vail, Colorado, this beautiful mountain home was constructed by Vail Custom Builders. VCB is a luxury home builder that designs spaces tailored to their clients’ unique experiences and preferences. Along with honestly and accountability, their key values include a strong dedication to getting things right the first time around.

C. BARNES CONSTRUCTION

Next on our list of mountain homes is this gorgeous residence built by C. Barnes Construction, a general contractor in Aspen. From the highly frequented living room to the open yet private master bedroom, the spaces in this home boast sweeping views of Colorado’s mountainous landscape. The architecture also embraces a mountain modern aesthetic that we just love!

ROWLAND+BROUGHTON | BRIKOR

Built in the ‘70s, this modern mountain home was renovated by architecture firm Rowland+Broughton and custom home builder, Brikor. Rowland+Broughton is a high-end design firm with a broad portfolio that includes custom residential, commercial, and master planning projects. Brikor, on the other hand, is a family-owned general contracting company that specializes in building custom homes in Aspen.

G.F. WOODS CONSTRUCTION | ANNE GRICE INTERIORS

G.F. Woods Construction can be thanked for building some of Aspen’s most beautiful spaces, including this one. Their work includes everything from residential and commercial to multifamily and restaurant development. Valuing honesty, integrity, and attention to detail, G.F. Woods has built strong relationships with clients and partners throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.

The interior of this fabulous home was designed by Anne Grice, an interior designer who has worked in Aspen for more than 20 years. Her work is sophisticated yet functional, using patterns and textures to connect to Colorado’s lifestyle and mountainous landscape.

HOME DESIGN COLORADO, NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN

Each of these Colorado mountain homes fits beautifully into the stunning scenery that surrounds it. While some are modern and some are rustic, each design blends the beauty of nature with luxe elements. All these fabulous mountain homes have me counting down the days until we head back to Aspen. If you’re dreaming of your own perfect mountain get-away house, we know a little bit about creating one! Drop us a line to let us know how we can help bring your design dreams to life. I can’t wait to breathe in the fresh mountain air. And I can’t wait to share the details of the mountain inspired project we’ve been working on with you! Be sure to follow along on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look.

The post Home Design Colorado: A Roundup of our Favorite Mountain Homes appeared first on Structural Associates.

Written By Macarena Abascal Valdenebro |  2020
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Maroon Creek | 5,500 sq ft | Brewster McLeod Architects | Aspen, Colorado, United States | ©David Patterson

The homeowners saw the property’s unique potential and enlisted Jamie L. Brewster McLeod to transform it into a gallery for their extensive art collection. The renovation focused on keeping the simple, elegant feeling of the original structure while using modern elements to bring in more light and enhance the mountain views. The biggest impact on the space was achieved by raising the roof in the living room, which doubled the room’s height, gave it a butterfly roof, and added larger windows. Additional design elements throughout the renovation were driven by the homeowner’s art collection and the desire to maintain the character of the original structure.

The original fireplace, a focal point of the house, was refinished in board form concrete to enhance the modern feeling.

The coexistence between the rustic and the modern is reflected in the design of the furniture and the material used.

The stairway was designed around a striking collection of black-and- white photographs, while the master bedroom was redesigned around an original art piece that was purchased with the property.

In this children’s bedroom, with capacity for eight, the wallpaper with tree trunk design, the bunk beds, and the wooden walls create the illusion of sleeping in a forest cabin.

The post 150 New Best of the Best House Ideas: Maroon Creek appeared first on Structural Associates.

Written By Kathy Filgo, Vail Valley Magazine | September 15, 2020

Legacy ranch has an environmentally intuitive aesthetic that showcases the stunning backdrop

Native Americans had been stewards of the land in what is now the United States of America for about 15,000 years before the American pioneers hit the westward trail in the 1700s. But it wasn’t until after the War of 1812 that a vast migration to a new life in the western territories really took hold.

One could not ask for a more compelling environment in which to commune with nature and bring peace to the mind and heart.

There were a lot of reasons the pioneers braved the challenges of the journey to seek their destinies in the Wild West: They were pursuing gold and silver; escaping overcrowding, rules and discrimination; looking for employment and business opportunities; craving space to plant crops and raise livestock; and some were simply looking for adventure in the untamed wilds. But regardless of the myriad of motives, no matter the individual intent — ultimately it was all about the land.

The magnificent, mesmerizing splendor of the Rocky Mountains continues today to captivate the imagination and draw people to the West — to this incredible enchanting
land of towering mountains, lush landscape, roaming wildlife and rivers running through it. Who could resist?

That same endless beauty on full display on 530 acres of paradise just west of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, was something Stuart and Valarie Ross, who had the house built, couldn’t resist — it was the lure of this land that captured their imagination.

Situated on land that had previously been an expansive, working ranch, the couple named their new property Inyanga Ranch after a national park in Stuart’s native Zimbabwe. In Africa, an Inyanga is a shaman who works with medicines made from plants and animals to heal, and it’s not difficult to see how the richness of the landscape and wildlife exudes a powerful spiritual connection and brings a healing solace to the soul. One could not ask for a more compelling environment in which to commune with nature and bring peace to the mind and heart. In keeping with the spirit of the land, the current owners changed the name back to its original Rock ‘N Pines Ranch.

This pristine land is bordered on three sides by BLM and National Forest Land with towering sandstone peaks resplendent with aspen, sage and pine, and over two miles of the Canyon Creek running through it. There are also nine spring-fed ponds dotting the landscape to add to the abundance of water on this ranch.

“We weren’t even actively looking to buy a ranch,” says
Paul Foster, the current owner. “Yet, when we saw this property, we were determined to buy it.
With its spectacular vistas, it’s
like a painting.”

This was the palette given to Jack Snow, co-founder of RKD Architects and award-winning architect, upon which to perform his rare design magic.

Snow was chosen to design the home because of his special sense of how to bring exceptional, organic design to any environment, and blend, not clash, with that backdrop.

Snow was so thrilled with the canvas upon which he would work that he commented on how he was happily taking a second seat to Mother Nature. With the full blessing of the owners, Snow began to work on creating that synergy.

“We began with what was to be the guest house — about 2,200 square feet, two bedrooms, an office, three bathrooms, open floor plan — the owners would then live here until the main house, which was to follow, was complete. They wanted a simple, straightforward house with the emphasis on bringing the sweeping views into the home, and for the home to blend into these special surroundings. One of the requirements was ‘glass, glass, glass’ so they could take full advantage of every view,” says Snow. “The huge roofs rise up to the views in an effort to welcome even the very tops of the canyon walls inside. The butterfly roof was not only designed to take in the spectacular views with their height, but also offer large overhangs that shelter the patios and keep the interiors cool and protected from the intense sun.”

The exterior elements used were beautiful but not extravagant — cedar, stone from Colorado, granite and patinaed steel panels. The emphasis was always on the environment, not the materials, and ultimately the finished home looks as though it had simply sprouted and grown there naturally.

“We worked with Structural Associates who were the general contractors, and who did an incredible job of making our vision come to fruition — it always takes a team and they were great team members,” Snow continues.

The interior palette was equally unpretentious — not a single piece of imported Italian marble, Brazilian walnut flooring, or a $1.6 million Fiore de Cristallo kitchen. “The desire was to complement not compete with the surrounding environment, so all the bells and whistles found in many upscale homes simply wouldn’t look natural in this rural, remote location; the design needed to be more constrained, more muted. Every decision was thoughtfully considered with attention brought to each detail. The precise stonework around the door, the storage space cabinets under the fireplace hearth with both the hearth and the cabinetry extending seamlessly into bench seating, the patinaed steel fireplace panels are carried over to coordinating kitchen and entry wall bringing a coherency to the open space — all carefully designed and meticulously crafted,” explains Snow.

“His use of unusual materials and his choice of colors combine to create a beautiful, contemporary home with a cozy and warm feel.”

Even much of the furniture in the home was designed by Snow and looks as if the pieces just sprouted up through the hardwood floors from the earth.

The great room windows overlook the outdoor living space, which is equally well thought-out.

Simple gray stone tile grounds the area around three sides of the home, as well as providing an organic deck for the outdoor pool. The manicured part of the surrounding lawn is integrated into the pool area supplying a pop of color, texture and connection.

Under the extended eaves of the house there are numerous spots to lounge — a private spot to curl up with a book, gather around the outdoor fireplace and create memories over coffee or cocktails, simply sit outside and enjoy the view while the sounds of the rushing creek fill the air.

The water plays an important role on this ranch with many water rights derived from Canyon Creek, and the previous owners were true stewards of the land. They cleaned up the riverbeds, cleaned and upgraded the roads  and irrigation system that includes all-new head gates, underground pipes and a large pumping station. This helps service the ponds as well as providing water to the grass hay crops grown on 75 of the 530 acres. Additionally, selected pasture grasses were replanted on the entire ranch to eliminate undesirable species from the property and, with persistent oversight, is quickly becoming weed-free.

Snow also designed an approximately 5,000-square-foot barn, built mainly for storing equipment and harvested hay. As well, he included an office, bathroom and small kitchen.

The owners decided that the smaller home lived large, and that they were content to be living right there, says Snow. And so, the guest house became the main house.

Guest quarters were then transferred to the two on-site historical cabins; the history of one of the cabins dating back to 1929, almost a century ago. Previously used as hunting lodges, these creekside cabins have been completely remodeled under Snow’s watchful eye (he insists all he did was point and suggest) and are a short ATV ride from the hosts home, thus providing restful retreat and privacy for all.

“We have no plans to change the main home because, as it is, it’s near perfect,” reveals Foster. “We have extensively modernized and improved the two cabins on the north end of the ranch. And we are planning to construct a beautiful entrance at the south end. Beyond that, we don’t envision any significant changes.

“Mr. Snow did an amazing job of creating a modern home while making it fit perfectly with the ranch,” he continues. “His use of unusual materials and his choice of colors combine to create a beautiful, contemporary home with a cozy and warm feel.”

In fact, Snow, with his architectural integration with nature, was the perfect architect for the home. His design drew inspiration for exactly what the original pioneers understood — it’s all about the land.

This article appears on Vail Valley Magazine:
https://www.aspensojo.com/home-and-real-estate/2019/08/st-mary-catholic-church-returns-to-its-glorious-splendor-2

The post A Natural Connection appeared first on Structural Associates.

By Ross Kribbs, Aspen Sojourner | August 2, 2019

Iconic buildings are defined not by their age, but by the depth of their roots. In Europe, an 800-year-old church might be the spiritual heart of its village, while in New England, chapels that date to the 17th or 18th centuries serve the same role. Aspen’s relatively young history, however, is still measured decade by decade. Here, a church built only 135 years ago anchors its community in place and time, providing a link to tradition and a path of continuity.

The congregation of Aspen’s St. Mary Catholic Church held its first mass last summer after an extensive restoration—overseen by local firm Charles Cunniffe Architects—that lasted almost five years. Though the handsome exterior remains largely unchanged, much of the interior’s original aesthetic has been restored; an Aspenite from the late 1800s would now recognize the space inside—but would do so in the comfort of reliable heat and air conditioning.

As I documented the final stages of the renovation, I expected to capture the evolving beauty of a sacred space. Yet as I visited the construction site, what interested me most was decidedly human in nature. There are few experiences more worthwhile than watching artists and artisans harness their talents in the service of a grand goal. A project that is public, appreciated, and historic just seems to heighten that effort. As the church was transformed, architects, carpenters, painters, and historical specialists of all stripes exuded pride from beneath hard hats or well-stained overalls.

Now, the construction trucks are long gone and the scaffolding removed. The bell rings again for Sunday services, and the refurbished organ sounds better than ever. The original pews have been returned to their places, gently refinished but still carrying stories from a century of use. From the valley floor and the surrounding hills, St. Mary’s steeple provides a central focus amid a growing cityscape. 

 Two things have become clear: It takes a church to make a village. And it takes a village to make a church.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aspen, CO

This article appears on Aspen Sojourner:
https://www.aspensojo.com/home-and-real-estate/2019/08/st-mary-catholic-church-returns-to-its-glorious-splendor-2

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By Madeleine Osberger, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer | July 15, 2018

The serpents have sharp, menacing teeth and appear the embodiment of evil that the newly polished St. Patrick statue on the altar of St. Mary Catholic Church seeks to stomp out.

New bells to accompany the 1892 bell named “Maria” were refused and returned to their maker after falling far short in “bell appeal,” according to Father John Hilton, pastor of the church.

His oversight of every level of detail — from pews to stairwells, carpet and the selection of a glowing Our Lady of Guadalupe painting for the entryway — is felt in what is believed to be the first significant renovation in the history of the 126-year-old church.

The tip-to-toe remake that started in June 2017 at a cost of $6.5 million will come in at $1 million over that total, though Hilton said he believes the money can be raised from donors and other sources to fund unexpected costs incurred by a new ceiling and roof.

The building is owned by the Archdiocese of Denver, which coordinates and supervises the bill paying.

St. Mary Church, now adorned with 22-karat gold-leaf stars, has some other new stars surrounding its blessed altar, as well.

They are seen in pictorials of a genuinely diverse collection of 20th-century saints and “blesseds,” including a martyred Mexican boy, an African slave whose owners nicknamed her “Lucky,” and Pope John Paul II.

Hilton characterized their contributions to the 20th century as “holiness out of what was at times real ugliness.”

Who made the cut to adorn St. Mary’s walls for the next century or so was decided by “a saints committee.” They met regularly to select the best of the 20th-century candidates, Hilton said.

Climber Pier Giorgio Frassati, a social activist, is pictured with his pipe. St. Maximilian Kolbe earned his memorial by taking the place of a young father in an Auschwitz starvation bunker.

“These are wonderful stories that really speak to us. A lot of it came out of dark times,” Hilton emphasized.

Women, including St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Therese of Lisieux and Gianna Beretta Molla, who died in childbirth, were also important 20th-century contributors and given equal time on these walls.

Hilton will celebrate Mass three times this weekend, including today at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. An open house and reception will follow at 11:15 a.m. St. Mary’s is located at 533 E. Main St.

Connecting with the past

Judy Dunn, chair of the building committee, recalled that in 2014, Hilton said he thought the project would take four or five years. A bit naive to Aspen’s permitting process and its fees, the Michigan transplant initially doubted the project would take that much time from start to completion.

Dunn recovered from the sticker shock of building costs to help guide the church into its next century.

That’s a familiar refrain — building the church for the ages — coming from those toiling inside the church in the surprisingly frenetic final days leading up to the open house.

Elissa Taylor, principal of Element Architectural Glass, has spent three years cleaning and refurbishing the St. Mary windows, which were all originally installed in 1892.

There are 75 windows in total, including the rose window that sits high above the church’s Main Street entrance.

“They were in a state of disrepair like I’ve never seen before,” she said, though the glass was in good shape with only about 15 percent of it broken. But about 90 percent of the leading that held the glass pieces in place was damaged, she said.

Taylor contacted Indiana-based Kokomo Glass Co., which made the original leading back in the 19th century, for new supplies. The process to remove the old lead is done in a tub of water after a map is drawn of the original stained-glass pieces, so they are correctly reconstructed. This method also contains the toxic dust.

She was impressed with the glass artisanship, especially considering “how rudimentary the tools must have been 125 years ago,” Taylor said. Part of her repair to the windows was cleaning up some of those “choppy cuts” and gaps in the leading.

“My intention was to rebuild them for the next 150 years,” she said.

Her favorite windows include those with tiny arches that denote “In memory of.”

“I really felt like I was connecting with the past. Who were these people? What were their lives like 125 years ago?” she said.

Last week, while some of the statues were being moved about and repositioned, the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus were temporarily placed on the ground. Light that streamed through the newly cleaned windows lent a heavenly glow that Taylor said she was fortunate enough to have photographed.

Seeing the inside of the church unveiled and every corner hand-polished brought Marina Skiles of Charles Cunniffe Architects to tears on Thursday. She’s also been key to bringing this vision to life and pored over details like hand-rail compliance during a July 12 meeting involving the owner, architect and contractor with Structural Associates.

It was Skiles who also insisted that Styrofoam faux wooden beams be painted with tiny lines to exactly replicate those from the past. The first attempt by the artisans too closely resembled pine, so the beams were ordered to be repainted.

The $7.5 million project also included the remodel of the kitchen, bathrooms and community spaces on the main floor, which host classes, potlucks and the St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

On the road

For the first time in its history, St. Mary’s annual big events, those that had otherwise been held uninterrupted annually for 125 years, needed to find a temporary new home during the construction period.

The Aspen Community Church stepped in as a major partner during the renovation, accommodating weekend services for about 10 months; the cooperative effort and fellowship will lead to a joint Good Friday service next year, according to Hilton and Mike Nickerson, pastor of the church on East Bleeker Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (St. Mary is not).

Also providing space for worship and holiday celebrations during the construction were Harris Hall and Bumps, which stepped in to offer a venue for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner, a tradition that even pre-dates the 1892 church, as a smaller St. Stephen’s Church existed on this site for about a decade prior.

This article appears on Aspen Daily News:
https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/st-mary-church-celebrates-its-second-coming/article_7f42ff30-87d3-11e8-b1a4-17f7af510be2.html

The post St. Mary Church celebrates its second coming appeared first on Structural Associates.

By Kasey Harvey | December 2017

Magazine staff and top home design industry professionals from around the country gathered at Aspen Kitchen to celebrate the 2017 Home of the Year featured in our November/December issue. Guests noshed on delicious eats (cooked up by the chefs at Aspen Kitchen) while mingling with fellow home design folks who came from near and far to celebrate.

Mountain Living was thrilled to honor the 2017 Home of the Year Design Team: Charles Cunniffe Architects, Studio 133, Architectural Engineering Consultants, Greg Mozian & Associates, Xssentials, Structural Associates, Robert Singer & Associates, KL&A, Inc., Active Energies, Inc. and SGM.

Editor-in-Chief Darla Worden and Publisher Holly Scott presented awards to the winning design team at Mountain Living‘s most prestigious annual event.

Mountain Living would also like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2017 Home of the Year celebration a smashing success: Decorative Materials, The Oxygen Company, Xssentials, Studio 133, Greg Mozian & Associates, and Architectural Engineering Consultants.

This article appears on Mountain Living:
http://www.mountainliving.com/Events/The-2017-Home-of-the-Year-Party/?vsmaid=1202&vcid=7526

The post The 2017 Home of the Year Party! appeared first on Structural Associates.

By Madeleine Osberger | October 31, 2017

In digging deep to the bones of St. Mary Catholic Church during what is now a $6.9 million remodel and renovation, Aspen history has been recovered.

An original brick wall hidden behind the organ and babies’ cry room may be getting its first unveiling in a century. Its discovery was a welcome surprise, related to the removal of an imposing stairwell in favor of a circular staircase to the new choir loft.

“As we see possibilities, we’re changing,” said the Rev. John Hilton, pastor of the church built in 1892, a structure that is among Aspen’s oldest.

St. Mary aspires to host Christmas-season services in a temporary, first-floor space, where the old partitions separating classrooms are currently being replaced by modern dividers equipped with the ability to incorporate white boards for teaching.

The major remodel of the 10,000-square-foot church, which will retain its 350-seat capacity, has been a mixed blessing.

Marina Skiles, senior project planner with Charles Cunniffe Architects, said retention of the original ceiling (the sanctuary where Mass is held is located on the second floor) was not possible given the extent of wear and tear to the original trusses. That resulted in a ceiling that bowed and was potentially dangerous.

Visible during this week’s site tour of the construction being completed by Structural Associates of Glenwood Springs were wooden beams that are visibly decaying. Also seen in the bare walls, stripped of their insulation and drywall, were boards with advertisers’ names, monikers Hilton believes are original and indicative of 1890s-era Aspen.

He referred to how few trees are seen in photographs of Aspen from that period of history, and how the church builders might have had to use whatever resources were available at the time, from recycled boards to old-growth timber.

Peeling away an old lathe and plaster layer from the ceiling revealed vivid stencil drawings that Hilton believes are also original to the 19th-century building.

“The Victorians used very bright colors,” he said, sharing photos of some of the drawings on the since-removed plaster. Hilton also said that a thin black film seen on the plaster may have been coal dust.

Hear the bells

Digging deep into the building has been costly, and could add between $200,000 to $300,000 to the overall reconstruction cost, according to Skiles.

“We’ve spent a lot on hidden stuff. We want to make sure there’s money for beautification of the church,” she said.

That could include an altered front porch area that the Historic Preservation Commission will have to review and approve as part of the amendment, Skiles said.

An open, better-lighted reception area and a self-serve coffee bar are among the changes to the St. Mary interior entrance.

Two additional church bells will ring to herald Sunday and holiday services, according to the pastor.

“When you put in three bells, it becomes very joyful,” Hilton said of the more upbeat tones expected. In the Catholic church, bells are so revered that, like babies, they are honored in the ceremony of baptism.

“We’ll have a spring baptism-of-the-bells ceremony,” he said.

A $350,000 fundraising campaign to close the final gap on the renovation project recently received a $100,000 matching grant, according to Hilton.

“So now we are down to $100,000,” he said, noting both recent gains to the coffers and additional, unexpected construction expenses.

When St. Mary closed its doors for construction this summer, it was believed to be the first time in 135 years that Catholic Mass in Aspen was celebrated outside the one-block campus where this church, and the modest St. Stephen’s on the same site before that, had served the community continuously since the 1880s.

Until at least December, Catholic weekend services are held at the Aspen Community Church, 200 E. Bleeker St. Weekdays, Hilton invites parishioners into the rectory for morning mass beginning at 7 a.m.

This article appears on Aspen Daily News:
https://www.aspendailynews.com/aspen-history-is-uncovered-during-church-renovation/article_c333d001-9d94-5a2c-98f6-16763087828f.html

The post Aspen History is uncovered During Church Renovation appeared first on Structural Associates.