High Country House & Home

THE

N A E L C GY R E N E OLUTION REV

22 PAGE

Soak It Up Loving life in the Colorado Rockies

Do You Fondue?

The ultimate winter party Winter 2011

$4.95

Pick Your Perfect Hot Tub PAGE 18 FOR THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN LIFESTYLE

YOUR HOME. YOUR NEEDS. YOUR STYLE. From standard to custom, mountain to modern, green to greener. Our cabinetry design center carries several distinct cabinet lines to match your style and budget.

LOOK FOR OUR NEW OUTLET STORE OPENING IN FEBRUARY OFFERING QUICKER LEAD TIMES, GREAT PRICING AND A CONVENIENT FRISCO LOCATION.

get creative 1655 Airport Rd, Suite 3, Breckenridge 970.453.6500 www.creativecabinetry.com

You have the projects...

We have the tools!

New Construction Remodeling Space Planning Consultation Custom Furniture Design Paint Carpet Window Coverings

Debra Browne, A.S.I.D. Residential and Commercial Interior Design

P.O. Box 17085 Snowmass Village 6 81615 970.963.4255 970.309.5472

HarrisonBrowne.com

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contents

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In Every Issue 05 Welcome Home 49 Advertiser Index 47 High Country Homeowner Calendar 50 Colorado Connection: Styles Kitchen & Bath Studio of Basalt

Expressions 06 The Kitchen Hotline ~ Melting Roof Ice ~ Clay Art ~ and more Showcase 09 Against the Grain Timeless and striking wood furniture Small Spaces 12 The Pow! Room Every guest will see the powder room in your home.

Make it shine!

Spot on 14 Heart of the Home This Breckenridge kitchen brings it all together in a stately design Outdoor Living 18 Soak It In Finding the perfect hot tub for your home

2 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

In the Kitchen 20 Dip, Swirl, Delight Winter is the time to melt into fondue Sustainability 22 Get off of My Grid!

A new community-based solar power model could revolutionize clean energy consumption Room to Improve 24 Gather ’Round Home entertainment celebrity Christy Rost sets the table for the winter season Homespun 42 Spinning that Yarn Fraser Valley alpaca farm produces fine fiber for home dÊcor and clothing

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28 A Healthy Home Woody Creek residents turn to feng shui and sustainable building practices for optimal human and environmental wellness.

36 Merging Landscape with Life This Silverthorne design aims to make the house feel like it’s part of the environment — from building materials to interior design and landscaping.

Our master sommelier shares the best bubblies for your holiday celebration.

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Winter 2011 3

Make home, home again!

HIGH COUNTRY

Winter 2010-2011 | Vol. 6, No. 3 Published quarterly by Colorado Mountain News Media PUBLISHER Andrea Porter aporter@cmnm.org EDITOR IN CHIEF Brendan Harrington bharrington@cmnm.org MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Nicoletti knicoletti@cmnm.org LEAD DESIGNER Carrie Calvin ASSISTANT DESIGNERS Ali Doyle, Afton Groepper, Malisa Samsel ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ASPEN Gunilla Asher gasher@cmnm.org

Home Store Transport yourself in luxurious surroundings and inspired vignettes.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS Gunilla Asher gasher@cmnm.org GRAND JUNCTION Linda Findley lfindley@cmnm.org SUMMIT COUNTY Maggie Butler mbutler@cmnm.org VAIL Patrick Connolly pconnnolly@cmnm.org CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tonya Bina, Brendan Harrington, Janice Kurbjun, Kimberly Nicoletti, Ryan Slabaugh CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Fox, Brendan Harrington, Brent Moss, Bob Winsett, DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Bob Lombardi blombardi@cmnm.org PRINTING & PRE-PRESS Publication Printers, Denver, CO

Design Studio Overwhelmed by the prospects? Allow our creative & talented designers to assist you.

C AT H E R S H O M E retail store 0530 basalt avenue, basalt, co 81621 970.927.9393 | m-f 10-6 sat 10-5

4 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

design studio & rug gallery 160 southside drive, basalt, co 81621 970.927.6556 | m-f 10-5 OR BY APPOINTMENT

COLORADO MOUNTAIN NEWS MEDIA Jim Morgan, General Manager jmorgan@cmnm.org Shipping: 200 Lindbergh Drive, Gypsum, CO 81637 Mailing: PO Box 15001, Gypsum, CO 81637 Phone: (970) 328.6333 Fax: (970) 328.6409 Copyright Š 2010 Colorado Mountain News Media.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

SUBSCRIPTIONS $19.95 annually. Contact Bob Lombardi with subscription and distribution inquires, at (970) 683.5606 or blombardi@cmnm.org or visit www.highcountryhouseandhome.com.

welcome home

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Welcome to the High Country.

Welcome Home.

Times have changed.

Building techniques, design styles and even homeowners have changed. Now we’ve changed, too. ¶ House & Home magazine has a new design and expanded editorial focus to better reflect how we live in the Colorado High Country. Along those lines, we changed the name from Mountain House & Home to High Country House & Home to represent the scope of life in the Colorado Rockies. ¶ Unlike other home magazines, we focus solely on the Colorado High Country. We live here in the mountains, work in the mountains, and know the mountain lifestyle. We strive to be your local, go-to resource for the greatest in High Country living. ¶ We offer easy ideas on entertaining, attainable inspirations on design, and practical tips to help make your house your home. We know how busy you are raising a family, running a business or just plain playing outdoors, so we’ve shortened most of our stories to deliver more of the latest trends and expert advice in a friendly and approachable layout. ¶ In this issue, we delve into the meaning of both “house” and “home,” with two feature stories that provide insight into how architecture and design can integrate — and showcase — standout features like rivers and mountains in the surrounding environment. Our “how to” fondue story gives you tips on heating up winter parties; our hot tub primer updates you on the latest bells, whistles and ways to not only keep your tub clean but also incorporate it into decks and backyards; and celebrity Christy Rost provides ideas for heartwarming table décor in the December, January and February months. ¶ We invite you to sit back and take some time to savor our new presentation of High Country House & Home. And, as always, feel free to contact us with your feedback, ideas and inspirations.

Kimberly Nicoletti Managing Editor knicoletti@cmnm.org

Winter 2011 5

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expressions

Back in Time Past meets present in these two intriguing trinkets for the home that make great holiday gift ideas or additions to your own High Country house.

Suspend time with this retro style timepiece that appears to float in thin air.

Designed by Alan Wisniewski for Umbra, the Suspend Mantel Clock fits any room of the house. Available at lumens.com. $65.

The winter night sky is clear and crisp here in the Colorado Rockies. Gaze the stars ala Galileo with this handsome telescope made to the same dimensions and focal point as Galileo’s 1609 model. Designed by Floravanti for Palomar, the Galileo Telescope is available at lumens.com. $390.

The delicate beauty of a whispering aspen grove is something truly dear to those who live in the Colorado High Country. It’s our signature — our autumn flair, our winter wonder.

Clay artist Kathy Pallie captures this unique splendor in her nature sculptures, one-of-a-kind works of art that bring the outdoors into your mountain home. Through a complicated process of molding, shaping and coloring clay, Pallie replicates natural scenery in stunning detail, creating wall-mounted art and freestanding sculptures that intimately recall the great outdoors.

“Working with clay, I enjoy creating artworks which not only express my love of nature, but which also allow me to bring the essence of the outdoors into interior spaces,” Pallie explains.

Find her work at The Vickers Collection in Aspen, or online at www.kathypallieclayart.com. —BH

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Inspired by Nature

Aspen Triptych, 8 ft. (2.4 m) in length, installed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Lake Tahoe, California.

BREAKING

THE ICE It’s inevitable: Each winter, as the snow begins to accumulate, ice builds up and hangs treacherously over the edge of your roof, especially on north facing slopes.

Traditional roof ice melt systems include difficult-to-install mesh mats or less effective zig-zag cables, both of which require penetrating the roof’s surface to secure. Of course, there’s always the oldfashioned ladder and broom trick …

But a new roof ice melt system, released in January 2010, simplifies the process with an energy-efficient and very effective design. Co-founded by Roaring Fork resident Bronson Rumsey, HotEdge is a patent-pending 8-foot metal rail that can be installed on any roof without penetrating the roof’s surface. Using a 12-watt self-regulating cable, HotEdge is more efficient and less expensive to run than traditional systems. It is installed underneath the drip edge and can even be installed year round on most types of roof. Because HotEdge is installed precisely at the drip edge, it effectively prevents ice dams and icicles from forming in the first place. —BH HotEdge www.hotedge.com (800) 411-3296

Ice Melt Cable Raceway Spacer Adjustable Roof V-Pitch Bend Ice Melt Cable Raceway Upturned Retention Hem

Vertical Mounting Slots

Winter 2011 7

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expressions

Presto!

You Just Became a Better Cook

Wouldn’t you love to have the creativity of a five-star chef, the expertise of a master sommelier and the insight of a certified nutritionist? Surprise. You do.

A new Colorado-based company now gives members easy access to respected food and wine experts around the country. The Kitchen Hotline allows you to speak directly with chefs, sommeliers and nutritionists, when you want and for as long as you want.

Either by phone or live online chat, you can contact the professional of your choice and ask them any cooking or wine-related questions you might have, whether you are in the kitchen cooking dinner or at the grocery store shopping for ingredients.

Say you’re throwing a dinner party this weekend and really want to impress.

You’ve leafed through your cookbooks, and nothing excites you. You want seasonal fare, fresh and local, but you just don’t know what to do. That’s when

you call The Kitchen Hotline and ask personal chef Kelly Yorke to walk you through the menu.

Maybe you’ve prepared a delicious rack of venison stuffed with pears, pecans and gorgonzola … but what’s the perfect wine? Call The Kitchen Hotline and mull it over with Jonathan Pullis, master sommelier and wine director at Montagna in Aspen’s Little Nell.

Planning your family menu for the week? Log on and get some tips for healthy eating and a proactive approach to health from John Friedstein, a certified nutritionist in Boulder.

Whatever the situation might be, The Kitchen Hotline’s team of experts is on call seven days a week for members’ questions and concerns. Plus, the interactive website is loaded with ideas

and information to help you perform like a seasoned professional in the kitchen. Membership currently runs $25 per month, or $240 per year, allowing you unlimited access to unlimited knowledge.

Founded in August 2010 by Aspen resident Mawa McQueen, The Kitchen Hotline is a virtual community that connects members to a wealth of knowledge in a personal and friendly manner. Whether you’re looking to improve your cooking skills, throw a great party or incorporate healthy eating into your family’s daily routine, The Kitchen Hotline can help. —BH The Kitchen Hotline www.thekitchenhotline.com (877) 773-8485

Winter Wines Calling The Kitchen Hotline for the first time, I was greeted by a friendly and welcoming host, who eagerly connected me to Sarah Trubnick, sommelier with The Hidden Vine, a boutique wine bar in San Francisco.

Talking with Sarah was like connecting with an old friend — an old friend who happened to be an internationally experienced expert on wine — and we chatted casually about well-rounded options for wintertime entertaining at home.

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THE BUBBLIES

THE REDS

Sarah went straight to the sparkling wines, a must for entertaining, especially around the holidays.

Great for wintertime in the Rockies, Sarah turned to two very interesting Malbecs.

SHRAMSBERG, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs “The finest sparkling wine coming out of California.”

POL ROGER Champagne “My all-time favorite affordable champagne.

TURCHI Malbec “Rich, full-bodied, candied Malbec.

More of a cult wine.”

ARGENTO Malbec “Made by a fantastic lady in Mendoza.

She’s coming to the U.S. and hand-selling her wines.”

COLORADO WINE COUNTRY While Western Slope wines don’t compete in the international arena — yet — Sarah had one Olathe winery in particular that she recommends.

MOUNTAIN VIEW Cabernet Franc “I wouldn’t put it up against a fine French wine, but you should watch them. These wines are getting better.”

showcase

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Against the Grain

About the Artist

After traveling the world on a woodworking quest, Michael Thomas Host settled in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Here, designing and building custom furniture for a diverse clientele, Michael draws on his international woodworking experience. He creates timeless and striking pieces combining techniques from places like Switzerland, New York and Australia, with the inherent natural beauty of wood.

The Bloom Collection

Cast in solid resin made from peanuts and soybeans, this collection leads a new and creative furniture revolution. Each base is unique and salvaged by Vancouver Island’s John Ross Design. This series fuses natural organic shapes with modern materials, resulting in a seamless surface guaranteed to inspire.

The designs are achieved in collaboration with Tanja Hinder of mth designs, a highly experienced and educated custom furniture and interior designer.

Where to Buy www.mthwoodworks.com

Winter 2011 9

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showcase

The Pick Chair The Pick Chair transforms from wall art to functional furniture with a flick of the wrist. It is an inspiring take on the use of space, the transformation of an object, and the combination of art and design.

Where to Buy www.bbbemmebonacina.com

The Wave Chair

Wine Knot Wine Rack The Mint Wine Knot is a seven-bottle wine rack for six regular sized bottles and one oversized magnum or champagne bottle. The use of two intersected molded plywood components in birch and walnut allows the Wine Knot to live comfortably in the kitchen, living room or den. This intersecting “knot� of wood creates the pockets for each bottle by working together with its mating component.

Designer: Scott Henderson.

Where to Buy www.uncommongoods.com

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The Wave Chair is a unique, modern twist on a chaise lounge.

Made by laminating veneer and bendable ply around a handmade form, this chair flexes slightly to more comfortably fit your body. The soft curves of the chair belong in any eclectic collection and were designed for the benefit of mental and physical relaxation.

Designer: Carley Eisenberg, www.carleyeisenberg.com Where to Buy www.etsy.com/shop/carleyeisenberg

Denizen Storage Denizen represents a new way of thinking about design for the home or office. It fuses practicality with beauty, comfort and culture.

It is made with sustainable materials and responsible processes that fulfill Coalesse’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Designers: Otto Williams and Jess Sorel Where to Buy www.coalesse.com

The Sweetness Chair The Sweetness Chair features a solid walnut seat and back supported by veneered and laminated birch ply sides.

All the wood is sustainably harvested and the laminate, and veneer is applied with zero VOC glue. The wood is finished with tung oil, a traditional zero VOC furniture finish.

Designed in Denver, the Sweetness Chair combines the tactile and visual beauty of solid walnut with the modern look of laminate and exposed plywood. It is a casual chair with sophisticated design.

Designer: Dan Sjogren Where to Buy www.sjotime.com

Lotus Bench Comfort and elegance come together to enhance your bedroom, living room or entryway. Bent Quilted Makore ends enclose the natural flowing arched base, inlaid with wenge. The seat is upholstered in leather.

Designer: Andrew Muggleton Where to Buy www.pismo.com Denver, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen

Winter 2011 11

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small spaces

The Pow! Room

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

The smallest spaces in your home can have a big impact. Take the powder room: Usually tucked to the side, with just enough space for the essentials, it’s a space that every guest in your home will see. The style should make a statement. It’s a chance to have fun with design, to express some personal flair and try something different.

This funky space in Breckenridge was designed by Charise Buckley at Full Circle Design Group (www.fullcircledesign.biz), blending metallic and floral accents into a modern reflection of the homeowner’s style.

Walls Metallic faux finish by Andy Thomas of Versatile Strokes, LLC www.versatilestrokes.net or (970) 389.3482

Lighting Custom designed and special ordered from a company in Chicago. For more information, contact Buckley at (970) 453.7100.

Faucet Bali Vessel Lavatory Faucet, by Graff. www.graff-faucets.com

Sink DemiLav Wading Pool lavatory in Thunder Gray, by Kohler. www.kohler.com

Cabinets High-gloss cabinets and countertop were custom designed for the space by Thurston. www.kitchensofcolorado.com

12 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

Art This hand-embroidered silk art piece the owner purchased in Japan inspired the bathroom’s contemporary Asian decor.

ask the experts

Punch with Paint

Let us help give your home a

BY BRENDAN HARRINGTON

When selecting paint color for the smaller spaces of your home, there are a few guidelines to consider. Sarah McCoy, of McCoy Design in Edwards, shares her insight: “Guests will see a powder room, but probably not the master bathroom. So the powder room should be a ‘wow!’ room,” McCoy says. She recommends considering a different application or texture for powder room walls, such as brushed linen or Venetian plaster. “A lot of people are moving toward that these days,” she says.

Using texture in concert with color gives impact to a small space. McCoy has used cracked plaster texturing on a powder room wall, painting it a neutral creamy taupe. “When I’ve painted a powder room dark clay or Indian red, I stay away from texture,” she explains.

Her general rule of thumb: Heavily textured walls get a neutral color; walls without color can be painted in rich colors.

In the powder room, “the only color I steer people away from is green,” explains McCoy. Shades of green tend to have an ill effect — literally — on the way people look and how the light reflects. McCoy tends toward warmer hues, but not necessarily light colors.

“You can paint a powder room a dark clay, and it will feel warm,” she says.

Another idea McCoy suggests is painting one wall dark, as an accent, and keeping the others neutral in tone.

“There’s a whole color theory on how color makes people feel, but that’s a book in itself,” she says.

“Color is definitely affected by the type of light in the room,” McCoy says.

Considering most small spaces don’t see much natural light, “it’s best to use a daylight bulb for the warmth.”

fresh look.

970.468.6987 SunshinePainting@mac.com

kitchens

baths

cabinets

media rooms

Showroom Located at 721 Granite St, Unit 1A Frisco, Colorado 970.468.5393 www.aspengrovekitchenandbath.com

Sarah McCoy, McCoy Design Firm The Riverwalk in Edwards www.mccoydesignfirm.com (970) 926-5257

closets

appliances

counter tops

offices Winter 2011 13

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spot on Hanging bar pendants by Hammerton are part of the home’s overall lighting designed by 186 Lighting Design Group, in Denver. www.186group.com

Heart of the Home

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB WINSETT

The large Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer is recessed and covered with custom wood panels to match the cabinetry. www.subzero.com

This distinctively Western kitchen in Breckenridge completes the home’s design, incorporating elements from inside and out into a stately and open space for family and friends to gather.

Interior design by Valdez Architects, in Frisco, and the homeowner Nancy Jackson. www.valdezarchitects.com

Best Furniture bar chairs, available at Mountain Comfort in Frisco. www.mountaincomfortfrisco.com

14 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

Dry stacked moss rock (also used on the home’s exterior) houses the Wolf 48-inch gas range and hood. The Abyssinian tile elements

by Ann Sacks add elegance to a functional backsplash. www.annsacks.com

Knotty alder cabinets designed by Cutting Edge Woodworking, in Leadville, feature a dark walnut stain, medium distressing and ebony accents in the crown. Raised panel doors and drawer fronts house utilitarian amenities such as trash and recycling rollouts, an appliance garage with pocket doors and rollouts in all base cabinets. www.cuttingedge-woodworking.com

Measuring 6x9 feet, the Antiquated Cambrian Black Granite slab highlights black trim on the cabinets. LED lighting accents the stone work underneath the countertop, and metal supports by Dragon Forge support both the granite slab and the foot rail (not shown).

Volcano Granite slab

Carlisle Old Growth Hickory floors add rustic appeal to the polished space and tie in the wide-plank Douglas fir ceilings above.

Winter 2011 15

ADVERTISEMENT

PENTHOUSE ONE AT ONE WILLOW BRIDGE HAS IT ALL — LUXURY, LOCATION, MULTIPLE VIEWS!

Premier location nestled on Gore Creek. Steps to World-class skiing, Fine Restaurants, Boutique Shopping, Infinity Pool/ Hot Tubs, Heated Parking, Valet, 24 Hour Concierge, Security, Sounds of Gore Creek, No Highway Impact!

16 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

F

FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER PENTHOUSE One at One Willow Bridge from the private elevator to the 4th Floor, you will feel the emotion of why this luxury Penthouse in Vail is so exceptional. Your world will change as you take in the magnificent views of the mountains, creek and Vail Village.

You will start to relax in the luxurious rooms with vaulted wood ceilings, custom hardwood floors, limestone fireplaces, marble baths, high-tech surround sound and personal mood lighting. The living room’s elegance and large picture window will embrace you. As an owner you will begin to expect the best with the staff’s personal attention, valet, security, 24 hour

concierge service, heated parking, infinity pool, hot tubs overlooking Gore Creek, daily breakfast by the fireplace in the lounge, and après delights during the winter season.

This exquisite 4 bedroom penthouse has 2 master suites, perfect for guests who prefer privacy. The limestone and copper fireplace in the main master invites you to snuggle at the end of the day. The double French doors open to a private patio with amazing views of the snow capped granite boulders lining Gore Creek in winter.

The second master bedroom’s paneled ceiling in the octagonal bedroom is part of the turret, unique to this penthouse.

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Floor to ceiling windows and French doors open to the balcony that wraps around the bedroom, offering a place to see the sun rise over the Gore Range in the morning.

The guest bedrooms can become a suite and entirely locked off from the main living area. The third and fourth bedrooms have private access to the wrap around balcony and patio offering views of the Bavarian shops lining the streets of Vail and of Solaris Plaza. The ambiance and energy of Vail in winter and summer will be felt from the balcony of Penthouse One.

There is only one Vail and only One Penthouse in Vail that has so much to offer the owner. The boutique warm atmosphere of One Willow Bridge is comfortable and inviting to owners and guests. You can play cards in the club lounge, cozy up to the fireplace with a good book in the private library, or share a dinner in the lounge, catered from the Market Place next door.

‘There is only one Vail and only One Penthouse in Vail that has so much to offer the owner.’

Owners have complete access to all the amenities of the Sonnenalp Hotel, recently named the Best Hotel in Colorado in 2010.

The Sonnenalp Spa, overlooking Gore Creek, is a perfect place to get a massage after skiing. Owners have access to 24 hour room service from the Sonnenalp restaurants, use of their fitness facility, game room, and Golf Club in summer.

Penthouse One is the premier residence at One Willow Bridge and offers the best of Vail – More than one view of Vail’s breathtaking scenery, luxurious interior finishes, an infinity pool on Gore Creek in Vail, and a perfect Vail Village location with no highway impact. Look no further, you have found the best place to call home and start your eternal vacation.

I invite you to visit Penthouse One at One Willow Bridge. Call for an appointment to view this magnificent penthouse and see why there is no other property that can compare!

$6,950,000 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Teri Lester, Broker Gateway Land and Development

Cell Phone 970-376-0779 Office 970-926-6777 Email tlester@gatewayland.com www.penthouseonevail.com www.vailcoproperty.com www.vailpropertysearch.com

Winter 2011 17

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outdoor living

Soak It In Energy efficiency is just the first consideration when buying a new hot tub

BY BRENDAN HARRINGTON

As winter settles into the Colorado High Country, the idea of settling into a soothing hot tub sounds awfully appealing. If you’re installing a new hot tub, or looking to upgrade or redesign your current model, there are a plethora of options and innovations to consider. Size, style and, of course, price are significant factors. But nowadays, home spas come with countless bells and whistles that can truly enhance your relaxation experience. Mood lighting, stereo systems, even built-in TVs will make it harder than ever to pull yourself from the percolation.

But when you get right down to the business of buying and installing a new spa, there are some factors to consider first, such as energy efficiency. “Spas are more energy efficient than ever,” says Michael Swartz, of Heavenly Times in Dillon. Some, he suggests, can be heated for as little as $15 per month.

Swartz brings to light a few important considerations when shopping for a hot tub. For example, a thicker cover will trap heat from above and a well designed hot tub can even heat itself from within.

“The equipment is inside the insulation,” Swartz explains. “Heat from the motor is trapped and heats the water so the heater comes on less often.”

Accessibility is another important consideration, according to Swartz. Is it easy to open a panel and get beyond the insulation for any maintenance needs?

“Cars need oil changes just like spas need occasional work,” he says. Proper upkeep 18 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

‘Nowadays, home spas come with countless bells and whistles that can truly enhance your relaxation experience.’ and care will keep a spa working as efficiently as possible over time.

Fewer Chemicals Another recent innovation in home spas is a decreased reliance on chemicals to clean the water. Some purification systems on the market can eliminate the need for chlorine and bromine altogether, according to Swartz. With fewer chemicals, water will be softer on the skin and more eco-friendly all around.

Improved filtration and ozone systems are reducing the need for traditional chemicals while increasing the time between cleanings, making hot tubs easier to maintain, better for the environment and more enjoyable for owners. According to Swartz, these are the most important considerations when buying a new spa.

“The quality of a spa should come before

the bells and whistles,” he says.

Beyond these technical aspects, choosing the right spa for you depends entirely on your personal taste and needs.

What kind of seating would you like?

For how many people? How many jets do you want? What about the color and installation? Will it sit on a deck or will you sink it partially below surface?

Make a list of what matters most to you and start to shop around. Your ideal tub is out there and will provide years of relaxation. After all, there’s nothing quite like a good warm soak as the snow falls.

HOT TUB TIPS Customers inevitably relax when they walk into Crystal River Spas in Carbondale. With a showroom full of hot tubs, one can’t help but think about leaning back, watching it snow and staying warm with a loved one.

The options are endless when choosing a hot tub. Prices range from a few hundred bucks to many thousands, and it all depends on the type, size and addons. Here are a few examples of what to look for when shopping for your perfect spa. —Ryan Slabaugh

Crystal River Spas Carbondale www.crystalriverspas.com

FRAMING

LIGHTING

SIDING

If you don’t like the look of a hot tub jutting out of the deck, you may prefer to mask it with a wooden frame, complete with stools and benches, or set it below the level of your patio or deck.

From festive to romantic, some hot tubs have underwater lights to create the right mood while you soak. If you are really adventurous, some hot tub vendors even offer floating disco balls. All you need is a little music, and you’re transported into a world of your own.

Some hot tubs come with exposed sides, allowing you to finish them with stone or wooden siding to match your home. These are becoming increasingly common, according to a number of area vendors.

Heavenly Times Dillon www.heavenlytimes.com

WHAT’S ON THE TUBE? Just like cars, homes, phones and every other gadget in our lives, hot tubs now come complete with televisions, iPod connections and stereo systems that integrate with home networks, or stand alone.

(Ask us how!)

25% off any in-stock Arctic Spa

*Some restrictions apply. Cannot be used with other discounts.

(970)

Two months of FREE Service with any yearly contract

513.SPAS (7727)

In the Dillon City Market Center A few doors down from Starbucks

www.

HeavenlyTimes .com Winter 2011 19

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in the kitchen

Fondue Etiquette > No double dipping. > Food should be swirled in cheese and dipped in chocolate.

> If a woman loses her piece of

bread or fruit in the cheese (or chocolate), she must kiss the man on her left. > If a man drops his piece in the pot, he must buy the table a bottle of wine.

Dip, Swirl, Delight Winter is the perfect season to melt into fondue

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK FOX

Alfonso Natarelli knows how to elegantly blend authentic European cuisine and flair with a funloving, welcoming atmosphere. After all, he was born and raised in Belgium by two Italian parents, attended a French school in Belgium from age 6 to 18, lived in Switzerland, then traveled the world, working for Club Med. He also managed a private country club with master chefs and worked for the Coors family. Now he owns The Swiss Haven Restaurant in Breckenridge, so High Country House & Home tapped into his expertise to show readers how to throw a genuine fondue party at home.

Natarelli’s first rule: “To have fondue, you must have it with good friends,” he says.

He begins with cheese fondue, made from a choice of five organic cheeses: • Gruyere (mild, creamy, smooth) • Emmentaler (zesty) 20 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

• Vacherin (mild, silky, smooth) • Raclette (strong, salty) • Appenzeller (strongest, most robust of all five cheeses) Sliced apples and pears and cubed baguettes (traditionally two or three days old) make good dipping elements, as do steamed vegetables such as broccoli, carrots or mushrooms and even cooked meat like beef or chicken.

“There are just so many varieties,” says Josh Cooley, who works at The Swiss Haven. “It’s very flexible.”

Pair cheese fondue with a dry wine, like a pinot grigio. Natarelli likes Mont Cervin Fendant du Valais.

Natarelli says if the guests have eaten the cheese fondue properly — that is, quite slowly — a thin crust of cheese will remain on the bottom of the caquelon.

Many people think this is the best part.

Dried meats, such as salami, prosciutto and bunderfleisch complement cheese fondue nicely.

Main Course Meat When planning to present a three-course fondue party, complete with meat, peanut oil provides the most flavor, but hosts also can use organic broth or bouillon.

Tuna, filet mignon, chicken, scallops, salmon, veal, pork, vegetables and red or Yukon gold potatoes make wonderful dipping cuisine. Cut meat less than an hour before cooking, otherwise it will oxidize.

Various colored fondue sticks allow guests to dip their food in the caquelon and pick it up a few minutes later without confusion.

Dessert Natarelli believes a fondue party should take “the whole night,” so, though you may be full after two courses, your stomach will have hopefully digested enough to make room for the silky sweet delight.

Mix white, milk or dark chocolate with a bit of heavy cream, constantly stirring on low heat in a cast iron pot. You may also add any liqueur. For chocolate, Natarelli recommends Felchlin’s Grand Cru line, which people can purchase online.

Ned Archibald, executive chef at Keystone Resort, uses his ganache recipe (3 lbs and 2 oz. of Belgium semi-sweet chocolate with 1 qt. heavy cream to make 1 quart), then adds a liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Fragelico.

Strawberries, bananas, pears, marshmallows, pound cake and anything else you’d like to add ends the evening on a perfect note.

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Cheese Fondue Recipe Add 7 oz. of cheese per person (a mix of gruyere, emmentaller and appenzeller is good) 2 oz. dry wine ½ oz. Kirsch (clear, colorless, strong fruit brandy) Garlic, pepper and nutmeg

> First, remove the center (heart) of the

> > >

>

garlic clove, which Natarelli says will help prevent garlic breath and reduces acid reflux tendencies. Rub one clove of garlic per person on the sides and bottom of the pot, then leave small pieces of the garlic in the pot Add 1 cup of any quality dry wine for four people, heat on medium until air bubbles rise, (but don’t boil) Stir in grated cheese slowly with a wooden spoon (which Natarelli says adds a traditional earth element to the mix) Add ground pepper, nutmeg and a bit of Kirsch, if desired. (Also pour a small, openmouthed glass of Kirsch for guests to lightly dip bread, apples and pears in before dipping into cheese.)

Bring fondue pot (called a caquelon) to table and place on the rechaud; use Swiss fire gel to fuel the Sterno can underneath. Natarelli recommends the Swissmar brand for cookware. (You can also use a less expensive fondue set with candles to keep the mixture warm).

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Winter 2011 21

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sustainability

Hey You! Get Off of My Grid!

BY BRENDAN HARRINGTON

Good news for anyone looking to go — and save — green. Out of the Roaring Fork Valley comes the first-ever community solar power array, a system developed by local Paul Spencer that is sure to revolutionize clean energy consumption nationwide. His team, Clean Energy Collective (CEC), has made solar energy easy, inviting and financially viable for any homeowner.

Making Hay The idea is simple: Put a large solar array on vacant land, run the power directly to the local utility company and allow area homeowners to buy a portion of it — as many panels as they need.

The homeowners then see a credit back on their normal utility bill, relative to the amount of solar power produced by their purchase. Homeowners never have to think about it: they save money every month and actually power their homes with clean energy. Brilliant.

22 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

“Owners can own anything from a single panel to enough panels to wipe out their entire utility bill,” explains Spencer.

“The average home around here would require up to 21 panels to completely run the utility bill to zero.”

Customers pay a one-time fee to purchase their panels, and that’s it.

According to Spencer, a single panel will save $45 to $50 per year, and if you purchase enough panels to completely power your home, you never pay a utility bill again. The system is guaranteed for 50 years and, according to Spencer, will average approximately a 10 percent return on investment over time. Because CEC purchases the solar panels in bulk, customers get them at a great discount as compared to traditional home systems.

Currently, a 230-watt panel runs $725.

The company’s first installment sold out before it was built. Located outside of El Jebel, the Mid Valley Solar Array went active in August 2010. It consists of 338 panels, owned by 19 clients. The next array, located at the Garfield County Airport, will be 11 times larger, with 4,700 panels producing one megawatt of energy. These two installments only serve Holy Cross Energy’s territory and customers. But CEC has four more

locations planned and is pursuing utility companies around the state and country.

They anticipate launching the system for Xcel Energy customers in late 2011, accounting for 55 percent of Colorado residents.

“It’s very aggressive growth,” Spencer states. With the Mid Valley Solar Array, the CEC simply wanted to establish the model and work out the kinks. Now, they have grander designs.

“My goal was to create a vehicle to spur wide scale use of clean energy, nationwide,” he states.

Where Do I Sign Up? “It’s as simple as you can imagine,” says Spencer. “David will walk you through how much power you need, how much you should buy and what your rate of return will be.”

By analyzing past utility bills, Wiedinmyer can discern how many panels a customer would need and offer different price structures and scenarios.

“Homeowners start seeing credits on their next bill, and for the rest of time,” says Spencer. “It’s a 10- to 15-minute phone call.”

Clean Energy Collective www.easycleanenergy.com (800) 646-0323

COURTESY CLEAN ENERGY COLLECTIVE

A revolutionary new system brings community-based solar power to Colorado

A Homegrown Program Spencer, who lives off-grid with homebased solar power in the Roaring Fork Valley, is quick to deflect credit for the community solar project. “None of this would be a reality without the rest of the team,” he says. That founding team consists of Lauren Martindale, working on community outreach and legislation; Mark Boyer, the “financial wizard” and Spencer’s lifelong friend; David Wiedinmyer, in business development and sales; and a local group of angel investors.

“My goal was to create a vehicle to spur wide-scale use of clean energy, nationwide.” Spencer is also eager to credit Holy Cross Energy. “They were absolutely instrumental in our ability to make this happen,” he says. The longstanding utility company was very involved and positive with thorough attention to detail and protection of their costumer, Spencer explains. “Holy Cross

‘My goal was to create a vehicle to spur wide scale use of clean energy, nationwide.’ is tremendously forward-thinking when it comes to clean energy.”

The clean energy model that Spencer and his team have established is not only poised for tremendous growth in the solar arena, but also suits all kinds of clean energy technologies. “We are already looking into several possibilities for microhydro and biomass in the Roaring Fork and Eagle valleys,” he states.

While the concept seems simple on the surface, there was quite the maze of technological, legal, tax and utilitarian issues to navigate. “We’re not the first ones to think of this: we’re just the first ones to figure out how to do it,” he says.

“It goes beyond my wildest dreams, how quickly this has garnered attention nationally. Something about it really clicks with people,” he muses. “It is really exciting to see your hard work come to fruition and make an actual difference.”

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Winter 2011 23

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Christy Rost prepares a Christmas-themed table with heirloom dishes and a large centerpiece in a simple wooden box, filled with pine boughs from her yard and gold poinsettias.

room to improve

Gather ’Round Perennial homemaker Christy Rost shows us how to bring loved ones together around a table set for the winter season 24 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDAN HARRINGTON

Christy Rost has loved presenting food in special ways since she was 7. Before her mom ever allowed her to use the stove unsupervised, Christy would wake up early on Saturdays to fix multiple-course breakfasts for her sisters, serving fancy fruit cups, ginger ale with cherries on top and cinnamon toast. Since then, she’s come a long way.

She has created cookbooks, worked as a designer at Macy’s, written columns as the food editor at a Dallas paper and, for 14 years, hosted “Just Like Home,” which airs in Texas, Iowa and North Dakota.

She also stars in her own PBS show, “A Home for Christy Rost: Thanksgiving.”

Her forthcoming national television series, “At Home with Christy Rost,” is currently in pre-production. She and her husband travel between their home in Dallas and their second home in Breckenridge.

‘Larger, simpler decorative centerpieces make a bigger impact than a collection of smaller items’ This issue, she shares her love of — and tips for — “bringing people back to the table to dine as family and friends” through her stunning, yet simple to create, table settings for December, January and February.

DECEMBER To celebrate Christmas, Christy begins dressing her table with a mixture of gifts she’s received throughout the years, such as an antique saucer and champagne wedding crystal (Navarre by Fostorav).

Every year, her parents buy her pieces of Lenox, so now she has enough for a setting of 12. The flatware is an heirloom from her grandmother. The soup cups’ (Limoges) pattern is called “25th anniversary,” which she got for her 25th wedding anniversary.

“They don’t match the china, but gold is the theme, and I don’t like everything to match anyway,” she says.

When mixing and matching various pieces, elements don’t have to be exactly alike — they just have to contain a similar element, such as a gold accent.

“I’m always mindful when I put a table together of prevailing themes of color or shine or shimmer,” she says. “That’s what ties together things that don’t necessarily Winter 2011 25

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room to improve

Right Layered place mats, pine boughs with pine cones strewn in a zig-zag pattern and candles create sophisticated, yet casual table in January Below A small table placed in a different area of the home, such as in front of a small fireplace or window, creates romance. Here, Christy keeps the centerpiece simple, because the couple’s focus should be on each other.

QUICK TIP When mixing and matching various pieces, elements don’t have to be exactly alike — they just have to contain a similar element, such as a gold accent.

26 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

go together, is repeating themes.”

She even blends gold and silver, by adding silver candlesticks, which repeat the silver in the napkin rings and flatware.

She simply rolled her napkins rather than gathering them through the ring, “because there’s enough going on in this table,” she says.

Christy is a big bargain shopper, scouting everywhere from garage and estate sales to thrift stores. She proves entertaining doesn’t have to break the bank. The water goblets are a bargainbasement find.

Christy prefers a deeper, jewel red to the bright Christmas red so common during the season, and to soften the red even more, she placed a white cutwork tablecloth (purchased in the Caribbean) over the red base, giving the whole table a splash of color. Her centerpiece features a wooden box lined with a trash bag, to

protect the tablecloth, and filled with pine boughs from her yard, placed at angles into waterlogged floral foam (wrapped in foil). Gold poinsettias, berries and crystal snowflakes adorn the piece.

“A few larger decorative items make much more impact than smaller ones,” she says.

JANUARY Rather than investing in flowers, which can be pricey and limited in the middle of winter, Christy opts for a seasonal approach, in the form of pine boughs, cut from trees in her yard. She also collects pinecones earlier in the season, and then places them in a zigzag fashion, providing a natural look. Caramel-colored pillar candles complete the ensemble.

Layering two place mats atop each other adds extra interest; in this case, Christy uses a floral base, with deep

‘Christy is a big bargain shopper, scouting everywhere from garage and estate sales to thrift stores. She proves entertaining doesn’t have to break the bank.’ colors. Celery-colored chargers pick up the pale green in the plates; the Johnson Bros.’ “The Friendly Village” celebrates cozy snow scenes. Cream napkins with golden plastic rings pick up the light and shimmer of the table.

Since January lends itself to more casual gatherings, Christy uses chunky drink glasses and inexpensive wine glasses.

Christy suggests a hearty and simple menu, such as lamb osso bucco, beef stew, pork roast and hearty soups, like as minestrone or creamy wild rice.

Gingerbread or apple crisp make perfect desserts.

“And, of course, there’s nothing like spaghetti and meatballs,” she says. “It’s simple, but people love it. If the table’s not going to be too fussy, I don’t want the meal to be too fussy either.”

FEBRUARY Since Valentine’s Day is the major holiday in February, Christy designs an intimate table for two, placed in front of a fireplace or window. Her theme revolves around romance: She uses soft colors because the focus remains on each other, rather than the table. A simple crystal candleholder with a pink votive is adequate.

People can use a small table or even a coffee table, making the night special by moving it to a different location in the home. When using a coffee table, grab some big, plump pillows to sit upon on the floor. “By doing that, it creates a bit of romance and makes it special. In February, it may be too cold, restaurants may be too busy or expensive, but you can have

a memorable interlude of romance (at home),” she says, adding she and her husband always eat in on Valentine’s Day because they find it “more enjoyable to sit with champagne, candlelight and pretty linens.”

Placing candles — from tapers to votives — at varying levels “lights everything up and feels fun and different,” she says. She adorned her table with a combination of antique silverware, all from the late 1800s (because she lives in Breckenridge’s largest historical home).

She picked up the antique Limoges at an estate sale and layered plates for an interesting effect. Again, she points out they don’t all have to match; here her theme incorporates a light mint, and though one set of plates is a shade darker, the same color is repeated.

Find Christy Rost online at www.christyrost.com.

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Winter 2011 27

A HEAL

28 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

THYH O M E Woody Creek residents turn to feng shui and sustainable building practices for optimal human and environmental wellness

BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENT MOSS

When homeowners and building professionals set out to create a green home, they help protect the environment by paying attention to renewable and recyclable resources, minimal site disturbance and energy efficiency. But, what about protecting human wellbeing?

Sure, it’s becoming increasingly common to use low- or no-VOC products and install indoor air quality systems.

But David and Kathy Perry took their task of building a healthy home — both for the environment and themselves — to another dimension by incorporating feng shui.

A second-floor outdoor living space, created by intersecting forms of achitecture, provides a fabulous view of the neighboring river.

Winter 2011 29

Walls of windows blend the outdoors with the indoors. This Woody Creek home features sleek, modern lines and finishes. Smooth, nontoxic adobe floors add warmth to the living room.

30 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

‘Perry calls the adobe floor — made completely of sand, natural clay and wax —“a labor of love.’

A Good Feel The Perrys spent two years planning how best to replace their old dwelling, next to a river in Aspen’s rural neighborhood of Woody Creek, with a healthy and environmentally sustainable new house.

Architect Sarah Broughton oriented the Perry’s house to maximize views of the surrounding mountains and river and make the structure energy efficient.

Luckily, their New York feng shui expert, Alex Stark, agreed with the siting.

However, his thorough study found that the Perrys’ personal energies were not compatible with the way the house sat.

Feng Shui is an ancient Asian art of positioning objects, including buildings, to support the flow of energy and thus maintain or enhance wellbeing, wealth, relationships and more.

As a registered health practitioner, Kathy Perry trusts feng shui. She spent years examining why some homes feel better than others and found that whenever homes felt good, “almost invariably they have feng shui considered,” David Perry says. For example, in the Vancouver area, where they have lived, a strong Asian influence supports the widespread use of feng shui.

Homes that don’t employ the principles “cut a high percentage of interested clients,” he says.

“You can walk into a space and feel calming peace or walk into a space and feel jangled and unsettled,” he says.

“It’s a whole field; some people think it’s nonsense, and we happen to think it’s not nonsense.”

Stark made a number of recommendations to compensate for imbalances. To counteract the incompatibility between the house’s orientation and the owners’ personal energies, Stark suggested adding a water fountain near the front door. To remedy

what Stark called “a lackluster front door,” the Perrys expanded the front courtyard. They built separate entrances into shared office space, because Stark asserts, “This will create a more equitable balance of power in the marriage.” They also moved planned windows and sections of the house for greater harmony and prosperity. For example, they wanted a window opposite the front door to draw attention to the river in the backyard, but Stark said such an orientation causes the energy of the house to go straight in and out. So, they offset the window by several feet.

Overall, Stark found the area: “An extremely powerful location, blessed with a confluence of major topographical formations,” adding that though Aspen receives the lion’s share of this power, the home site is also strongly endowed. As such, it holds “vast potential for good fortune, prosperity, health, longevity and success for (the Perrys’) descendants.”

However, a large gravel pit nearby acts as a “strong scar on the earth,” from which Stark suggested they protect themselves.

“We did things that other people think are completely wacky,” David Perry says.

The most interesting remedy comes in the form of crystals. To compensate for “the potentially negative impact of the line of geopathic stress,” Stark says it was important to install 30 mm and 40 mm mineral quartz crystals, measuring 3-4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, into the foundation’s corners. He also used quartz in the powder and mud rooms to compensate for incompatibility between the two rooms and, thus, the career and personal life-path sector.

This freestanding tub site on a pebble-rock floor.

Sustainable, In and Out In addition to building a healthy and environmentally sustainable home, the Perrys wanted a contemporary look Winter 2011 31

‘We did things that other people think are completely wacky’

Above Horizontal reveals break up the volumes and organize the fenestration around the entire home.

Right All cabinets (fabricated without formaldehyde adhesives), trim and bamboo stair treads employ a low-VOC, water-based clear stain.

32 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

that would blend into Woody Creek’s character, which is “rural and a little bit funky,” David Perry says.

They built “as green as we could afford,” he says. “We were working in what’s considered a tight budget in the Roaring Fork Valley.”

To reduce site disturbance, they began by locating the new structure on nearly the same footprint of the old.

They especially wanted to preserve mature cottonwood trees, which now act as one border of their outdoor courtyard. They also recycled construction debris, including cardboard, wood and metal scraps.

In addition to low VOC paints, the

Perrys wanted insulation and flooring that would not release volatile organic chemicals into their living space (in terms of plywood and glues). They chose blown-in wall insulation made from recycled newsprint and prefabricated structural insulated panels (SIP), which allow for nontoxic, hard insulating in between wood sheeting. SIPs are known for their high insulation value and their ability to reduce the amount of wood used for framing. But SIPs require extensive planning — to the point that builders know exactly where each electrical outlet lays, so the Perrys “spent money upfront to plan well,” Broughton says, explaining that not planning, or “having people on

the construction site not knowing what they’re doing, is expensive.”

In laying out electrical patterns, the Perrys avoided placing wiring and outlets in areas they slept in or otherwise spent a lot of time.

“We didn’t want electromagnetic energy in our home,” David Perry says. “It’s a very serious thing … we believe there’s really strong negative health effects (and Kathy has studied these). The human body is a large antenna. You can pick up and magnify electromagnetic energies.”

In terms of flooring options, the Perrys turned to adobe floors to avoid carpet, which collects dust; concrete, which is an unyielding surface that can be difficult

to stand and walk on every day; and hardwood floors, which can use too many natural resources due to harvesting and transportation. Carpets and hardwood floors also traditionally contain glues that off-gas.

Perry calls the adobe floor — made completely of sand, natural clay and wax — “a labor of love.” The 3-inch thick adobe, placed over gravel, took an entire month as craftsmen hand-troweled each layer, and then added pieces of straw and mica for visual interest.

“At first glance, it looks like an interesting concrete floor,” David Perry says.

They opted for a more textured look, Winter 2011 33

‘In addition to passive solar, the structure includes a planned solar array and solar hot water heating, which will provide 60 percent of the home’s energy and 100 percent of the family’s hot water needs.’

34 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

The clean, modern lines of the home give it a calm, zen feeling.

with a natural linseed oil finish, rather than a highly polished one. Though adobe is more expensive than concrete, the Perrys appreciate the bounce of it, which makes it “very comfortable to walk on and live in.” It also acts as a dark mass to attract and hold heat in the winter.

The Perrys did carpet bedrooms upstairs with a wool blend — a renewable resource that ensures healthy indoor air quality.

All cabinets (fabricated without formaldehyde adhesives), trim and bamboo stair treads employ a low-VOC, water-based clear stain.

“I think it’s totally the future,” Broughton says. “ I don’t think people realize how sick they get (from offgassing), so I’m happy we’re learning more about it.”

The 4,336-square foot (including garage) home, organized around two intersecting rectangular structures, features extensive windows for efficient lighting and passive solar properties. In fact, when the Perrys switch the lights on at night, the home looks like a glowing lantern above the river.

In addition to passive solar, the structure includes a planned solar array and solar hot water heating, which will provide 60 percent of the home’s energy and 100 percent of the family’s hot water needs.

The roof is also remarkable: A superinsulated, non-vented system (as opposed to vented attic construction) adds to energy efficiency, while the metal roof material contains 30 percent recycled content, and is recyclable itself.

In addition to sustainability, the modern home integrates such emerging trends as: saving space by not incorporating guest rooms, installing large sliding and pivoting interior doors, and positioning the two intersecting boxes that comprise the home to create an outdoor living space on the second floor, which overlooks the river.

Each detail adds up to a comfortable, healthy home, both for the inhabitants and the environment.

Winter 2011 35

Merging

Architect John Gunsen designed this 8,574-square-foot Silverthorne home to complement the surrounding enviroment, from its building materials to its interior design and landscaping.

36 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

landscape with

life

BY JANICE KURBJUN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOB WINSETT

Traversing the Blue River and winding through earthen hues of gold, brown and red, the long entry to the Shapiro home in Pioneer Creek Ranch, north of Silverthorne, introduces visitors to the theme that runs throughout the house: integration and harmony with its surroundings.

The 8,574-square-foot home, called Three Shadows Ranch, is built on a hillside opposite the Gore Range with Colorado Highway 9 running along the valley floor between. From the highway, the structure looks like a simple house tucked away in the trees.

Components of the home stand out along the drive: stone, timber, water, riverbed, and of course, amazing views.

Rockridge Building Company project manager Michael Birch-Jones says he can see the colors of the seasons in the home — the autumn hues of the aspen, hints of red clay from the soil, the grays and browns of winter — illuminated in the home’s timber siding.

“It’s a John Gunsen design,” BirchJones says, referring to the architect who has been designing homes in Breckenridge for more than 30 years under the company name Custom Mountain Architecture. “His designs go into a next level of detail compared to even what would be considered a very prestigious mountain home.”

Creating the Design Following the reasoning that the Texas family selected their land for a purpose,

the design aims to make the house feel like it’s a part of the environment – from building materials to interior design and landscaping.

“They had a vision for it, and they accomplished it,” Birch-Jones says.

At least two years went into the design and building process, he says, adding, “It’s by far the most detailed house I’ve worked on … Little to nothing is left to want in terms of what goes where and how it’s going to be built.”

For example, trimming was so detailed and extensive that the trim carpenters were on site for about four to five months, working full time.

“That gives you an idea of the level of wood finish in the house,” Birch-Jones says.

He added that Gunsen’s designs start with long conversations with the owners, and Gunsen remains involved throughout the project. In this case, Gunsen was on site every Tuesday afternoon.

“In a complicated and detailed design process, that was invaluable,” Birch-Jones says.

And because the architect and owners stayed involved, it meant any challenges along the way were snuffed out quickly. It also meant huge triumphs along the way, Winter 2010 37

Trim carpenters worked full time for four or five months to complete the extensive detail found in the home.

Dry-stacked stone archways complement elements of the outdoor environment.

The home employs 200 custom beams to accent ceilings and create a more intimate feeling in rooms.

such as when Birch-Jones’ order of more than 200 custom-cut beams was accurate and arrived on time.

smaller kitchen, breakfast nook, dining room and living area with adjacent wine room and bar.

The master bedroom is accessed by crossing another bridge over the water feature and again entertaining dramatic views of the Gore Range.

The downstairs includes Alex Shapiro’s bedroom, a guest bedroom and an exercise room, all adjacent to a recreation room that contains a similar picture window framing the outside views — this time including a pond built onto a ledge that blocks the highway below and creates a picturesque view.

Birch-Jones points out that the home is designed such that comfortable living is possible for two individuals, or more than 15 guests. The guest quarters can be sectioned off from the main abode, or, with the opening of a door, can become part of the rest of the home once again.

front door.

In the library, a glance upward reveals intricate beam work: The beams run together to form a central point.

Throughout the home, the iron accents made by Craig May of Dragon Forge are shown off like pieces of art, such as the kitchen’s iron hood. A copper trough sink in the kitchen helps bring out a country feeling, while retaining a sense of sophistication.

Each of the home’s seven bathrooms reveals intricate design elements that are unexpected but delightful. One of Niichel’s favorite elements is young Alex Shapiro’s bathroom.

“It’s one (the family) had to trust me on the most,” she says. “There were pebbles in the ceiling and running down the wall with tiles in strange places that start and stop randomly.”

Pebbling is intertwined with traditional tile work and runs from the shower outward in a riverbed pattern into the sink area. An irregular pebble-and-stone counter design frames a trough sink, created by Grand Spaces in Kremmling, which slants downward in a rippling pattern under wall-mounted spout faucets.

“They like it now,” Niichel says of Alex’s bathroom, adding that she conveyed her ideas through close

Flowing Details The home is full of simple touches that, when put together, present an elegant, but livable, space.

One’s first introduction is the water feature, over which a car bridge was built.

Visitors cross the bridge, park, and then wander over a footbridge to approach the front door.

Immediately inside, one is faced with a perfectly-framed view of the Gore Range’s jagged peaks.

“All the rooms on the west side are meant to capture a different view,” Rockridge Building Company’s DJ Schappert says. “It’s not a coincidence. It’s the way John laid the house out.”

In the space between the foyer and the well-positioned living area are components of the landscape: dry-stacked stone walls with hand-scraped antique oak flooring and hand-scraped spruce siding topped by distressed Douglas fir trusses and beams.

In the great room, it’s Gunsen’s design and the use of space created by interior designer Dixie Niichel that makes the vast area feel divided into a comfortable, 38 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

Striking Structural Elements Though there are structural themes that run throughout the house – stone, siding, flooring, beams and a custom, antique wood stain – the home has several subtle, striking elements that help distinguish room from room.

A 24-inch by 24-inch, 34-foot octagonal beam holds the spiral stair adjacent to the

‘The home is full of simple

touches

that, when put together, present an

elegant, but livable, space.’

Masons acted more like jewelers as they carefully fit stones into walls and archways. Distressed timber floors complement the stone walls.

Winter 2010 39

conversation, as well as showing sketches and samples to help the owners see her vision.

Thomas Konercy of TOMKO was the tile artisan on the job. Birch-Jones said that several times, as he was laying the last tiles in a room, carpenters would come in and gawk at the work.

“You know something special is going on when that happens,” Birch-Jones says.

“As each component went in, you feel a triumphant as it comes together.”

Outdoor Integration Several rooms in the home access the outdoors, where Silverthorne-based landscaping company Neils Lunceford created a space that transitions home into wilderness beyond the home’s 40-acre lot.

A hot-tub enclosure is positioned alongside a stream, providing a view of the pond and the jagged peaks to the west.

The stream element runs from the front of the house to the pond in the rear. Another water feature runs into the pond on the south side of the home, just under the deck, which has the feeling of an outdoor dining room. It includes furniture made to look like aspen timber and an integrated grill cooking space.

Elegant and striking copper gutters, downspouts and flashing brings rustic sophistication from the inside out, as it integrates with the hand-scraped spruce siding and stacked stone used inside the home, as well as the natural-looking cedar shingle siding.

On the deck, the use of flagstone recalls

the floor in the recreation room.

And, looking up, 75 beams jut out with custom finish designs, supported by numerous custom-cut corbels.

A Middle Ground “Many houses are very rustic,” Birch-Jones says. “The other extreme to be very manufactured, modern, clean and sophisticated. This house finds the middle ground.”

Materials used on the home — and the contractors who installed each piece — created a natural, but sophisticated, look.

“Gurolla Masonry workers were like jewelers instead of masons,” Birch-Jones says of the way they fitted the stones in the walls and the archways and built other elements, such as the recreation room’s hearth and the art displays along the spiral staircase.

“It’s not too rustic; it’s not too slick,” Birch-Jones says, adding that the distressed look of the timber isn’t over the top.

He says excitement started to build as finishing touches were going in.

Niichel, who headed the intricate additions that transformed house into a home, says it was a fun, unique project to work on.

“The clients were so open to doing something different — things that they haven’t seen in their friends’ or neighbors’ house or in magazines,” she says.

Many of the components that draw the house together in such a sophisticated country style came from antique shops

Several rooms in the home access the outdoors, where Silverthorne-based landscaping company Neils Lunceford created a space that transitions home into wilderness beyond the home’s 40-care lot.

40 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

from the Front Range to Leadville.

Others were custom-built by Imrovich Strepman Furniture, such as an ottoman composed of horns purchased along the roadside by Niichel and put together with hide-like fabric.

Niichel says there were few roadblocks in the interior design process. It was more a creative, evolutionary process of making sure every part of every room fit together. For instance, Steve Shapiro’s office was meant to contain a blonde cow hide, but when it didn’t fit, it was moved to the floor of a guest room. Tying in elements such as rope, horse bridles and bits, unique sinks and other accents were a challenge insofar as Niichel and

While designing the interior, the owners aimed for a seamless and sophisticated look that gave hints of a ranch feel.

the owners wanted a seamless look that merely hinted at a ranch feel.

The only challenge, Niichel says, was in interfacing the unique designs and “conveying our creative thoughts, documenting them, relaying them and getting them made and getting them installed.”

Ultimately, Birch-Jones says, the home was a simultaneously coordinated effort of design, build and décor that “used natural materials in a sophisticated way, creating a sophisticated country mountain home.”

‘It was more a

creative,

evolutionary process of making sure every part of every room fit together.’

Winter 2010 41

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homespun

Fraser Valley Alpaca farm produces high quality fiber for home décor and clothing STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY TONYA BINA

The appearance and

Spinning

demeanor of an alpaca can coax a smile out of just about anyone. You just can’t help but admire a species whose most violent act is spitting. Alpacas’ long necks, inquisitive eyes, scruffy heads of hair, Yoda-like ears and friendly mouths bring back memories of a favorite stuffed animal.

When they’re born, they’re nothing more than, “long necks attached to a head with large eyes extending like periscopes from their little bodies as they check out the world for the first time, looking almost alien in form,” says alpalca farmer Linda Dewey of greater Granby.

For her and her husband Marv Dewey, it was “love at first sight” when they were first introduced to the alpaca business 10 years ago — raising, shearing and processing alpaca fiber to be sold to textile markets.

Now, at their Lonesome Stone Natural Fiber Mill, 160 alpacas graze the pastureland, producing enough alpaca yarn annually to knit about 500 sweaters.

Sometimes, the alpaca fleece is blended with buffalo fiber, goat mohair or sheep’s wool. And in a project that unites the southern and northern hemispheres — with alpaca origins in South America and buffalo origins in North America — the Deweys are combining alpaca fleece with buffalo wool in partnership with a ranch in Montana to make a yarn suitable for everything from pillow coverings to slippers.

that Yarn 42 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

BRAND NEW REMODELED

A Docile Breed A passive breed that typically lives 20-25 years, alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains in Peru. They were first introduced to the U.S. in the 1980s.

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association reports that it presently has more than 4,000 North American members, and there are 11,855 registered alpacas in Colorado, according to Alpaca Registry, Inc. “They’re easy to manage and train,” says Marv.

“They are gentle and sensitive animals,” Linda adds. “They’re teachers. They teach us about living together because they are herd animals. They have to have each other, otherwise they get very stressed and very unhappy, and I think that teaches

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‘Alpaca is five-times warmer than wool and is extremely soft, so it’s considered a luxury fiber’ people that we have to get along and we have to have one another for our people herds.”

Alpacas have a fondness and curiosity about people, she says. “Especially small children. They try to get nose-to-nose with children. They like to sniff the children’s hair and are very gentle with [them].”

All the alpacas have individual personalities too. Some are sweeter, some more skittish.

And some spit — an acidic defense mechanism when the animal becomes nervous.

Vanishing Mills Processing alpaca fiber to make yarn takes longer than a week. The animals are sheared, then the fiber is washed and dried. It is then taken through five machines inside the mill that serve to open up the fiber, straighten it, comb it, ply it, and then skein it (coiled to later be twisted into the product seen on store shelves). The yarn also can be dyed in as many as 89 color combinations. Finally, it is labeled and distributed to markets in Colorado and beyond.

Despite the “natural” aspect of alpaca

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homespun

‘They have to have each other, otherwise they get very stressed and very unhappy, and I think that teaches people that we have to get along and we have to have one another for our people herds.’ fiber — deemed more and more desirable in these times of returning to the raw basics of nature — the textile industry “is a dying industry in the United States,” Linda says. “Textiles are being outsourced

Alpacas seem to love young children, and kids are also curious about the animals, which just came to the United States in the 1980s.

to places like China and to Mexico. We’re considered a mid-sized mill, but most of the large mills in the United States have closed because of labor costs.”

At their ranch, mill and retail store, the

Deweys offer tours of the entire operation, and all they ask is a donation, which they put toward buying treats for the animals.

“It gives people an appreciation for the animal,” she says. “We are blessed to be a part of their lives, and [have them as] a part of ours.”

Fiber and Family Alpaca fleece comes in as many as 22 shades of gray, fawn and brown, Linda explains, and grows on the animal about one-half-inch per month up to about six inches. The quality of the fiber is similar to cashmere.

“Alpaca is five-times warmer than wool and is extremely soft, so it’s considered a luxury fiber,” Linda says. “And it’s a longlasting fiber. An alpaca sweater will last you a lifetime.”

Shearing time is usually a neighborhood event at the Dewey ranch, with friends helping to hold and coddle the animals.

“It’s pretty stressful for them; they’re not too happy about it,” Linda says. “A lot of times they can’t recognize each other after they’re sheared. They’re sniffing, they’re looking … It becomes pretty comical sometimes.”

A few of the animals have been with the Deweys since the start of their endeavor, such as Renie and Whisp of Silver.

Georgio Armani — an appropriate name for an animal that produces high-quality textile — is the herd sire. Peanut is one of the new babies who likes to play king of the hill on the dirt pile in the grazing yard, and Beep-Beep acquired her name for having been born breech. “Because she came out backwards, we named her after the trucks that back up,” Linda recalls.

“She is the daughter of one of our original alpacas — the Daisy line.”

Yarn Fashioned from alpaca fibers can be dyed in as many as 89 color combinations.

44 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

calendar

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High Country Homeowner Calendar November 2010 m 15

t 16

Store your summer clothes

m 22

w 17

Winter Park Opening Day t 23

w 24

th 18 Plan Thanksgiving menu

th 25

Collect firewood for winter

Thanksgiving Day m 29

su 21

Vail opening day Last weekend to plant spring bulbs! f 26

Gobble!

Gobble!

Beaver Creek Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition and Opening Day

sa 20

f 19

Beaver Creek 30th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Keystone’s 40th Birthday sa 27 Winter Park Village Tree Lighting Ceremony

su 28

sa 04

su 05

t 30

December 2010 w 01 Hanukkah begins at sundown

m 06 Vail Snowdaze Dec. 6-12

m 13

t 07 Order Christmas gifts online t 14 Stock liquor & wine for holiday cheer

m 20

t 21

w 08 Send Christmas cards

w 15 Sol Vista Opening Day

w 22

th 02 Put on those snow tires th 09

Fire up the snowblower th 16 Powderhorn Opening Day

th 23

f 03 GreenThink Symposium Aspen

Donate food & clothes to local charity

su 12

Aspen Highlands Opening Day

sa 18

f 17 Winter Dew Tour Breckenridge Dec. 16-19

su 19

Betty Fest at Keystone Dec. 18-19 sa 25

f 24

Vail Holidaze Dec. 18-25 su 26

Family time

Grocery shop for Christmas dinner

Keystone KIDTOPIA Dec. 27-Jan. 2

sa 11

f 10

Wassail Days in Frisco Dec. 4-12

Prepare cold Christmas dishes

12 Days of Aspen Dec. 20-31

m 27

Lighting of Breckenridge

t 28

w 29

Ho! Ho! Ho! th 30

f 31 Pop the cork!

Chill Champagne

Winter 2011 45

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calendar

January 2011 m

t

w

th

sa 01

f

su 02

R&R Set your resolutions m 03

t 04

w 05

th 06

f 07

sa 08

su 09 Thorough New Year home cleaning

Keystone Friday Afternoon Ski Club m 10

Plan your 2011 vacations m 17

t 11

w 12

Ullr Fest Breckenridge Jan. 9-15

t 18

th 13

w 19

th 20

f 21 Winter Park Snow Fest Jan. 21-23

“I have a dream...” t 25 Rotate the lamp shades

w 26

th 27 Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic Jan. 27-29

sa 15

su 16

Aspen Sante Fe Ballet Vilar Performing Arts Center

Aspen Winterskol Jan. 13-16

Martin Luther King Day

m 24|31

f 14

f 28

sa 22

su 23

Keystone Family Fun Night sa 29

su 30

Winter X Games Aspen/Snowmass Jan. 27-30

Plan your Super Bowl party!

Planning your

2011 Wedding?

ME HOUSE&HO

TR Y HI GH CO UN

www.HighCou

ntryHouseAndH

Winter 2010 ome.com |

WITH OME N AT H LLY LIKEeese ch KE

and ef’s Wine lebrity ch e ce in th n kitchen ow 34

PAGE

THE NEW

in MounRta etreat

r-to-maintain Smaller, easie fewer chores homes mean outdoors and more time

GET OUT!

Stay warm with a gas fire pit

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l Designers revea paint secret powers of

ANCE OLD WORLD ELEGs Western meet European style ge spirit in Breckenrid

S COLOR ADO ROCKIE AT HOME IN THE

Look for

High Country Wedding Magazine www.beddingdownmattress.com 46 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

on newsstands November 19

Resources

Advertiser Index

A Healthy Home ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER Rowland + Broughton Architecture and Urban Design Sarah Broughton 117 S. Monarch St. Aspen, CO 81611 (970) 544.9006 www.rowlandbroughton.com LAND PLANNER Stan Clauson Associates 412 Mill St. Aspen, CO 81611 (970) 925.2323 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Terralink Structures, Ltd. Keith Brand P.O. Box 809 Carbondale, CO 81623 (970) 379.8002 ADOBE FLOOR Mudcrafter’s Construction www.mudcrafters.com

EuroBath and Tile Denver, CO www.eurobathtile.com (303) 298.8453 Grand Spaces Kremmling, CO (970) 485.9545 www.grandspaces.com Gurrola Masonry Leadville, CO (970) 389.4288 HomeStyle DPP Denver, CO (303) 295.1283

ASPEN GROVE KITCHEN & BATH

46

BEDDING DOWN, INC.

43

BLUE RIVER MATTRESSES

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BUKUR

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CATHERS HOMES

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COLORADO TILE & STONE

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DESIGNER CONSIGNOR

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GATEWAY LAND AND DEVELOPMENT

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HARRISON BROWNE INTERIOR DESIGN

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HEAVENLY TIMES HOT TUBS

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PSI PLUMBING R & H MECHANICAL

25

RJB DEVELOPMENT, INC.

21

STYLES KITCHEN & BATH

JJ& S Denver, CO www.jjslighting.com (303) 777.5524

13

SUNSHINE PAINTING, INC

47

SWIFT DIGITAL MARKETING PARTNERS

Old World Painting Breckenridge, CO (970) 485.2932

Dragon Forge Craig May Bailey, CO www.dragonforgeltd.com (303) 838.1302

ANTHONY RYAN ASSOCIATES, LLC

13

27

Merging Landscape with Life

Rockridge Building Company Breckenridge, CO (970) 453.9647 www.rockridgebuilding.com

23

Imrovich Strepman Furniture Englewood, CO (303) 781.4407

Mountain MultiVision & Sound Breckenridge, CO www.mountainmvs.com (970) 453.9234

Niichel Design Denver, CO (303) 779.1790 www.niicheldesign.com

ANNE GRICE INTERIORS

IFC CREATIVE CABINETRY

BENCHCRAFT Wes Brewer 1326 Duff Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 416.6458 wes@benchcraft.net

Custom Mountain Architects Breckenridge, CO (970) 453.6657 www.custommountainarchitects.com

07

Scandinavian Antiques Denver, CO (303) 722.2541 www.scandinavianantiques.com Ski Country Antiques Evergreen, CO (303) 674.4666 www.skicountryantiques.com

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Contact us today for your free digital marketing consultation info@swiftdmp.com | 877.525.1382 Winter 2011 47

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colorado connections

Movin’ On Up…

BY BRENDAN HARRINGTON

The family business is flourishing.

What began in 1993 as a small shop run by two people has today become an enormous, state-of-the-art home design center that is changing the face of residential design in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Styles Kitchen & Bath Studio is a 6,000square-foot monolith in Basalt that serves homeowners and interior designers alike. It is the labor of love from longtime resident Ron Purcio, his wife Debbie Harte and their daughter Carrie Harte. In opening the large space, they strove to keep the personal touches and customer-centric feeling they had in their small shop, then called Mountain Valley Builders.

“In that space, we had all these great products, and nobody knew it,” explains Debbie Harte. “So we said, ‘Let’s build a fantastic showroom where people can buy anything … flooring, lighting, everything in a one-stop shop.” And so they did.

Going far beyond its kitchenand-bath moniker, the Styles studio carries every home product imaginable. “We can fit any style, any budget,” Debbie says. “We carry all levels of products and can cater to anyone’s desires.

Our choices are unlimited.”

She stresses that the showroom is for

homeowners and industry professionals alike. “We want designers and builders to bring their clients here to see everything,” she says. “There are so many choices, it can get overwhelming. People can come in here and start putting things together. It becomes fun.”

They offer an elegant conference room, café, wine room with wine tastings and two live kitchens. “I haven’t even mentioned the cooking demonstrations and classes with local chefs…”

Beyond their expansive product line that brings all elements of home design together under one roof, Styles also offers savvy design services and very high-tech design software that allows them to work virtually with any client anywhere in the world. “We just send the online invitation and bingo, we can work a design, move elements around [a digital rendition of the room] while we’re on the phone together,” Debbie explains. The family has worked in this way with clients from Carbondale to Hong Kong, saving them time and money by providing an accurate visual of a space before any purchase is made. “People love the Internet capabilities,” she states. “It’s a very new development in design.”

Despite their international capabilities and sophisticated showroom, they remain a family business with a commitment to the area. “We have a strong focus on local Colorado artisans,” Debbie explains, relating the story of people in California and Oregon who wanted leather handrails custom made by a local craftsman that they found through Styles.

“Being a family business means that we’re going to be here tomorrow, and we want to carry this on through generations,” she says. “We want people to enjoy what they do here and be proud.

It’s their home, after all.”

Styles Kitchen and Bath Studio Basalt www.styleskb.com (970) 927-2770

48 www.HighCountryHouseAndHome.com

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