DECORATING WELL
Bringing the outside in
By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette
tures bring a bit of homegrown natural beauty inside. If homeowners want to try n important aspect of renovating to help bring the living well is enjoying outdoors in, Ballenski sugthe space where you gests bringing natural stone dwell. Making that home inside to put around an existspace comfortable, stylish and ing fireplace that may be brick appealing is the job of Sara or some other façade. Ballenski, Senior Designer “This is a simple and elegant with Niche Design House in way to renovate your space,” Estes Park. she commented. “We can clad “Our goal at Niche is to help a brick fireplace in thinner our clients find their style and veneers than we used to be then bring it to life,” Ballenski able to use.” said. “Design is very personal. Another dramatic way to Niche / Courtesy photo You’re talking about somebring a natural look into your Ballenski suggests bringing natural stone inside to put around body’s expression of themhouse tying the outside to the an existing fireplace. selves. We go into people’s inside is to invest in a wood “My favorite go-tos for For Estes Park residents, homes and help them figure slat ceiling and extend that bringing the outdoors inside is bringing a sense of the outout what they want to do and into an overhang outside. This doors into the house are live often the goal. then implement that vision.” involves treated wood or, in edge furniture and large forsome cases, fiberglass that mat wall mirrors,” Ballenski looks like wood. explained. Using bright, bold colors as Recently, Ballenski encour- accents to a nature-inspired aged an Estes Park resident backdrop is all the rage in who has a gorgeous view to design right now. add a huge 36” round mirror “We use earth tones as a to the wall opposite the view. neutral and friendly start and “It’s a really good way to get then we begin to bring in a different perspective on the vibrant pops of color,” Ballenssame view you already have ki stated. “That might be a without creating something rug, a pillow, a piece of artelse artificially,” she said. work, a trail blanket or a vase.” DONATIONS ONLY In that same home, BallensOne trend that is coming ki brought in several stateback this year is the use of ment pieces with a live edge, statement furniture pieces, meaning the craftsman who like a velvet couch in a bold ELEC TROSTATIC SPRAY makes the pieces brings the tone. natural edge of the wood into “2020 is the year for jewel the design of the piece. tones,” Ballenski said, “like “I placed a live-edge dining emerald green, navy blue and room table and a coffee table vibrant teal.” in the living room,” Ballenski With a degree from Coloraadded. “I had a headboard do State University in Interior custom made with a live Design and a minor in Conedge.” struction Management, BalShe also utilized a local lenski helps clients with somesculptor, Debbie Candelora of thing as simple as replacing COMMERCIAL RESID Blue Horse Sculpture in Belle- carpet to a complete gut and ENTIAL RENTALS vue who fire treats wood and renovation. Owner: it. uses a process that petrifies Niche is a woman-owned Estes Safe Sanitizing Estes Safe Rides Rich Johnson Her Colorado forest sculpsmall business in Estes Park.
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16 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition
