Decorating Well

Bringingthe outside in

By Wendy Rigby

Trail-Gazette

An important aspect of living well is enjoying the space where you dwell. Making that home space comfortable, stylish and appealing is the job ofSara Ballenski, Senior Designer with Niche Design House in Estes Park.

“Our goal at Niche is to help our clients find their style and then bring it to life,” Ballenski said. “Design is very personal. Niche / Courtesy photo You’re talking about someBallenski suggests bringing natural stone inside to put around body’s expression oftheman existing fireplace. selves. We go into people’s homes and help them figure For Estes Park residents, “My favorite go-tos for out what they want to do and bringing the outdoors inside is bringing a sense ofthe outthen implement that vision.” often the goal. doors into the house are live edge furniture and large format wall mirrors,” Ballenski explained. Recently, Ballenski encouraged an Estes Park resident who has a gorgeous view to add a huge 36” round mirror to the wall opposite the view. “It’s a really good way to get a different perspective on the same view you already have without creating something else arti ficially,” she said. DONATIONS ONLY In that same home, Ballenski brought in several s tatement pieces with a live edge, S A F E S A N I T I Z I N G C O M M E R C I A L · R E S I D E N T I A L · R E N T A L S E L E C T R O S T A T I C S P R A Y Estes Safe Rides Owner: Rich Johnson Estes Safe Sanitizing meaning the craftsman who makes the pieces brings the natural edge ofthe wood into the design ofthe piece. “I placed a live-edge dining room table and a coffee table in the living room,” Ballenski added. “I had a headboard custom made with a live edge.” She also utilized a local sculptor, Debbie Candelora of Blue Horse Sculpture in Bellevue who fire treats wood and uses a process that petri fies it. Her Colorado forest sculp

tures bring a bit ofhomegrown natural beauty inside.

Ifhomeowners want to try renovating to help bring the outdoors in, Ballenski suggests bringing natural stone inside to put around an existing fireplace that may be brick or some other façade.

“This is a simple and elegan t way to renovate your space,” she commented. “We can clad a brick fireplace in thinner veneers than we used to be able to use.”

Another dramatic way to bring a natural look into your house tying the outside to the inside is to invest in a wood slat ceiling and extend that into an overhang outside. This involves treated wood or, in some cases, fiberglass that looks like wood.

Using bright, bold colors as accents to a nature-inspired backdrop is all the rage in design right now.

“We use earth tones as a neutral and friendly s tart and then we begin to bring in vibrant pops ofcolor,” Ballenski s tated. “That might be a rug, a pillow, apiece ofartwork, a trail blanket or a v ase.”

One trend that is coming back this year is the use of s tatement furniture pieces, like a velvet couch in a bold tone.

“2020 is the year for jewel tones,” Ballenski said, “like emerald green, na vy blue and vibrant teal.”

With a degree from Colorado S tate University in Interior Design and a minor in Construction Management, Ballenski helps clients with something as simple as replacing carpet to a complete gut and renovation.

Niche is a woman-owned small business in Estes Park.