Architecturally nestled into the mountain side of Aspen, CO sits a new 10,000 SF vacation home meticulously positioned amongst the landscape. The vision was to design grand spaces that capture the breathtaking mountain views, while keeping interiors bright, elegant, and expansive, yet intimate. With enough room for entertaining large groups and separate areas for their guests to relax and feel at home, there is also a ski-in, ski-out capability with plenty of outdoor patios and hot-tubs for quiet, apres ski relaxation.

Rustic architectural elements are equally balanced with refined details throughout. Massive beams with iron strapping, hand-painted custom cabinetry, exotic wood veneers, and leather-wrapped hand rails.

The library has a custom mantel wall featuring a collection of mixed materials—wood, iron, leather, and animal hide, while the adjacent wall is clad in leather panels, accentuated with custom-cast brass aspen leaves. Nano doors open the space to outdoor seating doubling the size of the room. The front hall of this home has a long, narrow axis accentuated by high, vaulted ceilings with complex truss & beam work. The bar was designed to break up the space and visibly create a dramatic focal point, immediately upon entering the home. The intricate design was intended to blend harmoniously with the surrounding architectural elements and also serve as a room divider, separating the breakfast room and front hall.

The front of the bar is characterized by a hand-forged bronze façade, inspired by the Aspen trees. A two-part fabrication process in California, the framework was carefully designed with minimal tolerances to house the bronze panels, which were cast separately in Columbia. The back of the piece serves as a functional bar, with the necessary appliances and cabinetry required for the client’s entertaining needs.

The glass panels behind the bronze work are back-lit, illuminating the entire façade, creating a warm glow. Full access to both sides of the glass was required for cleaning purposes, therefore the glass panels and bronze reliefs were hinged separately to the cabinet frame - making this bar a truly functional piece of art. The owner travelled for business and had many requirements when designing his office, one of them being complete customized audio capability. Elegant exposed hardware elements, floor speakers, and amplifiers surround the main desk area, allowing for the best overall audio performance. The custom lighting, solar shade, HVAC, and security systems can all be controlled from this area as well. In the lounge area, a 4K LED flat-panel TV is integrated into a niche above the fireplace, flanked by speakers with custom grills on each side—delivering the best audio quality while maintaining the elegance cosmetically. The custom wrap-around desk is tailored to meet the client’s specific needs. Complete with integrated under- counter appliances and built-in file storage, it features crotch mahogany panels and leather-wrapped brass cabinetry hardware. The client wanted their vacation home to be a luxurious retreat - Outfitted with the latest in smart technology throughout, including customized lighting and sound controls, the lower level features a wine room, fitness center, state-of-the art media room (with its own concession area), along with an art studio and home office on the upper level.