A Blurred Line Between Indoor and Outdoor Living

“When you walk through this house, it feels like you’re walking outside,” homeowner Charly Rotermund says of her family’s contemporary mountain dwelling situated in a grove of aspens not far from the ski mountain in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. From the living room, views stretch to the southeast, through the trees and over a creek that flows in spring and summer, toward the mountain. In the kitchen, two-story windows frame views of a large ridge. And behind the freestanding bathtub in the master bathroom, windows face northeast toward the property’s in-ground swimming pool.

The home’s connection with its surroundings is no accident. Rather, it’s the result of careful planning on the part of Rotermund, her husband Scott, and architects Brandt Vanderbosch and Rob Nadolny, of Steamboat Springs-based Vertical Arts Architecture, who collaborated closely with the homeowners to envision the 5,900-square-foot timber-frame home made of wood, stone and dramatic walls of glass.

The family fell in love with Steamboat Springs back in 2005, when the then-Denver residents vacationed in the area. So they decided to purchase a 2.6-acre parcel of land in Steamboat’s Elkin Meadows development—just a few minutes from the ski slopes and a short drive from town—and build their own mountain home. “When we found this piece of property here in this meadow, we knew it would be a great place to raise our kids. It was a perfect fit for us,” Rotermund says.

To create a home that celebrates its owners’ love for the mountains, the design team at Vertical Arts made views a priority. Throughout the house, fine-mullioned windows and doors from Hope’s Windows frame views of the landscape from every room. “The home is stunning, but the landscape is equally spectacular and we wanted to see it all,” Rotermund says. “The only thing separating us from the outdoors is these glass doors.

Glass sliding doors by Hope's Windows connect the living room to the covered patio. Trunk, hurricane lanterns and loveseat upholstery by Ralph Lauren.

For the kitchen, homeowner Charly Rotermund chose white and stained-wood cabinets and Carrara marble counters for a sophisticated look. The adjacent dining space features comfortable chairs and banquettes in a style Rotermund calls, "upstate New York meets the mountains of Colorado."

Windows in the master bathroom open to a private covered deck. "Having the windows close to the floor strengthens the visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces," architect Brandt Vanderbosch explains.

"You wake up to the sun rising over the ski hill," Rotermund says of the view from the master bedroom. Paintings above the bed are by Spanish contemporary minimalist Manuel Vicario.

When the homeowners entertain, the party often spills out from the living room onto the adjacent screen porch. "It's great to have dinners out there," Rotermund says. Furnishings are from Crate and Barrel.

The pool area features a trellised patio, hot tub and a wood-burning fireplace, where the family enjoys making s'mores on summer nights.

The homeowners love the aspen grove on their property, so the architects preserved as much of it as possible. A creek runs across the property in spring and summer.

ARCHITECTURE: Vertical Arts Architecture
TIMBER FRAMING: Three Elements Timberworks​
SPACE PLANNING/FURNISHINGS: Romick’s Into the West
WINDOWS & DOORS: Hope's Windows