A High Country Haven in Beaver Creek

An abstract painting by Colorado artist Patricia Finley in the homeowner’s favorite shade of teal and a patterned Holly Hunt rug make a dramatic statement in the foyer of this Beaver Creek residence. | Photography by Kimberly Gavin

When it was time for a Texas couple to find a larger mountain getaway for their growing family, a Beaver Creek home originally built in the late 1980s turned out to be the perfect spot.

Mountain Modern design calls for layers of color and texture in fabrics and furnishings, says designer Siân Christie.

The couple’s two children are both married now and are starting their own families, but even before the first grandchild arrived last year, the homeowners had been on the hunt for a roomy retreat. “It’s a home we’re growing into, and one where we can have guests,” the wife says of the five-bedroom home with indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and captivating wraparound mountain views.

They also had a specific style of home in mind—modern, but family-friendly. “We fell in love with [this home] because we wanted something much more contemporary and less lodge-like than what you think of as a typical mountain home,” the wife explains.

The kitchen gets a color boost from a Kyle Bunting hide rug and the Andrew Jensdotter painting on the far wall.

The home’s interior had been gutted and redesigned with floor-to-ceiling windows, glass stair railings, wide-plank oak floors and a gourmet kitchen. To help furnish the nearly 6,000-square-foot space, the couple reached out to an interior designer who had helped them with a previous Colorado residence, Vicki Glotzer of Studio Floyd Interior Design in Edwards, Colorado. Glotzer in turn enlisted the aid of a former colleague, Siân Christie, now with Grayson+Christie Interior Design, also in Edwards.

Large rooms and high ceilings call for substantial furnishings, such as a roomy sofa and Wüd table, says designer Vicki Glotzer.

The Luma dining room table and Holly Hunt chairs can seat 10 guests. Lincoln Woodworks built the custom cabinet.

Modern design for the mountains is different from what works in urban settings, Christie says. “You can’t go quite as stark. You need to have that sense of warmth and coziness, so you have to weave in texture and use color that brightens but doesn’t overwhelm the space.”

The designers used art and modern furnishings in the entry to underscore the home’s modern design. Twin paintings hang above clean-lined Lumifer credenzas, and the black granite “Zenith” sculpture is by Jeremy Guy.

“Color was the initial driving force,” Glotzer says of the project. “The homeowner loves color, and she was very specific with teal, her favorite.” The designers created a strong opening statement by commissioning a pair of teal abstract paintings for the foyer from Colorado artist Patricia Finley.

A table and upholstered chairs offer a place to do puzzles or grab a bite.

Also on the entry level are two guests suites where the couple’s son and daughter and their spouses and first grandchild stay, and now in the planning stages is a bunk room.

Twin Minotti chaises in front of the steel-clad fireplace offer a cozy spot for lounging in the primary bedroom.

One flight of stairs up is the main living area with an open kitchen, dining and living area, plus the main suite and two additional bedrooms. Accents of yellow, green and blue in pillows, rugs and artwork echo the flowers and plants in the surrounding landscape in the summer. While the materials used are luxurious, they’re also practical, Glotzer says. Fabrics were treated to be stain-resistant, and wood floors were layered with coats of clear stain to improve durability.

Splashes of color in a guest bedroom come from pillows and a Peter Margonelli photograph.

The home’s crisp white walls, open layout and high ceilings called for substantial furniture as well as dramatic lighting, Glotzer explains, with fixtures from such designers as Christopher Boots and Jonathan Browning.

While the homeowners love vibrant color, a restful palette of white and taupe was chosen for their bedroom. The bed’s custom headboard is made from pieced leather.

The main suite is in soothing shades of white and taupe, with a dramatic pieced leather headboard for the bed, and matching chaise lounges in front of a steel-wrapped fireplace. “You walk in there and feel like you never want to leave. It’s a cloud of yummy, white fabulousness,” Glotzer says.

The main bathroom’s freestanding tub is perfect for soaking in the views.

That’s how the homeowners feel once they get into full relaxation mode at the home. “We live in an urban area in Texas, so we go to Colorado for the peace and quiet,” the wife says. “It’s a totally different pace. It’s our sanctuary.”