A Luxury Master Retreat is Reborn
Inspired by a resort stay, this couple’s master suite got a fresh, modern makeover rooted in history.
Nestled among old-growth aspens and evergreens on a private ranch in Colorado, this 25-year-old custom home was in need of a transformation. The owners decided to begin with the master suite that comprised the entire third floor of their home—and their inspiration came from a memorable stay at Amangani Resort in Jackson Hole. The couple and their design team capitalized on the pitched ceiling and contemporary lines of the existing windows in order to reimagine the dated space as an open, inviting, and highly functional master retreat that honored the area’s history of ranching and mining.
The 800-square-foot suite was gutted to the studs, and space was reallocated to allow for a more private bathroom, a morning kitchen, and a hidden door that leads to a luxurious closet and dressing area. Storage for clothing, accessories, and linens was a challenge in the original suite, so custom cabinetry by Davis Mill and Cabinet was designed to take advantage of the high ceilings and smaller niches in the new layout.
The original bathroom made poor use of the footprint and was divided into two small, dark spaces. The new design features a private water closet, a 10-foot-tall-by-28-inch-deep linen closet with rollout shelves, and an additional window into the vanity area for increased lighting and views. A glass transom was built in above a new sliding barn door created with material from Vintage Woods and Metals separating the bath from the bedroom, further opening up the space and adding light.
The aging shower and tub surround were removed in favor of a spacious wet area housing a Calacatta marble shower room and an MTI freestanding tub, complete with radiant in-floor heat and a grab bar that matches the Brizo fixtures. A heated towel rack with integrated aromatherapy, a 9-foot custom vanity with an MTI trough sink, and an antique mirror complete the space. In order to create an aesthetic of masculine elegance, the owners chose Cambria’s “Annica” countertop and Rocky Mountain Hardware’s “Trousdale” pulls designed by Lenny Kravitz.
The couple value their privacy but host many guests in their home throughout the year. The morning kitchen was added to allow for coffee and light breakfast in the morning or a late-night glass of wine without leaving the suite. Custom cabinetry was designed to house a Sub Zero beverage center and maximize storage, while floating shelves with integrated lighting above host favorite portraits and artwork of their beloved German Shepherd.
A 9-foot-high wall clad in reclaimed barn wood from Vintage Woods and Metals was constructed in order to divide the bedroom and the new master closet and dressing area.
A hidden door leads to the closet that features 10-foot-tall custom cabinetry, generous hanging space, and deep dresser drawers. The existing window was framed with a bench seat creating boot storage underneath, and a formerly unusable corner with low overhead clearance was repurposed for luggage storage.
The dressing area is anchored by an 11-foot vanity with shallow drawers for jewelry storage, an appliance rollout with hidden electrical, and a lap drawer for makeup. A Kohler Verdera lighted mirror was chosen for its high function, and for drama, a Cambria “Harlech” countertop was repeated from the morning kitchen.
By employing a mix of metals and reclaimed wood, designing custom cabinetry to maximize storage, and capitalizing on the existing angles, the resulting design skillfully balances beauty and functionality, creating a fresh, modern suite rooted in history.
Lauren Ruehring is owner and principal of Kitchenscapes, a premiere kitchen and bath custom cabinetry design firm based in Breckenridge, Colorado. View their profile or contact Lauren at 970-453-7107.
Content for this article provided by Kitchenscapes.
