A Reconfigured and Sophisticated Edwards Home

Photography by Kimberly Gavin

For Kansans Cheri and Paul Hoover and Colorado interior designer Katy Allen, the third time was definitely a charm. Allen had helped the Hoovers design their previous two vacation homes in the Centennial State—so when the couple purchased a new place in Arrowhead, they knew exactly whom to call.

The remodel included installing a glass-and- steel front door by Genesis Hospitality. “We added more glass around it so you get more light in from the south side of the house,” says Resort Concepts’ Rick Hermes.

The 5,390-square-foot house had a prime location on the first hole of the golf course at Country Club of the Rockies, but the home hadn’t been updated since it was built in the early 1990s. “The finishes were dated, and it had a bit of a rough floor plan—very choppy, broken-up spaces,” says Allen. “We knew right out of the gate an architect had to be involved.”

Just off the dining room, Allen arranged a trio of Gabby swivel chairs around a Palecek coffee table. “If they’re having a party, people can sit there and have a glass of wine,” says the designer. The new white oak floors are by Arrigoni Woods.

At Allen’s recommendation, the Hoovers enlisted the design team at Resort Concepts, led by Rick Hermes, to help transform the outdated dwelling. “The bones of the house were pretty good, so we didn’t have to worry too much about that,” Hermes says, “but you could tell right away that it needed to be opened up substantially.”

An Oushak rug and a new fireplace add warmth to the updated dining room.

The 14-month-long remodel began with taking the house down to the studs and reconfiguring the floor plan so that the common spaces connected with each other and created a better flow from room to room. Now, a formal living room and hearth room—separated only by a sleek three-sided fireplace—open up to the kitchen and dining area. “While opening up the plan, we also considered ceiling transitions to improve view lines and created appropriate scale for each room,” says Hermes. In the living area, the ceiling soars to more than 20 feet tall, allowing for expanded views of the golf course and mountains beyond.

Oversize chairs by Brownstone Upholstery paired with a plush Theodore Alexander sofa make for cozy seating in the hearth room.

The other major element of the remodel involved revamping the stairwell. “The stair is a centrally located design element in the home which created both a design challenge and an opportunity,” says Hermes. “The existing solid form stair was replaced with a floating steel and wood stair that creates openness and connectivity from the main floor to the lower floor.”

White Neolith countertops contrast with the dark alder cabinetry in the kitchen. Douglas fir ceiling beams add a rustic touch.

To complement the new floor plan, Allen selected materials and finishes that would give the interiors a warm but contemporary feel. Throughout the house, timber and Colorado buff stone pair with steel accents—all set against serene off-white walls. Other updates include new white oak flooring throughout, white Neolith countertops in the kitchen, and Calacatta gold marble and contrasting dark alder cabinetry in the master bathroom.

A pair of lamps made from salvaged metal flank a Vanguard Furniture bed in the master bedroom. “We’re big fans of found elements,” says Allen. The nightstand is by John-Richard, and the chairs are by Theodore Alexander.

A sliding barn door adds a bit of whimsy to the tub area.

When it came time to decorate the interiors, the Hoovers took a hands-off approach: “We just turned Katy loose,” Paul says of his and Cheri’s go-to interior designer. Having worked with the couple for more than 10 years, Allen knows their style well, which came in handy on this project. “We pretty much had a blank slate,” she says. With the goal of creating a calm, neutral palette, Allen chose art, fabrics and furnishings in creamy shades of brown, white and gray, accented with pops of black. “You don’t see a ton of florals in this house or anything like that,” she says. “It’s just very timeless and masculine. We let the architectural elements be what popped and sang.”

All of the guest rooms feature comfy king-size beds.

In the master bath, custom alder cabinets provide plenty of storage.

Comfort and durability were also key elements of the interior design. “We don’t want a museum,” Allen remembers Cheri saying. Instead, the homeowners wanted a house that could be enjoyed by their adult guests and young grandchildren alike. In the hearth room, where much of the family gathering happens, Allen opted for a rustic coffee table and plush, oversize seating. “It’s a curl-your-feet-up room,” says the designer. “And there are no worries if the coasters don’t get put out.” Though the space is comfortable and approach- able—like the rest of the home, for that matter—each of its pieces is more beautiful than the last. So the house is a little bit like a museum after all.

Jamie Young pendants illuminate the powder room, which is wrapped in a grass-cloth wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries.

PEAK CHIC
Even though Cheri and Paul Hoover’s Colorado getaway has a polished, contemporary feel throughout, the house still pays homage to its mountain setting. Thanks to interior designer Katy Allen, who has a long history of creating resort-style residences, the home features sleek and subtle nods to its Vail Valley locale. THE ART OF THE MATTER In the living room, a black-and-white mountain scene captured by Vail- based landscape photographer John Richter is the backdrop for a gleaming grand piano. “We found that art first, then worked the room around it,” says Allen. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BLEND Allen paired mounted antlers with a crystal chandelier in the master bedroom, creating an unexpected mix in the tranquil space. HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT Hair-on hide stools line the bar in the kitchen, and two hide rugs anchor the living room, bringing a Western flair to the otherwise refined spaces. “The homeowners wanted the house more contemporary,” says the designer, “but it’s still a mountain home.”

DESIGN DETAILS
INTERIOR DESIGN Katy Allen Interior Design ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION Resort Concepts with Eggers Architecture

As seen in the July 2020 issue

RESOURCES

SERVICES HARDWOOD FLOORS by Arrigoni Woods CABINETS, BEAMS, MILLWORK by Genesis Hospitality Corporation TILE & SLAB by Stone Concepts MASONRY by Stone Concepts ENTRY DOOR by  Genesis Hospitality Corporation CHANDELIER by Visual Comfort from Katy Allen Interior Design CONSOLE by Taracea from Katy Allen Interior Design LAMPS by Visual Comfort from Katy Allen Interior Design MIRROR  from Restoration Hardware RUG  from The Scarab ART by Scott Kerr from Katy Allen Interior Design LIVING ROOM SOFA by Lee Industries from Katy Allen Interior Design CHAIRS by from Katy Allen Interior Design CHAISE by Robert James from Katy Allen Interior Design SIDE TABLES by Bernhardt from Katy Allen Interior Design COFFEE TABLE by Robert James from Katy Allen Interior Design RUG from The Scarab CHANDELIER from  Restoration Hardware ART by John Richter PILLOWS/DRAPERY by Tailored Interiors SWIVEL CHAIRS by Gabby Home from Katy Allen Interior Design COFFEE TABLE by Palececk from Katy Allen Interior Design HEARTH ROOM SOFA by Theodore Alexander from Katy Allen Interior Design CHAIRS by Brownstone Upholstery from Katy Allen Interior Design COFFEE TABLE by Found from Katy Allen Interior Design PILLOWS/DRAPERY by Tailored Interiors RUG from The Scarab BAR from Genesis Hospitality Corporation DINING ROOM CHAIRS by Robert James from Katy Allen Interior Design TABLE by Robert James from Katy Allen Interior Design RUG from The Scarab KITCHEN BAR AND COUNTER STOOLS by Vanguard Furniture from Katy Allen Interior Design PENDANTS by Jamie Young from Katy Allen Interior Design SINK AND SINK BASE by Genesis MASTER BEDROOM WALLPAPER by Phillip Jeffries from Katy Allen Interior Design PENDANTS by Jamie Young from Katy Allen Interior Design BED by Vanguard Furniture from Katy Allen Interior Design NIGHTSTANDS by John Richards from Katy Allen Interior Design LAMPS one of a kind CHANDELIER by Crystorama from Katy Allen Interior Design CHAIRS by Theodore Alexander from Katy Allen Interior Design RUG from The Scarab SCONCES by Visual Comfort from Katy Allen Interior Design GUEST BEDROOM TABLE by Visual Comfort from Katy Allen Interior Design BED AND NIGHTSTANDS by Brownstone Upholstery from Katy Allen Interior Design LAMPS by Made Goods fromKaty Allen Interior Design