A Rocky Mountain Abode That Turned the Homeowners Into Homebodies

The outdoor terrace off the kitchen boasts one of eight fireplaces and La Lune Collection furniture. | Photography by Gibeon Photography

Perched above Beaver Creek Village, near Vail, Colorado, this mountain retreat was named Eagle Point by the original owners for its bird’s-eye view, and it boasts the pedigree of being the location of the first house built in the area.

The kitchen’s eating area features local moss rock with a pass-through fireplace. The table, dinner bell, chairs and bench (custom cushion is Ralph Lauren fabric) are from Round Top Antiques Fair.

Mike and Pam Mycoskie—a retired orthopedic surgeon for the Texas Rangers and best-selling cookbook author, respectively—already had a second home in the area and were ready to make Beaver Creek their primary residence. They wanted a permanent dream home overlooking the mountains, but the original house, built before the village existed, faced the wrong way. “The history of the land is pretty special, but there wasn’t anything in the previous structure worth saving. Not only that, the original structure didn’t take full advantage of the incredible views,” explains interior designer Courtney St. John. “Tearing it down and building from scratch was the obvious solution.”

The great room’s spectacular view is the first thing you see upon entering. The art above the fireplace is a painting by Todd Doney.

The Mycoskies worked with luxury builder Resort Concepts on land planning, architecture and construction of the 8,500-square-foot home. St. John and her partner at the time were brought on to oversee the interior design and bring the fine finishes and highly customized details to life.

Tailored dining chairs in pale tones and sparkling “antler” chandelier contrast with rustic stone fireplace wall for sophisticated alpine style.

“We had a clear vision from the start,” says Pam Mycoskie of the transitional mountain home that features reclaimed wood and local moss rock along with a subtle horse theme. Adds Mike, “Our other homes are very contemporary, and one of the reasons we were so excited was that this was a style we always enjoyed but had never done in the past.”

A quadrant of manipulated photographic modern art is mounted on an antiqued mirror in the hallway.

A trip to Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas plus shopping excursions in Los Angeles gave St. John an intimate eye into the Mycoskies’ style and preferences. The result is a unique mix of antiques and one-of-a-kind art against a backdrop of curated, high-end furnishings. Local artisans were commissioned as much as possible, such as the leather artist who swathed the primary suite door in Jerry Pair leather with nailhead trim and wrapped the elevator in hide. “Every detail in this home was consciously considered,” says St. John. “This was a really collaborative process. They were dream clients who were open to traveling and seeing new things, which allowed us to find a unique way to tell their story.”

Pam is a chef, and the kitchen is the heart of the home. Multiple built-in ovens are surrounded by hand-placed stone, white oak cabinetry and custom Rocky Mountain Hardware pulls and hinges. The pendant over the sink is vintage while the one over the island is by Gregorius Pineo.

The Mycoskies typically travel a lot, but after the world opened back up, they found they’ve turned into homebodies. As Pam says, “This house is beautiful and the views are just incredible. You feel like you’re in paradise.” And if the past couple of years has made anything clear, it’s that the true test of a dream home is when you never want to leave.

Pam worked with St. John to design each of her children’s bedrooms as an ode to their style and personality. The daughter’s features a La Lune four-poster log bed with a Tony Duquette chandelier and layered, antique Moroccan rugs.

ANTIQUE CHIC
The “granny chic” trend has brought fresh attention to incorporating antiques in modern interiors, but for designer Courtney St. John the history-rich pieces have always been a staple for adding character, texture, patina—and meaning. Some of her favorite tips:

One of the guest bathrooms features custom cabinetry with reclaimed wood in a Chevron pattern, paired with a metallic Phillip Jeffries wall covering.

DIAL IN THE PERSONAL “Antiques speak to people and connect through stories. The Mycoskies have a wonderful life story to tell, and we wanted their home to reflect that.” DON’T BE A PURIST “You don’t have to stick to a certain style or period. Mix and match to create unexpected, interesting elements within a space. And the clean lines of a contemporary interior offer a blank canvas to highlight a special piece.” OLD PIECE, NEW USE “I love the current attention on ‘flipping’ furniture— repurposing, recycling, reusing and giving new life to antique pieces. Quality antiques were made to last generations, so reupholstering is a great way to give a piece new love, like the Mycoskies’ horn chair, reupholstered in hide. And think about modifying antiques for a modern purpose to gain that lovely patina and craftsmanship.” KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN “I like to begin by taking clients to a large venue like Round Top in Texas, but treasures are everywhere—internet sites like Chairish and 1st Dibs, auctions, local antique shops like Black Tulip Antiques in Denver and everyday estate sales and garage sales!”