A Spacious Solaris Condo at Vail Mountain
With grown children spread across England, Spain and South Africa, a Madrid-based couple was in search of a way to vacation as a family again. Their solution: a spacious Solaris condo nestled at the base of Colorado’s Vail Mountain. With ample space for extended family to spread out and direct access to ski slopes and hiking trails, the four-bedroom-plus-den condo was the perfect landing pad for holiday celebrations and summer getaways. “We are all sports fans. So, we ski in the winter, and hike, bike and walk in the summer,” the homeowner says. “Everybody loves going, and this is the place for holidays.”
Stone flooring and reclaimed wood from a barn in Northern Europe, used on walls near the condominium’s entry, lend a rustic note to the residence. “It’s a transition area from the mountain to the home’s interior,” Salinas says.
“The clients wanted to keep away from the hunting lodge look and desired a lot of light. We changed finishes and the flooring to make it lighter.” — Architect and interior designer Edmundo Salinas Salas
Architect and designer Edmundo Salinas Salas of Salinas Lasheras designed the residence to welcome a crowd. A big open kitchen isn’t as typical in his native Mexico as it is in the United States, he says, so he incorporated sleek style and functionality by adding Arclinea cabinetry with smooth surfaces and hidden storage; a dropped glass “ceiling” with lights over the island, cooktop and sink; and quartzite countertops. A big chalkboard from Restoration Hardware adds a whimsical note. “We enjoy cooking together, especially my daughter, who is a chef,” the homeowner adds. “We all help and it is good family bonding.”
The European kitchen was one of many touches Salinas incorporated in the home to give it an international feel. “The clients wanted to keep away from the hunting lodge look and desired a lot of light. We changed finishes and the flooring to make it lighter,” Salinas says. Reclaimed barnwood from northern Europe graces accent walls in the entry and kitchen for a “cozy and warm feel that balances out the contemporary furnishings,” he adds.
The kitchen, dining area and living room share a large open space. Salinas arranged a series of nine London bus route signs that he found in a Paris flea market on one wall. “We thought it would be a conversation piece,” he says, noting that he’ll often purchase items during his travels and store them until he finds the perfect place to use them. “They also balance the rest of the black and white in the room.” Two large sectional sofas and black leather chairs from Minotti are arranged for conversation or watching TV in the living room, with a lighted recessed shelving unit that holds glasses and barware for entertaining.
The bedrooms offer contemporary furnishings and seating areas. In the main master bedroom, a Ligne Roset bed with a tufted headboard rests on a Calvin Klein cowhide rug. Armchairs from Barbara Barry offer a cozy spot to curl up with a book, and the side table multitasks as a desk or vanity. "The clients wanted a place where they could have some privacy,” Salinas explains.
Accent pieces in the second master suite include the Risom rocker by Jens Risom from Design Within Reach, a side table by De La Espada and a Chehoma clock.
Guests can often be found playing games or watching TV in the den, which doubles as an en suite bedroom. A versatile sectional sofa can serve as a spare bed for guests or be pulled apart into individual lounge seats. Vintage snow sports equipment and ski posters add an alpine touch. “We thought we’d make it more cheerful and lively with the action on the walls,” Salinas says.
In the powder room, a Madena mirror from Made Goods tops a Restoration Hardware sink and fixtures.
But the living room is where you’re most likely to find the homeowner. “We have a beautiful view of the mountain,” she says. “It’s spacious enough and set in a way that we can be together without feeling crowded. I feel good there.”
DESIGN DETAILS:
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN Salinas Lasheras WOOD FLOORS & FINISHES Arrigoni Woods LIVING ROOM SOFA, COFFEE TABLE Salinas Lasheras ARMCHAIRS Minotti DINING ROOM CHAIRS BDDW PENDANT LIGHTS Niche Modern KITCHEN CABINETRY Arclinea CHALKBOARD Restoration Hardware BEDROOMS MASTER BED Ligne Roset DRESSER Hudson 6-drawer from Room and Board ARMCHAIR Perfect Pitch armchairs from Barbara Barry RUG Calvin Klein Prairie Arctic natural skin rug from Nourison.com BAMBOO SKI POLES Vintage Winter MERCURY RIDGETOP SKIS Vintage Ski World ROCKER Jen Risom from DWR TALL SIDE TABLE De La Espada OVAL CLOCK Chehoma from Aubergine POWDER ROOM MIRROR Madena by Made Goods from Aubergine COUNTERTOP & FIXTURES Restoration Hardware DEN SOFA/SECTIONAL Bonaldo WALL POSTERS AllPosters
