Before & After: An Incredible Mountain-Modern Renovation

A Colorado home is reimagined into a sleek-yet-warm retreat that takes full advantage of its river views.

Visions of the ideal mountain home have changed in the Rocky Mountain West, and Vail, Colorado, is no exception. Gone are the days of dark, traditional ski-lodge-style alpine homes, and in their stead, “mountain modern” has emerged—a thoughtful blend of warm, organic materials with clean lines and large expanses of glass to drink in the incredible views.

Because of this new and highly sought-after style, and because prime real estate in these ski-resort towns is predominately built out, more and more homeowners are choosing to completely renovate their existing residential structures.

This stunning abode along the Gore Creek underwent a complete transformation. What once was a dated home with no hint of the river beyond is now a warm and inviting mountain-modern retreat that features fresh, contemporary design elements and takes full advantage of its gorgeous surroundings. Take a tour of the home makeover below.

The original home featured small, minimal windows, a dated exterior color palette, and a bridge element adjacent to the entry that did not live up to its full potential.

Much of the original home was demolished, but the foundation and many of its bones were maintained. The walls, roof, and the majority of the main level were completely reimagined with large windows, reclaimed spruce, a blend of stone veneer, and copper and steel elements. The interior bridge is almost entirely transparent, not only connecting the home’s two wings but also creating a strong sense of indoor-outdoor continuity throughout the space.

The exposed aggregate concrete driveway was also maintained with sustainability and timeless style in mind.

The new entryway boasts a sleek copper door and repurposed flooring from the original home.

The updated kitchen is fit for entertaining with abundant cabinetry and counter space, as well as a large stainless refrigerator.

The home’s original living space showed no signs of the Gore Creek.

The original home’s architectural ridge was re-implemented in its new east-to-west corridor. A wet bar and informal dining area continues into an intuitive and inviting living space with a fireplace and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows.

The entire corner window slides opens onto a deck, complete with a fire pit—the perfect spot for enjoying a drink with full views of the water and mountains beyond.

The home’s original backyard incorporated almost no thoughtful landscape design.

An informal step-stone path leads from the driveway around to the rear outdoor living space. This side of the house had previously been the formal entry to the lower-level apartment—a Vail requirement in the early 1990s for homes of this size. After the renovation, the apartment was transformed into additional living space, maximizing square footage for ultimate comfort and enjoyment.

The stone pathway continues to the backyard, which overlooks the river. A grassy lawn and custom tile spa create an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying the Colorado outdoors.

Existing boulders were incorporated into the design, paying homage to the home’s mountain-modern style and its site.

The final result is a home that blends into its landscape and invites the breathtaking surrounding views into its interior spaces at every opportunity—a true architectural tribute to the Rocky Mountain West.

DESIGN DETAILS

BUILDER Shaeffer Hyde Construction ARCHITECTURE Douglas M. DeChant, Shepherd Resources INTERIOR DESIGN FINISHES Slifer Designs LANDSCAPE DESIGN Ric Fields, Fieldscape EXTERIOR RECLAIMED SPRUCE Arrigoni Woods

David Hyde is the President of Shaeffer Hyde Construction, a luxury homebuilder, comprehensive general contracting, and construction management company based in the mountains of Colorado. View their profile or contact David at 970.845.5656.

Content for this article provided by Shaeffer Hyde Construction.