From Dallas to the Rockies: Our Aspen Project

Our work outside Aspen began in a way we didn’t quite expect — over coffee with a Dallas client. They were building a second home on a gorgeous stretch of land in the heart of Colorado’s central Rocky Mountains, and they wanted it to be more than just a mountain getaway. They wanted it to feel layered, artful, and deeply personal.

The very beginning...construction complete.

What made this project special — and what has since become a sort of success formula for us — was partnering with the client and builder from the very beginning. This wasn’t just about choosing paint colors or furniture after the fact. By joining the process early, we were able to help shape the home itself.

When you’re building a semi-custom or even a spec home, so many pivotal decisions are made long before the drywall goes up. Electrical placement. Floor plan tweaks. How outlets and switches line up with furniture layouts or wall moldings. Even the way a room frames a mountain view. These early details are what separate a house from a truly customized home.

In Aspen, we collaborated closely with the builder to make sure every choice — from lighting plans to material finishes — supported both the architecture and the way our clients would live there. The result? A home that feels as if it’s been part of the mountain landscape for years, but functions perfectly for modern life.

The takeaway from Aspen is something we carry into every new-build project now: the earlier we’re involved, the better the outcome. It’s not just about avoiding mistakes; it’s about unlocking the full potential of a home from the very start.

The Heart of the Home: The Family Room

The family room is where everything converges — cooking, conversation, cocktails, and mountain views. We knew it needed to feel expansive yet intimate, and that it would set the tone for the rest of the home.

We began with the sofa — a ready-made piece that we creatively customized by adding a central ottoman, keeping the seating arrangement open and versatile. Above, the lighting needed to be nothing short of spectacular. The chandelier we selected, aptly named the Spur Chandelier, struck the perfect balance of modern elegance with a nod to its surroundings. Its icicle-like lights echo the crystalline sparkle of mountain snow.

While many mountain homes lean toward all-neutral palettes, our client wanted personality. We layered in saturated blues through the swivel chairs and art, ensuring the room felt vibrant without overwhelming its natural backdrop. A sleek linear bar opens to the living area, its shimmering glass backsplash subtly reminiscent of glacial ice.

Art was a major player in bringing this space to life. We commissioned Dallas textile artist Lauren Williams to create a tactile, flowing wall piece — a blend of deep blues, moss greens, and warm neutrals that mirrors the layers of the surrounding landscape. To ground it, we designed a custom leather daybed, perfectly sized for its niche, offering extra seating and a cozy perch by the fire.

The result is a room that feels equally suited to hosting a holiday gathering or curling up with a book as snow falls outside.

Gathering & Entertaining: Dining and Kitchen

Just beyond the family room, the dining area carries forward our balance of natural inspiration and refined style. The chandelier — with its delicate icicle-like pieces — subtly nods to the snow and frost just beyond the windows. Underfoot, a serendipitous find: a Kyle Bunting hair hide rug discovered in one of Aspen’s many excellent resale shops. It's graphic, textural, and perfectly anchors the space.

The dining table’s centerpiece has its own story. On a later visit to see my client — now a dear friend, as the best clients tend to become — she shared a collection of dried flowers saved from her local hikes, along with a piece of driftwood. While she was out skiing, I arranged them into a one-of-a-kind centerpiece. It’s a living memory of the home’s surroundings, blending the natural textures of the mountains into the heart of the home.

The kitchen strikes a similar chord, pairing slightly rustic, wood-toned cabinetry with chic, upholstered counter stools. The sleek white waterfall island and streamlined appliances keep the look fresh and contemporary, while the textures and tones bring warmth. It’s a space designed for serious cooking, casual breakfasts, and late-night snacks after a day on the slopes — exactly the kind of flexible functionality this home was built for.

A Warm Welcome: Guest Spaces

Creating a second home in the mountains isn’t just about the owners — it’s about the friends and family who will gather there. Our client wanted each guest space to feel unique, cozy, and designed with care.

One of her most practical requests was for a room that could work equally well for couples or single visitors. To make that happen, we designed a custom wall-mounted headboard that stays in place, with beds that can either be pushed together to form a king or separated into twins. This simple but thoughtful solution means the room can adapt seamlessly to whoever’s visiting.

Across the hall, the guest room with sweeping views of Sopris Mountain leans into a playful, vintage-inspired vibe. Art by Colorado artist Dolan Geiman hangs alongside a pair of vintage snowshoes found in a local shop — a charming nod to the area’s history and outdoor spirit. It’s a space that feels distinctly “Aspen,” without ever straying into cliché.

A Private Retreat Between Rooms

Between the guest rooms, we carved out a cozy sitting area where visitors can unwind in their own private space. Whether it’s curling up with a good book, watching a favorite show, or simply taking in the mountain views, it’s a little pocket of calm away from the bustle of the main living areas.

To give it personality, we layered in color and pattern — from the vibrant ikat ottoman to the textured rug and inviting lounge chair. One wall became a curated gallery, mixing the client’s own art with pieces we added over the course of a year or two until the arrangement felt just right. It’s these collected layers that make a space feel lived-in and loved.

The Primary Bedroom: Bringing the Outside In

In the primary bedroom, the mountain landscape isn’t just framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows — it’s woven directly into the design. The bed’s striking headboard, crafted from cross-sections of wood, echoes the organic patterns of tree rings and brings a tactile, natural element to the space.

Soft layers of neutral bedding and plush textures keep the space serene, while the connection to nature feels immediate and grounding. It’s a retreat in the truest sense.

Our client fell in love with a local artist’s large-scale depiction of the native Pando Aspen grove, its golden leaves a perfect nod to the home’s surroundings. The room’s finishing touch? A custom hat from Aspen’s iconic Kemo Sabe, casually perched on the bench — a personal, local treasure that captures the spirit of the place.

Lessons Learned from Aspen

This project reinforced something we now consider a cornerstone of our process: the earlier we’re involved in a build, the better the result. By partnering with both the client and builder from the start, we were able to make smart, intentional decisions long before the furniture arrived — decisions about electrical placement, lighting, and floor plan flow that directly shaped the comfort, functionality, and beauty of the finished home.

We also learned the value of staying open and flexible. The evolving art collection, careful layers, even the impromptu dining table centerpiece — each of these moments reminded us that the best homes evolve organically, through a mix of planning, collaboration, and those unexpected sparks of inspiration.

Most importantly, Aspen reminded us that a home’s personality should reflect both its surroundings and the people who live there. By balancing our client’s feminine-yet-practical style with the rugged beauty of the Rockies, we created a space that is deeply personal, endlessly welcoming, and ready to host countless gatherings for years to come.

Source List: Family Room

Chandelier visualcomfort.com Seating fourhands.com

Cocktail Tables lexingtonfurniture.com

Textile Art laurenwilliamsart.com Entry Art Lisa Lala, Blue Print Gallery Entry Table universalfurniture.com

Dining Chandelier ylighting.com Dining Chairs caracole.com Primary Bedroom Bed bernhardt.com Nightstands universalfurniture.com Bench fourhands.com