RADAR / SCENE
THE INSIDER KRISTEN THOMAS
PIXELATED: SCULPTURE BY MIKE WHITING Through September 23, visitors to the Denver Botanic Gardens have the opportunity to contemplate two very different worlds: the cultivated setting of a public garden and the digital environment of video games. With “Pixelated: Sculpture by Mike Whiting,” brightly colored metal sculptures with the pixelated aesthetic of vintage 8-bit video games like Pac-Man are among the gardens’ landscapes. “The contrast of the sculptures’ geometric and man-made materials can seem at odds with the gardens,” Whiting says of works including the bright-green, 7-foot-tall Cactus and giant purple Cathead, “but they are connected in the dialogue about the representation of nature.” botanicgardens.org
Favorite aspect of architecture: I love millwork, moldings and custom built-ins, and I strongly believe architectural details add interest while increasing the value of a home. What sparks your creativity? History, architecture, movies, artisans and fashion—especially fine menswear and specifically clean, classic lines and tailoring. I get so much inspiration from fashion icons like Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and Victoria Beckham. Go-to design shops: Eron Johnson Antiques, the shops on South Broadway, salvage yards and 1stdibs. On the horizon: We’re developing a lifestyle brand called K. Thom, featuring products designed for intentional living. Our site will launch in November. We are doing more new builds, which I love, and I’d like to break into real estate development. I’d also really love to have a second home and office in sunny California, where I used to live. save the date photo: scott dressel-martin. the insider photo: emily lesher photography. meet the maker photo: erin pattullo.
SAVE THE DATE
Denver designer Kristen Thomas has been immersed in the world of residential design for as long as she can remember. The daughter of a builder and a real estate agent, she spent her formative years on job sites and learned early how to spot potential in a home. After a career in real estate, she quickly discovered her true passion was interior design. Now, the Utah native is helming her own firm, Studio Thomas, which leans toward a simple, layered style that mixes classic and modern. True to her roots, Thomas taps her real estate expertise for every project, considering how each move will add value and great style to a residence. Here, we get to know what makes her tick. studio-thomas.com
MEET the MAKER
MORTAR AND STONE
Although minimalist in nature, the home goods by Aurora ceramicist Erin Pattullo are more about function and comfort. “As a culture, we forget art is not only what hangs on our walls but also what we fill our homes with,” she says. “I want to remind people that each part of their lives, down to their dishes, is sacred.” Pattullo discovered ceramics while studying art at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Less than a year later, she left school to launch Mortar and Stone and hone her now-signature aesthetic: “I gravitate toward what is considered the mundane,” she says of the earth-toned hues showcased in her mugs, vases, planters and more. Pattullo crafts her wheel-thrown pieces and handmade glazes in a studio she shares with six other artists at Jubilee Roasting Co. Look out for her next collection launching this fall. mortarandstone.co 090 / luxesource.com
WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO