Luxe: Scene, July/August 2019

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GARDEN variety A FRESH CROP OF SHOPS CATERS TO DENVERITES’ GROWING DESIRE FOR DECOR THAT BRINGS A BIT OF NATURE INTO THEIR HOMES.

Since opening her shop in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe in 2018, Jessica Schutz has gained a reputation for two things: her colorful wardrobe of bold, botanical-print dresses and her obsession with (and talent for) turning plant-wary customers into bona fide green thumbs. Schutz uses a proprietary assessment system to pair indoor gardeners with the perfect species from hundreds of lush houseplants; detailed care cards ensure at-home success. Her sunny shop, which retains its original Saltillo-tile floors and floor-to-ceiling window wall, also displays a color- and texture-rich array of handmade planters and home decor from local and international makers, as well as fairtrade artisan cooperatives—many in the Latin American style Schutz favors. In summer, the inventory spills out onto the front patio and expands to include flower-filled baskets and indoor-outdoor pots, including vibrant Talavera ceramics. greenladygardens.com

⊳ BIRDSALL & CO., THE URBAN NURSERY

▲ REROOT Located in RiNo’s Modern Nomad collective of design-forward local businesses, ReRoot specializes in tropical houseplants and species not often found in big-box stores. Throughout the urban jungle-style space, lush ferns, Marimo moss balls, bamboo, air plants and more are displayed atop concrete cinder blocks and tables, in the drawers of a vintage card catalog (above), and in an old glass showcaseturned-terrarium. Shop owner Paige Briscoe’s mission is to create a local “plant community,” and to that end, ReRoot offers classes, workshops, plant swaps and Denver’s first plant club. An assortment of crystals, tarot decks, candles and homemade flower smudge wands make unique gifts, and a stem bar—stocked with seasonal, fresh-cut flowers or dried blooms—offers everything customers need to build their own bouquets. rerootgardens.com 098 / luxesource.com

Birdsall & Co., the Englewood garden shop long known for its massive inventory of estate-worthy planters, fountains and outdoor furniture, has taken on a new breed of gardener with the spring opening of its first outpost, The Urban Nursery.

Located at the Backyard on Blake development in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, the new shop caters to city dwellers who are working with balcony- or windowsill-size spaces via an on-trend collection of small-scale garden decor, home accessories, jewelry and gifts. This summer, look for Campania International’s sleek, freestanding Girona fountains, which are available in multiple sizes and a rainbow of finishes. birdsallgarden.com WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO

green lady gardens photo: courtesy green lady gardens. birdsall & co. photo: courtesy birdsall & co., the urban nursery. reroot photo: coburn huff.

▲ GREEN LADY GARDENS

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BRIDGET DORR CERAMICS

Bridget Dorr takes a slow and simple approach to making ceramic tableware—and hopes her customers will use her one-of-akind pieces with a similar intention.

“My materials are very simple. Most days it’s just my hands and clay,” says the Boulder-based ceramicist, who creates custom work in addition to items for her online shop and boutique retailers. “The aim is that people will use my pieces to feel grounded during mealtime and to slow down from the fast-paced lives we tend to live.” When designing her feminine cups, mugs, dishes and spoons— lately, finished in a soft palette of dusty hues and matte glazes—Dorr takes cues from the stark minimalism and warm colors of the American Southwest. “The high deserts of New Mexico are so inspiring to me at the moment,” she says. “I admire the work of Georgia O’Keeffe; the way she captured the beauty of the West is simply magical.” Also, sure to inspire: Dorr’s forthcoming line of dinnerware, plus candle holders and serving platters—all in her signature organic-minimalist style. bridgetdorr.com

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PARQ ON SPEER

In the race among Denver developers to provide apartment dwellers with the most— and the most unique—amenities, Greystar has taken the lead with the debut of Parq on Speer, a 16-story high-rise, designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects, in Denver’s Golden Triangle district. Here, quartz countertops, hardwood flooring and smarthome technologies come standard in the luxury residences—which include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, plus townhomes and penthouse suites, and amenities such as Peloton bikes, a bike-repair station, dog-grooming spa and stylish common gathering spaces sporting sleek modern furnishings. A private dog park offers indoor-outdoor play space, and on the sixth floor, an outdoor pool terrace and spa features an open-air fire pit, kitchen, cabanas and perhaps the best perk of all: panoramic mountain views. parqliving.com

ON VIEW

“HUMAN | NATURE: FIGURES FROM THE CRAIG PONZIO SCULPTURE COLLECTION” This summer, the Denver Botanic Gardens emphasizes its commitment to facilitating the human-nature connection by quite literally placing human forms amid its York Street location’s diverse landscapes. “Human | Nature: Figures from the Craig Ponzio Sculpture Collection” showcases 17 figurative works from the early 20th century to the present, on loan from Denver philanthropist and art collector Craig Ponzio, that interpret the human form in styles from classical to abstract. The sculptures come from a collection of artists including Eric Fischl, Jacques Lipchitz, Sassona Norton and Beverly Pepper and include showstoppers such as La Grande Penelope by Émile-Antoine Bourdelle, which greets visitors near the O’Fallon Perennial Walk. botanicgardens.org

meet the maker photos: bridget dorr. blueprint rendering: courtesy parq on speer/greystar. on view photo: courtesy denver botanic gardens, sassona norton, an hour before dawn, bronze, 2001.

MEET the MAKER

BLUEPRINT

portrait: emily minton redfield. denver art museum photo: the denver art museum’s frederic c. hamilton building, designed by daniel libeskind, courtesy denver art museum. the art photo: courtesy the art, a hotel. the lark photo: chandler kim.

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ITINERARY NADIA WATTS

“Being surrounded by the arts feeds my soul,” says Denver interior designer Nadia Watts, whose early exposure to fine art provided the foundation for her career in design. Watts—the great-greatgranddaughter of famed stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany— grew up roaming the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art with her art-teacher mother. Later, she studied at the New York School of Interior Design while working in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Decorative Arts department.

These days, she shares her deep knowledge of design—and her remarkable way with color and space—with clients whose homes range from an old gem in the East 7th Avenue Historic District to a sleek penthouse at the Denver Art Museum Residences. Here, she shares the local spots that fuel her creativity. nadiawatts.com

STAY: The ART, a Hotel: I love this hotel and think it’s a wonderful addition to the city of Denver.

The space is absolutely fabulous, from the Portico Gallery—home to works by Sam Francis, Sol Lewitt and Mary Ehrin, among many others—to the Welcome Gallery, which displays a breathtaking Deborah Butterfield sculpture and John Baldessari silkscreen prints. thearthotel.com

EAT: Star Kitchen: If you love Chinese food, go here immediately. They do amazing dim sum, including delicious Xiao Long Bao dumplings that my husband and I had in New York City but could never find in Denver. Another favorite: lobster topped with their special house sauce; I ordered that sauce over shrimp so often, they finally added it to the menu. The look is classic dim-sum-restaurant decor: big round tables, pictures of food on the walls, even a sequined dragon tapestry. starkitchenseafooddimsum.com

SHOP: The Lark: This home goods shop, located in the Country Club neighborhood, is known 102 / luxesource.com

for its classic style and always has something I need, from Simon Pearce glass bowls and vases to silver frames to a wonderful selection of lamps. I go to find something new, or because I know they’ll have just the blue-and-white ginger jar I need for a bookshelf. thelarkdenver.com William Havu Gallery: I love this gallery’s variety of artists— local and national, established and emerging. Several years ago, I discovered Denver artist Lui Ferreyra there and was immediately drawn to his interpretation of landscapes; his use of shading and color to create depth is very distinctive. williamhavugallery.com

PLAY: Denver Botanic Gardens: If I had the time, I would be at the Denver Botanic Gardens every day, because I find there is always something new to appreciate during each visit.

During the summer, the Gardens has a special sculpture installation on view and stays open late. The placement of those pieces and the way in which they are incorporated among the plants is always thoughtful, yet unexpected at times. botanicgardens.org

Denver Art Museum: This museum has such diverse and dynamic spaces to house art, and it’s large enough that it is able to host special exhibitions and permanent collections. I’m very excited for the renovation of the Gio Ponti-designed North Building, as well as the summer exhibition “Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America.” The co-curator, Monica Obniski, is from the Milwaukee Art Museum, and we worked together years ago at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. denverartmuseum.org