RADAR / SCENE
DESIGN MINDED
THE ARMSTONG HOTEL ⊲ Guest rooms at downtown Fort Collins’ Armstrong Hotel are a little bohemian, a little modern and, despite a recent renovation, still clearly part of a 1923 landmark building. Mid-mod furnishings mingle with vintage textiles, macramé weavings pop against deep gray accent walls and jewel-toned Oriental rugs top the original hardwood floors. Downstairs in the lobby, Boulder-based Shalls Design Studio chose accents of patinated leather, metal and wood to complement antique tin ceilings, terrazzo floors and a cast-iron fireplace. thearmstronghotel.com
SAVE the DATE
⊳ THE WYMAN HOTEL When Haley Morgan and Shane Fuhrman left the Big Apple to transform Silverton’s 1902 Wyman Building into a boutique hotel, they brought a bit of the city with them. Guests can sip pour-over coffees at the lobby’s locally made black walnut bar and power up their Teslas at on-site charging stations. In über-Instagrammable guest rooms, blush-pink draperies and deep green velvet headboards pop against white walls. But The Wyman Hotel’s best touches are its oldest: antique tin ceilings, arched windows and the building’s original safe. thewyman.com
“CLAUDE MONET: THE TRUTH OF NATURE”
This fall, the Denver Art Museum elevates the Mile High City’s place on the global arts scene with the debut of the most comprehensive U.S. exhibition of paintings by Claude Monet in more than two decades. Featuring approximately 120 artworks spanning the French impressionist’s career, “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature” explores his responses to the natural settings he encountered during his extensive travels. Highlights of the monumental exhibition include View from Rouelles, the first painting Monet exhibited in 1858 when he was 18 years old, and The House Seen Through the Roses, which was completed in Giverny shortly before Monet’s death; it also shines a light on the artist’s shift to painting the same subject—haystacks, poplars, water lilies—in a series. Denver is the sole U.S. city for this show; after closing on February 2, it will travel to the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany. denverartmuseum.org
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THE REDSTONE CASTLE ⊲ A sweeping restoration of the Crystal River Valley’s Tudor-style Redstone Castle yielded nine guest suites with a paredback take on Gilded Age decor. Embossed wallcoverings and crisp paint colors provide a bright backdrop for original antiques and design details including clawfoot tubs, light fixtures purchased from Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1902, and fireplaces clad with tile in vibrant hues— from hot pink to bright lavender—selected by coal-mining magnate John Osgood and his wife more than a century ago. theredstonecastle.com WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO
save the date photos: top, courtesy nelson-atkins media services / jamison mille; bottom, courtesy denver art museum. design minded photos: from top, courtesy the armstrong hotel, brandon lopez, mountain home photography.
THREE HISTORIC HOTELS WELCOME A NEW GENERATION OF TRAVELERS WITH A FRESH TAKE ON PERIOD DECOR.
RADAR / SCENE
POST MASTERS @thefourthhouse
WHO: Denver native Bret Sundberg, a fashion model whose forays into fashion styling, set design for commercials and music videos, and staging led her to a blossoming career in interior design.
OPEN HOUSE WORTHING CO.
When it comes to decorating styles, sisters Abigail Vickers Cowan, Emily Vickers Kowal and Devon Vickers Davenport, cofounders of Denver home goods shop Worthing Co., are as different as can be, but each seems to have acquired the gene for skillfully mixing old and new. “We inherited our love of finding unique furniture from our grandmother, who took the time to teach my mom, who in turn taught us,” Cowan says. “All three of us think outside the box: Just because a door is a door doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a shelf or a headboard.” That ethos is evident in the trio’s new Highlands Square house-turned-shop, where stylish accessories—from Pickwick & Co. candles to vinyl floor cloths in eye-catching vintage patterns—complement one-of-a-kind industrial- and farmhouse-style furnishings and accents. “When we select furniture for the shop, we look for character; something that looks like it has lived a long life,” Cowan says. “We definitely see the beauty in the proof of history.” worthingco.com
WHAT: Her Instagram is filled with rooms furnished with plush seating, lots of trinkets, lush plants, warm tones and an overarching sense of airiness. “I’m adamant about using antiques and vintage goods to bring character to spaces,” Sundberg says. Also, expect to see the gorgeous shoppable spaces Sundberg designs for Guest House, the Denver company that turns for-sale homes into stylish pop-up shops. WHY: You’ll be inspired by “a whole lotta pretty houses,” as Sundberg puts it, discover talented local artists and makers, and styling tips and tidbits. IN HER WORDS: “One thing that’s so important to me is styling based on how it makes me or the client feel rather than always picking the best looking option. I think the idea of creating a home sometimes gets lost in the idea of creating a space for Instagram. The only statement worth trying to make with my designs is that there is no ‘right’ way.”
CHECK IN Aspen has been buzzing about the W Aspen hotel and the Sky Residences at W Aspen since the project was announced in 2016. This August, it made its debut, bringing 88 rustic-glam guest rooms and suites and 11 residences to the base of Aspen Mountain. Marriott International partnered with Aspen architecture firm Rowland+Broughton and New York-based interior design firm Nemaworkshop to create a design inspired by generations of Aspen inhabitants and visitors. At cocktail bar 39°, a Victorian-bordello-inspired palette of crushed velvets and rich red hues nods to the hotel’s location in Aspen’s former redlight district. In the Extreme WOW suite, bohemian decadence is the theme, with a curvilinear banquette that hugs a central fire pit; a hot tub adjacent to the living area; and a round bed on a pivoting platform. And on the outdoor Wet Deck, cozy fire pits draw guests to the hotel’s après-ski rituals—and the only public rooftop pool in town. waspenskyresidences.com 100 / luxesource.com
open house photo: courtesy worthing co. postmasters photos: @kyliefitts for @guesthouseshop and @thefourthhouse. check in photo: courtesy w aspen.
W ASPEN
DATE BOOK EMILY TUCKER BERNSTEIN
Many designers cite fine works of art or far-flung destinations as inspirations. Emily Tucker Bernstein, however, is energized by color—the deft handling of which she learned while working with design icons Ruthie Sommers, Kelly Wearstler and Steven Gambrel. “Color—and the way people see it, and how it makes them feel—is such an intrinsic part of being human,” Bernstein says. “Most people experience the same emotions when seeing certain colors, so I take it seriously. It is such a powerful tool and can drastically change a space.” Case in point: the Colorado homes the Southern California native has designed since settling in Boulder, where she helms her eponymous firm. Eye-catching color—some bold, some subtle—is evident in every space, along with a relaxed elegance that feels perfectly at home at the foot of the Rockies. Here, Bernstein offers more insights into her style by taking Luxe on a tour of the Boulder spots that catch her eye— and imagination. etuckerdesign.com 9 a.m. First stop: Beleza Coffee Bar, which I love because the decor is so good—it’s a bohemian-feeling space that’s lively and inviting. The smoked-salmon toast, with wild Alaskan salmon, cream cheese and homemade pickled onions, is my fave. 10 a.m. While you’re near the north end of town, head farther up Broadway to The Amazing Garage Sale, a consignment shop that has an eclectic mix of vintage furniture, not to mention some pretty fab jewelry. I have found some great home accessories there, from cool vintage art to decorative items. 12 p.m. During the winter months, my favorite lunch spot in Boulder is Chimera, a restaurant just off Pearl Street that specializes in Pacific Rim cuisine. They have great ramen with homemade organic noodles—I get the classic Chimera ramen with an egg. 1 p.m. Just across 10th Street is Cedar & Hyde Mercantile (top, right), a beautiful shop that I love visiting for home goods, clothing, accessories and gifts. They have amazing ceramics (I do ceramics as a hobby, so I am always looking for beautiful pottery) and lovely, elevated 102 / luxesource.com
home basics. Case in point: I purchased a fly-swatter there that’s really pretty! 2 p.m. If you feel like treating yourself, grab a facial at Alchemy Face Bar (center). The decor is feminine, bright and cozy, with lots of rose gold and white accents, and they use allnatural products for their facials. If I don’t have a ton of time, I do the basic facial and add microdermabrasion. When I have the time, I opt for the Radiant + Resurfacing facial. It’s a miracle for congested skin. 3 p.m. Part art exhibition, part Instagram photo-op, Wonder Wonder on 29th Street is a fun stop. You’ll make your way through 18 rooms, each one featuring a different art installation or light display that makes for a great photo backdrop. Tickets are required, so plan ahead to ensure you get the time you want. 5 p.m. Afternoon cocktails are a must, and Corrida (bottom) can’t be beat for its rooftop— with amazing views of the Flatirons—or its gin and tonics, which are so delicious. If you’re staying for dinner, go with a few people, as Corrida’s delicious steaks are really large and best shared with a group.
portrait: courtesy emily tucker. cedar & hyde photo: michelle tippmann. alchemy face bar photo: jenn ellenburg. corrida photo: jennifer olson photography.
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