RADAR / SCENE
ARTIST CHAT TERESA DAVIS
Collected, crafted and curated are the words artist and interior designer Teresa Davis uses to describe her aesthetic, as well as the common thread that unites her residential designs. “My motto has always been, ‘It’s the mix, not the match,’ ” she says. Davis’ creative eye and formal training, coupled with “incurable boredom and a need to push myself into uncharted territory in life and art,” have yielded an elegant array of interiors for clients in Davis’ former and current hometowns of Memphis and Denver, plus a portfolio of intriguing multimedia figure studies. Luxe explores them here. post31interiors.com As an artist, what compelled you to explore the human form? I’ll never forget the first time I attempted to draw the human figure in college, and how completely captivated I was with the idea of recreating movement from this fluid subject. How does your knowledge of fine art inform your interior design work? My design work has always included pieces from all disciplines: drawing, painting, photography, textiles and pottery. My art influence provides the character, warmth and sparkle that my clients appreciate. How do you envision your latest artwork fitting into a home’s interiors? My work spans several genres, and you’ll see stylized traditional figures coexisting with unrecognizable deconstructed figures. Both styles partner perfectly with each other in any interior space. Although I prefer working large and love the power a bold piece brings to a room, I also do smaller paper pieces that can be mixed on a gallery wall.
082 / luxesource.com
portrait : courtesy teresa davis.
And you love a good mix! My personal style is very much a collected, layered look; a visual conversation about living with things I love and am drawn to. I’ve always been crazy about one-of-akind pieces and those crafted by the human hand. I search long and hard for pieces that tell a story, and I am ecstatic when a client provides treasures to be incorporated in a project. It’s incredibly important to me to add this layer of interest to a project, rather than just “decorating” it. WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO
RADAR / SCENE
POST MASTERS
@andreaschumacherinteriors WHO: Denver interior designer Andrea Schumacher, whose inimitable way with color and pattern has made her the go-to designer for homeowners seeking bold yet sophisticated rooms that spark conversation.
OPEN HOUSE SALT CREEK HOME
Vail Valley home decor shops haven’t historically been a destination for gypset style—until Lauren Hauser breezed into town, bohemian furnishings and accessories in tow. Three years ago, Hauser opened Salt Creek Home in Edwards; just recently, she moved to a larger space to better display an ever-changing inventory that includes furnishings from Four Hands, John Robshaw textiles, all natural candles by K. Hall Designs, Eberjey lingerie, and a texture-rich collection of rugs, blankets, accent pillows, art, tableware and bold statement lighting. Hauser’s East Coast roots are evident in her choice of breezy colors and patterns, but overall, the mix is decidedly eclectic, “which is different for the mountains,” she says. “A lot of people here have second homes and want them to feel heavy and cozy. This vibe is lighter, more playful and fun, and definitely less predictable. The pieces I’ve gathered here give a house its own sense of style and life.”
WHAT: Schumacher’s vibrant posts, featuring interiors from her portfolio as well as her design discoveries from around the world, are arranged in what she calls a “color wave”—every week or so, the featured palette shifts to a new hue inspired by the season. The spaces you’ll discover here are all about the mix: “Not one style, but an infusion of many,” Schumacher says. Think: “A carved door from Rajasthan with a Moroccan rug and a modern sofa. I love a well-traveled home and a room that tells a story.” WHY: If you’re on the fence about incorporating more color into your rooms, Schumacher’s ideas, insights and beautifully curated collection of envelope-pushing designs might just give you the nudge you need. IN HER WORDS: “I hope those who follow my feed will take away a touch of beauty daily. We all need that.”
MEET the MAKER In an era of disposable furniture, the idea of fixing up a timeworn table or chair sounds almost radical—but not to siblings Sam, Jake and Hannah Becker, co-owners of Kin Furniture Co., a restoration and repair woodshop located in Denver’s Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. Since launching their business in Greeley in 2011, they’ve helped a diverse clientele restore priceless antiques, repair iconic midcentury modern designs and update contemporary pieces to reflect current trends. Using period-appropriate materials and finishes collected over time and stored in their 3,000-square-foot warehouse, the Beckers address the broken elements of “just about anything made out of wood,” Sam says. For them, preserving history, honoring fine craftsmanship and inspiring reuse is a passion—and an imperative. “Ninety percent of the projects we work on are family heirlooms and pieces of sentimental value,” Sam says. “Making sure they are repaired properly so they can be passed down and have a whole new history attached to them is the most important thing.” kinfurnitureco.com 084 / luxesource.com
open house photo: bianca mccarty photography. post masters photos: emily minton redfield. meet the maker photo: audrey hannah becker.
KIN FURNITURE CO.
RADAR / SCENE
the INSIDER BILL POSS
Over the past four decades, the mountain homes that dot Aspen’s scenic slopes have changed dramatically. Few architects have been as immersed in that shift as Bill Poss, who has overseen the design of more than 200 homes in the valley since founding his eponymous firm in 1976. Here, Poss reflects on that ride and shares what’s next. billposs.com How has Colorado architecture changed over the past 40 years? When I started as a one-person firm, projects were simpler and smaller. Now the houses are much more sophisticated—8,000 to 10,000 square feet, with theaters, gourmet kitchens and indoor wellness spas.
VISIONARY NORA BURNETT ABRAMS
Last August, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver made Nora Burnett Abrams one of the youngest museum directors in the country when she was promoted to the position of Mark G. Falcone Director. In her previous roles at the museum, Abrams developed conventionbusting exhibitions that explore little-known episodes in artists’ careers. Here, she shares what the museum’s next chapter will look like with her at the helm. mcadenver.org
Your practice has changed as well. Initially, it was totally residential, but we had such a style and reputation that our clients started having us do their projects in other parts of the country. What advice would you give young architects in the Valley today? Ask questions and stay open to clients’ expectations. A lot of architects say, “I need to express myself,” but I believe our job is to express what our clients’ expectations are.
What do those expectations tend to look like these days? We’ve seen clients go from preferring a cabinlike aesthetic to more contemporary designs. Homeowners are bringing in chefs to cook for them now, requiring specific kitchen equipment, and incorporating wellness features like hydrotherapy and light therapy into bathrooms. On larger properties, we’re even building wilderness cabins that our clients can hike or cross-country ski to from their main residences. Tell us what’s on the boards in your studio. We’re presently working on a conference resort at Denver International Airport called Zentana, where groups of all sizes can come to meet and solve business problems while also enjoying spa and wellness programs.
How do you envision MCA Denver relating to the community? My ideas prioritize working closely with organizations in fields adjacent to the arts. If an artist is doing a project reckoning with some aspect of climate change, for example, why shouldn’t we partner with The Nature Conservancy or the Denver Museum of Nature & Science? Artists inherently look at problems from a slightly skewed point of view, so I feel they can lead us in a positive direction around some of the most vexing issues of our day. Will you continue to play a part in curating exhibitions? Yes, I will. There is an artist whose work is visually very rich and catches one’s eye, but the stories behind the pictures are really emotionally charged. Giving him a platform to create a new body of work and connect it to Denver is one of the next big things that I’m focused on. And finally, will you wear more great statement necklaces? I do love a chunky, eye-catching necklace. I’m not one to wear a bright yellow plaid dress, but a bright yellow necklace against a black dress is something I absolutely love. 086 / luxesource.com
visionary photos: from the hip photo. the insider photo: david patterson.
You’ve likened MCA Denver to a motorcycle: quick and nimble. What avenues would you like to explore? Part of our ability to be agile comes from willing to depart from conventional programming and discussion around the arts. For example, in January, we will host the traditional conversations with artists who are showing at the museum, but we also want to offer workshops in which they’ll lead people though exercises that allow them to get more deeply into the creative process.