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You are where you eat. r own individual aesthetic. Your kitchen is an expression of you are and who you aspire to It can help you to express who you choices you make on who be as much as anything in life. The that expression. For more to collaborate with are a part of eownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have entrusted than half a century discerning hom fruition. Kd. to bring their personal vision to

EMILY MINTON REDFIELD

CONTENTS

48 48

Classic Influence Stunning architectural detail, a new open floor plan and exquisite furniture give a Denver ranch house a bold, modern edge.

A Storied Space The owners of this mountain retreat wanted their new home to tell a tale of generations gone by—and with charming furnishings and details, they’ve succeeded.

The Real McCoys Famed designers Katherine and Michael McCoy open up about their Buena Vista home, their impressive resumés and what still inspires their work.

C O LO R A D O H O M E S M AG .C O M

ON THE COVER :

Two rare, vintage T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings slipper chairs are the jewels in this Denver piano room. Design by Jeffrey P. Elliott Interior Design. PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY MINTON REDFIELD

TOWNSENDPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

CONTENTS

41 25

You know the difference between modern and rustic, traditional and contemporary. But delve a little deeper and find signature styles with great histories.

31 37

C O LO R A D O H O M E S M AG .C O M

Masters of the Craft Meet three of Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most talented furniture makers, whose work blurs the line between art and craft.

Real Estate Watch: Vail Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market in the Vail Valley... so where are the buyers?

86 88

2010 Color Forecast Ready for a fresh palette for your home? See what the experts say about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot for the new year.

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At Home With... Arlene Hirschfeld, philanthropist extraordinaire.

The Goods: Furniture Ensembles by Style

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NOW @

Between issues, find inspiration and ideas online at ColoradoHomesMag.com.

There’s a new way to enjoy CH&L.

EMILY MINTON REDFIELD

HOW WILL YOUR GARDEN GROW?

NOW EACH ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE can be found online as an enhanced digital edition, full of new Web-savvy features. Find just what you’re looking for by entering a key word into the search function; share the issue with a friend with the click of a button; and zoom in on beautiful photos of Colorado homes.

n o i it d E l a git i D

IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING your summer landscape. Is it time to add a hardscape or water feature? Which varieties of plants will work best in your yard? How should you prep your garden for optimal growth come spring? We’ve rounded up expert tips to help you make the most of the growing season, whether you’re planning a small urban garden or preparing for a whole new design in your backyard. Visit ColoradoHomesMag.com to get inspired.

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ANNIVE

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DON YOUR PARTY HATS...

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30-

In honor of CH&L’s 30th birthday, we’re looking for your favorite design styles gone by. Do you miss mauve-and-chrome décor? Or super-large sectional sofas? Let us know. Send us your thoughts at letters@coloradohomesmag.com, and we’ll post them each week at blog.ColoradoHomesMag.com.

C O LO R A D O H O M E S M AG .C O M

WinThis!

VISIT OUR HOME PAGE each month

for a chance to win a new goody. Prizes range from must-have products to home design services. This month: a beautiful Palacio reclining chair from Creative Leather. We love its broken-in look, luscious feel and warm, rich color.

(online)

Join the CONVERSATION Colorado Homes & Lifestyles on the Web gives you unparalleled access to local design

line CH&L On

Your one-stop design source. Find a designer and discover new shops and showrooms. Explore hundreds of beautiful rooms for design inspiration.

ok: cebo ! On Fa We Love s Room

ARE YOU IN THE LOOP?

FACEBOOK See behind-t hescenes foot age from our ph oto shoots

DON’T MISS A THING— JOIN US ONLINE!

Become a Design Insider and join the Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Fan Page where you can mingle with more than 300 local design enthusiasts like yourself. With regular updates from our editors, you’ll be the first in the know.

DIGITAL EDITION You’ve got to see it to believe it. Log on to our Web site to see our Digital Edition, which allows you to virtually “flip” through every single page of the magazine online. “Flip” through the pages of our Digital Edition at ColoradoHomesMag.com/digital

E-NEWSLETTER

Don’t start the weekend without our e-newsletter. More than 7,000 of Colorado’s most discriminating consumers receive our weekly e-newsletter every Thursday. Sign up for yours at ColoradoHomesMag.com.

ColoradoHomesMag.com

LOOK FOR THIS ICON THROUGHOUT THE ISSUE FOR MORE WEB EXCLUSIVES

Be Face come ou r fa book n on minu to get u te d esig p to the n inf o! COLORADOHOMESMAG.COM

Letter

Happy New Year to You. . . and Happy Birthday to Us

of the New Year, but this year is particularly exciting for Colorado Homes & Lifestyles. We’re celebrating our 30th birthday. Colorado design has come a long way in 30 years. Trust me. One snowy afternoon not long ago, I cracked open several of our back issues and began reading—and giggling. Even 20 years ago, we were featuring large plaid prints (on every piece of furniture in a room), mirror-paneled walls (oh, the reflection!) and something called “Victorian stenciling.” Yikes. Fortunately, Colorado design has changed and grown, and this issue is chock-full of beautiful examples. Don’t miss the gorgeous work—and inspiring stories—from local furniture makers on page 41, or the chance to get to know one of Colorado’s most accomplished design teams, Katherine and Michael McCoy, on page 64. We invite you to join our year-long celebration. Each issue, we’ll bring you treasures from CH&L’s past—design throwbacks, old covers and a mix of milestones and missteps in Colorado design. Join the fun by sending your own beloved memories of a style gone by to letters@coloradohomesmag.com or by writing on our Facebook fan page. We’ll post the best (and funniest) responses on our design blog at blog.ColoradoHomesMag.com. Here’s to all of the designers, architects, landscape designers and readers who’ve made the last three decades possible. We’re looking forward to another 30 years of inspiration! Best wishes,

Hilary Masell Oswald Editor in Chief

C O LO R A D O H O M E S M AG .C O M

JOHN JOHNSTON

I ALWAYS LOVE THE BEGINNING

M for Modernism, M for Metropolis, M for Milan. Axor presents Axor Citterio M, an entire bathroom collection inspired by modern life in the city by internationally renowned designer and architect Antonio Citterio. You can ďŹ nd out more about the world of Axor at Dahl Showrooms or at www.dahldesign.com.

“Wow” is always in style PUBLISHER

Jennifer L. Williams EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hilary Masell Oswald ART DIRECTOR

Elaine St. Louis MANAGING EDITOR

Caroline Eberly ADVERTISING ART PRODUCTION

Emily Kaiser COPY EDITOR

Hannah Nordhaus ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Michelle Cottrell (ext. 2074) Celine Garrett (ext. 2077) Heather Weldon (ext. 2078) SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR

Lea Abeyta CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Cheryl Meyers, Nancy Richman Milligan, Sally Stich, Jill Vived CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Martin Crabb, J. Curtis, David Marlow, Emily Minton Redfield, Howard Sokol INTERNS

Joe Schwartz, Megan Small

Home Design Division PRESIDENT

Adam Japko SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

Stuart Christian DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONS

Rick Higgins PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Cheryl Jock PRODUCTION MANAGER

Shannon McKelvey CIRCULATION MANAGER

Kurt Coey

PHOTO: KIMBERLY GAVIN

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Bob Moenster ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL OFFICES

1777 S. Harrison St., Ste. 903 Denver, CO 80210 (303) 248-2060 • (303) 248-2066 fax ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

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@ ColoradoHomesMag.com Riverwalk at Edwards in the Vail Valley 970 . 9 2 6 . 8 2 0 0 Follow our blog on www.sliferdesigns.com

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Blast From the Past

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30ANNIVE

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Flip back to the PREMIERE ISSUE of CH&L, and take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly... IN A STORY CALLED “HACIENDA GRANDE” ( pictured above), we award style points for: an overstuffed armchair covered in overdone tribal print and accompanied by a huge drum that, you guessed it, doubles as a table. We also take note of the home’s up-to-date features:

“Pots and pans hang from brass railings, suspended over a walkaround counter top, highlighted by four pyramid skylights. Hard-baked tile is set around all the latest conveniences of modern life, including a built-in blender unit.”

HERE AT CH&L, we try not to take ourselves too seriously. And we like to think we can learn from—and poke gentle fun at—where we’ve come from. That’s why all year, we’ll unearth treasures from the CH&L archives. We’ll bring you rooms that show how far Colorado design has come, snippets from stories that we hope make you chuckle and cover images that will give you an idea of CH&L style from the early days. Even though we hope these pages will elicit a few laughs, they’ll also prove what we learn issue after issue—that good design is in fact an evolution. For us, that evolution began in December 1980, when our very first issue hit newsstands.

It’s a mystery to us why the built-in blender unit never caught on...

MASTERS OF WORDS WE WERE, stringing together metaphors that made up in fancifulness what they lacked in intelligibility:

“A violin of light plays sonatas for the eye. Soft and sensuous, it strings magic into a symphony of colors.” Whew. That’s quite a metaphor.

AND IN A USEFUL LITTLE ARTICLE CALLED “HOUSE TIPS”—which included advice on everything from dusting light bulbs to removing fish odors from cooking utensils—we offer this tip:

“To chase away chills this winter (and feel better, too), brew some tea and lace it with a few drops (but not more than 1/4 cup) of rum.” We love the parenthetical. Good advice, indeed. COLORADOHOMESMAG.COM

SHOW FEATURES: = Mammoths, Tigers and Flowers…Oh My! Don’t miss the Creatures of the Ice Age Entry Garden presented by Bank of the West = Discover 600 companies at Colorado’s largest home and garden marketplace = Research, compare and buy thousands of products and services = Visit the CSU Education Garden to learn about the latest landscaping products and techniques = Stroll through 14 beautifully landscaped gardens bursting with 10,000 blooming ﬂowers = Learn from home and garden experts during hourly presentations at the Presentation Theater

TICKETS: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, kids 12 and under are free courtesy of American Family Insurance Get your discount adult tickets at

Save at the door with discount coupons available at Bank of the West branches, American Furniture Warehouse and Your Neighborhood Toyota Stores

GETTING THERE: Take light rail to the Convention Center or park at Coors Field for just $5 (Park Avenue exit at I-25 follow to Wazee) and ride the free shuttle to the Convention Center

COLORADO GARDEN & HOME SHOW February 13 – 21 Colorado Convention Center Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sundays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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COURTESY OF KINDEL FURNITURE CO.

The Goods

Historic Style As the world turns, so design evolves. Inspired by events, ideas and earlier trends, historic furniture styles give us a glimpse into eras gone by.

CHIPPENDALE NAMED FOR 18TH-CENTURY BRITISH FURNITURE DESIGNER Thomas Chippendale, this elegant style shows off curvy cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet and intricate carving. It’s typically viewed as a blend of Gothic, Rococo and Chinese styles, and often, one of these influences dominates a particular piece, so we end up with wide variations on Chippendale’s classic designs. The style enjoyed a great revival in the late 19th century, so even if you can’t find an original, you won’t have much trouble finding a handsome reproduction. IRISH CAMELBACK SOFA BY KINDEL FURNITURE CO. Adorned with gorgeous details, this settee shows off scrolled arms, ball-and-claw feet and a lovely mahogany base. Whitney Evans, Ltd., Denver Design District, (303) 777-1886, whitneyevansltd.com.

ANTIQUE BRASS AND IRON BEEHIVE ANDIRONS Beehive finials top a ring-turned stem, which sits on spurred cabriole legs and ball feet. Eron Johnson Antiques, Denver, (303) 777-8700, eronjohnsonantiques.com.

GUN CABINET BY KINDEL FURNITURE CO. Classic and handsome, this mahogany curio features hand-glazed glass, hand-carved egg-and-dart molding and a delicate pediment with hand-carved rosettes. Whitney Evans, Ltd., DDD, (303) 777-1886, whitneyevansltd.com.

PIE CRUST LAMP TABLE Made from oak and movingue, this beautiful accent table sits atop a delicate turned column and tripod cabriole leg. Colorado Style Home Furnishings, Highlands Ranch, (303) 741-4240, coloradostyle.com.

CHIPPENDALE CHAIR BY ELIJAH SLOCUM This replica of an original chair by Thomas Chippendale has stunning hand-carved detailing and blind fretwork. MODA Antica, Denver Design District, (303) 733-9003.

CO LORADOHOMESMAG.CO M

The Goods

HOLLYWOOD REGENCY INSPIRED BY LIVING SPACES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS from Hollywood’s Golden Age, Hollywood Regency style is nothing short of fabulous. Look for glossy surfaces and ultra-luxe materials, clean lines and fussy accents, and over-the-top touches of glitz and glam. What you won’t find is overstuffed or imposing furniture; the idea of the day was for celebrities (think Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and Judy Garland) to stand out against the backdrop of the room—while wowing guests with their décor. Today, designers Kelly Wearstler and Barclay Butera get high marks for their fresh interpretations of this ’30s-born style. FRINGE LAMP BY MOOOI Sexy fabrics come together around a drum-like shade in a hanging lamp that’s both saucy and sleek. Alesso Modern Source, Denver, (720) 379-4672, alessomodernsource.com.

CHAIR NO. 6473 BY BAKER, POODLE TABLE BY BARBARA BARRY Be charmed by this chair’s sculpted-maple front legs, plush puckers and glamorous curves. To form this swank side table, a honed black granite top pairs with delicate antiqued silver rings. Drop-dead gorgeous. Both available at TOWN, Denver Design District, (303) 282-8696, townstudio.com.

CO LORADOHOMESMAG.CO M

MY BROTHER’S FRAME Add a touch of drama with this vamped-up traditional piece, cast from a frame designer Harry Allen unearthed in his brother’s closet. AERA Studios, Denver, (303) 388-2372, aerastudios.com.

SOPHIE LOUNGE CHAIR BY OLY STUDIO An antiqued-white-finish frame meets a faux-zebra seat for lots of sophisticated attitude. HW Home, Boulder, (303) 545-0320, hwhome.com.

BORGHESE BUFFET Antique mirrored glass panels conceal felt-lined adjustable shelves and a three-tier wine rack. Enchanting. Z Gallerie, Denver, (303) 322-1299, zgallerie.com.

ILLUMINATE your

WORLD

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The Goods

ATOMIC

AFTER WORLD WAR II ENDED, FURNITURE DESIGN BEGAN to reflect Americans’ sense of hope and renewal. We saw the democratization of design; suburban families wanted fresh, good-looking pieces that were markedly different from the traditional forms that dominated the early 20th century. Designers did away with detail, preferring instead to offer up thin lines, organic shapes and synthetic materials. And homeowners loved it.

ORION CHAIR BY DELLA-ROBBIA A comfy form set on polished chrome, this chair practically screams mid-century marvelous. Invironments, Boulder, (303) 413-8003, invironments-design.com.

LITE SOFA BY PALAU Designed by Bjorn Mulder, this loveseat can be covered in a range of fabrics to give you just the look you want. Mulder gets high points for clean design and attention to detail. Mod Livin’, Denver, (720) 941-9292, modlivin.com.

CO LORADOHOMESMAG.CO M

SPEED UP COCKTAIL TABLE BY SACHA LAKIC This black lacquer glass table top sports a fluid, elliptic triangle shape and sits atop a resin-and-black carbon lacquer base. Smooth. Roche Bobois, Littleton, (303) 721-1616, rochebobois.com.

NUEVA LITE SPUTNIK YELLOW PENDANT LIGHT The definition of “retro-fabulous,” this pendant light is nearly 26 inches in diameter and would add a touch of glam to any room. Mod Livin’, Denver, (720) 941-9292, modlivin.com.

MEDITATION POD BY EDRA This three-leafed chair has a shaped metal frame and is filled with polyurethane foam. Cover it in a range of chic materials, and lounge to your heart’s content. Z Modern, Denver, (303) 2988432, zmodern.com.

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Freestanding freedom Liebherr offers design flexibility with its freestanding product line in 24”, 30”, 36”, 48” and 60” widths. With cabinet-depth dimensions and stainless steel sides, the refrigerator can go anywhere in the kitchen. Alone, or as part of a side-by-side configuration, experience the look of a built-in, without the price of building in. The smart thinking and innovation that has always been Liebherr’s anthem translates perfectly into new design features such as fingerprint and scratch resistant SmartSteel finish, LED lighting, and a new smooth-touch MagicEye control panel. And Liebherr’s proven dual refrigeration system provides superior and consistent cooling in the most energy efficient manner possible.

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Design, Quality and Innovation

At Home With...

At home with

Arlene Hirschfeld, Philanthropist e xtraordinaire BY CAROLINE EBERLY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTIN CRABB

CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT YOU LOVE ONE OF THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS Arlene Hirschfeld helps support. Maybe you love the arts: she’s a member of the board at the Denver Art Museum. Or perhaps you’re interested in preserving Colorado’s history: Hirschfeld helps keep the Governor’s Residence beautiful through her work with the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund Committee. Maybe you’ve seen her at the Women’s Foundation of Colorado Luncheon or a fundraiser for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, encouraging others to join in her mission to see good things happen in Denver. “My problem is I care about too many things,” Hirschfeld says. And lucky for Denver, this member of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame shows no sign of stopping. Among the passions close to Hirschfeld’s heart are the arts, health, family and education (she began her career as an English teacher before she became a mother and a full-time volunteer and philanthropist). She’s honest about the fact that giving to the community—and her family— has been a balancing act. “You can do it all, but not all at the same time,” Hirschfeld says. “There are chapters in our lives. When my kids were growing up and I had family commitments, the other stuff took second place. A family doesn’t run on autopilot.” During her own childhood, Hirschfeld absorbed her parents’ selfless approach to giving. “If anything good happened in our family—if someone got well from illness—they would give money to charity,” she says. As an adult, she adopted this model in her own life, making sure to “pay attention to the moment of gratitude,” as she calls it. During one of her admittedly rare moments at home, Hirschfeld is most likely in her office, where her desk—custom-designed by her husband, Barry—sits amid wall-to-wall windows that welcome a flood of natural light. (The sunshine is her favorite part of Colorado.) Barry’s desk is nearby; the two team up in their

WE WERE JUST WONDERING... How do you spend time at home? I love to read the paper; I love to sit at my desk and catch up, do my correspondence. My desk is the center of everything I do. Barry designed my desk, and a local furniture maker made it about 25 years ago. How do you define your style? Tailored. I love special pieces, and I’m a saver. I call them treasures; they sometimes rest in my basement for a while. I love color, and I only buy what I love, even if it’s a pair of jeans. Your kitchen is always stocked with... Bottled waters and Balance Bars. It’s so sad, but I’m not here a lot. I have a Balance Bar in the morning, but I love bagels and butter, pasta and hamburgers. I love Dairy Queen, too. Just plain vanilla.

COLORADOHOMESMAG.COM

At Home With...

Fine Things Asian

efforts. Hirschfeld calls her husband a “great cheerleader” and chuckles that she came home from college and married “the boy next door.” (The two grew up as family friends.) When the couple first bought their home, “the house was a mess,” Hirschfeld admits. “But we wanted to fix it up.” They loved the home for its old character, plus it was 10 blocks from where Hirschfeld grew up. “I used to trick-or-treat here,” she says. “I love the memories that we have here.” Ask her about the future of philanthropy, and Hirschfeld will tell you that even though times are tough, the forecast is good. “People are being choosy, but charitable giving is on their menu somewhere. They haven’t quit caring, but they’re just doing it in a different way. They’re showing up. They’re not forgetting others.” 32

COLORADOHOMESMAG.COM

What’s on your nightstand right now? I have a clock to wake me up, pictures of my family, books—something that I’m in the middle of reading—and a bridge book. I’m learning how to play bridge to exercise my mind. There’s also a little porcelain bowl of flowers that was my mother’s. It reminds me of my mother’s elegance and warmth and beauty. Tell us about your favorite sentimental item in your home. There is a bronze sculpture of a woman on my coffee table that my mother’s cousin made. My father surprised my mother with it as a special gift. It reminds me of their appreciation of the arts and their great love for each other. They were great parents. When you think of “home,” you think of... Family. That’s what it’s all about. The things that you have around are just that—things.

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Ackerman & Sons Furniture Workshop was established in 1895 by Jim Ackermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great-grandfather. Since then, our ďŹ ve generations have offered full-service furniture repairs, reďŹ nishing, touch-up and re-upholstery. From the smallest scratch in your home to complete restoration in our workshop, our customers have entrusted their treasures to us for more than a century. 2400 West Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 303-798-3220 | www.ackermans.com

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Masters of the Craft

art & craft

Furniture can be the most useful form of art in your home. Meet these three furniture makers, each of whom possesses a distinctive knack for creating pieces that advance the fine art of design while honoring timeless tenets of craftsmanship.

BY HILARY MASELL OSWALD

PORTRAIT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

HOWARD SOKOL

DESIGNS FOR OUR TIMES Kenn Archibald is a man on a simple mission: create modern, custom furniture while protecting the planet. It would be easy for Archibald, founder of Loveland-based Archibald Design Studio, to sacrifice attractive design at the green gods’ altar. (After all, we’ve all seen eco-friendly furniture that not even Mother Nature would buy.) But Archibald’s pieces are eco-sensitive, cleanlined and downright gorgeous. “I prefer to emphasize the material over an elaborate design,” he explains. “I’m inspired by minimalism and traditional woodworking techniques. That means that I’m not afraid to use dovetail joints in a modern design.” Armed with an undergraduate degree in sculpture from Vassar College and an MFA in furniture design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Archibald launched his venture in 2006 and is now producing handcrafted pieces from five distinctive—and cleverly named—lines: Facet, named for the faceted joint found in the corners of the tables and chairs; Cubit, a handsome bookshelf inspired by cubes; Basho, a riff on modern Japanese style and named after sumo wrestling tournaments (Archibald says

the wide, squat pieces reminded him of the wrestlers’ stances); Hello, a modular system of blocks that resemble an “H” when perched horizontally and an “I” when set upright; and RITA, a ready-to-assemble set of table and chairs—the studio’s most economical offering. Archibald only uses the most sustainable products: wood (and manufactured wood) products that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and low-VOC adhesives and paints. Perhaps equally impressive is the way he repurposes his scraps—even down to sawdust. He recycles leftover wood by transforming it into sushi trays, trivets and coasters; smaller scraps are bagged and given to friends and customers to use as smoking chips for grilling. Sawdust goes to neighbors to use as compost material, animal bedding and mulch. But his most enduring gift to the environment is beautiful, well crafted furniture that you’ll keep forever. “I prefer to think of my work as marrying timeless design with time-honored woodworking techniques,” he says. “My goal is for these pieces to last for generations.” (970) 667-4680, archibald-designs.com

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Masters of the Craft

IN PURSUIT OF THE CRAFT Denver-based Newell Design is a big deal, but you’d never guess it by chatting with founder and principal Jeff Newell, who still seems slightly surprised by his company’s success. But there’s no denying that 12 years into what he calls “a great journey,” Newell Design has garnered the attention of designers and homeowners across the globe. “I can’t say that we started out to do this,” he says, gesturing to the workshop in downtown Denver where his eight-person team works. “[My wife, Beth, and I] were just a couple of twenty-somethings interested in this idea of craft.” It’s an idea that Jeff and Beth have cultivated carefully for many years. Both fresh out of the College of Santa Fe (his degree is in creative writing; hers, in painting), they moved to New York City, where, Jeff says, they decided that the best thing they could do was simply immerse themselves in culture. “We didn’t have much money, so we figured out how to hone our interests cheaply,” he says. “We would go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There was this side door, and it was pay as you can, so we’d give them a dollar,” he laughs. Inside, they were drawn to the furniture exhibits. “Those pieces were built before our mechanized age, and they stand on equal footing with paintings we studied in art history.” The two relocated to Denver in 1996; Beth painted for a while, and Jeff wrote screenplays “that never sold.” But that idea of craft just wouldn’t go away, so the Newells decided to try designing and building furniture. “We had one little red toolbox, and we built everything in the living room in our loft,” Jeff says. “Our neighbors probably hated us.” They began by designing and building large, traditional pieces—handcarved armoires and credenzas of cherry and walnut—and their business grew slowly, one commission at a time. By 2000, they had started producing contemporary pieces, taking traditional forms and abstracting them. The results are subtle—and sophisticated—references to eras gone by. Today, Jeff is the company’s lead designer, and Beth is the artistic director; Jeff calls her the Ezra Pound of the relationship for her ability to edit designs down to their cleanest—and best—versions. They’re mulling over a few new concepts, such as how to create boutique design in this challenging economic climate: “How do you make couture materials and elements more affordable? And conversely, how do you make certain materials—such as sustainable products—more elegant and couture with finishes to match?” Jeff wonders. These are the questions that move their designs forward. We don’t know the answers, but we suspect that this inspired pair will work toward beautiful solutions—and surprise us (and maybe even themselves) as they do. (303) 298-8572, newelldesignstudio.com

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Cabinetry Countertops Appliances Installation Design

There has never been a better time to buy a new kitchen

A Special Invitation Profitable Partnerships The Business of Design An intense workshop for interior designers

Wednesday, January 6th

9:00 am-12:00 pm &/6&2 Design *342*$4 "34 0/'&2&/$& 00. 20"%7"9 &/6&2 This 3 hour program is intended for designers who are challenged by this economy. Professional development specialist, Jody Seivert will focus on: "2,&4*/( : *--*/( !052 20+&$4 *1&-*/& &--*/( : 5*$,-9 $-03*/( 504&3 "/% 20103"-3 2&"4*/( 20'*4"#-& "24/&23)*13 : 5*-%*/( 53*/&33 7*4) 4)& 3)07200.3

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Denver 2324 S. Colorado Blvd. 303-300-4400 Castle Rock 1375 Caprice Dr. 303-688-8279

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Masters of the Craft

FORM, FUNCTION—AND ART In a dusty industrial building in northwest Denver, woodworker Ethan Hutchinson creates pieces of contemporary furniture so shapely and serene that they practically beg to be touched. Inspired by famed furniture maker Sam Maloof and the Danish Modern style that Maloof interpreted, Hutchinson plays with traditional design elements—a cabriole leg, say—and morphs them into sleeker, updated versions of their old selves. The results are pieces that are destined to be the standout elements in any room. So it’s hard to believe that Hutchinson didn’t begin his professional life as a furniture maker. Eighteen years ago, he was a “miserable chemist,” analyzing contaminants in soil and water. “I needed to do something creative,” he says. “I was dying.” He and his wife agreed that he’d try making furniture professionally for six months. Nearly two decades later, it appears that his creative venture has paid off. With the help of an apprentice, Hutchinson creates about 50 pieces a year. His clients most often request tables and chairs, but he also builds doors, case goods and benches—all gently sculptural, all crafted with careful attention to the natural qualities of the wood. A few minutes in Hutchinson’s workshop gives the impression that “careful attention” defines his work—and, he admits, he has no shortage of time to ponder everything from the engineering challenges of his latest designs to the more philosophical aspects of his trade. “I think a lot about the debate between art and craft,” he says. “I’m a maker of functional objects, but I wonder, when do those objects leave that realm and become art?” His gaze falls on the single rocking chair in the middle of the workshop, and its quiet, fluid shape answers his question. Functional? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Art? We think so. (303) 433-0522, ethanhutchinson.com

AND THAT’S NOT ALL...

TOWNSENDPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Colorado is chock-full of über-talented furniture makers. Here, get to know a few more masters of the trade: COCOPA, EVERGREEN: This eco-savvy company designs and builds accent furnishings, hand-forged steel railings, and kitchen and bath cabinetry. The company gets high points for the palette of beautiful painted finishes it offers. cocopa.com DOUBLEBUTTER, DENVER: These slightly mischievous furniture makers design and build pieces that are thoughtful, fresh and clean. We’re especially fond of their smart combinations of materials—brushed steel with brown cowhide, for example. Brilliant. doublebutter.com DOVETAIL DESIGNS, OAK CREEK: For classic pieces crafted using timehonored techniques, check out Dovetail’s gallery. The company’s furnishings are the definition of simple and refined. dovetailfurnituredesign.com MORI FURNITURE DESIGN, DENVER: Inspired by Japanese-American furniture maker George Nakashima, Mori creates table bases, mirrors and headboards by transforming gorgeous woods into warm, contemporary pieces. morifurnituredesign.com

CO LORADOHOMESMAG.CO M

Stunning architectural details, a new open floor plan and exquisite furniture give a Denver ranch house a bold, modern edge.

Classic Influence DENVER INTERIOR DESIGNER Jeff Elliott expected to discuss a minor project when he went to meet with homeowners Sally and G a r y Mi l e s a f e w y e a r s a g o. Instead, his clients surprised him with the news that they wanted to update the entire main level of their home. Elliott was thrilled at the prospect of giving the dated mid-century Denver ranch house a fresh, new look. “The homeowners showed me photos of something very traditional,” Elliott says of t he Connecticut beach house that first inspired his clients. “My thought was to strip away the details and make everything square and exaggerated—a modern interpretation of a traditional look, just younger and with more of an edge.” He began by gutting most of the main level, taking down walls between long, narrow rooms and creating an open floor plan that flows between the living room, kitchen and combination dining/piano room.

BY NANCY RICHMAN MILLIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY MINTON REDFIELD

“I wanted the seating arrangement in the living room to spread out for entertaining and functionality,” designer Jeff Elliott says. He custom-designed the chaise and bench to fit the design aesthetic of 1940s designer T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings’ original X-base benches, and introduced club chairs and tables by Thomas Pheasant in woven rattan. Lightweight linen draperies, bamboo shades and a wool carpet add texture and softness.

The next step was to add new bones—bold details inspired by classic architecture. Three massive columns replaced a confining wall, visually expanding the living room. “The columns have a neoclassical influence, but doing them square without much detail gives them a contemporary look,” Elliott says. The dining room features wainscoting with big, clean lines, while the living room is wrapped in authentic tongue-and-groove beadboard paneling. “I think this house really changed my whole design career,” Elliott says. “I learned more about luxury and adding architectural detail. It’s amazing what a difference it makes to add trim and wainscoting.” One of the designer’s more daring moves was to install coffered ceilings in a house with modest eight-foot ceilings. “I was petrified,” he says. “When the wood first went up, the ceiling

looked too low, but once painted, it went right back to where it should be. The homeowners loved it.” With the architectural changes in place, Elliott turned his attention to the furnishings. “Furniture is my big thing as an interior designer. This is what makes my heart beat,” says Elliott, who set a clean, sophisticated tone with original 1940s furniture designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. The dining room table has a striking X-shaped base that illustrates Robsjohn-Gibbings’ predilection for classic Greek and Roman lines. Elliott went to several different auctions to find a set of the mid-century designer’s ladder-back chairs and a sideboard. He unified the grouping with black ebonite stain. “Then we ran with the concept,” Elliott says. He purchased additional Robsjohn-Gibbing pieces—X-base benches in the

The dramatic dining room features furniture from the 1940s designed by Robsjohn-Gibbings. “The designer was famous for his neoclassic furniture,” says Elliott, who went to several auctions to compile the collection of chairs, table and sideboard. He united them with an ebonite stain and white patent-leather upholstery. A curvaceous hand-blown Czech chandelier from the 1940s and hammered brass Asian lamps by Robert Kuo stand out against a shimmering wall-sculpture by contemporary artist Barbara Wathke.

(clockwise, from top left) The custom kitchen was designed with a vintage beach-house look. It features the colors of sea and sand, with blue-grey Azul Imperial granite countertops from Spain, painted white cabinets and bamboo shades. The full-overlay cabinet doors have bin pulls reminiscent of the 1930s. “The whole focus of the kitchen is on the dynamic maple butcher-block island,” Elliott says. He collaborated with Irpinia Kitchens on the design, which showcases varying heights and chunky Parsons legs on the island. Elliott solved two problems in this transitional area between the kitchen and living room: “There was a column that couldn’t be moved and the clients needed a desk, so we built the desk around the column,” he says. The custom desk is stained mahogany with gold-leafed glass-front drawers; the top is inset with leather. Elliott paired the desk with a Tangier chair by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy from the early ’90s.

Two rare, vintage T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings slipper chairs are the jewels in the elegant piano room. Elliott had the chairs lacquered white and upholstered in a taupe basket-weave fabric. He then designed a tufted, white patent-leather ottoman in a complementary style. A family piano and 1930s Chinese celadon garden stools complete the harmonious grouping.

living room, rare slipper chairs in the piano room. Elliott custom-designed a chaise, benches and an ottoman to fit with the aesthetic. “One simple element pulls it all together—a round dowel framework,” says Elliott. In fact, he points out, everything about the furnishings is round or tubular, whether the finish is bronze, polished nickel (in the lamps and hardware) or wood. Then came time for the beach houseinspired details. Elliott completed the design with fresh, casual references to the shore, such as woven rattan chairs, striped cotton canvas upholstery, lightweight linen draperies, bamboo shades and a sea-andsand palette in the kitchen. He juxtaposed those with sophisticated, eclectic influences such as Asian hammered brass lamps and a hand-blown Czech glass chandelier in the dining room. The grand finale of the whole design, according to the designer, is the piano room, with its standout vintage chairs and white patent-leather ottoman designed by Elliott: “It’s my favorite space—t he humdinger of this design and the first thing you see when you walk in the door,” he says. His only regret, he says, is that the project was limited to the first floor. “We haven’t gotten to the bedrooms yet,” he says. “I have big plans ahead.”

DESIGN DETAILS

Interior Design JEFFREY P. ELLIOTT INTERIOR DESIGN Denver, (303) 860-0109 jeffreypelliott.com For more information about the products in this home, visit ColoradoHomesMag.com

Storied

S PA C E

The owners of this mountain retreat wanted their new home to tell a tale of generations gone by—and with charming furnishings and details, they’ve succeeded. BY JILL VIVED

(left) As guests enter the home, they are greeted

PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID MARLOW

with a vignette offering warmth and comfort. Petite chairs complement the scale of the narrow fireplace. Oliver selected the chairs, she says, “because my client loved the charming design and they were the perfect size.” (above) Located along the Blue River, the mountain-ranch exterior is a stark contrast to the Old English-inspired interiors. The many fireplaces are meant to mimic Old English manor houses, where hearths are the only source of heat.

(left) Oliver designed the great room around the floral sofa fabric by Brunschwig & Fils, adding a touch of serenity to the family gathering place that is defined by dark wood paneling. The fireplace mantel, crafted with doors from a Gothic armoire, creates a distinctive focal point. (right) Inspired by English pub tables, the dining room table is long and narrow to create intimate dinner parties and make guests feel welcome. The Jacobean-inspired chairs surrounding the table are covered in a warm, wonderful tapestry, and trimmed with playful tassels. The greatest challenge in furnishing this room was finding plates small enough to fit the narrow table.

Details

ADD LIFE TO EVERY SPACE— and interior designer Lane Elisabeth Oliver’s latest mountain creation is humming with life. Nestled next to the Blue River, the retreat is both traditional mountain ranch and Old English manor house. “The best way to describe the house is a wonderful, charming surprise,” says Oliver, principal of Denver-based LEO Interior Design. While the exterior of the home melds with the other existing buildings on the nearly 650-acre property, the homeowners wanted “an eclectic Old English interior that reflected details of world travel and years of harmonious room additions,” Oliver says. Unlike traditional new construction, the home was built to suggest a small manor house whose footprint expanded through years of additions, as if each generation left its distinctive mark. Improbable details abound—stone walls tucked neatly into the interior of

“I wanted all of the furniture to have an aged look to it, like it had been collected over the years, but I stayed away from too many antiques for the main pieces; instead I chose to focus on comfort,” s a y s d e s i g n e r L a n e O l i v e r.

(left) The kitchen is a lovely mix of color and wood finishes. The range is a custom-colored blue to complement the hand-painted tiles and distressed moldings; it all contrasts perfectly with the wood beams. (right) The powder room was inspired by an old church Oliver saw in England. A custom-painted vanity provides a delightful focal point and unique details enchant with an authentic pull-chain toilet (not shown) and jeweled light fixtures adorned with strands of pearls.

the great room look like a previous generation’s exterior walls while numerous narrow passageways lead guests through the home. The furnishings resemble a collection gathered over many generations, as if a European pioneer family accumulated various treasures along the way. “My mission was to make the powerful spaces feel aged and intimate,” Oliver says, and to find furniture that was “dainty yet strong so that it contrasts with the courtly and masterful architecture.” Trips to England, Scotland and France inspired these design choices. The high-Europe ambience begins with the entry, where guests are greeted by an intimate fireplace and a pair of English-style Bergere chairs akin to furniture Oliver encountered in England. “In my travels, all the manor houses had these wonderful fireplaces near the front door so guests could warm themselves after a long journey,” she explains. Oliver kept fireplaces petite and seating arrangements intimate to draw guests in. Artwork, rugs, and accessories with soft mellow tones enhance the rich, deep hues of the furnishings. The designer carefully selected the furniture with an eye toward livabil-

ity. “I wanted all of the furniture to have an aged look to it, like it had been collected over the years, but I stayed away from too many antiques for the main pieces; instead I chose to focus on comfort,” she says. Many of the smaller chairs and accessories are authentic antiques that add to the Old English charm of the home, and each custom furniture piece is enhanced with beautiful details, such as the playful tassels trimming the Jacobeaninspired dining room chairs from Ebanista. “I chose fabrics with strong texture, playful, aged colors, and exciting trim details,” Oliver adds. Because entertaining is central to the homeowners’ lives, Oliver designed all the spaces with guests in mind. Together with architect Jon Gunson and contractor Rick Emarine, she tailored each space, including primitive details that could be from the 19th-century, but are updated for entertaining large groups of friends in the 21st century. The great room features a working fireplace where simple fare can be prepared, while several seating areas provide ample space for large groups. “Creating separate, intimate spaces makes every niche useful and cozy,” Oliver explains. The

(left) The library, a private room the couple uses as an office, is part of

DESIGN DETAILS

the master suite. The plush black

Interior Design LANE ELISABETH OLIVER LEO Interior Design (303) 722-4288

tapestry on the sofa sets the tone for the room. “We wanted to select fabrics that were warm and dark to contrast the golden alder on the walls and ceiling,” Oliver says. The antique buffet to the right of the fireplace is French, circa 1880. The

dining room was built long and narrow, reminiscent of an Old English pub and complete with a pub-inspired table by Macrae that seats 14. In the kitchen, a large island anchors the space, while an 18th-century French walnut vaisselier houses a collection of antique toile plates used extensively for the parties the family hosts. As with every detail in the home, nothing is too precious for everyday use. A view of the river dominates the master bedroom, and intimate seating arrangements keep it cozy. The custom four-poster bed houses a hidden, pop-up television that doesn’t detract from the aged look of the interior. The master suite also houses an alder-paneled library upholstered with a mix of beautiful patterns and textures. “Mixing patterns can be very interesting and comforting if the proportions are considered and blended correctly,” Oliver explains. Even the books were selected not just for reading enjoyment, but also for aesthetic appeal—once again proving even the smallest detail brings life to this mountain home. 62

homeowner and her mother found the piece while traveling the world in

Architecture JON GUNSON, AIA Custom Mountain Architects (970) 453-6657

search of rare and beautiful pieces. (above) The master bath is light, airy and distinctly feminine. The cabinetry is built in a thick, hand-crafted style reminiscent of a salvaged farm-

Construction RICK EMARINE Infinite Scope, Inc. (970) 468-1367

house piece. The sconces provide a candlelight glow, further softening the look.

For more information about the products in this home, visit ColoradoHomesMag.com

THE

REAL

McCoys Katherine and Michael McCoy, both renowned designers, find inspiration at their home in Buena Vista — and in each other. BY SALLY STICH

(left) The McCoys spend much of their time in the Arts and Crafts-inspired library with its touches of modernism: black metal railings and a black steel hood over the fireplace. Notice the brackets on the corners of the window frames. “This is our signature throughout the house,” Michael says. “Just as a print is bracketed, so are all our windows.” (above) Michael and Katherine McCoy enjoy the view of the Collegiate Peaks from their Buena Vista home.

PHOTOGRAPHY

J. CURTIS

IN A QUIET MOUNTAIN GETAWAY OVERLOOKING THE Collegiate Peaks live Katherine and Michael McCoy, two of our era’s most influential designers. Their resumes are impressive: a stint as co-directors of the Design Department at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art for more than 20 years; co-winners of the Smithsonian’s National Design Mind Award; co-authors of Cranbrook Design: The New Discourse (Rizzoli). If that weren’t enough, Michael also designed Knoll’s tremendously popular Bulldog Chair. So it’s a bit surprising that these two creative minds are so remarkably down-to-earth. Maybe it’s their Michigan roots. Or their 42-year marriage. Or their deep-seated belief in the transformative power of great design. Probably it’s all of those things, along with a profound love of the natural world—the greatest design of all. Whatever the source, they are a couple in love with design, each other and the world around them.

(above) Katherine’s collection of William Henry Jackson’s 19th-century frontier photos grace the wall in the library. “If I hadn’t been a graphic designer,” she says, “I think I would’ve been an historian. I’ve loved learning about—and collecting—the history of the Old West.” Vertical-grain fir paneling abuts bookcases filled with the McCoys’ collection of design books. Katherine’s collection of pueblo pottery adorns the top shelves. (above, right) The house, inspired by the area’s mining history and National Parks architecture, rises in sync with the landscape. The two green roofs mimic the peaks behind them.

Their love story started at Michigan State University in the 1960s, where they met while studying industrial design; Katherine was the only woman in the program. “We collaborated on projects, we fell in love, we got married,” Katherine says. Adds Michael, “We still love designing together. It focuses our lives.” His first job was as a member of the team that designed the trains and seats for San Francisco’s BART system. He also worked on the Washington Metro and the first jumbo jet—the Lockheed widebody. Katherine, who’d gravitated to graphic design, was cutting her teeth at a design firm whose accounts included the Ford corporate identity. When Cranbrook Academy of Art, a premier graduate school of art, design and architecture in Michigan, offered the couple a job as co-directors of its Design Department, they jumped at the chance to be in academia (along with the ghosts of Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia, who also spent time at Cranbrook), with the freedom to pursue their own projects. During his time at Cranbrook, Michael began working with iconic furniture manufacturer Knoll, where he designed the ergonomically incomparable Bulldog Chair—which has since sold more than one million pieces. Working for Steelcase, he designed a line of healthcare furniture—the pieces seen in a hospital or doctor’s waiting room or in a clinic. “It’s not my most beautiful stuff,” he says, “but it was a good job.”

(left) Michael’s goal for this table, part of the McCoy Collection, was to create legs that resemble figures dancing in space. (above) Paying homage to Josef Hoffman’s Fledermaus chair, the table uses a ball bearing as the connection among the four stainless legs.

An “aha” design moment came at Cranbrook when colleague Daniel Libeskind (the designer of the Denver Art Museum’s Frederic C. Hamilton Building) helped McCoy realize that, in a mass-produced world, he could also design limited-edition pieces. “In 1981, I created the Door Chair—10 of them—and recently an art gallery in Chicago called to tell me my work is now officially vintage,” he says, “since they were auctioning off one of my Door Chairs for an unbelievable sum.” The couple’s love of Colorado brought them to Buena Vista, where they bought land in 1972, camping there for 10 years during summer breaks. A 1,000-square-foot cabin followed, as did an addition and a studio. Their architectural inspiration? The harsh landscape and mining architecture. “We loved mining architecture for its way of creating civilization in an otherwise untamed environment,” Michael says. Arts and Crafts furniture—some original, some great reproductions—fill the house. The exterior is clad in redwood siding, because it ages beautifully in Colorado, turning the color of dark brown sugar. Katherine’s collections of 19th-century frontier photos, plus Pueblo and Arts and Crafts pottery, belie the couple’s modernist—and minimalist—sen-

T H E I R F I V E FAV E S : W H E N I T C O M E S T O I C O N I C C H A I R S , T H E M C C OY S L O V E . . . Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Chair: “It’s a large chair,” Michael says, “but it’s not weighty. Space flows through its geometric lines.” Knoll through Design Within Reach.

Mackintosh Ladder Back Chair: It’s a focus piece, a small piece with a strong vertical thrust. It looks great at the end of a hallway. Vitra Miniature collection available through Mod Livin’ in Denver.

Eames’ Potato Chip Chair: “Its organic curves reflect the body,” Katherine says, “and it’s comfortable and lively.” It also sits happily at any angle. Knoll through Design Within Reach.

Saarinen’s Womb Chair: “This is our favorite on every level,” Katherine says. Designed for Florence Knoll, it’s a modern version of an overstuffed chair without the stuffiness. Because of its generous surface, says Michael, it looks great with large-scale upholstery. Knoll through Design Within Reach.

Rietveld’s Red Blue Chair: The antithesis of a Victorian chair, this piece is “theoretical,” its lines and planes bypassing each other in space. Comfortable? No. But, as Michael says, you sit in some chairs and stare at others. Vitra Miniature collection available through Mod Livin’ in Denver.

(left) A woodtopped dining or conference table offers “portholes” through which to view the configuration of the legs from a different angle. (above) The McCoy sofa is a sexy marriage of glass and stainless steel. Covered in Knoll Luxe Mohair, the seat can be topped with colorful pillows—or the family dog.

“...and design, like life, is a mixture of humor, complexity, practicality and poetry.” sibilities. Their second Colorado home—a loft in Denver—is all Knoll and Eames, a stark contrast to their mountain retreat, says Katherine. But they love the dueling design sensibilities reflected in their lifestyle. Today, Michael is working on the McCoy Collection—limited-edition furniture pieces—along with his collaborator John Guse. (The pieces are sold at Alesso Modern Source in Denver.) He is also the Director of Professional Programs at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. And he and Katherine are deeply connected to the thriving, young design community in Denver. But it is in Buena Vista where the two designers find inspiration amid the Collegiate Peaks. They also find it in each other. “We communicate through design,” Michael says. “And design, like life, is a mixture of humor, complexity, practicality and poetry.”

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Four Seasons Private Residences Vail is not owned, developed, or sold by Four Seasons Hotels Limited or its affiliates (Four Seasons). Vail Residential 09, LLC, uses the Four Seasons trademarks and trade names under a license from Four Seasons Hotels Limited. The marks “FOUR SEASONS,” “FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS,” any combination thereof, and the Tree Design are registered trademarks of Four Seasons Hotels Limited in Canada and U.S.A. and of Four Seasons Hotels (Barbados) Ltd. elsewhere. Illustrations are artistʼs depictions only and may differ from completed improvements, and scenes may include locations or activities not on the property. All pictures, photographs and images are owned and licensed by Vail Residential 09, LLC and/or Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Any use, reproduction or distribution of pictures, photographs or images without written permission is expressly prohibited.

VAIL PHOTO BY JACK AFFLECK

R e a l E s t a t e Wa t c h

Valley Forage It’s a buyer’s market in the Vail Valley ...so where are the buyers?

HOT PROPERTIES Watch for these three new developments, slated to hit the Vail market in 2010. FOUR SEASONS RESORT VAIL Completion Date: June 2010 Location: Vail Village Details: Nineteen fractional and 16 private residences, ranging from 1,800 to 5,800 square feet, are available; amenities include a full-service spa, fitness club, fine-dining restaurants, on-mountain ski concierge and year-round pool. VAIL RESORTS

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MARKET PROFILE: IN JANUARY 2008, THE ARRABELLE AT VAIL Square—a luxurious new hotel and condominium development by Rock Resorts—opened to much fanfare at the base of Lionshead in Vail. Its lavish, Old-World décor and high-end sticker price was celebrated at the time as a triumph for Vail, which had been criticized for its aging 1970s-era architecture. What’s more, the shiny-new Bavarian palace seemed to epitomize the nation’s pervasive sky’s-the-limit attitude towards real estate. Sales at the Arrabelle in 2008 (totaling nearly $300 million)—coupled with the sales of other new, high-end properties like the nearby Westin—contributed to the highest ever sale-price average per property in Vail real estate history: $2.5 million. Of course, we now know that it was all a little too good to be true. In September 2008, when the nation’s economic bubble officially burst, home prices in Vail plunged right along with prices in the rest of the country. As of August, the average sale price for a piece of property in the town of Vail had dropped well below 2007 numbers, to $1.5 million, according to data compiled by Land Title Guarantee Company, a Vail-based title insurance firm.

RESIDENCES, VAIL Completion Date: Fall 2010 Location: Lionshead Details: Choose from 71 full-ownership residences and 45 fractional ownership residences, ranging from two to six bedrooms; includes a membership to the Arrabelle Club fitness center, spa and ski lockers; outdoor pool, hot tub, ski valet and mountain views. Price: Call (970) 754-1204 for pricing. More Info: theresidencesvail.com SOLARIS Completion Date: July 2010 Location: Vail Village Details: Seventy-eight residences, ranging from 1,000 to 6,600 square feet, are available; enjoy movie theaters, restaurants, bowling alley, ice skating rink, and hotel-like amenities, including concierge service. Price: $1.5-$19.2 million More Info: solarisvail.com

COLORADOHOMESMAG.COM

VAIL RESORTS

R e a l E s t a t e Wa t c h

As developers unveil new offerings in the Vail Valley, now might be the perfect time to invest in one of the country’s most celebrated ski resorts. A dearth of buyers means there are great bargains to be found.

That may be bad news for the market, but it’s great news for buyers, says realtor Michael Slevin, Vice President of Prudential Colorado Properties. Great news, that is, if buyers were actually taking advantage of the (relative) rock-bottom prices. Citing data from the Vail Board of Realtors, Slevin says that in terms of volume, property sales in Vail for 2009 are the lowest they’ve been since 1992, when the board first started compiling data. The indication? Buyers are still gun-shy from the recession. “There will always be interest in our market,” says Slevin, pointing to the mountains, skiing and myriad other reasons why someone might want to buy in Vail. “The challenge right now is finding an equilibrium—a price that is low enough so that activity will increase again. Buyers are still feeling out where the bottom is.” Which is an entirely reasonable reaction, according to realtors like Carroll Tyler of Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate. “Prices were too high to begin with,” she says. “We needed a price correction.” And therein lies the silver lining. Both Slevin and Tyler say now is the time to buy in Vail. There is a surplus of motivated sellers and a surplus of inventory. Plus, with three new-construction projects slated to hit the market in 2010—The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail; Four Seasons; and Solaris (see more info above)—buyers can demand more for less with Vail’s older properties. “Sellers in Vail today are realistic,” says Tyler. “There are some very good values to be found right now.” But it won’t last forever.

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