This stunning Alpine Mountain Ranch home boasts classic
BEDROOMS
FULL HALF BATHS
SQ FT
ACRES
BEDROOMS
FULL + HALF BATHS
SQ FT
ACRES
CAR HEATED GARAGE + BAY
OVERSIZED GARAGE/WORKSHOP
PANORAMIC VIEWS
SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
WATER FEATURE & HOT TUB
ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE HOME?
The floor plans evolved from the inside out, with functionality and flow driving the layout of spaces. Every scenario we could think of was considered in the design of each room, from raising children to entertaining large groups of friends. We wanted the house to be comfortable and a place where our kid’s friends would want to be. At the same time, we knew we’d be hosting events and needed the house to also perform well for fundraiser events. Things like ample storage and durability were prerequisites for our architect. And of course, having lived most of our lives in Colorado, designing smart for snow was a huge driver in the layout of the house on the site, and roof lines.
WHAT HOME FEATURES WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES?
We love the views from our breakfast nook and outdoor dining areas and spend most evening dinners enjoying the views from those areas. Unique features in the home include an observation deck with outdoor telescope, extensive landscaping with water feature , fire pit, and in ground hot tub. True timber frame design with mortise and tenon joinery. A golf simulator, home theater and extensive wine cellar.
WHAT ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS WERE CONSIDERED DURING THE BUILD OF THIS HOME?
The architectural expression is influenced by Colorado Mountain design principles, using roof lines and overhangs that work in snow country, and materials and colors that blend in with the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscape of Steamboat Springs. Large expanses of glass are oriented to the best views, and integrated with the roof lines to create dramatic indoor spaces where you cannot help but feel connected to the outside. The architecture is an honest expression of the building structure, with large exposed Timbers, a focal point of the interior design.
WHY IS THIS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE?
The happiness this home provides for ourselves, family, friends and guests has been the most enjoyable part of this home. Most mornings, we will find our guests with a cup of coffee on a window bench in the living room staring at the mountain vistas.
at Alpine Mountain Ranch
by
Head south outside of downtown Steamboat Springs into Alpine Mountain Ranch, and you’re immediately transported into a world of vast mountain scenery coupled with a vibrant community and breathtaking views. At the top of this mountainside neighborhood sits a home unlike any other, where extraordinary craftsmanship meets modern mountain living.
The five-bedroom, seven-and-twohalf-bath home spans 9,458 square feet on 5.04 acres atop the 1,200-acre Alpine Mountain Ranch.
This vision took shape in 2009 when the Speers, both engineers by trade, aimed to create the perfect oasis for their family and friends.
“As this was the first home built in Alpine Mountain Ranch, we wanted to set the quality of materials in a design response that was absolutely appropriate for this dramatic setting,” they said.
The Speers collaborated with architects Craig Miller and Bill Rangitsch to design a home that blends weatherproof materials with modern mountain style. Completed by Fair & Square Construction, the project took 20 months, finishing in 2011.
The design inspiration sprang from Colorado mountain design principles, incorporating overhangs and rooflines well equipped for the winter months while utilizing materials and colors that complement the natural Alpine landscapes. A crucial consideration
during the build was to capture as many scenic points as possible, making the installation of expansive windows and dynamic rooflines a forefront on the designers’ and owners’ minds.
The parallel of glass windows and roof overhangs was meant “to create dramatic indoor spaces where you cannot help but feel connected to the outside,” as the Speers explained.
Each room features high vaulted ceilings, exposed Douglas Fir timber and true mortise and tenon joinery. The great room, with its cathedral ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows, draws immediate attention. Hickory floors, Alder and Cherry cabinets, leathered granite counters and Telluride stonework
JORDAN BASTIAN for Steamboat Homefinder • photos by DAN TULLOS, MOUNTAIN HOME PHOTOGRAPHY
harmonize the interior. The focal point is the panoramic view, capturing the Flat Tops through downtown Steamboat and across to Sand Mountain, with glimpses of Hahns Peak and Sleeping Giant.
The primary bedroom seamlessly merges dramatic scenery with practical elegance. Vaulted ceilings, dual closets and a double vanity bathroom complement the space, while a hidden television discreetly tucks away to preserve the panoramic views.
Step out onto the outdoor patio and the scenery unfolds even more dramatically. To the north, the peak of Thunderhead Lodge rises into view, while the gateway to Rabbit Ears Pass reveals itself to the south.
The kitchen opens up a world of endless culinary possibilities, featuring a built-in Miele espresso machine, double convection ovens and cleverly designed modern cubbies that seamlessly tuck away bulky appliances. When it’s time to entertain, the kitchen transforms effortlessly with a sliding barn door that conceals the cooking chaos, allowing caterers and guests to mingle in peace.
Upstairs, three ensuite bedrooms offer both functional family living and the perfect retreat for favored holiday guests. For even more hosting space, an additional room with a Murphy bed is ready to accommodate. The guest bedrooms are designed for comfort, complete with a
nearby laundry room featuring a builtin drying rack. Just across the hall, a private office space provides the ultimate sanctuary for working in peace.
“Every scenario we could think of was considered in the design of each room, from raising children to entertaining large groups of friends,” the Speers described.
The upstairs invites relaxation with a reading nook just steps from a cozy library
alcove. At its center, a sweeping hickory wood bridge gracefully spans the space, overlooking the great room and entryway.
Some of the more exciting features are saved for the lower level walkout, where the detail-oriented nature of this home comes to a pinnacle. At first, guests are drawn in by the family room with the same views found upstairs, centered around a gas powered wood-burning fireplace. To the right, a home theater designed to entertain 12 people joins the game room where a pool table, a custom bar, pinball machine and a state-of-the-art golf simulator awaits.
What truly ties this room together is the custom-built wine cellar, accessible through an antique bank safe door. This cellar is a masterpiece of creative design, featuring a sliding ladder to reach the top-shelf vinos and a built-in humidor for perfect cigar storage.
Despite the complexity of their building plans, the Speers’ main goal was refreshingly simple: to design a home meant to be enjoyed and truly lived in.
“We wanted the house to be comfortable and a place where our kids and friends would want to be,” they said.
“The happiness this home provides for ourselves, family, friends and guests has been the most enjoyable part of this home,” said the Speers, expressing only the same hope for Golden Eagle Drive’s next residents.
