Elevated Luxury
06/22/2022 10:50AM ● By Suzi Mitchell
Photograph by David Patterson©
On a dark evening minutes before the sunset, a couple with previous ties to New York City found themselves climbing a ladder into the loft of an unfinished home at the base of Mount Werner in Steamboat Springs. The couple, who have four adult children, had decided to make Steamboat their primary residence and had outgrown their long-time condo in the Yampa Valley. A last-minute call from their realtor had them intrigued.
The property was a spec house originally designed by Vertical Arts Architecture, and the description captured the duo’s imagination. Its sleek, modern design emulated an urbanesque architecture with a mountain backdrop, ideal for a city couple who live for lifestyle.
“It was one of these ‘aha’ moments,” the homeowner says.“ We basically fell in love with the place climbing that ladder.” The property was 80 percent completed when they went under contract.
The homeowners contacted Vertical Arts for the original plans and worked with them to complete a joint vision. “We took inspiration from the home’s high volumes, large glass and exposed structure,” says Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien, partner at Vertical ArtsArchitecture. “We tried to incorporate sort of a ‘Brooklyn loft’ vibei n the other finishes we added.”
The house occupies a steep, wedge-shaped lot, which proved a challenge in the initial design. “It created a unique condition where the main outdoor living space faces the front of the home, while the back of the house perches out over the steepest part, so you almost feel like you are in a tree house,” O’Brien says. Strategic landscaping ensured privacy and view opportunities.
The couple chose a warm color palette for the furnishings to complement the industrial vibe attained from structural detailing with blackened steel and exposed trusses. Wide plank flooring and a custom Shou Sugi Ban appliance wall further cemented the mountain modern aesthetic.
Elements of the couple’s lifestyle are evident in the hidden spaces of the home, including a state-of-the-art gym and customized ski room. “For us, we wanted to showcase the architecture and not the furnishings, and that’s exactly what we feel we’ve done,” the homeowner says. “It’s a blend of city urban design with our mountain lifestyle, and the home is a terrific reflection of our personalities.”
The property was a spec house originally designed by Vertical Arts Architecture, and the description captured the duo’s imagination. Its sleek, modern design emulated an urbanesque architecture with a mountain backdrop, ideal for a city couple who live for lifestyle.
“It was one of these ‘aha’ moments,” the homeowner says.“ We basically fell in love with the place climbing that ladder.” The property was 80 percent completed when they went under contract.
The homeowners contacted Vertical Arts for the original plans and worked with them to complete a joint vision. “We took inspiration from the home’s high volumes, large glass and exposed structure,” says Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien, partner at Vertical ArtsArchitecture. “We tried to incorporate sort of a ‘Brooklyn loft’ vibei n the other finishes we added.”
The house occupies a steep, wedge-shaped lot, which proved a challenge in the initial design. “It created a unique condition where the main outdoor living space faces the front of the home, while the back of the house perches out over the steepest part, so you almost feel like you are in a tree house,” O’Brien says. Strategic landscaping ensured privacy and view opportunities.
The couple chose a warm color palette for the furnishings to complement the industrial vibe attained from structural detailing with blackened steel and exposed trusses. Wide plank flooring and a custom Shou Sugi Ban appliance wall further cemented the mountain modern aesthetic.
Elements of the couple’s lifestyle are evident in the hidden spaces of the home, including a state-of-the-art gym and customized ski room. “For us, we wanted to showcase the architecture and not the furnishings, and that’s exactly what we feel we’ve done,” the homeowner says. “It’s a blend of city urban design with our mountain lifestyle, and the home is a terrific reflection of our personalities.”