A private ski retreat in Beaver Creek, Colorado, marries mountain charm and modern luxury.
Natives of Connecticut, Cathy and her husband, Randy, fell in love with the Rocky Mountains as young adults. Once the couple had children, they planned family ski trips to Colorado several times a year, staying at a friend’s home in Beaver Creek — a resort community made up of three mountain villages nestled in the White River National Forest. “We loved it and began thinking about getting our own vacation home,” says Cathy.
After exploring the area, Cathy and Randy narrowed their search to the village of Bachelor Gulch. There, they found a private ski-in, ski-out lot amid towering pines and groves of aspens. “It’s a tranquil, secluded place, like there’s no one else around,” Cathy says. “Yet the ski way is mere steps away.”
Having previously built their home in Connecticut, Cathy wasn’t particularly excited about the prospect of planning a vacation home from half a continent away. For her, the process of building had been arduous enough even when she lived in the same city. “I couldn’t imagine being 2,000 miles removed from the project,” she says. But Tom Solawetz, senior project manager and principal with Beck Building Company, was able to put her mind at ease. “We became involved early on as part of the design team,” Solawetz explains, “working closely with the architect, interior designers, and owners. This helps us manage all aspects of a project and eliminate surprises, especially when owners live elsewhere.”
Envisioning an inviting residence that could accommodate their two adult children and their growing families, Cathy and Randy created three separate master suites throughout their 10,000-square-foot home and put bedrooms and a bunk room on the lower level for the youngsters. “In designing a space that could be as comfortable as possible for three families, we really tried to think of every detail — like having laundry facilities on each floor,” Cathy adds.
Architecturally, the couple embraced a transitional design, melding a rustic log and stone aesthetic with a more elegant interior.
The great room is an extension of the home’s lodge-inspired look, with natural log walls, a wood plank ceiling, a mossy rock fireplace, and hand-scraped flooring. To soften the space, Cathy and the designers integrated refined finishes. “There’s a transition from rough, earthy textures to polished walnut molding, custom cabinetry, and stunning tile work all pulled together with classically styled furniture,” Solawetz notes. “Cathy did a great job — everything blends beautifully, giving the home a sense of timeless elegance.”
Open to the great room, the kitchen provides a place for the family to gather with a spacious granite-topped island that serves as both a prep station and a place to sit and socialize. Two refrigerators, two dishwashers, plus TurboChef and regular gas stoves streamline the kitchen’s functionality, while a hand-carved stone hood, tiled butler’s pantry, and detailed woodwork bestow sophistication.
A rock archway covered with thick green moss leads to the formal dining room, which features a custom walnut table and French doors that open to a private terrace with a fireplace and outdoor kitchen. “Out here surrounded by the pines, it feels almost like we’re in a treehouse,” says Cathy.
While planning plenty of room for entertaining guests — including the two additional suites, as well as a lower level home theater, bar, and wine cellar — Cathy and Randy paid special attention to their own private space. Arched double doors open to the spacious master suite, where a lofted ceiling amplifies the scale and plush cream carpeting and alabaster walls bring a soft modernity to the room. “This is our sanctuary — our place to relax and rejuvenate,” Cathy says.
The en suite bath is a further expression of indulgence. The countertops and floor are covered in gleaming gold onyx, while an oversized soaking tub bordered by tall windows provides a 180-degree view. But it’s the spacious free-standing shower that serves as the focal point of the room. Open at the top, the shower is framed in etched glass panels depicting an aspen grove.
“I was nervous, living so far away,” Cathy says, reflecting on the project. “But when we finally moved in, we couldn’t find anything wrong. Not one thing. The builder, the architect, and designers — everyone involved made this a joyful, easy experience. We’re all still friends, which says a lot.”
Resources
186 Lighting Design Group, Denver, Colorado, 303.534.5350
Ashley Campbell Interior Design, Denver, Colorado, 970.376.6547
Beck Building Company, Vail, Colorado, 970.949.1800,
Borgeson Design, Edwards, Colorado, 970.376.1972
Decorative Materials, Edwards, Colorado, 970.926.2322,
Dennis Anderson Associates Inc., Edwards, Colorado, 970.390.3745
Heartwood Custom Woodworks, Eagle, Colorado, 970.328.9663
Paragon Technology Group, Edwards, Colorado, 855.945.3700,
Rocky Mountain Custom Landscapes Inc., Parker, Colorado, 303.680.7536
Segerberg Mayhew Architects, Avon, Colorado, 866.676.4433
William Ohs Custom Kitchen Furniture, Denver, Colorado, 303.371.6550
William Ohs Showrooms of Vail, Edwards, Colorado, 970.926.1355
From the November/December 2013 issue.
