Defining The Design Vernacular Of Colorado + The Rockies

The Mountain West is a land of stories. Here, the romantic notion of the Wild West blends with that of the American dream—it’s a place where you can seek your fortune, where independence is rewarded, where privacy is abundant, where you can rewrite your life if you so choose. The Rockies themselves, rugged and majestic, are a symbol of endurance in a constantly shifting world. But whoaaa boy, the communities surrounding them are certainly changing quickly.

I’ve covered the Rockies region for LUXE for the past five years but have loved this landscape since childhood—making it to every National Park in the region and skiing mountains both world-renowned and locally beloved (much as I still aspire to own a chalet myself). Now, it’s the rapidly evolving design scene of the Mountain West that keeps my interest, well, peaked. I’ve watched the real estate markets snowball in Colorado resort towns like Aspen, Vail and Telluride, with awe-inspiring residences arising. The coveted rural enclaves of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, now ask over $10 million and are studded with stunning homes. And perhaps no areas of the Rockies have undergone such rapid transformations as Park City, Utah, and Big Sky, Montana. Both of these mountain havens recently completed resort-driven infrastructure investments that are helping drive demand for custom houses. Park City, in particular, is considered more expensive to buy in than the Hamptons or Cape Cod. “It’s the landscape, the lifestyle, and the opportunity for connection that continues to draw people to the Rockies,” observes designer Rush Jenkins of WRJ Design. Indeed, our own survey results attest that the region now rivals that of coastal luxury markets, yet offers the opportunity to build a home rooted in nature and seclusion. The result? A dash to hire the design pros able to turn any Rockies region fantasy into reality.

Homeowners want their Rockies residences to feel like authentic mountain houses, with design elements that relate to the surroundings. From patinaed leathers and metals and elevated fabrics like fur, wool and cashmere, to witty twists on taxidermy or sophisticated antler chandeliers—yes, they exist!—the savviest design pros are finding clever ways to make an aesthetic that has tended to skew rustic feel modern. See, for instance, a Jackson, Wyoming, home (featured at the top of this page and right) by JLF Architects, OSM Construction and designer Abby Hetherington, where an architectural envelope of reclaimed materials meets chic, minimalist interiors that still feel cozy. “Our approach is grounded in the Western American landscape and the legacy of its hand-crafted structures,” says JLF Architects’ Logan Leachman of the firm’s passion for homes that elevate a sense of place.

From the “cowboy core” aesthetic influencing both runway and festival styles to the rise in “cowboy-cations” (a cute term for the growing interest in off-the-beaten-path travel destinations), mainstream culture is embracing a renaissance of Wild West vibes. In design terms, this trend taps into warm, lived-in interiors with furnishings rooted in fine craftsmanship and colors drawn from the land. As top Rockies designers know, the key is restraint: a live-edge walnut table with a sculptural metal base, the use of terra cotta or muted rust tones rather than heavy dark browns, or the inclusion of a strong piece of contemporary art. Just note the site-specific Jedd Novatt steel sculpture that introduces a low-slung, Prairie School-influenced Jackson residence by CLB Architects and WRJ Design. A bold yet neutral material palette and deliberately untamed landscaping connect the art and structure back to the surroundings.

It’s Not All Neutral

While architecture in the Rockies region is typically crafted to capture the views, many times with earthy interiors chosen to further amplify the outdoor spectacle, top Rockies region designers argue that there’s also a desire for character and color—and that clients envisioning their second (or fourth!) homes are often willing to take more risks. As designer Andrea Monath Schumacher of Andrea Schumacher Interiors demonstrates through a Front Range home layered in deep hues, bold patterns and shimmery metallics (right), it’s possible to live within spirited spaces without taking anything away from the great outdoors. “Mountain West homes don’t necessarily need to be quiet to respect the view,” she shares. “The goal isn’t to fade into the surroundings but to create a dialogue with them.” After all, interiors infused with personality and playfulness can be the perfect foil for a natural or more rustic build.

When Nature Calls

Swaths of glass that frame mountain and valley views are essential elements in many high-end homes throughout the Rockies, but most homeowners aren’t satisfied solely with enviable vistas—they want to be immersed in them. In answer, Mountain West homes encourage their inhabitants to get outside year-round thanks to ski-in/out spaces, heated outdoor dining areas and spa terraces, inviting outdoor fire pits, and much more. Encapsulating this idea of immersion is a dramatic Aspen, Colorado, home by Charles Cunniffe of Charles Cunniffe Architects (right), embedded into Red Mountain. One side is almost entirely sheathed in glass, keeping a panoramic display of the area’s celebrated peaks on an endless reel and blurring the line between structure and slope. “It’s like a ship in the sky; there’s nothing to interrupt the views,” the architect says of the house, which, while exposed, is up so high that the owners enjoy plenty of privacy. “This home simply floats.”