This stunning mountain dream house retreat was designed by Vertical Arts Architecture, perched over South Valley in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The homeowner’s primary residence is in Louisiana and they wished to invest in a mountain getaway home in a region they were already familiar with. From their numerous vacations over the years, they knew this cozy mountain town had plenty to offer.
They were looking to design and build a home that would help them to feel integrated with the outdoors in addition to being connected to the ski area. The team’s primary goal was to create a home that provided unobstructed views of the entire Steamboat ski area since the lot was perched on the side of a steep hill, directly off the resort base.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN Vertical Arts Architecture CONSTRUCTION JSM Builders LANDSCAPE Vertical Arts Architecture FURNISHINGS Oliva’s Home Furnishings
Siting the house on the steeply graded lot was challenging, particularly with the intention to incorporate 270-degree sweeping views of the surrounding environs, including Emerald Mountain, the distant Flat Top Mountain Range, the ski area, and downtown. Despite the tight lot, the architects devised a home that feels larger than the square footage makes it seem.
It was important to create privacy from the adjacent lots around the property. The best way to achieve both expansive views and privacy was to create large, sky-high balconies.
With one 30-foot high balcony off the main living spaces and two additional balconies on the lower level, the design allows for unobstructed views from multiple locations, giving the family the feeling of being in nature while still creating privacy from neighbors. These balconies also provide an aesthetically pleasing facade that can be seen from a distance with the home perched high above the valley.
Further, prioritizing the indoor-outdoor flow are the two opening folding walls that grant complete access from both the dining room and kitchen to the extensive main-level deck.
Additional floor-to-ceiling windows surround the great room and give stunning views of the ski area. The floor plan and the way the kitchen, dining, and living rooms interact feel generous and expansive. From the inside, the layered decks and roof offer enclosed and protected outdoor spaces to provide an intimate, cozy ambiance.
From an interior design perspective, it was also important to the family that their mountain retreat integrates Southern design. Mountain features such as exposed timbers, steel, and a strong stone fireplace blend well with the crown molding, gold fixtures, and southern-inspired glam detailing.
“Using details like the metal railings, a marbled kitchen backsplash with a clean countertop roll, crown moldings, and a sleek fireplace rather than a traditional mountain lodge feel, we incorporated Southern touches to give the interiors of this home a different feeling from other traditional mountain homes in the area,” said Partner Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien. “We provided the best of both worlds – mountain-focused exteriors with a Southern charm inside.”
The home’s soft palette furthers the interior design style with a warm quartz slab countertop in the kitchen and maple cabinets. Even the metal on the kitchen range hood and fireplace has a patina and watercolor effect.
What We Love: This Colorado dream house retreat features a beautiful mix of mountain outdoors aesthetic and southern transitional pieces, creating a style all its own. The gorgeous material palette was inspired by the rugged beauty that surrounds this home, creating a cozy and inviting feel. We are loving how this home is perched on the mountain to take advantage of the views while having ample privacy thanks to clever design features.
Tell Us: What elements in this mountain getaway do you find most appealing? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Take a look at a couple of other amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Colorado: A Colorado mountain farmhouse is built with beautiful reclaimed materials and A gorgeous rustic-modern cabin inspired by Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
This home encompasses 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms.
The glitzy lighting fixture in the dining room pairs well with three metal tones within the multi-colored penny tile backsplash at the wet bar. Gold hardware and fixtures throughout bring the theme together.
PHOTOGRAPHER David Patterson
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