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Steamboat Magazine

The Penthouse

02/28/2014 03:53PM ● By Grant Johnson

Photo by Jace Romick

The owners of this One Steamboat Place penthouse started with a beautiful space that lacked the warmth of architectural detail. They set out to make their condo a cozy Colorado home for their growing family.

Adding wood elements to this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath penthouse was the key to transformation. They added rustic beams along the ceilings and posts on the walls. But while the timbers added character to the interior structure, this was no small feat for a 25-foot span within a finished building – there was art in getting them inside.

Adding extra windows supplied more natural light from the mountain and unveiled bigger views. Changing the non-structural walls, they also opened up a passage from the living room into the dining room to let that light shine through. One interesting architectural aspect of this slopeside building is that there are hollow spaces behind many walls that weren’t built out in the original construction. The designers capitalized on the found square footage with a new built-in sitting nook – an ideal spot to enjoy tea or coffee in the morning, or gather for games après ski.

Bringing furnishings into line with the new architectural details walked a fine line between a desire for traditional Colorado style and a mission to keep the décor modern. Call it soft contemporary. As an ode to the owners’ farming heritage, there’s a prominent cowhide bench, but the rest of the color scheme is largely red, chocolate and a tad of green. It’s rough-worn, classic Colorado portrayed in a fresh way, with strong, cool plaids that are textural, but not busy.

The feature features quite a bit of leather, easy both for cleanup and the long haul. Beds are fluffed to ensure the ultimate retreat. Above all, the space demande the peak of comfort in every piece of furniture – creating down-filled havens where family members could be comfortable hanging out for an entire day.

Interior Design
Romick's Into the West

Carpentry
Frank and Pete TK