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living the dream
At the front of the home, between the master
suite and front entryway, the office has a distinctly
Western vibe with a cowhide chair,
Southwestern-style rug, sparse desk, and various
antler trophies. Custom built-in bookshelves
provide a place to hide paperwork and
show off collectibles. |
Rustic Renewal
By Leah Kerkman
Photography by James Ray Spahn
Styling by Colleen Macomber
A stunning home in Colorado breathes new life into reclaimed timbers
Looks can be deceiving. Nestled
in the heart of the Rockies, a rustic
post-and-beam timber home that
appears to be centuries old actually is
on the cutting-edge of design.
Unconvinced? It’s true: Under that distressed
exterior lies a structure built
using as many recycled materials as
possible. Considering the home was
built years before the current “green”
movement, you could say that this
antique-looking house was ahead of
its time. And the stunning result has
left residents in the popular ski-resort
town of Crested Butte, Colorado,
scrambling to re-create the old-is-newagain
approach for their own homes.
But try as they may, this house is oneof-
a-kind, explains Sara Potoker, owner
of Ansley Interiors and the interior decorator
of the jaw-dropping timber
home. First and foremost, the home’s
design was focused on the unique, finely
aged timbers reclaimed from barns in
the Northeast, according to the home’s
architect, Dan Murphy.
“Working with those timbers was
really wonderful,” Potoker recalls. “The
timbers are really the artwork in the
house. They just call out to you.” But
they required a little bit of sweat equity
to really shine. In order to smooth away
splinters while maintaining the antique
wood’s sumptuous patina, Potoker and her team relied on some good old-fashioned
elbow grease to hand wax all of
the beams.
Potoker says another hurdle was the
fact that the lengths and widths of the
timbers were inconsistent, so making
them work within the design was difficult.
Murphy certainly agrees, noting:
“The joinery was quite a challenge in
this home. We had mortise and tenons
throughout the timbers from the old
structures. In some places, we had to
bolt the timbers together to create
structural beams.”
Wood timbers that were reclaimed from barns in the
Northeast frame a soaring yet intimate great room. A
striking custom rug, fireplace constructed from
Arkansas-gold fieldstone, red sandstone mantel, and
attractive chandelier all contribute to the cozy feel. |
But Murphy’s efforts were well spent,
resulting in a 5,500-square-foot home
that’s both elegant and comfortable.
The rambling layout takes advantage of
the lot, which is long and shallow. When
the homeowners asked for a place that
entertained well, Murphy devised a
combined great room, dining area, and
kitchen to open up the main level, using
gorgeous and structural timber beams
instead of walls to divide the space.
To provide privacy for both the residents
and the lucky visitors who frequent
the home, the master suite and
guest rooms flank the central living
area. That layout also provides access to
porches and decks from most of the
rooms, allowing for views of the stunning
mountainside tableau, a huge boon
to the design of the home.
“You walk into the house and the first
thing that grabs your eye is the amazing
view,” says Potoker. Multiple sitting
areas were created throughout the main
level so revelers could socialize and still
drink in the mountain scenery through
the huge arched picture windows. And
though you might think that such an
expansive stretch of glass would make
window treatments nearly impossible,
those recycled timbers serve another
purpose: They hide the window shade
and its apparatus when it’s not in use.
Aside from the wood, many other
materials in the house were repurposed.
All of the exterior wood was
recycled, including the front door made
of Douglas fir and a wagon-wheel bench
on a side porch. And the distinctive
stone on the exterior of the house was
all mined locally, hand-mixed by the
mason for a truly one-of-a-kind look.
But even though the house may be
unique, its appeal is universal. “Of all
the homes I’ve worked on, this one is
always a favorite,” says Potoker.
“There’s nothing about this house that
I’d want to change.”
Home Decor
By Claire Martin
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE WITH
THESE TIPS THAT ENCOURAGE YEAR-ROUND USE.
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a) The light from a hearth provides
a nice glow after the sun goes
down, but additional light
sources will make your outdoor
room extra cozy. Candle-filled
chandeliers and sconces are both
luxurious and low maintenance.
b) Not in the market for a full-scale
outdoor kitchen? Create the illusion
by pairing a portable gas grill
with a small bar that can provide
convenient counter space.
c) A crackling fire that serves as
both a focal point and a gathering
place is essential for making an
outdoor room feel like home. To
get the most out of your space,
consider an indoor/outdoor
hearth that can service your
great room or master bedroom,
too. (Check with your builder
first, though, to make sure this is
practical for your climate.)
d) Don’t skimp on furniture! Your
outdoor room should be a place
where you go to relax, and plastic
patio furniture won’t exactly
make it inviting. Consider investing
in cushions covered in allweather
fabrics to provide a setting
where you can spend hours.
e) Before you begin decorating it,
consider how you’ll want to use
your outdoor room. If you envision
enjoying as many meals as
possible under the stars, bring in
a dining table and chairs.
Picturing evenings spent chatting
by the fire? Furnish your outdoor
room with a cozy grouping
of lounge chairs instead.
f) Don’t overlook the details. Cloth
placemats, ceramic dishes, and
glass stemware can be the finishing
touches that add extra elegance
and enjoyment to any
occasion.
Special thanks to our sister
publication, Timber Home
Living, for help with
this article. |
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