"Colorado Zen" Vacation Home

(Designed by Remote)

After living and working in Manhattan for several years, I missed nature and the charm of small town life. I returned to my native state of Louisiana and settled in the winsome town of St. Francisville. Since there aren't many decorating opportunities in a town with a population of 2000; I'm used to working on projects elsewhere. I've learned to make the most of my initial appointments, surveying the project, videotaping, photographing and taking very detailed measurements.

So. . . .when a gentleman waltzed into my office and asked me if I could furnish and decorate his new vacation home in Colorado sight unseen; I felt somewhat confident that I could. He provided me with photos and the phone number of the caretaker he hired to look after the place who could take some measurements for me.

Photographs of interiors can be so unforgiving. The glaring white stucco walls, Mexican tile floors and assortment of odd-sized windows were screaming for warmth.

The first thing we did was design a fireplace to go in the Living Room to replace the only two windows that overlooked the house next door, unlike all the other windows which had stunning mountain views.

Next, we designed iron curtain rods and curtains to camouflage the windows. As we already had a considerable amount of wood tones from the log posts, beams & millwork; we warmed things up downstairs with predominantly red kilim rugs, olive green strie cotton curtains and painted furniture in shades of green, red and mustard. Since there are only two bedrooms, four custom daybeds serve double duty as sofas and extra sleeping. We also custom designed all bedding (duvets, shams, etc.) .

When the client was in my office, he fell in love with artist Marion Drennen's cowhide mirror, so we had her custom make one for his living room along with iron sconces. Old Louisiana bargewood was used to craft a custom dining table.

Upstairs, we used several variations of the client's favorite color blue. Again, we had Marion design and fabricate sconces, mirrors for the master bathroom, and distressed cypress folding screens for privacy. All lamps are by Revival Lighworks.

Living Room Before and After pictures.

Master Bathroom Before and After