This 7,500 SF, 5 bedroom, 6.5 bath home is located on a 3.2 acre lot in the Vail Valley’s Mountain Star community with beautiful views of the Beaver Creek Ski Area, Bachelor Gulch and the Sawatch Range. One of the significant planning challenges of this project was to design the non-snow melted driveway access from the road, which is low on the site, to the desired home location near the top of this steep site to capture the incredible views. The resulting driveway design minimizes site disturbance, while the enhanced nature landscape design seamlessly integrates the driveway and home into its beautiful natural surroundings. The local Design Review Board, which was initially concerned about the potential site impact of the long driveway and home located on the top of the site, was won over by this design.
The completed home also achieved the clients’ goal of having a three car garage, a formal dining room, an open plan great room living/kitchen area with built-in breakfast nook and a small sitting area just off the kitchen, a mud room, a laundry room, an office and a master suite all on the same level with all primary spaces oriented to the fantastic views to the south and west and to have ample opportunity for indoor/outdoor living. The vaulted wood ceiling living room space with 14’ wide by 12’ tall lift and slide doors, high windows, elegant wood beams, and a generous seating area focused on a large fireplace and the incredible views to the south provide a dramatic space well suited for entertaining. The kitchen has a large island perfect for family gatherings and entertaining, while the sitting area off the kitchen with its fireplace, TV and breakfast area provide a cozy living area within an expansive house when only the husband and wife are at home. The large lift and slide doors open the kitchen sitting area and living room up to a large, partially covered deck off the south side of the house which connects to a covered outdoor living room on the southeast side of the home. The outdoor room features a sitting area focused around an outdoor fireplace and TV, a built-in BBQ and covered outdoor dining area with incredible views to the south- all tempered from cool nights by recessed infrared heaters in ceiling.
The home’s upper level, accessed via a dramatic open stair and steel bridge above the main entry and living areas, has a small sitting area and two generous guest rooms with private baths and beautiful views. The lower level includes a bunk room with three bunk beds and bathroom, a gracious guest room with bath, mechanical, storage and a spa bathroom/changing area just inside from the exterior Jacuzzi. This level also features a large family rec room with a bar, pool table, card game table, and sitting area with fireplace and TV and a reclaimed wood accent wall. The family room has access to a large flagstone patio with fire pit nestled into the landscape and partially covered by the main level deck above also oriented towards the site’s dramatic views.
The architecture of this home consists of traditional vernacular gabled roof forms with cleanly detailed heavy timber roof rafters and shed roof elements supported by steel beams and wood struts, that, along with the steel railings and large windows, have a contemporary expression. The handsome exterior palette of natural materials include a warm toned dry-stack stone veneer base, Colorado Buff flagstone patios and walkways around the house, a combination of rich weathered brown toned reclaimed siding and a copper roof, gutters and downspouts.
The home successfully achieved the client's goal of being cozy for the two owners when they are alone and graciously accommodating their three adult children when they visit as well as function as a great entertaining environment for large groups.
Design Team: Hans Berglund, Stephanie Lord-Johnson
Contractor: Vail Custom Builders
Structural Engineering: KRM Consultants, Inc
Landscape Design: Ceres+
Interiors: Sarah Carr Design
Photography: Ric Stovall Photography