High Design: Aspen's Finest Interior Designers

Through the challenges of the past year, the creative forces behind the rooms we love have grown even stronger. We’re seeing innovative uses of spaces, a keener understanding of room function and flow, and an undaunted flair for color and imagination. In short, the past year has given us a stronger appreciation for our homes and the role they play in our everyday lives. What you’ll see on the following pages are the designers in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley who bring comfort, versatility and a mix of modern and mountain elegance into every square inch of a client’s house. Here’s to their collective vision of beauty.

A Sukrachand walnut bed is the centerpiece of this Aspen bedroom.

JOE MCGUIRE & MATTHEW TENZIN

JOE MCGUIRE & MATTHEW TENZIN
JOE MCGUIRE DESIGN (JOEMCGUIREDESIGN.COM)

Collaborating with the owner on the design of her eclectic bedroom helped spark the nature and spirit of this soothing space. “She’s a creative soul with a distinctive eye,” says Joe McGuire, co-owner with Matthew Tenzin of Joe McGuire Design. “Everything about it is interesting, collected and assembled in a way that allows distinctive pieces to work together.” To achieve the desired restful effect, McGuire selected a custom Sukrachand (sukrachand.com) walnut bed to support the owner’s tatami mattress and covered pillow shams with vintage Moulin Rouge fabric. A vintage Native American rug grounds the space, while an Apparatus Triad 9 (apparatustudio.com) chandelier shines light from above.

MAGGI WHITMER THOMPSON & CARRIE WOLFER

This newly remodeled home in Aspen’s West End features a Holly Hunt split dining table with bronze inlays and a Brandon Ravenhill chandelier.

MAGGI WHITMER THOMPSON & CARRIE WOLFER
DELLA + ZELLA INTERIORS (DELLAANDZELLA.COM)

In Aspen’s historic West End, this newly remodeled and expanded home bridges the gap between the Victorian architecture prevalent in the neighborhood and more modern design sensibilities. The open dining area is a perfect example. “It’s a whole new space, more current and cohesive,” says Maggi Whitmer Thompson, partner with Carrie Wolfer of Della + Zella Interiors. “It’s the heart of the home.” Enhanced by an abundance of natural light, a Holly Hunt (hollyhunt.com) split dining table with bronze inlays is paired with vintage Italian off-white leather chairs and topped by a Brandon Ravenhill (brandonravenhill.com) chandelier. An adjoining back bar makes service simple.

Basalt’s Bulthaup design studio allows clients to customize a range of minimalist and highly functional kitchens.

JED MACKENZIE & WILLIAM LANDEROS

JED MACKENZIE & WILLIAM LANDEROS
BULTHAUP ASPEN ASPEN.BULTHAUP.COM

Before they recently opened their design studio in Basalt to serve clients in the valley, William Landeros and Jed MacKenzie trekked from their office in Denver—for 14 years. Clients adore the team’s design options via the minimalist aesthetic of Bulthaup. “Our kitchen designs don’t require the owner to adapt to them, but supports them in the way they want to live,” says Landeros. “Perfection—in terms of materials, functionality and ergonomics— allows our kitchen to blend seamlessly into every environment. Because the kitchen is the hardest-working room in the house, it presents the most opportunities to create new solutions that can improve everyday life.”

RACHEL GUEST

This 500-square-foot kitchen in Aspen’s East End features a waterfall island topped with natural Taj Mahal quartzite.

RACHEL GUEST
POSS ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND INTERIOR DESIGN (BILLPOSS.COM)

“We have creative license to come up with items, furniture and materials for all of our projects,” says Rachel Guest, head of the interior design team at Poss Architecture, Planning and Interior Design. “It’s a very creative process.” For this 500-square-foot kitchen in a tranquil East End home, which was designed with gathering and entertaining in mind, keeping things inviting and functional was key. To that end, a central waterfall island topped with natural Taj Mahal quartzite is offset by a significant cabinet system faced with warm, sustainable walnut veneer. Appliances are Miele (mieleusa.com), Wolf and Sub-Zero (subzero-wolf.com). Minimal lighting lets the mountain views stand out.

Designer Paul Cathers chose earth tones for this kitchen, where the family gathers for everything from meals to doing homework and playing music.

PAUL CATHERS PORTRAIT

PAUL CATHERS
CATHERS HOME (CATHERSHOME.COM)

“I love designing high-impact spaces, [so] whoever walks in the door is left with a beautiful visual of mindful peace and comfort,” says Paul Cathers, who has lived and worked in the valley for 20 years. This valley kitchen reveals the foundation of Cathers’ style: clean lines mingling with organic textures. “For this kitchen, we created a unifying space to include the chef of the family preparing meals, with the children at the dining table completing school homework or practicing music.” Cathers chose a palette of earth tones, and the textures include wool, leather and wood. Durability was considered when choosing the cream-toned stools by Lee Industries (leeindustries.com). The team selected pendant lights from Hubbardton Forge (hubbardtonforge.com) not only to create a focal point but also to produce ample downlighting. “I [tell] my clients to keep their spaces warm and inviting, but simplistic—our lives are so hectic and busy, we need our sanctuaries to be calming and inviting,” says Cathers.

KRISTIN DITTMAR

For this inviting living room, which is perfect for entertaining, designer Kristin Dittmar incorporated natural elements and gorgeous Minotti sofas.

KRISTIN DITTMAR
KRISTIN DITTMAR DESIGN (KRISTINDITTMARDESIGN.COM)

Born and raised in Aspen, Kristin Dittmar’s style is mountain modern with an underlying theme of comfort. “I love adding organic elements and textures, but I also like to keep it chic,” says Dittmar, adding that client collaboration is the foundation of her work. “We start with design concepts, followed by the planning and execution. We like to be detail-oriented and involved throughout the whole process—allowing the end product to be what the client envisioned.” For this living room, Dittmar’s clients wanted a space perfect for entertaining family and friends. The designer and her team blended natural elements like stone with the sophistication of marble. The room also features a custom coffee table crafted from walnut and two Minotti (minotti.com) sofas. “My design is very versatile and is always evolving,” she says. “I love working outside the box.”