Longtime residents of the Roaring Fork Valley transition from a condo and build a stunning home in Snowmass Village as a gathering place for family and friends.
The 4,300-square-foot home, designed by the team at Thunderbowl Architects, is in Snowmass Village. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
For Clay and Holly, Colorado has been a sanctuary for nearly 20 years, as they’ve traveled back and forth between their home state of Texas and the Roaring Fork Valley. “We especially love spending Christmas here with our family,” says Holly, whose children are grown but visit frequently. “We love Texas, but cannot wait to escape the heat for the beautiful Colorado weather every summer. Our favorite month is September, when the leaves start changing, and we manage to get here quite a bit in the winter as we love to ski. In the summer, I think we see more Texan friends here than we see the rest of the year in Texas.”
The kitchen features a combination of steel and warm, rift-sawn oak, plus Tom Dixon (tomdixon. net) fade pendants and light copper accents on the drawer pulls PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
The master bedroom features breathtaking views, along with a painting by Aspen artist Sherri Mignonne. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
The college sweethearts, who’ve been married for 36 years, started out in a condo but wanted a home that would accommodate larger groups. Their builder, John Blatz of Clearwater Construction Management, introduced them to Matthew Smith and Ryan Doremus, principals at Aspen-based Thunderbowl Architects (thunderbowlarchitects.com). The duo ended up designing Clay and Holly’s 4,300-square-foot masterpiece in Snowmass Village. “We focus on involving [clients] every step along the way, starting big and then focusing on details,” says Smith. “We do a lot of listening and then work to put a number of different possible directions out there early, which we then refine over time.”
The great room’s furniture arrangement allows for intimate conversations and gorgeous views of Mount Daly. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
For a couple used to building homes on flat land in Texas, buying property on a steep slope in Snowmass Village was intimidating. “Matthew really helped us envision what a home could look like there—and what kind of views we would have—[which] gave us the courage to purchase this property. The views are the most important,” says Holly. “I loved working with the guys at Thunderbowl. They really listened to us and made me feel like what I had to contribute was important. They have super-creative ideas, and I appreciated their feedback when picking out materials for the home.”
A soaking tub and hanging light shades from Circa Lighting (circalighting.com) lend a spa feel to the master bath. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
For Clay and Holly’s house, the site features outstanding views of Mount Daly, so the Thunderbowl team abided by the couple’s wishes and incorporated large windows to maximize views. Smith says the design also showcases a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces (great for large gatherings), which can be used at different times of the day—all taking advantage of the sun. Large gatherings usually emanate—and wind up—in the kitchen. “Meals in our home are long, drawn-out affairs,” says Holly. “All of the men in our family are excellent cooks, so Clay had a lot to say about the kitchen. Cooking requires lots of good music and wine—and plenty of space for everyone to hang while the cooks do their thing.”
La Cantina (lacantinadoors.com) multi-sliding doors expand the living space and usher in a pleasant breeze throughout the warmer months PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
Holly also says she was stuck on the kitchen’s aesthetic until she met Karen Moyer of Aspen Cabinets (aspencabs.com). “Once I saw the combination of steel and warm, rift-sawn oak wood, I was inspired,” she says. “Because of the custom steel hood, created by our builder, and the steel cabinets, we warmed up the space with a couple of copper-colored Tom Dixon (tomdixon.net) fade pendants and light copper accents on the pulls.” Two sink-and-prep areas, plus dishwashers and appliances by Thermador (thermador.com), allowed multiple crews to work their culinary magic in the kitchen. A walk-in pantry and coffee bar also help Clay and Holly keep the space organized. Above the refrigerator resides a T V—a must for these football-loving Texans during the season.
Bespoke bunk beds for visiting family and friends are perfect for kids, offering a taste of vintage Aspen cabin life. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
La Cantina (lacantinadoors.com) multi-sliding doors open the living room to the outdoor area, creating one expansive space. “The steel beams are structural and decorative,” says Holly. “We used the same stone from the exterior on the fireplace, and we also used the [same] stone on the entry stair wall to warm up the space. The chairs are custom from Lee Industries (leeindustries.com).”
Watching sunsets becomes an art form at this seating area, complete with fire pit, located a short walk from the house; PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
The master bedroom boasts postcard-perfect views, which are mimicked by a gorgeous painting, opposite the windows, of Aspen trees by artist Sherri Mignonne. “Hanging light shades are from Circa Lighting (circalighting.com), as are many of the fixtures in the house,” says Holly. “We tried to build the solar shades into the framing wherever we could, so they’re hidden when not down.”
One of the couple’s favorite areas in the home—the so-called wine lounge—is symbolic of the reverie and ongoing celebration for life found in the new home. The area, complete with art by Linda Israel (lindaisraelart.com), wine refrigerators from Sub-Zero (subzero-wolf. com) and custom chairs by Lee Industries, is perfect for intimate conversations. “I love that our home is inviting and comfortable, as evidenced by the fact that people stay until all hours,” says Holly. “The best is when a great evening turns into a latenight dance party. You can never plan for those—they just happen.”
Adjacent to the living room, a spacious covered deck offers another outdoor living space that can be enjoyed year-round. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SAM FERGUSON
LOCATION
Snowmass Village
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Thunderbowl Architects
thunderbowlarchitects.com
BUILDER
Clearwater Construction Management
970.379.3709
Aspen Cabinets
Cabinets, kitchen
aspencabs.com
Circa Lighting
Hanging light shades, master
bedroom and bath
circalighting.com
La Cantina
Multi-sliding doors, living
room and outdoor deck
lacantinadoors.com
Lee Industries
Chairs, living room
leeindustries.com
Thermador
Appliances, kitchen
thermador.com
Tom Dixon
Copper pendants, kitchen
tomdixon.net
Photography by: Courtesy of Sam Ferguson
