Video of the Home

 A custom home I designed and built for a client in the exclusive mountain community of Edwards, Colorado. This project is a prime example of the 'Form and Function' philosophy I have honed over my 40-year career, adapting my European design principles to a rugged, high-altitude environment.

The type of home is a modern mountain estate, which balances the rustic-A_A warmth of a traditional lodge with the clean lines and vast open spaces of European modernism. This was a direct response to the site itself, which demanded that the home feel both protected from and completely open to the stunning natural landscape.

The Colorow Residence' covered the entire design-build process. As the architect and builder, I guided the project from its first concept, siting the home to optimize the panoramic mountain views and sun exposure. I managed the complex construction and engineering, and curated the interior finishes. The goal was to deliver a one-of-a-kind luxury retreat where every detail enhances the experience of living in the mountains.The 'Form' is expressed through its dramatic, gabled rooflines, the extensive use of natural stacked stone, and the warm, dark siding that grounds it in its forested setting. The 'Function' is embodied by the massive walls of glass that dissolve the barrier between the interior and the exterior, allowing for a seamless connection to nature from almost every room.

The interior of 'The Colorow Residence' is where the home’s 'Function' as a mountain retreat truly comes alive. The exterior’s massive windows were designed for one primary purpose: to make the majestic mountain views the central focus of the interior experience.

 I designed the main level as a breathtaking, open-concept great room, unified by soaring vaulted ceilings with exposed heavy-timber beams. This creates an expansive, impressive area for entertaining, yet it remains warm and inviting. The most important feature is the light and the view; they make the entire home feel boundless and connected to the landscape. The design palette is about understated luxury and natural materials. 

We used wide-plank hardwood floors to provide warmth and continuity. In the great room, I anchored the space with a commanding fireplace, finishing it with floor-to-ceiling stone to create a powerful, grounding element. This use of natural stone indoors and out is a technique I often use to create a seamless connection between the architecture and its environment. The 'Function' was paramount. 

The gourmet kitchen is the heart of the home, featuring professional-grade appliances, a massive center island with a waterfall-edge countertop, and sleek custom cabinetry. The master suite was designed as a private sanctuary with its own fireplace, spa-like bathroom, and direct access to a private deck. Every finish was chosen to create an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and deeply comfortable.

The Colorow Residence' was an exercise in precision, worthy of its European-inspired design. As the design-build architect, my role was to be the single point of accountability for the client and the hands-on leader for every craftsman on this complex build. For a luxury home in this climate, the most critical management task was the perfect integration of the home's structure, its massive window systems, and its heavy-timber framework. This involved:

• Detailed Coordination: I personally managed the collaboration between the structural engineer, the timber framers, and the window manufacturer. With multi-story walls of glass needing to withstand mountain wind and snow loads, the engineering had to be exact, and I was on-site to ensure the framers and glaziers executed those plans flawlessly.
• Material & Artisan Oversight: This home's 'Form' is defined by the extensive application of natural stone. I was responsible for sourcing the specific stone and managing the masons to ensure it was applied to my exact standards—not just on the exterior, but also on the multiple fireplaces to create that seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
• Protecting the 'Function': The open-concept 'Function' of this home required a high level of interior management. I directly oversaw the installers for the wide-plank hardwood floors, ensuring a continuous flow. I also managed the custom cabinetry and millwork teams to ensure the kitchen and built-ins were both beautiful and perfectly functional.

My management style is about being on-site to solve problems in real-time. By managing every detail, from the foundation pour to the final timber placement, I ensure the architectural integrity is never compromised and that the final home is delivered exactly as I promised.

My design process is perhaps the most personal part of my 'Form and Function' service, and it's very different from most firms. In an age of digital-only design, I am a craftsman. I hand-draw all my initial schematics and blueprints.

 This is a deliberate, artistic choice rooted in my European training. It allows me to explore the 'Form' and 'Function' of a home in a way a computer can't—it's about the feel and flow of the lines, not just the dimensions.This process is a true partnership, which is why my policy is simple: 

I do not charge extra for additional renderings or design iterations. My service isn't about selling you a single, final blueprint; it's about guiding you on a journey to the perfect blueprint.We will sit down, review the hand-drawn plans, and make adjustments—as many as it takes. My ultimate goal is to ensure you fall in love with your home long before we ever break ground. That is my commitment. We design and redesign until you are not just 'satisfied,' but truly excited and emotionally connected to the home we are about to build together.