First-Hand Advice for Designing Your Dream Vacation Home

Do you dream of spending more time in your favorite mountain getaway than you do in the city? When the time comes for you to create the vacation home of your dreams, it’s always best to know what you’re getting into before the process of designing, planning and building starts. We’re sharing our top pieces of advice from designing clients’ dream vacation homes in Colorado mountain communities like Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park.

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Photo credit: James Ray Spahn

Leave it to us to ground each home in its natural environment without compromising your unique style

Tip 1: Stay True to Your Style

We always encourage clients to share details about their personal style and not to just follow the latest trends. We help our clients find a distinct look and feel, often leading to fun flair and elements unique to their vacation home. It’s our job to fit the home into its surroundings, too. We connect with the outdoor surroundings that our clients love so much, which naturally roots the house in its place. Our designs make the most out of the mountains’ natural beauty, capturing distant views of jagged peaks and lush valleys through floor-to-ceiling windows and even opening walls that allow the sounds of nature and smells of foliage to flow from the outside in.

Tip 2: Plan Your Home with Purpose

When you first begin designing a dream home it’s important to plan out how the home—yes the home—will spend its time. For example, a family’s second home may need different features than a rental property. With some tech upgrades, a “smart” home allows for remote temperature adjustment to be ready for any season, security monitoring for peace of mind and water gauges to ensure no surprise leaks. Some homes even have sensors to automatically adjust window shades and exterior lighting, keeping things consistent even when you’re not at home. For rental options consider selecting finishes and furnishings that can withstand continuous use, and the wear and tear associated with seasonal guests. In lieu of real wood, laminate or vinyl flooring looks great while being easy to clean and hard to damage. Furniture should be upholstered with indoor/outdoor fabrics to keep their condition like new.

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Photo credit: David Patterson

This unique vanity met the homeowner’s desire to prioritize views and bring natural light to the neutral space.

Tip 3: Enjoy the Process

We always encourage clients to share details about their personal style and not to just follow the latest trends. We help our clients find a distinct look and feel, often leading to fun flair and elements unique to their vacation home. It’s our job to fit the home into its surroundings, too. We connect with the outdoor surroundings that our clients love so much, which naturally roots the house in its place. Our designs make the most out of the mountains’ natural beauty, capturing distant views of jagged peaks and lush valleys through floor-to-ceiling windows and even opening walls that allow the sounds of nature and smells of foliage to flow from the outside in.

We see the best results when clients take their time to become completely satisfied with the design. We act as guides throughout the whole process and ask our clients to describe what they want out of the house. What functionality is most important? What routines will you establish? We never want to rush your vision and make figuring out your wants, needs and stylistic desires an enjoyable process. 

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Photo credit: Vertical Arts

Our collaborative design process yields fun, interactive ways to view your dream home in a high level of detail. 

Are you considering designing your dream vacation home? Give us a call for more advice and tune into our Facebook and Instagram for tips.