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Mountain ManorBY HEATHER SHONING | PHOTOS BY DAVID O. MARLOW STUDIO

A mountain mansion affords expansive views and an open floor plan for entertaining

A SLICE OF ASPEN WILDERNESS opens up to reveal a luxurious home

designed for entertaining and year-round indoor/outdoor living. Philanthropists

relocating from Texas needed a home designed specifically to accommodate

large charity gatherings. They turned to Charles Cunniffe, of Charles Cunniffe

Architects, to design the 25,000-square-foot space. “The layout and site plan

was designed for valet parking and large outdoor tents,” Cunniffe says. “The

home blends into the site and faces the mountain.”

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“This home was very intentionally designed for indoor-outdoor use.”

—Charles Cunniffe

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PAGE 48: The outdoor spaces of the home are used year-round. The large fireplace

and heaters over the seating areas make the space warm and inviting. Cunniffe

sparingly used large double French doors for passage between the indoors and

the out while the rest of the walls were saved for windows to limit framework that

would impede the view.

To capitalize on the amazing views, Cunniffe created a spectacular entryway.

Walking in, the eye is drawn through the space and out the windows to the

mountains. The beams intentionally strengthen and frame the view.

Frameless glass corners broaden the view from the seating area in the great room.

One space flows to the next through the open layout and even the open fireplace.

The dry-stacked, natural stone used throughout the home serves to create a

strong connection between indoors and outdoors. Multiple seating arrangements

throughout the public areas of the home offer comfortable, intimate gatherings

within the grand spaces.

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Traditional as opposed to mountain style, the kitchen incorporates design

elements from the rest of the space to tie the look together. Teak floors

stretch through the space. Alder cabinets match woodwork throughout the

rest of the home while the millwork defines the conservative style. The large

island affords plenty of space for food and drinks when the home is bustling

with people.

To maintain the open, airy feel of the home, an elevator serving three floors

was designed out of glass. The surrounding stairs are open, too, to allow light

to flow through the entire space.

Charles Cunniffe ArchitectsAspen, CO

970.925.5590 |cunniffe.com