06 Sep Designing the West: Crafting Bespoke Interiors

Principal Denise Taylor and Lead Designer Geneva Podolak Knox of Aspen Design House say they don’t have a trademark look. Instead, their interior design firm near Aspen, Colorado, delves deep into clients’ lifestyles to discover their dreams for their homes. Taylor says that those who turn to Aspen Design House for assistance have the means to do so, and likely, by the same token, they’ve had diverse experiences, exposure to choice furnishings or building materials, and well-developed passions. One example is a client who loves to travel and has a keen eye for fashion; Taylor and her team designed a hide rug for her home based on a jacket by her favorite designer.

The ranch’s dining room features a custom hide rug by Aspen Design House, which picks up the colors of the landscape. The dining chairs are from A. Rudin with Natasha Baradaran indoor-outdoor blue velvet covering the seats and backs.

Learning about a homeowner is like going on a treasure hunt, says Taylor. “At times, something as simple as noticing what a client wears gives you a clue. If your client wears linen, you could offer linen as a fabric for a duvet, knowing that they are comfortable with something other than a knife-blade edge on bed coverings,” she says. “A few wrinkles won’t bother them.”

Podolak Knox says that clients will bring their own ideas for their “dream home,” specifically from their travels. Because of that, the designers also travel. “We travel to Europe a few times a year to make sure we are staying current and experiencing what the world has to offer for new design,” she says. “There we go to design shows, getting acquainted with the newest products and meeting the manufacturers of new and favorite vendors.” Combining their love of travel and design, the firm has recently expanded to design projects for clients in Southern Italy.

In the living room, an A. Rudin sectional sofa with alpaca velvet is the perfect landing spot for the whole family to snuggle up, sometimes with their German shorthair pointers.

If you had to choose one word to describe Taylor and Podolak Knox and their completed projects, “unique” fits the bill. Each one is different from anything they previously executed. “We don’t repeat other’s design, nor ours,” says Taylor. “It doesn’t feed our soul nor make us happy.”

“At times, there are clients who are so happy with a home that we’ve created for them that we’ve been asked to recreate that same home in another locale. We might let them repeat a chair, but no more than that,” says Taylor, smiling. One client living in Colorado proposed exactly this for their second home in California, but, “We weren’t interested because the architecture in California is different, and our Colorado designs aren’t compatible with the architecture of the home,” says Taylor, adding that after explaining this, the clients became excited to create something unique. “It’s a design journey that we’re on with our clients.”

The team at Aspen Design House designed the kitchen range hood, which was fabricated by Ironwood Design. It complements the custom tile by Pratt + Larson, which resemble denim jeans in color and texture. Photos: Dallas and Harris Photography

Originally from London, Taylor brings to the firm a background in fashion design and marketing from Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London. Her love of color, texture, and print (she prefers to sit down with a book or newspaper versus streaming) adds interest to each project. She’s been a design professional working with successful companies in the area for more than 22 years, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of her career. “I had young children, so I was home with them. It gave me a chance to think about having my own firm and what it would be like. I never dreamed that people would be interested in interior design at that time, but they were. All our dream projects happened at the same time! We won ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) awards, and that recognition accelerated our expansion; we’ll be four years old in August.”

His and her chairs, scaled to size and covered in blue mohair velvet, provide a custom detail in the living room of this Snowmass, Colorado, home. A glass-enclosed elevator adds drama, but its functionality is foremost for the owners and their elderly dogs.

Podolak Knox has a degree in architecture from the University of Colorado. She knew early on that interior architecture was her dream, so she used her degree to springboard her career in that direction. Her experience brings the firm an edge in interior architectural details and coordination with architects and builders. Prior to joining Aspen Design House, Podolak Knox worked with award-winning architectural and interior design firms, as well as at an elite design showroom where she gained a wealth of furniture and fabric expertise, and where her love for high-end furniture, fabrics, lighting, and wallpaper only grew.

“We come from different backgrounds, so we tackle projects from a different angle. And yes, we do a good battle before presenting to our clients — that’s what makes magic,” Taylor says. “With different eyes on their project, a client is not hiring a team that’s just ‘yes-yessing’ each decision. When we’re presenting three options to a client, we’ve already gone over 12 other possibilities.”

Custom Boyd lighting adds a jewel-like feeling to this kitchen and dining room. Aspen Design House is known for incorporating natural materials, like slabs of stone for backsplashes and countertops.

The reputation of Aspen Design House has garnered multiple awards and recognition, including making the list of Mountain Living’s Top Interior Designers of 2024. They were bestowed several sought-after Crystal ASID awards: one for new construction and another for kitchen design in 2023. An article in Aspen Magazine proclaims, “Designing and defining new boundaries, Denise Taylor of Aspen Design House is undoubtedly an interiors visionary.”

Schumacher wallpaper adds another layer of interest and texture to this guest bedroom. The green leather and brass bedside lamps are from Made Goods.

The entry to this Snowmass home provides a view of the main living spaces one level below. The metal screen at the entrance creates shadows throughout the day, adding texture to the space. Photos: Dallas and Harris Photography

“We’re fortunate to be singled out and lauded with recognition and awards. We received one for our design for unique space and also a RED Award for renovation and remodel,” says Taylor.

From the porch swing, the homeowners of this Carbondale, Colorado, home have the perfect place to watch paddleboarders, rafters, and anglers on the Roaring Fork River below.

There’s good reason the firm is being honored and recognized. Their devotion to the finest materials shows up in every project. For the background of a bar in one home, for example, a slab of sliced agate from Galleria of Stone added a dazzling element. Their daring extends to murals on a ceiling and a wall upholstered in chenille, setting them apart from the ordinary.

Schumacher wallpaper brings drama and fun to this mountain home powder room. The unusual shape of the mirror from Four Hands accentuates the mountains on the wallpaper. The vanity was designed by Aspen Design House.

“We love giving fresh life to a home, and if we’re getting known for anything, it is taking a home and turning it into something magical. It may never have had any sparkle to it, but we give it that; it’s what our clients have come to expect,” says Taylor, adding that one client who loves color, texture, and design is having them secretly transform his family home. “We’re having so much fun doing this,” she says. “His place will be extraordinary and a unique surprise for his family.”

In the primary bedroom of a remodeled home, Aspen Design House updated the original stone fireplace, added wood floors, and stained the ceiling. A Phillip Jeffries gold-flecked wallpaper adds a touch of unexpected glamour to the space and contrasts with the custom Chaddock bed with black texture.

Taylor believes that houses should be curated every 10 to 15 years and challenges the thinking of adhering to old ideals. She’s a believer in adding wallpaper to enhance a room, noting that most clients don’t consider it because they remember how difficult it is to remove, requiring hours of work with spray bottles and scraping. “I remember when my dad had a weight on the end of a pencil when he was hanging wallpaper for my mother. That’s not necessary now; it’s a thing of the past, and so is the difficulty of removing it,” Taylor says. “Now there’s a base coat that allows easy removal — even if it’s five years down the road. The wallpaper becomes more like an art installation and can change a beige and brown room into something spectacular. Why not enjoy the moment you’re in?” she concludes. “Sometimes you have to be bold.”

To remodel the living room, the interior design firm scaled back the fireplace to prevent it from overpowering the space, darkened the beams, and removed the texture from the walls. Photos: Dallas and Harris Photography

Q&A

Principal interior designer Denise Taylor of Aspen Design House shares design tips and inspirations.

Q: What are the reasons for considering wallpaper as an interior element? Could you recommend some unique wallpaper suppliers?

A: We love the layer and texture of wallpaper in a room. Paint is beautiful, but paper adds design to the space. One can still use artwork, lighting, and mirrors on the wallpaper, and those things become more than just a ‘look-at-me’ piece. Christopher Farr Cloth is a wonderful wallpaper designer with a wide variety of options, including everything from paper to fabric to vinyl.

Q: Are there ways to add additional interest to paint choices?

A: Instead of just using paint, one can utilize paint with a cashmere sheen, and at times, high gloss can be attractive. We also use plaster to add depth to a room. When we are painting a room, we enjoy painting the trim and molding in the same color for saturation. In this case, we’d use a cashmere sheen on the walls and high gloss on the trim.

Q: What would you suggest for window coverings in a ski-area home where it gets cold in winter?

A: We suggest Alpaca draperies that won’t fade in the sunshine. They heat up and then contract in cold weather like wool drapes. What’s unique is that Alpaca doesn’t soak up smells like some textiles. There are exceptional choices, too, like an ombre with a deep blue merging into a gray, and you can be assured it’s never going to change color. We discourage using silk in this instance, as it will disintegrate.

Q: Can a rock fireplace be updated without tearing out the stone?

A: A pigment can be added to a finish that makes the stone pop after it’s been power-washed and deep-cleaned. The sealant with pigment will give the stone a fresh look.

Q: What should one look for in a durable wood floor?

A: Some are all caught up in the modern world of durability that looks the same forever and ever. Wood floors can ding; a child’s bicycle might fall over and cause that. To me, it’s a memory that allows a home to become a haven. Wood versus porcelain or other stone that will never change is a choice. Maybe it’s my British background, but we prefer history in the materials in the home, such as when your leather sofa scratches and patinas; it becomes art, part of the tapestry of your life. Some might have the perfect crockery set but only use it once a year. Or rugs — they’re reluctant to have them lest they get soiled. I’d say use beautiful rugs and call the cleaner when needed. If you have an amazing crockery set, use it. COVID should have taught us that we have to live!

WA&A senior contributing editor Shari Morrison has been in the business of art for more than 40 years. She helped found the Scottsdale Artists’ School and the American Women Artists and directed the Santa Fe Artists’ Medical Fund for some years.