c l o c k w i s e f r o m l ef t: The living room is anchored by a massivestone fireplace; Asian-inspired pieces are thoughtfully placedthroughout the house; Multiple seating areas in the kitchen give ita social feel; Pat Cooperwith light. “John worked with Gretchen and reallydrove the structural renovation,” says Pat. Slidingglass doors were added, bringing the cinematicview inside.The home’s exterior is wrapped in a multilevelflagstone terrace, which provides a blissfulentertainment space in the alpine setting. Theamount of steel needed to support the decks wasso great that construction ground to a halt whenthe Coopers couldn’t receive their massive orderon time (everything of that size was reportedlygoing to China to build infrastructure for the 2008Summer Olympics).The new floor plan allows the grand, 13,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom home to feel moreintimate and cozy. Public rooms, including thekitchen, various seating areas and the diningroom, are all on the south- and east-facing entrylevel. The master suite and several guest roomsare located on the other side of the residence, staggeredalong a hallway to the top floor. The lowerlevel is dedicated to leisure activities, with a barand billiards area, TV lounge and two more guestrooms. An elevator connects the three levels, concealedbehind a wall covered with an oversizephotograph of a 19th-century geisha; producedby the Maya Romanoff <strong>com</strong>pany, the blown-upreproduction is finished with tiny glass beads onthe surface and adds a dash of bling to the otherwiseunderstated surroundings. Another strikingp h o t o g r a p h b y r o b i n p r o c t o r (p at c o o p e r)aspen peak-magazine.<strong>com</strong> 4
peak in + out at homeanother strikingarchitecturaldetail: the immensepivoting door (thatappears as a Shojiscreen) to thestone-coveredwine cellar.architectural detail: the immense pivoting door(that appears as a Shoji screen) to the stone-coveredwine cellar.There is an authentic Colorado ambience tothe home, in both the purity of its design and itsnative organic materials. “We used all local people,”adds Pat. Handiwork by the stonemason andmaster carpenter is evident in the walnut floorsand walls, the serene bronze and patinaed copperwaterfall in the dining room and the divine,double-height stone fireplace that anchors the livingroom,The pièce de résistance, however, is the home’sdécor, which embodies effortless chic with thefinest couture furnishings. The luxurious appointmentsare leavened with that singular <strong>com</strong>fortableand inviting Aspen vibe. “I tried to incorporate apalette that was for all seasons,” Hutton says. “Iused a lot of textural neutrals with some sumptuoushand-worked textiles for accents that took inthe seasonal change of colors in the natural landscape.”The Coopers traveled to Los Angeleson extensive buying trips with Hutton, who wasresponsible for many of the interior furnishings,finishes, lighting and art. Hutton’s refined visionand attention to detail is evident in the pair ofantique panels that adorn the interior cab of theelevator, underlining the home’s Asian aesthetic.The designer maintains, though, that the project“was a true collaboration. John, Pat and I spentmany, many hours together working on thishome.”After getting to know the charming, seeminglyageless Coopers, it’s not surprising that the residencemirrors its owners—warm, contemporaryand private. “Aspen and this home are our respite,”says Pat. “We have been very blessed.” APc l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p: The home’s serene entryway; a barand billiards area take center stage in the lower level;a glass-beaded photograph of a 19th-century geishacleverly conceals the elevator; an understated yetelegant bedroom; the master bath