Right in the heart of 2016, I closed on an adorable two-bedroom condo in the mountains of Colorado.  It hadn’t been updated since the original family moved in back in 1981 and everything about it screamed beige, but it just felt right.

While I’m a fan of “Fixer Upper” (big surprise) and watch “Maine Cabin Masters” like I live way up North, I’m far from being an interior designer. Though, for some odd reason, I have taken on many of the updates myself – as in I am physically the one doing the tiling, painting, etc.  It’s been incredibly rewarding to complete each project and see the slow and steady progress over the years. (Big shout out to youtube for the reno lessons!)

Luckily, with a little bit of help from my mother (who was a professional interior designer in her past), Pinterest, and trusting the small amount of interior designer blood I do have, we are off to the races. I’ll share more before and after pictures in a later post and I sporadically share updates over on Instagram.  In the meantime, below are some of the places where I’m taking my inspiration for my mountain home.

Mountain Home Inspiration

My Overall “Theme”

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To simplify decorating, I came up with an overall “theme” alongside my mother.  It has been INCREDIBLY helpful.

Originally, my design decisions going each and every way.  I was wanting to paint the walls a neutral blue, I was debating about splitting the floor evenly between hard wood and carpet, and it was all quickly feeling like it was going to end up being a lost mish mash of styles.

The “theme” I came up with was Ralph Lauren’s mountain home.

Ralph Lauren and his wife have this gorgeous ranch outside of Telluride that is everything I could dream of and more.  It’s called Double RL Ranch and is just a simple 17,000 acre property near town.  (I’ll take it!)

So, now it’s very easy to think, “Would Ralph Lauren want this in his mountain home?”  If no, I put it back.  And if yes, then I pick it up because I’ll likely find a use for whatever the item may be.

Aka, I’m consistently purchasing every wool plaid blanket I can find if you have any suggestions.

Double Bunk Beds

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While I thought two bedrooms was more than enough space, it was amazing to see it fill up incredibly quickly!  I’ve had visitors almost every weekend of ski season and renters almost everyday I’m not there – which has been amazing, but it does fill up the space quickly with all the extra gear, bags, and people.

To build in more space, I purchased a full sized adult bunk bed for the guest room.  (Aka two double beds stacked.)  This allows for more space for guests and also made it more convenient to rent out – perfect for kids and adults alike.

I also adore that this bed is made of solid wood.  May as well stick to the mountain theme where ever possible!

Neutral with Wood Accents

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Speaking of wood, when I originally thought “mountain house,” everything wood came to mind.  Wooden beams, wood on the walls, wooden furniture, hard wood floors.  I wanted it all.

But the truth is that the place simply gets too little natural light for that much additional dark coloring on the walls, floor, etc.  With slightly lower ceilings than I’d ideally like to have, I’ve been left with no option but to brighten up the space.

Thus, I completely shifted my perspective.  I’m now focused on a more neutral base palette with wooden accents.  I’m not as picky as to say, “only dark wood” or “only aspen wood,” but more allow wooden accent pieces to flow into the space where I feel they make sense.

Small, Bright Bathroom Spaces

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The bathrooms in the home are very, very, very small, so I’ve learned to work within tight spaces.

I adore how this bathroom is bright, also has some storage space available, and still includes some of the mountain elements that I adore.

Bonus points if anyone knows where I can get a mirror like this one, too.  It’s simple, but absolutely stunning and fits with my home perfectly.

All the Rugs

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Every mountain home that I’ve seen and fallen in love with has had hard wood floors.  But here’s the truth – if you stay in a mountain home with hard wood floors, your feet are probably cold and your downstairs neighbors can likely hear you walking everywhere you go.

So, while I love the overall effect, I’ve transitioned to hoping to mix and match a wide variety of rugs to make our neutral floors feel warm and cozy.

The one in this picture is a little bit more plush than I would ideally prefer, but the effect that I’m looking for is present in the picture.  It brightens up the space and makes it look instantly inviting.  Perfect for lounging on after a day on the slopes or hiking up mountains.

If you want more mountain home information specifically, then be sure to follow me on Instagram where I am on a daily basis.

Create a great life!