Although these Highland’s Ranch homeowners are becoming empty nesters, they wanted a place for the chicks to fly home
By Kristen West
Photography by Emily Minton Redfield
Eric and Kaely Rosel’s Highlands Ranch home, nestled in the back of a cul-de-sac surrounded by trees and stunning mountain views, had a picturesque exterior but felt “dated and gaudy” inside. With two of the couple’s three children leaving the nest but visiting often, the Rosels wanted to refresh the space, optimize functionality, and create a welcoming, light-filled environment that embraced stylish living and family time. They engaged Angela West, senior designer at Kim Layne Interiors, to drive their vision.
Despite the home’s generous size and open design, certain areas were difficult to utilize due to their layout before the remodel. So, West addressed some dated elements to bring cohesion to the open spaces. “Whether it was removing the wing walls and sunken floor in the great room or just knowing what to do with the furniture there, we wanted to create a design conducive to the whole family being able to comfortably be in one open space,” West says.
Today, the home immediately impresses with its grand, double-curve staircase and open view from the front door to the back. With this open floor plan, West emphasized the importance of creating coherence between the kitchen, dining and living room because they were all part of the first impression. The Rosels were eager to say goodbye to the existing beige-on-beige look while salvaging most of the original wood and sticking with natural colors. West introduced greens and earth tones to soften the interiors.
West removed the wing walls and raised the floor and fireplace to level the great room with the rest of the ground floor and create a more expansive feel. This change allowed for more space and functionality, and a cozy sectional now centers around the fireplace and encourages family time.
West honored the request to preserve the wood throughout the home, but she removed orange and yellow tones by sanding and refinishing the floors. “We ended up staining the doors a darker color, making the floors lighter, and then we painted all the window casings white,” she says.“Everything hinged on the floors turning out beautiful, and they really did.”
West says she enjoyed playing with fabrics during the remodel. “One of my favorite fabrics is the one on the chairs in the formal living room. I love the big wing-back shape of the chairs and the way the wood wraps around them, and I wanted to highlight that.” She chose a velvet for the front and a black pattern on a linen fabric for the back. “I’m obsessed with them.”
The kitchen was a critical area for transformation. West was able to maintain the placement of the cabinetry and range but refinished the cabinets with a darker brown and swapped out the copper color on the range hood for bronze. West brought in white and brass pendants from Visual Comfort, incorporating the homeowner’s appeal for a splash of gold.
The original kitchen island jutted out into the room, so West opted for a more appropriate size and changed a dated brown granite countertop and backsplash to a lighter Misterio Pental quartz to create a timeless look. Because the dining room is part of the home’s first impression, they opted for a striking accent chandelier and a unique dining room table with V-shaped legs designed by Clay Street Woodworks. The homeowners expressed a desire for local artwork, and when West found the horse artwork at a showroom, she felt it had to be there. “I joked with Kaely that we’d tell Eric it was called ‘Eric the Stallion,’ and it sort of stuck and became a running joke,” she says.
Eric’s office retained much of its original debonaire charm with dark wainscoting and ceiling beams. However, the existing built-ins lacked functionality. West reimagined the space with custom cabinetry designed to hide the clutter of wires, printers and computer components, allowing Eric’s desk to make a striking statement without distraction. The minimal yet impactful desk from Theodore Alexander paired with a plaid-like rug and houndstooth wallpaper create a refined, orderly space.
In the primary bedroom, the fireplace was redesigned with a custom surround, and West brought in luxurious textiles to add warmth and comfort. A bed from Vanguard, upholstered in a boucle fabric paired with noir nightstands, brought the wood tones from other parts of the home into the owner’s suite. The chaise is upholstered in a soft Mark Alexander green velvet.
The primary bathroom underwent a complete overhaul to lighten and expand its look. West removed a clunky sunken tub surrounded by black granite tiles, replaced it with a refined free-standing tub, and then replaced the vanities to incorporate more of the home’s natural wood elements. West worked with the angles in the room to re-clad the shower using a bold marble aggregate tile from Arizona Tile and added a steam unit, arguably one of the favorite features in the home. “That’s the best money we spent on the remodel,” Eric Rosel says. “I use the steam shower twice a day.”
Even the French-inspired powder room is a talking point with its whitewashed brick vanity wall, botanical wallpaper, statement sink, delicate sconces from Hudson Valley, and a custom vanity in warm, antique-look wood.
The Rosels’ basement became a nod to Eric’s love of aviation. They aimed for a speakeasy look for the space and decorated it with vintage propeller decor and subtle, personalized touches.
The Rosels say they feel like they are walking into a hotel daily, and that it has fulfilled their dreams of bringing the family closer together. “We’re in the formal living room every morning now drinking coffee, and both our boys play the piano with us sitting around them,” Kaely Roselsays. “We still have a lot of good memories to make here.”
Kim Layne Interiors
3149 S. Broadway
Englewood
303.246.6680
kimlayneinteriors.com
Resources
Arizona Tile
Caruso Kitchens
Colorado Stone, Ltd.
Distinctive Mantels
Eagle Flooring
Euro Metals
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Regency Painting, Inc.
Summit Brick Company
Visual Comfort & Co.
