Colorado Homes and Lifestyles, April 2005 issue

Room for Improvement, by Alaina Gonzales

The challenge: Mismatched furniture, cluttered Southwestern décor and a counter that divided the kitchen from the living room in this Vail Village retreat made the rooms feel cramped and uninviting. A bulky stone fireplace overpowered the small space making it anything but the contemporary getaway the homeowner envisioned.

The solution: Interior designers Andrea Georgopolis and Tracie Schumacher, ASID, of Slifer Designs created a cohesive space by removing the imposing fireplace and crowded cabinets. They installed a smooth travertine surround inset with modern mosaic tile. Between the rooms an island now provides ample seating, flow and more useable workspace. Soft sofas urge guests to “get comfortable.” For continuity and a larger sense of space, the designers removed the carpet and wood in favor of walnut flooring throughout. Georgopolis describes the fresh new look as “refined mountain modern.”