December 20, 2021 By Paola Singer Architectural Digest
The clients for designer Ken Fulk’s newest alpine project may be recent empty nesters, but their vacation home in Vail, Colorado, has never been so full of family and friends. Quite literally, that was by design. “The husband said to me: ‘I want the coolest, most fun chalet on the mountain so my kids will want to be here’,” recalls Fulk. “That was his only instruction.” Fulk then proceeded to unleash his imagination, drawing inspiration from the Bavarian Alps, the American West, and even the Scottish Highlands to create a place that the couple’s four grown millennial and Gen Z kids would find irresistible.
“Vail has a make-believe quality to it, so I decided to lean into that,” says the AD100 designer, referring to the town’s intentionally quaint alpine architecture. “I wanted the house to have a sense of wonder, making you pause around every corner.”
Indeed, the 10,000-square-foot property unfolds almost like a storybook, with surprising twists and turns animating the central narrative: a tale about a playfully sophisticated mountainside retreat where a family comes together to relax and spread cheer. Looking at the grand salon on the top floor, covered head-to-toe in oak planks and furnished with roomy rolled-arm sofas strewn with fur throws, one might think of an elegant chalet in Gstaad. A more rustic ambience pervades the primary suite, whose wooden bed alcove is lined with a fabric featuring Tyrolean motifs, and whose rich color palette calls to mind the American Southwest. Further along, seeing the lower-level ski room, with its checkerboard floor, plaid upholstery, and candlestick chandelier, one could easily imagine a Scottish manor. Then there’s the dimly lit game room and bar, a cozy space completely wrapped up in flowing draperies, like a luxurious tent. “Isn’t it fun?” says Fulk. Certainly, it is.
The transformation of the ski-in, ski-out property was no easy feat, considering it has five stories, and its interiors, which had been designed in the 1980s, needed a complete renovation (the family had owned the home for several years, but never did any major updates). “We took the place apart and put it back together,” says the designer, noting the addition of custom millwork- mostly oak and Norwegian pine- throughout the home, as well as hand-painted murals and wallpapers. “It wasn’t the easiest set-up to work with, but they already had many memories in this place.” Fulk was certainly up to the task, and the idea of helping this family create fun new memories was all the motivation he needed. “There’s a kid in me that I’m always serving,” he says. “I think every space has to have a little sense of humor.”
AD100 designer Ken Fulk remodeled this slopeside home in Vail, Colorado, for a couple whose four kids had recently left the family nest. His edict was to create a space that was cool and “not too adult,” in order to make it somewhere millennials and Gen Zers would want to hang out. The grand open-plan salon on the top floor is covered head-to-toe in oak planks and furnished with roomy rolled-arm sofas strewn with fur throws, bringing to mind a chalet in Gstaad. The sofa is upholstered with fabric from Glant Textiles.
A striking vintage chandelier from 1stDibs competes with the gorgeous alpine views seen from the double-height windows of the salon. A table backed by a banquette covered in Lee Jofa fabric is ideal for large family dinners.
The kitchen, which is part of the top-floor salon, features a custom-made green island, vintage copper pendants, and rustic chairs upholstered in a colorful Zak + Fox fabric. Other custom millwork by Ken Fulk Inc. can be seen.
Behind the oven range is a tile backsplash painted by Rafael Arana, which features the facade of the property, reimagined in the style of storybooks. The window treatments were fashioned out of Ralph Lauren fabric.
A breakfast nook by the kitchen features a built-in Holland & Sherry bench with custom throw pillows covered in Lee Jofa fabric. The vintage brass and milk-glass pendant is from Obsolete, and was crafted in Italy circa 1880.
A rustic mood pervades the primary suite, whose wooden bed alcove is backed by an impressive suzani fabric. The rich colors of the armchair and throw call to mind the American Southwest. The throw pillows are from Soane Britain while the nightstands are from Michael Smith Wood Works.
In the primary bathroom, a mural by American artist Rafael Arana can be seen. The sconces are from Soane Britain.
Fulk turned a lobby by the elevator (the home has five stories) into a game room and bar. He wrapped the cozy space up in a flowing Ralph Lauren fabric, like a luxurious tent. The empire sofa is from Dienst + Dotter.
The home’s guest bedrooms have multiple bed alcoves to accommodate groups of friends. Reclaimed wood was used to cover the walls while a star pendant light fixture is from Paul Marra Design. The bedspreads are made up of Lee Jofa fabric while the window treatments are Schumacher.
The mud room of the ski-in, ski-out chalet has Scottish flair, what with its checkerboard floor, plaid upholstery, and candlestick chandelier sourced from The Home Outpost. The occasion table was sourced through 1stDibs.