Mountain Peak-Chic

Sick of winter? This modern masterpiece may have you falling for a cozy day after all.

It seems as soon as the holidays are over, everyone immediately declares their distaste for snow, sub-zero temperatures and icy roads. Sure, we love a good White Christmas, but when mid-January rolls around and we're still shoveling snow off our driveways, what's the point?

This Colorado home, my friends, is the point. Designed by Michael P. Johnson, this Winter Park home is the stuff that marshmallow-infused dreams are made of. Can't you imagine staying in on a cozy, snowy night with a fireplace going and your favorite novella resting next to your favorite chair? Add a yummy throw and some hot cocoa and I'm pretty much sold.


The homeowner, Ruth Hiller, couldn't agree more. After consulting with Johnson to create a complete renovation from the footprint of an existing home, she was amazed with the results and spectacular views. Johnson writes, "[Our] inspiration was the building site itself. I chose to elevate the living, dining and kitchen area as it gives the occupant a sense of being up in the beautiful trees that surround the site."

Furnished with contemporary interiors requested by the homeowner, Johnson was careful to keep the floor plan open, simple and clean. In the living room, he chose a fireplace manufactured by French company Focus Creations for its beautifully crafted minimalist look. "It does not overwhelm the room and allows for you to rotate the flames so that it is directed toward the part of the room one is occupying," Johnson writes.

Of course, the minimalism stays consistent throughout the home, continuing into the master bath. With luxurious, clean-lined and simple products like Duravit toilets, Wetstyle bathtubs and sinks, and Arne Jacobsen fixtures, the bathroom is truly a work of art. Of course, a Refin Ceramiche tiled floor creates the perfect foundation for the beautiful set-up.

In the kitchen, Johnson utilized Poliform cabinets and white Corian countertops, keeping the bright, white palette consistent throughout each room of the home. The result? A comfortable, minimalist hideaway Ruth Hiller can call home.

Jealous, aren't you? Proof that modern and cozy can co-exist in perfect harmony --- even in subzero temps.

For more drool-worthy architecture, read on:
-Insane in "The Brain"
-Jean-Baptist Barache's Mod Green Cabin