SETTING THE BAR

How can a log home be infused with a look that marries the feel of a cozy alpine escape with the vibe of an entertainer’s oasis? By using sumptuous materials, clean lines, and neutral tones that complement the home’s rustic architectural bones, this slopeside vacation home in Beaver Creek, Colorado, was completely transformed. This is particularly true for the kitchen and adjacent bar, a finalist in the 2022-2023 Sub-Zero Wolf Kitchen Design Contest. 

Kitchen designer Mikal Otten of Exquisite Kitchen Design collaborated with interior designers Yvonne Jacobs and Kristin Censullo of Jacobs + Interiors and architect Kyle Webb of KH Webb Architects to reimagine the heart of the home for the owners, who are empty nesters from Texas. “They loved that it felt very Colorado, though the kitchen turned out much more contemporary,” says Jacobs.

The design was driven by the husband’s desire for a statement bar where he and his friends, who often visit in groups to ski or golf, could gather. After much consideration, the team decided to locate the bar in the front part of the dining space, just right of the entry. “A design that created a great first impression was essential,” says Otten, who kicked off the scheme with a two-sided hutch that divides the bar and the kitchen and serves as the main focal point. 

The tall piece, centered between two trusses, is done in fumed eucalyptus with a high-gloss finish. Glass doors outlined in aged brass show off the chevron design of the fumed eucalyptus interior, where crystal stemware sparkles on brass-trimmed backlit glass shelves. “The brass details look elegant, warm, and refined against the logs,” says Jacobs.

The L-shaped bar is faced with Belvedere granite, a rich, black stone with bold gray, white, and bronzed gold veining. “The dark stone works well with the blacks, whites, and grays of the living and dining room fabrics,” Jacobs says. The bar top, meanwhile, is fabricated from Belvedere granite with a Crystallo Extreme quartzite insert; both the front and top glow thanks to LED backlights. Behind the bar is a sunken Belvedere granite countertop and sink with a brushed-gold gooseneck faucet, a Sub-Zero 15-inch Ice Maker, and Sub-Zero 24-inch Refrigertor Drawers.

On the flip side of the hutch, the kitchen design is more restrained, though no less stunning. “We did not want the kitchen to upstage the bar,” Otten says. Transparent glass doors highlight an illuminated display of more casual glassware. Beneath it are drawers with elongated pulls that house serving pieces and other practical tableware. These doors eschew the bold brass trim, and the fumed eucalyptus interior runs vertically rather than at an angle.

So as not to detract from the hutch’s drama, the designers chose a more subdued wood for the perimeter cabinetry—ebonized walnut with a matte finish. The cabinetry style is more understated, too. “The doors have a narrow frame for a bit of tradition,” Otten says. The countertops—Lavezzi quartzite, a creamy white stone with pale gray and gold veining—add softness and reflectivity. “We go from the dark, dramatic bar to a cleaner, lighter look in the kitchen,” Jacobs points out.

The large range hood, which is the focal point of the space, is also fabricated from ebonized walnut and features brass strapping that echoes the brass trim of the bar hutch, albeit in a thinner profile. The bottom strip is hammered, infusing handmade texture, and hammered two-tone pulls from Rocky Mountain Hardware follow suit.

The location of the Wolf 48-inch Dual Fuel Range with signature red knobs—between two trusses for balance—dictated the layout of the space. The appliances flanking the range boast integrated cabinetry panels; one can hardly discern just how much function is packed onto this wall. On the side nearest the hutch, within easy reach of the bar and dining room, is a Sub-Zero 30-inch Designer Over-and-Under Refrigerator/Freezer. 

On the other side of the range, Otten created a cohesive arrangement that encompasses a Sub-Zero Designer Column Refrigerator, a Wolf 30-inch M Series Speed Oven stacked above a Wolf 30-inch M Series Single Oven, and a door that is a perfect match to the refrigerator door but that leads to the pantry. “The clients love showing off their hidden pantry,” Jacobs says.

A 13-plus-foot island runs parallel, complete with a gadget-rich Galley sink. Two Cove 24-inch Dishwashers with integrated panels increase the function. In terms of aesthetics, the island base is sheathed in bleached quarter-sawn walnut, a wood much lighter in tone than the others. “We needed a material that ties to the rosy stones of the fireplaces,” Otten explains.

Likewise, the rustic character of the walnut live edge table top plays off the logs. It also makes a lot of sense, given this is where the grandkids eat. “The space is designed to accommodate multiple cooks plus plenty of friends and family,” Otten says. Jacobs concurs, adding, “It’s a house made for fun.”