Nestled among the serene beauty of Aspen, Colorado is a transitional style of architecture and interior design that always delivers on being the perfect blend of old rustic and new modern that STR guests truly love. There’s a reason why Colorado is a hot bed for STR investors after all, and Aspen has set the stage for cabin design around the US, and abroad.
PALM + PINE’s assignment was to channel this timeless classic style for two separate builds based on the same design. One retreat for a growing family, and the other and empty nesters haven. Blending rustic charm with modern comforts, this architectural gem we have dubbed “Aspen Cabins I + II” is designed to cater to the diverse needs of different life stages from the same base. In this blog post, we'll explore the key elements and variations that make this "Aspen Transitional” cabin an ideal haven for parents with kids and empty nesters seeking solace in the pines.
· Flexible Living Spaces:
Before we can even begin to think about style, its imperative the framework of an efficient space plan is established. As families evolve and children grow, the cabin should adapt to changing needs. Designing flexible living spaces that flow and layer with each other for larger groups or intimate settings, ensures that each area can serve multiple purposes.
· Outdoor Living Inside, the ORIGINAL Biophilic Design Trend:
Unlike an urban oasis trying to bring natural elements in (as in Biophilic Design), the trick in Cabin design is bringing as much outside into the space as possible while still maintaining optimal levels of luxurious comfort. Being able to observe the great outdoors from inside during colder months, and fully be enveloped in it during warmer months is paramount. STR guests are looking to feel surrounded by nature to “get away from it all” so view maximization (even with minimal views beyond the pines) is crucial.
· Quiet Luxury Design for Outdoor Living:
Whether it's a spacious deck for family barbecues or a tranquil patio for empty nesters to enjoy their morning coffee, prioritizing outdoor living spaces is crucial. Aspen Cabins are designed to embrace the natural surroundings of Aspen with thoughtful landscaping and create areas for both play and relaxation. No matter where your project is, this design concept translates easily to all cabin design and further develops the STR guest experience with submersion in nature. For these designs, we provided ample outdoor living spaces including a natural gas firepit, outdoor kitchen and formal dining, romantic rock fireplace for dining, and semi secluded hot tub pavilion.
· Transitional Style + Timeless Aesthetics:
The aspen transitional style embraces a timeless aesthetic, combining traditional and contemporary elements we think of for cabins. Dark woodgrain millwork, wood paneling, natural rough stone, and in our case a key design element: exposed timber “A-Frame” structures. Balancing these elements with modern earthy tones, natural materials, and large windows that capture the natural surrounding landscape, and modern plumbing and lighting fixtures contribute to a design that remains appealing across generations. We worked hard to combine the best parts of “Grandpa’s Cabin” with modern luxury for a timeless style that would work well in any STR market.
· Smart and Sustainable Design:
Both families and empty nesters can benefit from a cabin that embraces smart and sustainable design principles. Energy-efficient appliances, eco-friendly natural materials, and smart home technology contribute to a comfortable and environmentally conscious living space. By maximizing low-e windows, we also give the feeling of blending with nature, with out having too many spaces open to the outdoors which can really ramp up energy usage (and bills to the investor).
· Spa-like Luxury Design:
Both plans have a key focus on relaxation for the parents. Whether its an empty nester, or a stressed out mother of 3 under age 10, all mom’s love a free standing jacuzzi tub in an enclosed steam shower wet area. We also ensured that the upstairs bunkroom adjacent bath had luxury level hand shower and showerhead (so if adults are staying in the bunkroom, they still get the benefits of a great shower).
· Customization Options:
For these two home variations, we set aside areas that will be furnished out differently according to young children vs empty nesters. A room that in one plan accommodates a play area for kids, is utilized as vacation office in the other plan, for a quiet space to still attend C-suite meetings. To ensure that the two plans still felt unique, we selected tile, light fixtures, wallcovering / wallpaper, wood stains, and LVT specific to each individual primary king suite.
· Plan Variation: Retreat for Empty Nesters:
Our Aspen II plan is more focused on a serene retreat for empty nesters. Spaces are more geared to relaxation and entertainment. The real difference in the variations (besides having no kid space, and addition of a vacation home office) will come out in our next phase; the furnishings. Textiles will still need to be performance, but more focused on what we call in the industry “a luxurious hand” (meaning they feel just lovely) and more muted color palette.
· Plan Variation: Family-Friendly Functionality:
Families with children have unique requirements, and the aspen transitional style cabin is tailored to meet them. The open floor plan allows for easy supervision, child-friendly spaces (notice the hobbit door under the stair to the play area) and very durable materials that can withstand the energy of little ones. The future furnishing spec’s will include of course performance fabrics, but richer and darker colorways so if there is an accident, it is “hides”. We also included a dutch style door to the play area from the kitchen so young ones can be contained while the parents craft a chef worthy meal, but still supervised. For kids a little older (and louder) the top half of the dutch door can close to contain the noise. Phase IV of our architectural consulting design services will also include fully developing the outdoor spaces, zoning some for being gated and fenced, and others open to the woods surrounding for younger and older children.
Aspen Transitional style stands as a testament classic style that appeals to different targeted age groups, but lends itself naturally to adaptability, offering a haven for families with kids and a serene retreat for empty nesters. By blending functionality, flexibility, and a timeless aesthetic, these two cabins serve as the perfect canvas for creating lasting memories at every stage of life. Whether you're embarking on the journey of parenthood or relishing the quiet moments of an empty nest, the Aspen Cabins I + II awaits, ready to embrace and enhance the beauty of life's transitions.
Stay tuned for more updates on this project!
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