The owners of this Craftsman-inspired home in Boulder’s Newlands neighborhood aren’t afraid of a bold design, but when interior designer Susan Hall first met them, she had to do some creative sleuthing to figure this out. “The owners had just moved here from California, and I showed up at the house to take a tour,” recalls the principal of Susan Hall Studio. “I was looking all around for clues—anything that would help me get a sense of their taste. But you know how it is here in Boulder, everyone was wearing exercise clothes.” Not helping matters, the house, built in 2007, was top-to-bottom, builder-grade beige. The tour wasn’t offering any inspiration.

A moody-blue Loloi rug and round-edged Kelly Wearstler Rousseau statement chandelier create an elegant moment in the sit-and-linger dining room. “Chopped Beets,” a fine art photograph by George Lange, adds visual interest. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
The homeowners found the breakfast nook painting “Nirvana With Sprinkles” by Pat Hobaugh while on a weekend getaway in Santa Fe. “That painting makes me happy every time I look at it,” the homeowner says. “It has pop culture references [if you look closely, you’ll see Homer Simpson] and donuts. Who doesn’t love donuts?” Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
A spacious front porch is the perfect play space for the homeowners’ young daughters. The exterior is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Alligator Alley with Farrow & Ball’s Clunch on the trim. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
The entryway provides ample storage space and drop zones, along with a touch of design magic: Farrow & Ball’s Bumble Bee wallpaper, a Schoolhouse Fuller pendant, and a commissioned weaving by Boulder artist Darcie Shively, which add interest to the utilitarian space. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
An accent wall covered with Hygge & West’s Petal Pusher wallpaper sets a bold tone in the main bedroom, while sienna bedding from the Citizenry and a botanical-print HW Home rug warm up the space. Hanging Radiohus pendants from Design Within Reach flank the bed. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
The newly added bar area in the renovated kitchen shows off the cabinets’ vibrant blue Benjamin Moore color (which happens to be called Gentleman’s Gray). The artwork “Topo Chico and Geranium” by John Woods rests on one of the floating shelves. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon wallpaper in aquamarine sets a playful tone in the powder room, while Corbett Lighting’s Broomley pendant and a sleek, custom MTI vanity elevate the whole look. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
A soothing blue-gray paint color (Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore) and a light pink Carl Hansen & Son chair provide a soft counterpoint to the handsome HW Home writing desk. “Ocean” by David Linn hangs above a walnut cabinet from Design Within Reach. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield

Until they went into the main bedroom, that is. “I saw all these unpacked boxes on the floor and knew I should ask about them,” Hall says. It turns out they were filled with clothes and handbags from the homeowner’s days working in the fashion industry in London and California for designers including Stella McCartney—items for which she had yet to find a use for in Boulder. “I asked if I could open a box and I pulled out this gorgeous, leopard-print coat,” Hall says. In that instant, she knew they were going to have lots of fun with the house.

5280 Home August/September 2021
5280 Home August/September 2021
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The homeowners’ love of design continued to reveal itself during their initial meetings, Hall says: “She wanted more of a moody feel and loves rich colors—no pastels. He collects vinyl records and has a great eye for art. The style we landed on is a sumptuous, modern-yet-classic, English-influenced feel. Definitely a twist on traditional.” The look is heavy on eye-catching art and well-curated vignettes. And, because this house is home to three young children and an 11-year-old dog, it works for real life, too.

The home’s bones were strong enough that the renovation didn’t require a total down-to-the-studs gut; a few interior walls went up and a few came down. The biggest transformation occurred in the combined kitchen and great room, which had an awkward layout that inhibited casual gatherings and dated finishes that made the space feel uninviting. “The original kitchen was industrial and cold feeling with cheap, shallow white cabinets,” Hall says. “An oversized, sterile restaurant-style kitchen island flanked by ’90s-era columns dominated the room on one side, and a crazy, laid-on-the-diagonal living room dominated the other.”

Doing “another giant island” didn’t make sense, says the designer, who opted instead for two narrow, parallel islands that efficiently utilize every bit of space. The homeowner elaborates: “I can make dinner at the first island while the baby plays on the floor. Bernie the dog perches on the couch so he can get a better view of the yard. And on the second island, my husband and the kids can do Lego sets or puzzles.” Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray paint on the new cabinets, scalloped backsplash tile from Fireclay Tile, and geometric accent tile on the island give the room a fresh vibe.

“The furniture choices in the living space feel elevated with beautiful fabrics, but the girls also climb and jump all over the couch and spin each other in the chairs,” the homeowner says of her Precedent sofa (upholstered in green velvet) and Enzo swivel chairs. The walnut record player, which sits atop a Palecek console, may be the most-used item in the space. “My husband is a big music lover, and the record player is on most nights for dance parties with the kids before bedtime,” the homeowner says. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield
A clever two-island kitchen layout creates one space for cooking and another for eating. The scalloped Fireclay tile (in two glazes for added interest) provides a visual contrast to the rich blue cabinets, while the patterned tile on the face of the island offers another playful place for the eye to land. Circa Lighting pendants hang overhead. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield

Throughout the home, Hall added elements of surprise and intrigue with bold wallpapers and saturated hues. In the powder room, Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon wallpaper satisfied the homeowner’s craving for eye-catching pattern. “Susan found this paper and I fell in love; it allowed us to make a statement without looking crazy,” she says. In the main bedroom, burgundy linen bedding and an accent wall clad in gray-and-gold Hygge & West wallpaper set a cozy tone. And in the reimagined office, a coat of gray paint and a pink-upholstered Carl Hansen & Son lounge chair create the perfect spot for next-best-idea brainstorming.

“What we ended up with is a family-friendly home where adults can also entertain,” the homeowner says. And thanks to Hall’s eye for just-right maximalist moments, you can still find loads of design surprises—without all the detective work.

Design Pros

Interior design: Susan Hall, Susan Hall Studio
Construction: Melton Design Build

This article was originally published in 5280 Home August/September 2021.
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers is a contributing writer to 5280 Home, which means she gets to spend her days writing about Colorado’s most beautiful indoor spaces.