When Clive Lonstein, a New York–based interior designer, took on this Colorado cabin, he didn’t try to mimic the familiar language of mountain homes. Instead, he brought his big-city sensibilities westward—and let the land reshape them.
“I was completely taken aback by the natural beauty—it’s incredibly dramatic and ever-changing year-round,” he says. “In New York, the design impulse is often to expand or open up a space. Here, it was the opposite: I wanted to create intimacy within something vast.”
That duality—urban restraint softened by nature’s scale—defines the home’s aesthetic. Rich with materiality but spare in form, the interiors rely on contrast and quiet texture to communicate strength. “Texture is what moves things beyond cliché,” Lonstein explains. “People naturally gravitate toward it, which makes it feel familiar and approachable.” A few unexpected elements—more city loft than cabin—add just enough edge to keep things feeling fresh and intentional.
Natural materials play a starring role: wood, stone, leather, wool. But their use is measured and elevated. “These materials are inherently tied to the West, so they feel right at home in the landscape,” he says. “But when you apply thoughtful proportions and refined forms to something traditional, it elevates the entire experience.” In the primary bedroom, silk and linen drapery soften the space, offering a study in how even the most rustic materials can feel luxurious in the right context.
The result is a home that feels both grounded and sophisticated—masculine without being heavy, minimalist but full of depth. “It’s not about each item standing out on its own,” Lonstein says. “It’s about how they work together to create a feeling that’s layered and intentional.”
For Lonstein, it wasn’t just a design project—it was a new way of thinking about space. “My background helped me avoid the clichés of Western interiors,” he says. “But designing for Colorado pushed me in a different direction—one that’s more about sensitivity, about responding to the land. That’s what makes it feel honest.”
