New York Couple Remodels Luxury Aspen Penthouse with Pops of Color

 

Some people who live in dense, urban environments want to buy a vacation home in Colorado to escape the sheer craziness of their daily lives. They’re eager to purchase in areas with a wide expanse of land, fresh mountain air, and a quiet sense of nature, and for good reason: To get away from the noisy hubbub.

 

Yet, New York power couple Billy and Julie Macklowe wanted the exact opposite. “We’re city people,” says Julie, founder of The Macklowe, the first American single-malt whiskey. “I hate driving a car. The reality is that we like to be central.” So when she suddenly found a four-story townhome for sale in Aspen’s core, the couple jumped. The location was one of the best, if not the best in downtown Aspen, one block to the gondola and just steps from world-class shopping, buzzy nightclubs and exquisite restaurants. And this was before they saw the two adjoining rooftop decks with 360-degree views of Ajax, Red Mountain, Independence Pass and Capitol Peak.

 

 

Within one week, the Macklowes had put the four-bedroom townhome under contract, thrilled with their light-filled, showstopper abode. Yet the home, built in 2012, didn’t quite live up to their New York City mod style, with its dated Swiss alpine accents and mountainy finishes. They decided to fully gut and remodel the 5,200-square-foot penthouse, hiring local interior designer Karen White to oversee the renovation and bring a cohesive look to the space and infuse it with luxury.

 

 

“They didn’t want the typical modern mountain look,” remembers White. “They wanted color on everything except the walls, which they wanted painted gallery white for their artwork. We designed a green velvet sleeper sofa, a vibrant blue sectional couch, aubergine dining chairs and navy leather barstools. It’s modern glam.”

 

 

It was move-in ready in March of 2022, and the result is exceptional, a timeless blend of custom and high-end designer pieces (think Christian Liaigre and Cassina), a Bulthaup kitchen, European hardwood floors by Arrigoni Woods—and Kettal furniture, a Danver outdoor kitchen and Tuuci umbrellas on the highest rooftop terrace allowed in the City of Aspen. “We are a design-focused household,” says Billy, a real estate developer. “We’re inspired by clean lines, form and function, and minimalism.”

 

 

The Macklowes and their two daughters divide their time between their Manhattan residence, a sprawling estate in Sagaponack in the Hamptons, and Aspen, noting the similarities between the three properties in feeling, vibe, nature and ethos. But the penthouse was designed to be more durable and less precious, as it is a mountain home with a lot of foot traffic and active, outdoorsy guests, says Julie, who was born in Aspen and lived there until age 12. “We love the pops of color and wanted it to be fun and whimsical. It feels super modern and chic, but with its own charm and character,” she adds.

 

Although White acknowledges some of the challenges with the remodel—for example, the hot tub and much of the furniture had to be air-lifted into the unit with a crane, with the city’s approval at every turn—she says it was exciting to design a home that took a clear departure from the neutral palette of today’s modern mountain houses. “The Macklowes were high energy and dynamic,” says White. “It’s fun to do something with color and vibrancy. It really is an extraordinary home for Aspen.”

 

 

And yes, while the prime location of the townhome speaks volumes, it’s the feeling and flow of the interior that makes it even more special, the Macklowes agree. “The middle floor is the central nervous system of the house with the kitchen and living spaces,” says Billy. “When people want their own space, they can have their own hideaways, but when everyone comes together, it’s simply gracious and accommodating.”

 

Interior Design: Karen White Interior Design
Builder: RA Nelson
Art Consultant: Narcissus Arts
Kitchen Design: Bulthaup

 

Connect with the Shook Detterick Team to hear more about this exclusive listing in downtown Aspen.