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Houzz Tour: Colorado Forever Home Is a Family Affair
The mountain home was designed for gatherings and to make the most of views of Pikes Peak and surroundings
The design of this Colorado Springs, Colorado, home — perched above the Garden of the Gods park and with views of Pikes Peak — was a family affair. Architect and interior designer Brit Epperson and her architect husband, Daniel, designed the home for Brit’s parents, Debbie and Curtis Karber. Brit’s talented brother, custom furniture designer and maker Barrett Karber, pitched in with furnishings and details.
The views and natural surroundings were the inspiration for the architecture and finishes. Brit, Daniel and Barrett worked remotely from Northern California, and they made some special shopping trips for the home when Debbie and Curtis came to visit. The result is a contemporary house nestled into the hillside, with spaces focused on family gatherings and the expansive views of the spectacular surroundings.
The views and natural surroundings were the inspiration for the architecture and finishes. Brit, Daniel and Barrett worked remotely from Northern California, and they made some special shopping trips for the home when Debbie and Curtis came to visit. The result is a contemporary house nestled into the hillside, with spaces focused on family gatherings and the expansive views of the spectacular surroundings.
Barrett created unique door handles for inside and outside the front entry, seen here. He chose leftover wood from a walnut slab he used to make the dining table.
“The house is tucked in the hill down from the road, and there’s a processional approach from the driveway to this entry,” Daniel says. The retaining wall on the right is composed of sandstone rocks, which are found all over the property and helped inspire the interior color palette.
“The house is tucked in the hill down from the road, and there’s a processional approach from the driveway to this entry,” Daniel says. The retaining wall on the right is composed of sandstone rocks, which are found all over the property and helped inspire the interior color palette.
Inside the house, a terrazzo tile floor provides a durable entry surface. “With such clean lines in the architecture, Brit and Debbie looked for vintage pieces to soften things,” Daniel says. “Also, Debbie drove a lime green Camaro for years. We decided the house needed ‘lime green Camaro moments’ of funkiness. Nothing was to be too precious in here.”
From that compressed entry space, one turns to enter a soaring two-story area that includes the staircase. The lower run of stairs are also terrazzo. Then the flooring changes to oiled white oak, which was used throughout the home. Cascading pendant lights draw the eye up to the high ceiling.
Brit oriented the house so the main public spaces, including this living room, the dining room and the kitchen, had expansive views of the Rocky Mountains. Large windows and doors keep the views wide open.
Browse sectional sofas in the Houzz Shop
Browse sectional sofas in the Houzz Shop
One of Debbie’s must-have-nots was a TV in the living room. “They wanted the house to focus on quality time with family — gathering, meals and talking,” Daniel says. “There are three guest rooms for their three children. This is a hearth moment, a gathering moment and a talking moment. This family loves to talk.”
The fireplace makes this important space inviting. The surround is marble, one of the natural materials Brit used throughout the home.
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The fireplace makes this important space inviting. The surround is marble, one of the natural materials Brit used throughout the home.
Find a local fireplace contractor
While TVs aren’t allowed on the first floor, music certainly is. The sideboard contains a record player that’s connected to the home’s Sonos system.
When Curtis and Debbie were visiting Brit, Daniel and Barrett in California, they stopped by arborist and sawyer Evan Shively’s mill, Arborica, to pick a tree for the dining table. “He has a gem of a mill, and they picked this walnut. It’s from a felled California tree he’d been drying for years,” Daniel says. Barrett crafted the table, hand-turning its five central legs.
When Curtis and Debbie were visiting Brit, Daniel and Barrett in California, they stopped by arborist and sawyer Evan Shively’s mill, Arborica, to pick a tree for the dining table. “He has a gem of a mill, and they picked this walnut. It’s from a felled California tree he’d been drying for years,” Daniel says. Barrett crafted the table, hand-turning its five central legs.
Another gathering moment is just outside the living room. The fire pit area has a view of Pikes Peak (on the right side of the photo). The clearing is nestled into the pines, firs and junipers that grow on the rocky hillside. The fire pit has a gas line to fuel it.
The kitchen is also an important part of the family gathering space. “Debbie owned a doughnut shop in Fairview, Oklahoma, where she and Curtis grew up and raised their family, for years,” Daniel says. “She is an incredible baker — she always made angel food cakes for the kids on their birthdays, and cheesecake is her claim to fame. She’d always had tiled countertops at home. Having marble countertops to roll out dough and work on her baking was always a dream of hers.”
Marble was a perfect fit for this kitchen not only for Debbie’s baking, but also because the design palette focused on natural materials inspired by the mountain surroundings. The material will patina and show imperfections over time, and this is a family that embraces that look.
The kitchen is set up so family members can be together in here as well as nearby. The island has a generous seating side. And the marble range wall backsplash and waterfall island countertop provide a nice view within the open plan from the other rooms. The floor plan also allows views out to the Rockies from the kitchen.
Shop for a brass kitchen faucet
Marble was a perfect fit for this kitchen not only for Debbie’s baking, but also because the design palette focused on natural materials inspired by the mountain surroundings. The material will patina and show imperfections over time, and this is a family that embraces that look.
The kitchen is set up so family members can be together in here as well as nearby. The island has a generous seating side. And the marble range wall backsplash and waterfall island countertop provide a nice view within the open plan from the other rooms. The floor plan also allows views out to the Rockies from the kitchen.
Shop for a brass kitchen faucet
There’s a special spot in the kitchen for Curtis. “He has always had an espresso machine,” Daniel says. “He gets up every morning and makes lattes for Debbie and him. It’s an important morning ritual for them.”
The espresso bar also has a bar sink and wine storage. “It’s a great spot for starting the day and ending the day,” Daniel says.
The espresso bar also has a bar sink and wine storage. “It’s a great spot for starting the day and ending the day,” Daniel says.
The powder room is tucked behind the kitchen. The tones of the unglazed terra-cotta tile look plucked straight from the sandstone outside. The onyx countertop has dominant veining patterns. And rather than being perfect circles, the mirror and sink are just a little off.
“The powder room is definitely one of the ‘lime green Camaro moments,’” Daniel says. “It has beautiful natural finishes, but it’s definitely funky.”
“The powder room is definitely one of the ‘lime green Camaro moments,’” Daniel says. “It has beautiful natural finishes, but it’s definitely funky.”
Debbie and Curtis’ room is on the first level. As this is their forever home, the location was an aging-in-place consideration.
Wall-mounted nightstands and pendant lights maintain a clean-lined look. Brit designed the velvet channel-tufted headboard and it extends across the entire wall. Barrett built the bed using leftover marble from the kitchen to fashion the two legs on the end. Debbie made the fringed coverlet herself.
Wall-mounted nightstands and pendant lights maintain a clean-lined look. Brit designed the velvet channel-tufted headboard and it extends across the entire wall. Barrett built the bed using leftover marble from the kitchen to fashion the two legs on the end. Debbie made the fringed coverlet herself.
The other side of the room has a toasty Malm wood stove and armchairs that are as fuzzy as a teddy bear. Tall windows and doors allow big views of the pines and the Rockies beyond.
These windows continue into the primary bathroom, where the minimalist freestanding tub also has a great view of the mountains.
One of Debbie’s must-haves was a dressing table area, which Brit placed at the far end of the wall-mounted vanity. The extra-high backsplash meets a large mirror, while globe lights extend down from above. The funky factor comes in through the curved vintage chair and hair-on-hide rug from Kyle Bunting.
The primary bathroom also has a steam shower with glass on two sides.
Upstairs, there’s a spot for watching movies and football games in this large family room-game room. The room has a chic 1970s lounge vibe and is full of comfortable furniture with room for the whole family.
Large doors slide open to a balcony with a fire pit. This space is above the living room and also enjoys the Rocky Mountain views.
Large doors slide open to a balcony with a fire pit. This space is above the living room and also enjoys the Rocky Mountain views.
Barrett crafted this game table in the family room from ash burl wood. Brass light fixtures float overhead.
Brit designed this moody-yet-playful room for herself and Daniel. “I’d say the green room with the storybook-like wallpaper is another ‘lime green Camaro’ moment in the house,” Daniel says.
A wood-and-leather swivel chair, artwork and another hair-on-hide rug add to the funky feel of the guest room.
Daniel estimates it took about six years from the first sketch of the home to move-in readiness. This was due to changing lots and evolving design ideas, as well as pandemic-related delays and costs. But it was well worth the wait. The final result of this family effort is that Debbie and Curtis’ forever home is a welcoming hub where far-flung family members can gather to spend quality time together.
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Daniel estimates it took about six years from the first sketch of the home to move-in readiness. This was due to changing lots and evolving design ideas, as well as pandemic-related delays and costs. But it was well worth the wait. The final result of this family effort is that Debbie and Curtis’ forever home is a welcoming hub where far-flung family members can gather to spend quality time together.
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Retirees Curtis and Debbie Karber
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Size: 3,064 square feet (285 square meters); four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designer: Studio Plow
“This house was a labor of love,” Daniel says. Seen here is the back of the house, which faces west toward the Rockies, including Pikes Peak. The front is located down from the street, as the lot slopes from the street down to the fire pit seating area visible in this photo. The south side of the house overlooks red rock formations in the Garden of the Gods park.
Brit took the lead on the project while Daniel focused on the technical aspects, such as the lighting plan and construction drawings. “Of course, I’m also always there for moral support,” he says with a laugh.
The exterior of the home is a mix of stucco and dark metal siding, with large windows and doors. The glass has a high R-value for energy efficiency, and the exterior materials were chosen with fire resistance in mind. There’s also an ample defensible zone around the house. This means a lack of combustible materials, such as plantings, close to the structure.
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