Discover An Animated, Colorful Colorado Abode

As the saying goes, good fences make good neighbors. In this case, good neighbors make good design happen—at least, that’s what resulted when one of Andrea Monath Schumacher’s longtime clients encouraged his friends living across the street to tap her for their new build in Cherry Hills Village. The couple, who have four children, happily accepted this directive, and as they’d arrived from out of state with few possessions, they gave the imaginative designer carte blanche to dive into every detail of their new residence. Monath Schumacher and her team, working closely with architect Todd Remington and general contractor Wes Mitchell, had a hand in the interior architecture, the lighting, the fireplace and bar designs, the art curation—“truly everything down to the accessories resting on the mantel,” Monath Schumacher says.

The clients were very open to color, the designer shares, and eager to craft an animated, fun, one-of-a-kind environment for their family. “They’re young and really sophisticated, and they were willing to take some risks,” Monath Schumacher notes. A jumping-off point sparked the project’s palette early on as the couple fell for a vivacious fabric patterned with pheasants and florals rendered in inky reds and blues (this textile is now prominently featured on the living and dining room draperies). The designer drew from the fabric’s hues for touches like the living room’s cobalt antler chandelier and the kitchen island’s deep mulberry base. The husband’s office also nods back to the palette of the fabric: Rendered in unexpected blue walls given a glossy lacquered finish, it stands apart from the rest of the residence. “He wanted it to be a world in and of itself,” the designer comments of the singular retreat, which fills the third floor and caps the home. “It’s a vibrant, luxurious place to work and feel energized in.”

Unexpected vignettes are another through line for the home and part of Monath Schumacher’s signature style. “I always try to include antiques, vintage items and other found pieces—things that seem to have a story behind them,” the designer notes. Then, she’ll lob them into a setting where that story is highlighted. To wit, timeworn, salvaged architectural columns usher guests through the entry, contrasting with the area’s gleaming blue lacquered walls, a finish that sets the tone for the home and hints to the look of the husband’s office. Within the kitchen, the extensive custom millwork exudes an old-world appeal (“The refrigerator looks more like an armoire,” Monath Schumacher comments.) while brass snake handles add an edgy appeal. The range, another standout within a home filled with them, holds its own thanks to a cheerful cherry-red finish.

“What makes this house unique is that there are no formal spaces, only larger gathering spaces inside and out,” notes Remington. “It’s a home that really fosters a sense of community and togetherness.” And the family’s lower-level hangout space may be the most magnetic of those gathering spots. “We created kind of a personal speakeasy there,” Monath Schumacher points out. See the deep-red cork wallcovering, the colorful and cheeky bunny wallpaper that envelops a banquette or the 1968 photograph of The Rolling Stones at the Sarum Chase mansion in London, all of which add a touch of swagger to the decor.

While the family has since settled in, their collaboration with Monath Schumacher continues. Vibrant color and playful patterns, for these homeowners, are a lifestyle now.