After a quarter-century of collaborative design work spanning four home projects, renowned interior designer Kerry Joyce has developed such an intimate understanding of one Los Angeles family's evolving aesthetic preferences that he can now anticipate their desires before they voice them. The family's latest venture, a striking modern industrial residence nestled within Aspen's forested landscape, represents both the culmination of their design journey and a bold departure into contemporary architecture.

"They're busy people who trust me," Joyce explains about his long-standing relationship with the art-collecting family. "Since I've done so many of their houses in the past, I know what to do, and when I go in a slightly different direction, they allow me to do it because they know in the end it will be successful." This trust proved essential as the family transitioned from their traditionally-rooted style through a transitional phase to embrace the fully modern aesthetic of their newest Colorado retreat.

The 15,000-square-foot custom residence, designed by Seattle-based architecture firm Olson Kundig, marks a dramatic stylistic evolution for the family. While Joyce describes himself as "a modernist at heart," he carefully balanced contemporary design elements with the clients' explicit request to ensure the spaces remained "cozy and comfortable." The challenge was creating an environment that captured Aspen's distinctive character without falling into stereotypical mountain home clichés.

Tom Kundig, owner and principal at Olson Kundig, was immediately struck by the site's unique qualities despite its proximity to Aspen's bustling downtown area. "At first impression, I was amazed at how rural and quiet the site felt," he recalls. "Aspen isn't a huge city, but it is active, and it is busy. Here, at the end of the road on the river, it almost felt like stepping back in time, or stepping into another world. You're elevated away from the noise, and from the activity, so it creates this sense of refuge."

The architectural approach embraces industrial materials and forms, utilizing a sophisticated palette of dark steel and board-form concrete complemented by extensive window installations that forge an immediate connection with the surrounding landscape. The earthy browns and grays of the building materials were deliberately chosen to harmonize with the verdant forest setting, allowing the structure to integrate seamlessly with its natural environment rather than dominate it.

Flexibility emerged as a primary design consideration given the family's intention to spend extended periods at the property. "The primary goal was to create a space for gathering," Kundig explains. "[The clients] are very social and love spending time with their family and friends. They wanted a home where they could host dinners, parties, or weekend trips. Ultimately, this home is really designed for that human connection."

The home's layout reflects this emphasis on hospitality and family interaction. An expansive garden-lined auto court creates an impressive arrival sequence, welcoming guests under a sleek steel canopy before leading them through the front entrance into a gallery-like foyer. Here, a custom chandelier by Andreea Braescu introduces organic elements that soften the architecture's linear precision. The primary suite occupies the structure's northern wing, while kitchen and communal living areas anchor the opposite end of the main level.

Upstairs accommodations include a versatile playroom, a private office, multiple guest suites, and a specially designed bunk room that provides ample space for grandchildren to play and spread out during family visits. A glassed-in walkway on the ground level creates a seamless connection between the main residence and a separate guest wing, which features two additional suites and a shared sitting area for visitor comfort.

Joyce's interior design philosophy centered on honoring the natural setting while introducing contemporary sophistication. "I wanted something that recalled the forest, the colors of autumn," he explains, noting how the generous window installations create forest backdrops in virtually every room. "I always believe in honoring the garden view, or the view of nature, because that's the thing, to me, that really makes the house sing."

To achieve this vision, Joyce selected custom furnishings crafted from premium materials including oiled walnut and cerused oak, upholstered in rich autumnal-hued leather and mohair fabrics. Deep-pile cashmere and mohair rugs add luxurious softness underfoot while maintaining the warm, earthy color palette. "The furniture was classic modern with many Brazilian influences that were sometimes just a touch shy of being brutal," Joyce notes about the carefully curated aesthetic balance.

Recognizing the importance of both form and function, Joyce implemented an unusual "sit-testing" process for all upholstered pieces. His team constructed prototypes of every custom furniture item to ensure optimal comfort and correct proportional relationships before final production. This meticulous attention to usability reflects the family's intention to live fully in the space rather than simply showcase it.

Two distinct flooring materials help define different areas throughout the home: wide-plank oak creates warmth in living spaces, while ground and polished concrete provides durability and contemporary edge in high-traffic areas. Joyce's affinity for patina appears throughout the custom elements, creating a timeless quality that prevents the modern aesthetic from feeling cold or temporary.

Bronze details serve as artful accents throughout the residence, from custom nightstands in the primary bedroom to the living room's remarkable burnished logs cast from actual wood pieces. These thoughtful touches complement the family's sophisticated modern art collection while adding layers of visual interest and textural variety to the streamlined architectural framework.

Even utilitarian spaces receive careful design attention, as evidenced in the basement level's back-of-house amenities. A professional catering kitchen supports the family's entertaining ambitions, while a custom steel and glass wine storage system functions as both practical storage and sculptural statement piece, rivaling many of the clients' contemporary artworks in visual impact.

Both Kundig and Joyce emphasize how the family's extensive modern art collection influenced fundamental design decisions throughout the project. "Art is a big part of their lives—not just collecting it, but really living with it, being curious about it, experiencing it every day," Kundig observes. "From the very beginning, this was an art house as much as it was a family house. The interesting challenge was balancing the art with the landscape."

The powerful natural setting required that artworks possess sufficient visual strength to either anchor axial views or integrate seamlessly with the broader landscape experience. A prime example sits at one end of the swimming pool: a white angular sculpture visible from the kitchen creates striking contrast against the forest backdrop while echoing the white upholstery on nearby patio furniture.

Throughout the interior, contemporary works hang in hallways and bedroom walls, providing unexpected colorful encounters as residents and guests move through the home. "We thought carefully about how volumes open up, how circulation spines lead you to certain moments, and where those little places of refuge could become homes for art," Kundig explains about the intentional integration of display spaces within the architectural flow.

Beyond its role as an impressive backdrop for art and entertaining, the residence succeeds as a true family retreat where lasting memories can flourish. Both designer and architect worked to create spaces that facilitate meaningful human connections while maintaining the property's sense of refuge from urban pressures. "The spaces aren't just about size or ceiling height," Kundig concludes. "They're about how you feel in relation to the people around you, and also in relation to the larger landscape beyond."