A Spring Break in Colorado: How Travel Continues to Shape My Approach to Design
This past couple of weeks, I stepped away from projects, drawings, and client meetings and headed to Colorado with my family. What I didn’t expect was just how much the experience would reinforce the way I think about designing homes.
We traveled as a full group, my husband and kids, my brother and his young family (including celebrating his youngest turning one on the trip), and my dad, who at 82 shows up with curiosity and energy, along with his girlfriend. Three generations, different rhythms, different needs, all sharing space.
We spent time in Denver, Boulder, and Breckenridge, moving between city, foothills, and mountains. Each place had a different pace, a different light, and a different way of living. And in between all of that, I found myself thinking about design constantly.
Not in a formal way, but in a lived-in, observational way.
Designing for Real Life, Not Just Aesthetic
Traveling with a group like this makes one thing very clear, a home has to work.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about flow, flexibility, and comfort.
In Denver, we were moving in and out, grabbing things quickly, navigating mornings with kids and coffee and everyone heading in different directions. In Boulder, things slowed down. We lingered more. Breckenridge was about gathering, coming back together after long days outside.
Each environment highlighted how important it is for spaces to support different types of living. Open areas that allow people to come together, but also smaller, quieter moments where someone can step away.
It reinforced something I think about often: a well-designed home anticipates how people actually live, not just how a room looks in a photo.
Light Changes Everything
Colorado light is different.
It’s clearer, sharper, and constantly shifting, especially in the mountains. Morning light in Breckenridge felt entirely different from late afternoon light in Boulder.
It reminded me how much light defines a space. Not just where windows are placed, but how materials respond to that light. Soft fabrics versus structured ones. Matte finishes versus reflective ones.
It’s something I always consider in design, but experiencing it so distinctly across different environments reinforced how critical it is to get it right.
Spaces That Bring People Together
Some of the best moments of the trip happened in the simplest settings. Sitting around a table, gathering in a living room at the end of the day, watching the kids play while the adults talked nearby.
No one was thinking about design in those moments, but design was supporting everything.
Seating that allowed people to face each other. Enough room for everyone without feeling crowded. A sense of ease that made it natural to stay a little longer.
Those are the spaces I always want to create. Ones that don’t demand attention, but make connection easier.
Layering for Comfort
Breckenridge especially brought this into focus.
After being outside in the cold, you become very aware of what makes a space feel warm and inviting. It’s not just temperature, it’s texture. Layers. Materials that feel good to touch.
Throws that are actually within reach. Seating that invites you to sit, not just look at it. Lighting that softens the space as the day winds down.
Comfort is not accidental. It’s designed.
Designing Across Generations
Having three generations together highlighted something I think about often in my work.
Homes need to work for different people at different stages of life.
My kids moved through spaces completely differently than my dad did. What felt intuitive and easy for one person didn’t always feel that way for another.
Good design bridges that gap. It creates spaces that feel natural and accessible without calling attention to it.
A Reset, and a Reminder
Stepping away always gives perspective.
This trip wasn’t about design, but it reminded me why I care so much about it. Because at its best, design supports life as it’s actually lived.
It creates spaces where people can gather, slow down, connect, and feel at ease.
That’s what I came back thinking about. And that’s what I carry into every project.
