COLORADO RETREAT

Nestled in a ponderosa forest at 7,000 feet, this was Ellen’s first completed design project after college and internships. Sustainability was highly prioritized, from the beetle-kill pine beams and recycled denim cellulose insulation to the adobe radiant floors and mortise and tendon joinery. This house has endured extreme winters with heavy snow loads for the past twenty years and delighted the occupants with nearly daily sightings of deer, foxes, and sometimes bears.