From the curb, this newly built ranch-style house in Morrison’s Montane community blends in with its neighbors: Elements like neutral beige siding, white window trim, and contrasting stone accents adorn many of the facades. Though the planned community’s stipulations for a cohesive look didn’t leave much room for personal expression on the home’s exterior, homeowner Karen Taylor was eager to infuse the interiors with her spunky personality.

Luckily, she knew just the expert to call. Taylor, who owns a group of spas called Simply Massage, had previously tapped designer Olivia Grayson, principal and partner of Grayson & Christie Interior Design, to outfit her massage studios in Avon and Glenwood Springs. For those spaces, Grayson had created a universally appealing, calming aesthetic to please the spas’ varied clientele, but for Taylor, she had something more distinctive in mind. “She’s not afraid to be feminine and colorful—she has pink hair, after all,” Grayson says. “She’s a free-spirited woman who doesn’t want an overly contemporary or too-traditional look.”

5280 Home June/July 2022
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Dining room: Taylor and Grayson started with purple velvet chairs from Element Home, then had the drapes customized by Tailored Interiors. “Violet Poppy,” a painting by Lauren Adams, and the eye-catching Tam Tam pendant lamp with five shades, from Marset, round out the space. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Kitchen: A trio of oversized pendants from Rejuvenation complements a black island topped with Silestone’s Eternal Statuario quartz. Taupe cabinets with brass hardware are a warm contrast to the glossy white backsplash. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Main Bedroom: Cool, calm tones are balanced with whimsical touches, including turned bedposts, an ombré wood-bead chandelier, and a feathered floor lamp. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Guest Bedroom 1: Boulder-based textile artist Maryanne Quinn’s felted-wool aspen tree complements a teal four-poster bed from Room & Board. Quinn’s work also inspired the selection of a Blu Dot desk chair that’s fully upholstered in citron-colored felt. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.

At the onset of the building process, Grayson and Taylor selected neutral finishes from the developer’s inventory—handmade white tiles and taupe cabinets for the kitchen, wide-plank white-oak flooring, and Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray paint for every wall.

Then came the fun part: Grayson sprinkled in playful touches of green, purple, teal—and of course, pink—to pop against the quiet backdrop. The launching pad for the bold palette, a watercolor-esque wallcovering by artist Andrea Pramuk, flanks the living room’s modern fireplace surround and serves as the home’s focal point.

This artistic vibe continues throughout the home with colorful art pieces—some pulled from Taylor’s personal collection, others found by Grayson—statement lighting, and custom window treatments by Tailored Interiors. In a guest bedroom, a naturally dyed felted-wool artwork by Boulder artist Maryanne Quinn complements a teal four-poster bed. The dining room’s custom ombré drapes play off the violet tones found in velvet-upholstered chairs from Element Home and a floral painting by Lauren Adams, while sculptural pendants from Marset hang overhead. And in the primary bedroom, an ombré wood-bead chandelier and painterly blue-green window treatments set a calming tone.

Powder Room: The powder room—one of Grayson’s favorite spaces in the house—includes a psychedelic green-and-gold wallpaper by artist Beth Nicholas for Area Environments. The “splat”-shaped Kenley sconce in antique brass is from Arteriors. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Office: Turned legs on the desk and floor lamp, abstract artwork, and a handmade bamboo silk rug add personality to homeowner Karen Taylor’s home office. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Guest bedroom 2: A mauve-velvet bed frame from West Elm, art from the homeowner’s collection, and playful striping on the bedding creates a pleasant environment for visitors. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.
Main Bathroom: Grayson’s recipe for a perfect self-care sanctuary includes brass hardware, earthy green cabinets, and a freestanding soaking tub from Kohler. Photo by Kimberly Gavin.

The result is a playful and pretty yet totally functional space where Taylor can work—a bonus room on the lower level now acts as an at-home massage room—unwind with ease, and host her adult children when they visit.

“It’s her home base for her business as well as her sanctuary,” Grayson says. “She has a big family, so we made comfortable spaces where they can come back and feel like they’re at home. There’s nothing too precious she has to worry about, but still many interesting, colorful, and beautiful things to look at.” After all, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Design Pros
Interior Design – Grayson & Christie Interior Design
Interior Construction – NJJ Interiors

This article was originally published in 5280 Home June/July 2022.
Rebecca Bratburd
Rebecca Bratburd
Rebecca Bratburd is a contributing writer for 5280 and pens the monthly Hot Properties column, which showcases the best luxury listings in the Denver metro area.