I’m new here—that is, I’m not new to Denver or its design community, but new to 5280 Home. As I settle into my role as editor of this beautiful magazine, I have to pinch myself. It’s a job that combines so many of my passions: storytelling, design, the comforts of home, creative souls, and a city that has shaped me in indelible ways.

I’m especially thrilled to highlight the interior designers, architects, makers, business owners, and artists who make our city a more lovely place to live—and to do it alongside a talented team of photographers, stylists, designers, writers, and editors.

5280 Home October/November 2019
More From The Issue

To help you get to know me a bit better, some of those colleagues used their keen interviewing skills to grill me about all things design. So, here goes nothing:

My style is: Always evolving. Right now, I’m drawn to furniture in midmod forms, and the dusty hues and geometric patterns of the Southwest.

Design kryptonite: Rugs. I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time scouring websites for rugs in all shapes, sizes, and styles. I love the artistry of a well-made rug, and the warmth and texture it brings to a space.

Best design advice: Every time I look longingly at a blank wall in my home, I can hear my grandma say, “Patience is a virtue.” Though she never intended for this sentiment to apply to design (she typically muttered it when I stepped anywhere near her strawberry-shaped cookie jar before dinner), it’s the voice of reason when I’m tempted to buy art or decor solely as a means to
fill space.

Color crush: Although my closet is full of black clothes, I gravitate toward soothing shades of green.

Favorite design element in my home: I have always loved the character and sense of mystery possessed by old homes. When my boyfriend and I walked through our 1924 brick bungalow for the first time, I swooned over the living room archway and creaky hardwood floors—and averted my eyes from the neon-yellow bathroom walls.

Coveted design skill: Not sure if this classifies as a design skill per se, but I am determined to learn the mystifying art of keeping houseplants alive. Any and all advice is welcome.

Proudest DIY: For a temporary fix, I refinished my master bathroom’s chrome hardware with an oil-rubbed-bronze hue for a more modern-farmhouse look. The wonders of elbow grease and spray paint!

Biggest indulgence: Furniture that feels as good as it looks, and Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream.

Most horrifying design mistake: When I was 11 years old, I used flower-shaped sponges to paint my walls in bright pink, lime green, and canary yellow. It was a Lisa Frank–inspired disaster.

Design pet peeve: Lifeless spaces! Your doctor’s office should be sterile; your home should be a reflection of your personality.

Now that you know more about me, I’d love to get to know you. What do you want to see more or less of in the pages of 5280 Home? Which local makers, artists, and design sources are on your radar? What does “home” mean to you? I’m all ears at michelle@5280.com.