Sought after for his encyclopedic knowledge of furniture history—and his ability to blend styles seamlessly—Denver interior designer Jeffrey P. Elliott creates interior spaces that are both simple and elegant. Originally an aspiring photographer, Elliott landed in Denver 25 years ago and promptly started waiting tables. During a slow lunch shift, he picked up a copy of Architectural Digest. “Flipping through that magazine, I thought maybe I could get a career building collections of furniture and art.” So he enrolled in the Interior Design Institute of Denver. Today, Elliott works with a full roster of devoted clients—both residential and commercial—who are drawn to his clean approach to design. jeffreypelliott.com

Inside Jeff’s Mind

“Let’s say I’m doing a Georgian house: The furniture should relate to the Federal period and Empire period all the way to Neoclassicism. And furniture from the ’30s and ’40s would work, as would furniture from the ’90s—basically anything graceful and leggy.”

5280 Home Summer 2014
More From The Issue

Best Find

Table lamp made with Ugo Zaccagnini pottery. “Mid-century Italian pottery can add color and history to a space. Ugo Zaccagnini pieces are becoming collectible and can still be found at reasonable prices.”
Table M Lamp Restoration, 1309 S. Inca St.,303-936-1425, tablem.com

Favorite Local Artist

Nathan Abels. “His work is calm, thought-provoking, and poetic.”
“Desert Sage,” Rule Gallery, 3254 Walnut St., 303-800-6776, rulegallery.com, nathanabels.com

Go-to Piece

Corvo chair by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance for Bernhardt Design, starting at $700.
Diaz Group, 3150 Walnut St.,303-777-7665, diazgroupco.com

Design Rules

1. “Never paint a ceiling white unless there is crown molding. People think it makes a room look bigger, but unless you have those moldings, you’re better off with one color on the walls and ceiling.”

2. “I prefer dark flooring and light floor coverings.”

3. “Keep it simple. Whether it’s traditional or modern, I like it simple.”

4. “?‘The essentials,’ to me, means if you pulled one thing out of the room, it would look incomplete.”