Designing this expansive residence in Suncadia was truly a privilege, as every detail was thoughtfully curated to craft the perfect retreat for family and friends. From the outset, it was clear that the Grand Retreat Vacation Home needed to seamlessly blend luxury with relaxed entertaining. Consequently, the moment guests step inside, they are greeted by a warm, inviting space filled with exciting activities that delight both the young and the young at heart, creating an environment where lasting memories are naturally made.
At this scale and with this many entertainment environments, the risk is that the home reads as a sequence of themed experiences. Speakeasy. Game room. Formal dining. Each trying to be its own statement. The result in homes like this is that none of the rooms feel like they belong together.
The second challenge was the staircase. Three levels of circulation in a vacation home means the staircase is the most-used element in the building. It needed to function without thought and read as a design feature, not a structural necessity.
The kitchen brief was also specific: the family cooks at scale on vacation, which means a single island is inadequate. Two full-size islands operating simultaneously was the performance requirement.
Design Decisions
The speakeasy below grade was designed as a complete room identity. Materials shift as you descend: lighter on the main level, heavier and richer at the bottom. Velvet upholstery, lacquered millwork, neon signs with phrases that belong to this family. The disco ball was specified for the room’s scale and installed at the correct height to function. It is intentional.
The poker suite within the speakeasy has custom banquette seating and a table designed for the number of players this family actually gathers. Backlit art panels behind the bar and in the lounge zone are integrated art lighting — the art is illuminated from within the panel rather than from above.
Double kitchen islands run parallel. The interior island handles prep: cutting, assembly, a second cooking surface. The exterior island faces the living space and seats six. Both islands are fully functional. The kitchen runs at a capacity level a standard residential design cannot match.
The three-level staircase uses a consistent railing profile and material language throughout. Wood treads and steel rail read as contemporary without reading as industrial. At three levels, the staircase is visible from the entry — the proportions and finish quality set the design standard for the entire home.
