Get to know one of The Porches most sought after designers
From the exterior, The Porches of Steamboat is set apart from other properties by our stunning landscaping that blends native grasses with stunning florals. During the winter months, our twinkle lit laden spruce trees provide a warm ambiance to cold, winter nights. Take a step inside one of our homes and the quality craftsmanship is made clear from the exposed wood beams and hardwood floors to the state-of-the-art kitchens.
Even without furnishings, these houses have a warm and welcoming feel about them, but it’s our interior designer Holly who transforms these houses into homes. We caught up with Holly to learn more about what inspires her designs.
Tell us about yourself:
I am originally from Texas and I moved to Steamboat in 2007. After a series of life altering events, I decided to make a change in my life and the mountains were calling.
What do you love about living in the Yampa Valley?
I love everything about the Valley. I adore the Rocky Mountains. My parents used to bring me and my brother to ski each year and I always dreamed of having a home at the base of these gorgeous mountains one day.
I love the people and the way they live life mostly outdoors. I love how they care for themselves and give more time to things that matter versus a fast paced, hurried lifestyle that one might have while living in the city. I laugh that is takes me 10 minutes on any given day to get anywhere I need to be.
Tell us about your business:
I began a career in design when my youngest son went to first grade. We were building our dream home at the time and I began doing most of the scheduling and working alongside the contractors. At that time, many of our friends were building too and we all found ourselves disenchanted with the experience. Thinking that I ought to give it shot myself, I bought a lot and built a spec home. I ended up selling that home for more than the asking price and I have been in building and design for the last 30 years.
I have built hundreds of homes, built sub-divisions, designed thousands of projects and been written up in Southern Living Magazine as a top female builder. I adore the creative part of design and I love the finished result. I have made many lifelong friends over the years in which I have built & designed for. I consider it such a joy & privilege to assist my clients in their journey of what is such a very important decision in their lives. Giving them a beautiful space they feel is all theirs and unique to their personality.
I have been blessed to design all over the world but the last few years I have been in Belize.
I have been honored to be very involved in the country though my company, The Blue Water Collection, where we not only built and design new homes but also restaurants and hotels. In 2018, I designed and built a Southern Diner in Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) Belize named after my mother, Kay and her love of the 50’s. We built a diner in a country that had no idea what biscuits, gravy, grits or chicken fried steak were. It was an incredible challenge but fun and so very dear to my heart. Steamboat is however, my landing place, my happy place and my place where I breathe so strongly creative wise and family wise. Since my arrival in 2007, my two sons Matt & Coleman both moved here along with my brother, and his three sons, and recently my father has moved here too. I am basically surrounded by goodness all the time when I am home.
What inspires the designs you choose?
My clients always inspire me & the designs we choose. It all depends on who I am working with. Sometimes people have an idea but just do not know how to pull it all together and that is where I come in. Some clients give me full creative license. Design is not meant to intimidate, it is meant to take an individual’s inspiration and make it come alive.
What have you enjoyed about designing at The Porches?
The Porches has been one of my favorite places to design. I have loved designing for The Porches team over many years because one thing is clear about them, they have a clear vision of their desired outcome and it always revolves around the needs and expectations of the home owner and/or guest. They are always striving for the best quality and design, but also for the best experience for their guest and home owners. The Porches exude luxury with class and hold true to value. That is a very fine line and they do it very well. Their homes scream “family,” “friends,” and “comfort with luxury and value.” I love the different spaces they have designed and built in their homes. You can literally have one family or multiple families in a home and feel “at home with great spaces.”
Any trends you have seen recently?
The biggest trend lately is simplicity. The clean lines and more modern themes are really taking center stage. Honestly, trends are fine but the best trend is to really listen to your clients as that will always lead you to a timeless look which is where we all want to end up.
Any tips for someone trying to select pieces for their home?
Best tip I have is LOVE IT, don’t fill a space to fill it, leave it blank until you find that one piece that won’t let you forget about it. Don’t impulse buy, really take time to let a space resonate with you, after all you have to live with it and look at it. Make sure it captures your heart whether it’s a painting, kitchen table, headboard, lamp, night stand, chair, sofa, bedspread….you get it, just make sure you adore it!
For more information on Holly’s work please visit her website.