Read companion article: Contemporary Curves

by Joyanna Laughlin
Photos by Ron Forth

This may sound out of character coming from a man who runs Stammler Imports, Boulder’s Audi dealership, but Bonino loves the convenience of loft living. He also travels often and enjoys locking the door and knowing his home is secure.

A few years ago, Bonino owned a north Boulder home, but felt like it owned him. He always had to mow or work on the place, which left no time to enjoy his mountain getaway in Vail. He’d lived in downtown Boulder before and loved it, so buying a loft was a natural compromise.

Bonino enjoys his loft so much that he bought another one that’s under construction at Canyon Boulevard and Broadway. “Urban living is pretty wonderful,” he says.

Facing north with a mountain view to the northwest, Bonino’s loft is chic, clean-lined and clutter-free. The inspired design was created by Kirsten Sales, co-owner with her husband, Mark, of KAS Interior Design in Denver. Sales describes the 1,550-square-foot space as a “transitional home” that incorporates clean lines and warm tones.

“I was trying to create a gentleman’s loft,” she explains, “with masculine tones in the fabric and art that are interesting and have texture. I wanted it to look like he’s collected things over time, and that he’s lived there for a while.”

Since a loft is, by nature, a large open space, it’s always challenging to create the impression of separate spaces, yet retain the openness that makes a loft so attractive. “The best way to define spaces within lofts is to change the colors throughout,” Sales says.

That strategy works effectively in Bonino’s loft, starting with the entryway, where a gold-toned accent wall greets visitors at the front door. Covered in grass-cloth wallpaper, the wall defines the entry and directs traffic either to the right—where the dining room, living room and kitchen are—or to the left, which leads to the bedroom, bathroom and office.

Again, color is a forceful element in the dining and living rooms, which are painted in rich, warm, chocolate-brown tones, as well as a muted gold with earthy undertones. Despite the gold’s brilliance, “I use it as a neutral in a lot of homes,” Sales says.

Separating Spaces

To separate the bedroom from the entryway and create privacy from the rest of the loft, Sales hung a set of custom, semi-sheer retractable panels in front of the bed. She also added a cool gray color to the gold and chocolate tones to create a sense of restfulness in the room. A structural beam that Bonino and Sales agreed to leave exposed frames the rear wall in a dramatic “V” shape. Beyond the bedroom and bathroom is Bonino’s home office, where a map of Italy hangs to remind him of the place where many of his family are from.

The designer-client relationship was a key factor in the loft’s successful design, Bonino says. While he originally planned to hire a Boulder designer, “I interviewed Kirsten and in 10 minutes I knew she was the one.” KAS Interior Design will also work on his newest loft.

Because Sales worked as the intermediary in the relationship with the general contractor, it freed up Bonino to run his business. “I did one design and Mike approved everything in a half-hour,” she says. “He was a pleasure to work with; he told me what he wanted and let me do my job.” That job took 10 weeks, from initial consultation to installation, during which time Sales also had a baby.

When it was came time to finally see his new loft, Bonino walked in and was greeted by lit candles and folded napkins on the dining table—the perfect welcome, he says.

“The biggest kick for me was to create a home from a blank canvas,” Bonino says. ”Home is very important to me, but I wouldn’t have a clue how to do it myself. What Kirsten created is such a joy to come home to.”

Joyanna Laughlin is a Boulder-based freelance writer and poet. While she thinks lofts can be fantastic, her golden retriever staunchly defends the joys of a large backyard.

© 2006 Brock Publishing Company
homes@brockpub.com