This edition of our Designer Spotlight focuses on Kelly & Stone Architects, a design firm with locations in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Lake Tahoe, California. Their work came to our attention when we saw some of their projects at Martis Camp, a luxury community in the Lake Tahoe area.
TS: Diverse – we do a lot of different things. We design Hawaiian plantation style to mountain contemporary to modern and everything in between. Most often, it’s mountain contemporary.
HF: What are the most common requests from clients?
TS: I think a lot of our clientele really like blurring the distinctions between indoor and outdoor. We frequently get requests for window-wall systems where the climate allows. We also have a call for covered outdoor spaces/rooms that include hearth features and heaters in the ceiling to extend the outdoor living season. I would say that the great room floorplan is very much alive with a closely integrated kitchen/dining/great room and not much formal dining. I think people are drawn to our work because of our attention to details – specifically connections. By that, I mean we put a lot of thought into how one material meets another.
HF: Does any design challenge you’ve faced stand out? How did you address the challenge?
TS: We’ve recently penetrated a few markets in Hawaii. Creating designs in that vernacular has required a substantial change of gears. The timber has more delicate timber proportions, and open airy spaces are more human scale. As for materials, nearly everything is imported. I think in other markets, we take for granted how easy it was to get materials, where you can get everything by a truck or locally. We’ve looked at different project delivery methods – timber fabricators in the U.S. and Canada we do model sharing – they’re able to precut a timber package put in all in a container and deliver it just in time. Almost no projects in Hawaii involve imported stone, so local lava rock becomes a recurring material. Another new thing for us to consider in this market are the specific details for preventing termites.
HF: Do you get staff eagerly volunteering to work onsite for the Hawaii jobs?
TS: Definitely a lot of our staff is happy to be involved in those projects.
HF: What is your favorite part of the job?
TS: I think conceptual and schematic design, coming up with the initial vision. Also, I particularly enjoy designing micro details.
HF: What made you choose Hubbardton Forge lighting for the designs you shared with us?
TS: I think you guys do a really good job creating really compelling light fixtures. They’re all definitely in keeping with our general aesthetic.
HF: When it comes to lighting choices, do you have any set criteria you follow?
TS: Often budget is a driver. Hubbardton Forge is super-innovative and fairly affordable.
HF: What’s the one style trend that you wish would make a comeback?
TS: I suppose that we aren’t so concerned with what is or isn’t trending, but rather try to create more sensitive responses to a client’s vision. So it becomes more the story of the client and a unique design solution every time.
HF: Is there any current style trend you’d like to see go away?
TS: I’m not a giant fan of art deco.
HF: When working in a market like Martis Camp, does that make things easier or more difficult?
TS: Every home in Martis Camp we approach as a totally unique project. That’s not to say there are not some similarities in space planning. There’s a fairly stringent design review board in place as there well, that demands a very high standard of design. Thankfully, they’re pretty open to a multitude of design styles. But they command a pretty high level of architectural aptitude which keeps us on our game.
KSA’S PROJECTS FEATURE: LINK PENDANT, MOREAU PENDANT, CITYSCAPE LARGE LED PENDANT, EXOS LARGE DOUBLE SHADE PENDANT, AIRIS LARGE LOW VOLTAGE MINI PENDANT, AIRIS LARGE MINI PENDANT, BENTO LED PENDANT, ERLENMEYER MINI PENDANT, BANDED EXTRA LARGE OUTDOOR SCONCE & ERLENMEYER LARGE OUTDOOR SCONCE