Sometimes Dreams Do Come True
The Perfect Place for a Couple Who Loves to Entertain
Here’s the story of Brad and Mary Heinrich, who longed for a mountain retreat in Colorado. Thanks to a determined will, the couple eventually got exactly what they wanted, after a little luck finding the place, followed by an addition and renovation project. Using local materials and incorporating natural features, I’d say they did a swell job. What do you think? Check out the photos below!
The Blue River in Colorado is beautiful in every season, whether it’s a torrent of snowmelt in spring or a sparkling stream come fall. So, when Brad and Mary Heinrich came across a cabin for sale on its riverbank, they knew it was the perfect place.
For years, the Denver couple longed for a rustic hideaway in the Rockies. “I told myself, one of these days I’m going to have a cabin in the high country,” recalls Brad. “I used my cabin dream as motivation to work harder, longer and smarter. I never once quit believing that it wasn’t going to happen.”
A suitable site or existing structure wasn’t easy to find, though. Either the trees on available lots were dead, ravaged by mountain pine beetles, or the incline was too steep to build on. But luck was with the Heinrichs on Presidents’ Day weekend in 2009. The couple and their daughter, Camille, were staying at their ski condo in Silverthorne, Colo. About 60 miles west of Denver, Silverthorne is base camp for Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin ski resorts. Waiting in line for breakfast before hitting the slopes, Brad spotted an ad in the local paper. The listing was for a 30-acre spread just outside town.
We started the design by trying to decide the best location for an addition,” says Cline. He wanted the 700-square-foot addition to complement, not overpower, the 3,100-square-foot cabin. So rather than add on to the front, he placed it off the dining room.
The Heinrichs spend more than one-third of the year at the cabin. And no wonder, with year-round recreational opportunities at their doorstep, it’s hard to leave. Silverthorne is in the middle of Summit County, aptly nicknamed “Colorado’s Playground.” In winter, if this outdoorsy family is not skiing or snowboarding, they can be found snowshoeing or snowmobiling on their property. With acres of national forest and wilderness areas to explore, Summit is just as much fun when the snow melts. The Blue River is a mecca for whitewater rafting in spring. In June, hiking, biking and golf lure the Heinrichs away from the river. Whatever the adventure, there’s always a crowd in tow.
