As the owner of two of California’s most highly sought-after waterfront hotels, Lesley Slatkin knows a thing or two about making people feel at home. The same spirit that has long defined Santa Monica’s Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa Del Mar also animates her family’s Aspen retreat, where guests are greeted with overflowing Shabbat dinners, impromptu weekend gatherings, and an open floor plan designed to bring everyone together.
Working alongside the award-winning New York and Los Angeles–based interior designer Peter Dunham, Slatkin transformed a historic ranch property into a personal refuge that places hospitality (and a tasteful design object or two) at its center. For CULTURED, the duo sat down to explore their relationship to Aspen, as well as the reimagined barn Slatkin now calls home.
What first drew you to living in Aspen?
Lesley Slatkin: Before Tommy [Slatkin’s husband] and I had even met, my mom had rented a place here for a few summers. Once I met Tommy, he also fell in love with Aspen. It was—and still is—the perfect combination for our family. I love the nature and activities, but also the social aspects. Tommy could fly fish on the rivers every day and only come to town for a good meal and, of course, to see our amazing community of friends.
What first excited you about embarking on this design project?
Peter Dunham: As a designer, it’s really fun to work in an area like Aspen that has a strong visual narrative in people’s heads: the mountains, the West, the romance of horses and of the countryside. It was really exciting to go and see this beautiful piece of property—one of the largest remaining ranches in town—and to start to imagine how this will play into that story. I was lucky to be brought in from the get-go, which meant I had the opportunity to guide the clients to the choice of architect and come to a very concise vision between all of us, from the beginning.
How did the Aspen setting influence your approach?
Dunham: The piece of property was magnificent. It very much felt like an old Colorado ranch. On-site was one of the oldest remaining buildings in Aspen, an 1840s farmhouse that was protected on the corner of the property with old stables. That put us on course for what the house was going to be—a kind of 19th-century agricultural architecture.
Which room in the home gets the most use?
Slatkin: Our house is basically a one-room barn, so the kitchen and living room are definitely the hub. We did this on purpose because I wanted to see my family when we were in Aspen. We chose not to build too many additional rooms. We have plenty of bedrooms but only one living space. Tommy, of course, has his library to escape to when needed because I would run a bed-and breakfast out of our home if I could!
Which detail in the home are you most proud of?
Dunham: In every house, I try to incorporate architectural salvage, which I absolutely love using and finding. One thing we knew we wanted was a really fabulous island because the kitchen is part of the living room and dining room—it’s all one big room. I really did not want to have something jarring and boring. What we found, which was one of those holy grails of vintage, was a pair of matching 1830s Pennsylvania yellow painted shop counters, and we were able to put them together with the original, existing tops. We were able to keep all the original features on three sides, which are the sides you see when you come into the room.
Can you describe your perfect Aspen weekend?
Slatkin: Shabbat dinner at home with a constant flow of both locals and houseguests. Saturday morning at the farmers’ market. Lunch at the Maroon Creek Club, pickleball, and maybe a mahjong game. The Hunter-Smuggler Loop or a long walk around our neighborhood. Dinner in town at one of our favorites: Cache Cache, Matsuhisa, Las Montañas, or Ellina.
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