Amy Pigliacampo Transforms a Colorado House Into Colorful Home

  October 30, 2024
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Amy Pigliacampo’s recent renovation of a 3,713-square-foot home in Durango, Colorado showcases her ability to blend client preferences with innovative design approaches. This four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence underwent a complete transformation, with Pigliacampo overseeing changes to nearly every aspect of the home while retaining key elements of its original structure. The client, who is originally from Venezuelan, sought a fresh aesthetic for the home – one that integrated vibrant color, particularly yellow, while maintaining as much of the existing cabinetry as possible.

The original house had a muted “50 shades of brown” color palette, which Pigliacampo dramatically altered. Her goal was to retain 70% of the millwork, reducing waste, while giving the space a bright and modern update. Nowhere was this transformation more evident than in the kitchen and mudroom, which became Pigliacampo’s favorite parts of the project. These spaces saw the inclusion of a dedicated bar area, a coffee station, and a family-friendly mudroom, all while infusing bold color choices that brought the rooms to life.

Modern dining room with a wooden table, red chairs, a pendant light, and plants by a large window. A colorful painting is on the wall.

A modern kitchen with colorful pendant lights, a blue accent wall, bar stools at a counter, and a dining table with red chairs and patterned napkins.

Modern kitchen with blue cabinets, white countertops, and pendant lights. Includes a central island, red stool, and shelves with various items. Bright, natural light streams through the window.

A modern kitchen with blue cabinets, white countertops, and open wooden shelves holding plants and dishes. A stove with a blue pot is centered under a range hood.

Modern kitchen with blue cabinets, white countertops, and a white island sink. Open shelves display dishes. Window above main sink, red wall lights, and potted plants as decor.

Yellow, requested by the client’s eldest child, Vincent, became a key inspiration throughout the design (check out the yellow bathtub below!). The challenge lay in using this vivid color without overpowering the overall palette, and Pigliacampo’s approach succeeded in bringing in warmth and energy, while keeping the design cohesive.

Modern kitchen with a white island, blue cabinet, and yellow lower cabinets. A checkered rug leads to an open door, with plants and shelves adding decor.

A modern home bar with wooden shelves displaying bottles and glasses, a small fridge, a blue accent wall, and a red pendant light.

The project also embraced practical, cost-effective strategies, such as refinishing the original hardwood floors with a sheer white stain to neutralize their yellow tone and updating the carpeted bedrooms with matching wood flooring. Pigliacampo and her contractor repurposed cabinetry in the kitchen, playroom, mudroom, and primary bedroom, saving on material costs while preserving quality.

Bright open kitchen and dining area with large windows, red chairs around a table, plants, and modern decor.

Room with geometric floor tiles, blue cabinets, an orange bench, and colorful decor. Wall art includes a Bauhaus poster. A small window and indoor plants are present.

Despite Pigliacampo’s physical distance from the project, with her being up to 17 hours away at times, the renovation was completed with impressive craftsmanship thanks to a dedicated contractor and collaborative tradespeople. Some of the design elements were new to the team, including the use of tambour and concrete skim materials, but these were executed successfully, adding unique textures and finishes to the home.

A bathroom features a round mirror, geometric gray tiles, a yellow sink with two knobs, a white faucet, a hanging bulb, and a purple and white patterned towel. A plant is on the left.

A modern living room with a wall-mounted art collection, plants, a colorful rug, and a staircase. A dark sideboard sits beneath the artwork.

One of the more unexpected challenges in the project came from updating the home’s outdated technology. The existing lighting and sound system, state-of-the-art when installed in 2007, required a substantial investment to integrate with the new fixtures and design changes. This experience left Pigliacampo with a cautionary lesson about the risks of embedding too much technology in a home’s infrastructure, which can quickly become obsolete.

Modern interior with a white staircase, art on the walls, and plants. A black cabinet with decor underneath a loft area with chairs and a plant. Natural light fills the space.

A modern room with a dark armchair, a small side table, and a checkered rug. Three windows offer a view of trees and mountains. A bookshelf with plants stands near the corner.

The finished home now reflects a blend of the client’s love for bold colors and Pigliacampo’s clever design ideas. The use of Schoolhouse Electric and Dutton Brown lighting, Fireclay and Florida tiles, and custom furniture pieces like the striking Vitra chair in the living room, all contribute to the home’s modern yet personalized feel. Ultimately, this project exemplifies how thoughtful collaboration and creative reuse of materials can result in a home that feels both fresh and familiar.

A bright bedroom with bunk beds, a colorful striped blanket, and a tall shelf of stacked books by the window. A globe and framed poster sit on a dresser. A yellow phone is on a nightstand.

Bathroom with blue tiled walls, round mirror, light wood vanity, plants, and colorful decor, including a red stool and a yellow patterned rug.

Bright bedroom with a blue and white bedspread, colorful cushions, a yellow dresser, and playful decorations, including a white rabbit lamp. Large windows let in natural light.

A shelf with books, toys, plants, and framed photos. A cabinet with closed doors is below the shelf. The room is well-lit, with a colorful and organized arrangement.

Colorful children's room with a desk, shelves displaying art, a flag tapestry on the wall, and a cushioned bench with toys and books.

A bedroom with a bed covered in a geometric-patterned blanket, a wooden chair, a potted plant, and a window with greenery outside. A red chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

Modern bathroom with a blue vanity, oval mirror, and wall-mounted faucet. Red towel accents and an orange stool add color. A plant sits beside the sink.

A modern bathroom with white tiles features a glass shower, a yellow bathtub, and several potted plants. A framed artwork is displayed above the tub.

A modern bathroom with a vibrant yellow bathtub, potted plants, a patterned towel, and framed artwork on the ledge.

Bathroom with an oval mirror, green tiled backsplash, marble countertop, beige vanity, potted plant, and wall light. Towels and a container are on the counter.

For more on Amy Pigliacampo, visit amypigliacampo.com.

Photography by Amy Pigliacampo and Corey Szopinski.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.





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