It’s true: Kristin Dittmar Doremus loves marble.
The living room at 300 Lake Ave in the West End
For the Aspen-based interior designer Kristin Dittmar Doremus, it’s not just about the material itself but what it represents and, in many ways, how it embodies her signature style. “I use a lot of marble in my projects, because I’m a big proponent of natural materials and that’s one of the reasons I love it so much.” Even a quick glance at her portfolio reveals an overarching marble-inspired palette with clean lines, a lot of whites and grays with some softer, more organic components mixed in. Applied to a wide variety of interiors from private residences to a popular yoga studio and downtown restaurant, Dittmar Doremus’ interiors encapsulate the mountain modern aesthetic that has come to define Aspen style.
Born and raised in Aspen (“I’m very local,” she jokes), Dittmar Doremus has not only embraced mountain modern as her signature but has witnessed its evolution firsthand. “I remember the old Aspen, that heavy, dark, Ralph Lauren style,” she says. “Now with these amazing huge homes and wide open spaces, everyone wants things lighter and brighter.” Though the exact definition of mountain modern is always evolving, Dittmar Doremus says the defining principle is to strike a balance between modern sophistication and comfort.
The corner dining room at EB Penthouse
The modern component begins with clean lines. “You don’t want anything too overdecorated or ornate. I’m a huge proponent of light walls to help open up a space and make it feel brighter,” Dittmar Doremus says. The mountain reference is all about mixing in natural organic materials, fabrics and products to create layers of texture—and it’s all about the details. “I love using petrified wood, different fabrics like alpaca and varieties of cotton mixed with metal for contrast.” And while mountain modern has largely been defined by a distinct gray and white palette, Dittmar Doremus says that’s about to change. “Gray is finally going to the wayside and going more toward cool shades of brown,” she says. “There are still gray tones, but it’s definitely evolving.”
And, of course, there’s marble. Dittmar Doremus has selected her favorite material for everything from its more conventional application in kitchen countertops and backsplashes to custom marble plaid bathroom tile, accent walls and flooring. She’s even created her own line of marble sinks (available for sale on her website and at the Tuscany Marble showroom), and for serious aficionados, an all-marble Ping-Pong table. Kristin Dittmar Design, 616 E. Hyman Ave.; Tuscany Marble, 426 E. Main St.; @kddesignaspen
The dining room at 300 Lake Ave in the West End
Photography by: Brooke Casillas Welgos courtesy of Kristin Dittmar Design
