As interior designers at Aspen, it’s great to live and work in such a beautiful remote location. So you need to find the right lamp, cushion or piece of furniture to complete the space. Then you really are in Hunter Creek without a paddle.
Of course, we travel to explore design in cities like New York and Los Angeles, and we have access to unlimited online resources. But we still love to shop local wherever possible, and there’s nothing more exciting than discovering some unique local finds to raise the bar for a place.
That’s why we always strive to search around town for the latest home furnishing items. We’ve been wandering around the downtown shopping mall at night staring at the windows hoping for an unexpected new popup that looks like a Goop. We drooled over collectible design pieces in the Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, tucked high above Hyman Street. And in a pinch, we rummaged through the Miner Building’s upstairs department of homewares until 6pm until closing, with surprisingly few good finds.
Fortunately, these days in Aspen, there are many more options for home décor than the hardware store (if you know where to look!) Here’s a list of some of my favorite places to start:
Paris subway Since 2001, local shop owner, Laura Blocker, has been shopping at antique markets and fairs across France and Italy to bring home containers of antique furniture and handcrafted household items. Shearling chairs, ceramic lamps, brass mirrors, leather trays, and more, right across from the gondola.
checkers – For over 23 years, this home goods store has been a stepping stone to luxury mountain furniture, table items, and accessories galore. Run by the mother-daughter duo, Becky Domersk and Ashley Ward, it’s now in a brand new location on the corner of Hyman Street and Hunter Street.
The store at the Aspen Museum of Art Far from your typical gift shop, last year the shop was filled with innovative home goods and vintage finds, curated by artist Jonathan Berger. And now a second store, possession mania, offers items inspired by Andy Warhol’s collecting and shopping interest in antiques stores, galleries, and flea markets.
Bitkin Projects – Fine arts and handcrafts made by artists from all over the world, collected in a unique and multicolored style. We especially love the sculpted ceramic side tables by Los Angeles artist Bari Ziperstein.
Alicia Adams Alpaca Ready to decorate your bed for extra comfort this winter? Nothing beats the softness and durability of an alpaca. Known for their clothing, this store also features alpaca blankets, pillows, and throws of every color. Soft organic cotton sheets and comforters are also provided.
the same thing Inspired by the owners’ travels around the world, this newly expanded store now offers reliably sourced bohemian furniture and home goods, custom designed and made in Morocco. Tribal rugs, tapestry, ottomans, lounge chairs, and more.
Discover booksellers Every space is made better with books, and what better way to do that than by supporting a beloved local bookstore? There is a large selection of art and design coffee table books upstairs. Pro tip: Choose books with white or neutral covers, or books in coordinating colors.
Anderson Ranch Center for the Arts The legendary local art center is worth a visit at any time of the year. Check out the gift shop and seasonal silent auctions of art, sculpture, and occasional furniture pieces by artists in residence. We’ve scored beautiful originals – including a gorgeous walnut coffee table – at reasonable costs.
Restores – This gigantic basalt repository by Habitat for Humanity is receiving a steady stream of donations from Aspen Houses. There may be plenty of pods and plush sofas out there, but we’ve found some great value contemporary pieces at very low prices, and all for good reason. If you don’t feel like driving in the valley, you can easily explore pictures of some of the newest items on the internet.
Happy New Year and happy shopping everyone!
Buddhist monk turned interior designer, Matthew Tenzen has been a principal director at Aspen-based inclusive design firm Joe McGuire Design, since 2012.