Home Tour : Black Forest Carriage House
As we make our way into summer, I have a stunning home tour lined up for you! Step inside this beautiful Colorado home, located in Black Forest. While this house is a new build, it looks anything but new… it’s filled with classic materials, historic details, character, charm, and is the perfect example of how a newly built house should feel. Designed by the talented team at Oho Interiors, this happens to be the founder’s personal home, aptly named Black Forest Carriage House. Obviously it feels right on brand with the signature Oho aesthetic- featuring European antiques, thoughtful art, and pattern stacking. Click through to tour this traditional, form meets function newly built house… it’s a lovable & cozy example of modern family living. As always, I’ve also included a fun Q&A interview with Melissa, where we dig into the design details and styling tips.
Design & Styling: Oho Interiors | Photography: Judith Marilyn | Photo Shoot Styling by Cate Ragan
Before we dive in, be sure to follow Oho Interiors on Instagram, as well as Judith– who artfully photographed this project. They both have stunning portfolios that are worthy of a browse, bookmark, and follow!
Great Room & Living Space
Being Melissa’s personal home & residence in Colorado, this project is a personal Oho favorite. There is so much to discover in every photo… European antiques, sculptural pieces, original art, Dutch influences, and plenty of handmade fabrics. I love how layered and intentional this home feels.
Simple millwork sets the background for custom upholstery, eclectic styled shelves, and pattern play… all balanced and anchored by the fireplace. From the window treatments to the furniture and accessories, I admire how Melissa and her team expertly pairs pattern and color- allowing the furnishings to stand alone, while also working together for a cohesive looking space.
In-Kitchen Dining
In the kitchen, you’ll find a banquette seat with two chairs tucked around a table in the corner by the stairs. Melissa and her family use this antique table for dining, homework, and even an additional workspace when she tires of her office. This is the perfect example of how any corner can be a functional workhorse in your home, when designed correctly. Moving into the kitchen…
Kitchen
You’ll notice lots of natural materials in the kitchen… unlacquered brass, natural stone with beautiful movement, woven textures, a soft wool rug, and plenty of wood tones. It’s casual and welcoming, while telling a story and still feeling designerly.
I love the installation of open storage in front of the kitchen sink window (I may have to borrow that idea)… it gives a classic cottage appeal while making great use of the space. The styling is top notch!
One thing I noted in the kitchen was texture and material mixing. There is so much happening in this room, it would be easy for it to feel disjointed or overwhelming. However, all of these strategically curated surfaces work together beautifully with a functional layout.
Bedroom
I have to say… I adore the mauve painted walls in this bedroom. There are so many soft textures that feel casual and cozy against the inviting hue.
Naturally, I loved the oversized woven lamp… you know I have a soft spot for those. While hanging plates in a bedroom doesn’t seem obvious, it works surprisingly well in this space. I’m all about an unexpected design element, and the pop of green does that for me.
Powder and Laundry Room
The powder and laundry room squeezes the maximum amount of practicality from this space, while looking anything but utilitarian. With a double sink vanity filled with closed storage and hiding laundry units behind a chic curtain, this room is as beautiful as it is functional.
The floral wallpaper installed into the angular architecture of this room makes every nook and cranny feel special.
Bedroom With Ensuite Bathroom
Melissa’s daughter has the sweetest bedroom… basically a girls dream! From classic stripes and floral prints to paisley, toile, and geometric patterns- this room is filled with character and color. With built-ins, beautiful lighting, and texture galore- it’s probably my personal favorite room in this home tour.
There is an attached en suite bath that includes a stunning dark wood vanity, headboard, and a woven mirror. Everything about this room feels timeless!
FAQ Interview with Melissa
My favorite space changes by the daily, but the space I spend the most time in tends to be my kitchen. It’s warm, endlessly useful in its multi-function of being kitchen/dining and also tends to be the main thoroughfare of the home so it’s the middle of everything. It’s where my husband will sit with a glass of wine while I cook dinner and we decompress from the day. It’s where my daughter and I will sit while she does her homework. It’s also where I find myself sitting for a change of pace/view when I get sick of being at my desk upstairs.
Definitely the Primary Bathroom. I knew it was a space I could be a little more playful and everything from the wallpaper to the color of the cabinets was so intentional and thought out to ensure it was equally a space for myself and for my husband.
Thank you! That is so kind of you! Honestly, it’s both an art and a science and just takes endless practice and playing with scale and patterns to really find a method to the madness. Typically we are starting the basics of mixing a stripe/plaid with a floral and then we build from there, adding in a floral that has a stripe, followed by something that feels more botanical or might have an animal element (deer and birds are my favorite to try and sneak in). However, my secret sauce of mixing patterns tends to come down to the colors I am using. I tend to lay out the samples I am considering for a project and evaluate if there’s any color that feels like I am missing from the palette- leaning into the existing colors that are already present. If we have a dusty blue and a dusty mauve but are missing a dusty green? I am searching for a fabric that has a hit of dusty green there. Not to be forgotten is yellow- I feel like people avoid yellow in their palettes but it brings such a nice levity to designs that otherwise could be missing sometimes!
Anything that patinas or ages. I know it’s not a material for everyone but goodness, I love an unlacquered brass or marble that will show wear, fingerprints and the signs of being human. There’s nothing more beautiful to me.
I also, especially lately, have been obsessed with adding some hand-painted element or antique rosemaling to a project for that soul and hand-touch that cannot be duplicated without it.
Oh, so many. But the one that currently gets my goat are loud luxury interiors. Where things are BIG and BOLD, just to be BIG and BOLD. It’s the opposite of the intentional, layered spaces we love to create. I think the most beautiful homes are the ones that tell a story; spaces that feel collected over time, with personality, warmth, and a sense of ease. Give me thoughtful details and timeless design over “look at me” moments any day.
We have so many fun things we can’t talk about quite yet but I’d like to suggestively share that we are working hard on multiple ways to put actual Oho-designed home products out into the world for folks to be able to put in their own homes. Look for big news to come next year from us!
More Home Tours
Interested in touring more homes for design inspiration? I’ll link some reader favorites for you below…
- Home Tour: Nantucket Captain’s House
- Home Tour: Mt. Airy Carriage House
- Home Tour: Arts and Crafts Cheshire Kitchen
- Home Tour: Sun Valley Ski Chalet by Jennifer Miller Studio
- Home Tour: Townhouse by Centered by Design
- Home Tour: Mirada House by Kate Lester
- Home Tour: Charleston House by Bria Hammel
- Home Tour: Sycamore House by Josh Young
- Home Tour: Mill Road by W Design Collective
- Home Tour: Varick Apartment by Hayley Bridget Interiors
- Home Tour: Central London Townhouse
I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into this incredible Colorado home. What were some of your favorite vignettes? Any standout design moments? I’d love to hear what features were most memorable for you. Will you apply any of these design ideas to your own home? Thank you to Melissa for the fun interview and for allowing me to feature her beautiful home! Feel free to send me more inspiring designers or homes you’d like me to feature. Be sure to follow Melissa and Judith for a closer look!