Visual Space: Living room and dining room window treatments feature drapery fabric with a tropical fish large repeat pattern, Archipel by Etamine from Zimmer + Rohde. The Ella rattan occasional chairs by Palecek lend an airy, open feel to the room. The ottoman is the Clip by Thayer Coggin. Photo by Sue Brenner.Katie and Jason Chapman went shopping for a house. They liked the neighborhood feel of Platt Park but fell for a new build there, one with a show stopper model home designed by Duet Design Group.
The couple contacted the designers and work began on their new home. “We found Inside Stories through its sister company Duet Design Group,” Katie Chapman says. “Our project turned out to be a hybrid of the two services. So, Devon Tobin and Lauren Winter were our [main] designers.”
Visual Space: The kitchen counter stools are from Charles Eisen & Associates. Photo by Sue Brenner.“This project was originally a Duet Design Group project done by Devon Tobin, but then a few years later —last year — they used our sister company, Inside Stories, to complete their home,” creative coordinator Haleigh Christ says. “Inside Stories shares a lot of similarities with Duet Design Group, but the biggest differences are that projects have a much quicker timeline, are generally smaller projects, and the clients have a much more hands-on role in the design implementation.”
The Inside Stories process is simple and straightforward. Clients begin online by completing a detailed questionnaire. They next talk to the designer on the phone. Should they decide to move forward with the project, the designer visits their home and takes measurements and pictures. The plan then goes to the client, who may choose to buy additional time with a designer.
The acrylic Curly Armless Dining Chair chairs from Thayer Coggin help open up the dining area space. The head chairs, also from Thayer Coggin, are the Design Classic 1187 Arm Dining Chairs by Milo Baughman. Photo by Sue Brenner.The Chapmans followed the plans almost to the letter, including buying the furniture, and never felt the need for extra time. “The process went so well for us,” Katie says. “It was fantastic. We weren’t able to do all of our projects at once but the way Inside Stories is structured, that wasn’t a problem. Lauren was able to tie each room together while giving each space its own identity while still expressing our personalities.”
The Chapmans credit Inside Stories for giving them show-home style that is also comfortable. “They made each room colorful, light, casual, and beautiful. We get so many compliments,” Katie says.
Sweet Dreams: In the upstairs master bedroom, the wood bench from Organic Modernism and the upholstered headboard pick up the beige in the Amethyste in Bleu wallpaper from Casamance, which ties the room together and draws the eye to the wall. Benjamin Moore’s Anchor Gray paint on the ceiling addresses the wallpaper as well. The Abbey Medium Chest nightstands are from Joybird and the Anchored Orb two-arm sconces are from Anthropologie. The rug is Elton in Ivory/Multi from Loloi. The mirror is Uttermost from Savion. Photo by Sue Brenner.Inside Stories named the Chapman project Harborside. The story behind the name had to be interesting when Denver is a landlocked city and the area does not have access to water, except for nearby Washington Park where the Chapmans could rent a paddleboat for a few hours. Chapman speculated that the nautical name may have been inspired by “the most beautiful watercolor tropical fish curtains” hanging in their living room.
Christ provided the clarification.
“We chose the name from a paint color – no other reason! We name all our projects after paint colors in a project or a color close [to one in the project].”
“If anyone is on the fence about hiring a designer, just do it. The quality of the space is so much better with a professional,” Katie says, “and I feel comfortable saying that because I am a commercial interior designer!”
