How to Use Bold Wallpaper

How to Use Bold Wallpaper to Elevate Your Space

At Collective Design, we believe bold wallpaper does more than decorate—it transforms a space, layering in depth, warmth, and a curated elegance that paint alone can’t achieve. Whether it’s a statement wall that commands attention or an all-over pattern that envelops a room, wallpaper brings a level of artistry and personality that makes a home truly unique. If you’re looking to integrate bold wallpaper into your space but aren’t sure where to begin, our designers are sharing their top strategies for incorporating pattern and texture with confidence.

Make a Statement with an Accent Wall

An accent wall—a single, distinct wall featuring color, pattern, or texture—is an effortless way to introduce bold wallpaper while defining a space. Beyond creating a focal point, it enhances dimension and highlights architectural details without overwhelming a room.

One of our favorite applications? Behind the bed. A wallpapered headboard wall instantly adds warmth and texture, making the entire bedroom feel more considered and layered. In powder rooms, bold wallpaper turns a small space into a high-impact moment, while in bunk rooms, playful patterns or murals introduce charm and personality.

Wrap Small Spaces in Pattern

In smaller spaces, more is more. Wrapping a powder room, entryway, or reading nook in wallpaper creates an immersive, high-impact aesthetic that feels cozy rather than confined.

While some may hesitate to use dark or bold hues in compact spaces, our designers embrace them to enhance depth and intimacy, making the space feel intentionally designed. One of our recent favorites? A powder room fully wrapped in a black and gold wallpaper that shifts with the light, adding movement and intrigue. For an extra touch of refinement, metallic and reflective wallpapers amplify light play, making a space feel both dynamic and expansive.

Balance Boldness with Simplicity

When incorporating bold wallpaper, keeping the surrounding elements pared back allows it to take center stage. We love pairing intricate patterns with timeless, high-quality furnishings and solid-colored textiles to create harmony.

For those drawn to maximalism, layering patterns is all about balance. Mixing bold wallpaper with tactile materials—like bouclé, natural hides, or neutral upholstery—ensures the design feels curated rather than chaotic. Mid-century influences work beautifully here, blending structured silhouettes with striking prints and rich textures for an elevated, dynamic look.

Layer with Textures and Materials

Beyond pattern, wallpaper introduces an extra layer of texture and depth. Pairing wallpaper with natural materials like wood, stone, and linen adds richness and contrast, making a space feel thoughtful and intentional.

One of our go-to techniques? Combining a stone fireplace with a fabric wallpaper backdrop for an unexpected interplay of hard and soft elements. For a more understated yet refined look, linen and leather wallcoverings introduce subtle texture, while velvet wallpapers—especially when paired with soft lighting—create an inviting, moody effect.

Think Beyond Walls: Ceilings & Cabinetry

Wallpaper isn’t just for walls—it can redefine ceilings and cabinetry interiors, adding a distinctive, custom touch. A patterned ceiling introduces depth and visual interest, making a space feel more expansive, especially when contrasted with darker walls.

For a refined detail, lining built-ins or cabinetry interiors with wallpaper elevates the overall design. Whether it’s a patterned backdrop for bookshelves or a textured surprise inside a cabinet, these thoughtful touches add an extra layer of craftsmanship and personalization.

Use Murals for a High-Impact Look

Murals are more than just decorative elements—they infuse a space with narrative and a sense of place. Whether depicting a scenic landscape, an abstract design, or a hand-painted effect, murals create a one-of-a-kind feature that sparks conversation.

One of our most memorable projects? A custom 360-degree mural of Breckenridge Ski Resort, transforming a space into an immersive experience that reflected the homeowners’ deep connection to the mountains. A similar approach in Keystone captured the surrounding landscape, reinforcing the home’s ties to nature.

Mix and Match with Other Patterns

For those who love a layered aesthetic, mixing wallpaper with patterned rugs, textiles, and upholstery can add richness and depth. The key? A cohesive color palette that allows patterns to complement rather than compete.

A great trick for maximalist spaces is carrying a wallpaper’s motif into other design elements—such as incorporating a floral or stripe from the walls into a rug or upholstery for a seamless, immersive effect. Even in monochromatic designs, variations in texture and tone prevent a space from feeling flat, adding just the right amount of dimension.

Choosing the Right Type of Wallpaper

Not all wallpapers are created equal, and selecting the right material ensures both beauty and durability.

In high-traffic areas like hallways or kids’ rooms, vinyl or washable wallpapers are a practical choice for easy maintenance. Textured wallpapers work well behind furniture, where they remain protected while adding depth and interest. In bunk rooms, wallpaper behind beds serves as a stylish, durable alternative to painted walls. For spaces like dog wash stations or kids’ bathrooms, durable vinyl wallpapers deliver both personality and function.

Go Bold with Collective Design

Wallpaper is more than decor—it’s a storytelling element that defines a space with depth, personality, and curated elegance. Whether making a bold statement or adding a refined touch of pattern, wallpaper transforms a home with intentionality and artistry. From understated sophistication to high-impact drama, our designers bring expertise and precision to every wallpaper installation. Let’s explore how bold wallpaper can elevate your space—what’s your vision?

NoahWetzel_FineArtPhotography_DJI_0114_Burn+Slalom-tn

Artist Spotlight: Noah Wetzel

Artist Spotlight: Noah Wetzel – Capturing the Soul of Mountain Living

Some artists have a way of seeing the world that makes us pause, reflect, and appreciate our surroundings in a new light. Noah Wetzel is one of those artists. His photography doesn’t just document mountain landscapes—it immerses us in them. We sat down with Noah to shine a light on his journey, his artistic process, and how his work transforms the way we experience the outdoors. His ability to translate the raw beauty of nature, the thrill of adventure, and the quiet serenity of mountain life mirrors our own approach to designing spaces that feel seamlessly woven into the landscape and lifestyle. Like a well-crafted home, his work invites us to slow down, engage, and form a deeper connection with the places we cherish.

A Life Shaped by the Mountains

Noah’s journey into photography was gradual—an osmosis of experience, creativity, and a deepening love for the outdoors. Inspired by his father and grandfather, both of whom documented family life through photography, he first picked up a camera at 12. Growing up in Wisconsin, he was drawn to the quiet, humbling moments of solitude beneath vast night skies. Skiing became his gateway to the mountains, and soon, he was capturing the action with friends—passing a video camera back and forth, experimenting with composition, and unknowingly laying the foundation for his career.

That love for the mountains led him west, and since 2005, Noah has split his time between Steamboat Springs and Salt Lake City. The towering peaks of Utah and the rolling terrain of Colorado became his playground, deepening his connection to the landscapes that would ultimately define his work. With every turn through fresh snow and every golden-hour ascent, he honed his ability to translate the energy of the outdoors into compelling imagery.

Photography as Exploration

For Noah, photography is more than just capturing a scene—it’s a way to stay in the moment, to absorb a place rather than simply pass through it. Most people hike to a destination, enjoy the view, and move on. But with a camera, there’s a reason to linger—to study the shifting light, to notice the smallest details, to wait for the perfect moment. Photography transforms the way we experience the outdoors, making us more present, more appreciative of the fleeting beauty around us.

This ability to slow down and truly engage with a place is something we consider deeply in design as well. A home should not just exist within its environment but be a thoughtful extension of it, embracing the rhythms of natural light, the textures of the landscape, and the stories of those who inhabit it.

Blending Landscape and Action

What sets Noah’s work apart is his ability to merge expansive landscapes with human presence—skiers, bikers, and adventurers dwarfed by the towering grandeur of the mountains. His images showcase not only the scale of nature but the way people interact with it, reminding us that we are both part of these wild places and humbled by them. His photography balances the thrill of action sports with the serenity of the natural world, creating a dynamic tension that draws the viewer in.

Mountain living attracts those who seek adventure and inspiration in rugged, uncontainable landscapes. Noah’s work reflects this spirit, emphasizing that these places are not meant to be conquered but experienced. This same philosophy guides the way we design homes—celebrating the relationship between structure and setting, between shelter and the untamed beauty beyond its walls.

Overcoming Challenges in Pursuit of the Perfect Shot

Every breathtaking image has a story behind it—one of endurance, uncertainty, and trust in the process. Some of Noah’s most striking shots required months of preparation, hauling heavy gear into remote locations, or waking before dawn to capture the perfect light. One of the biggest challenges isn’t just the elements—it’s doubt. The human tendency to question whether the effort is worth it, whether the conditions will cooperate, whether the vision will translate into reality.

Yet, time and again, Noah has found that persistence leads to something meaningful. Even when a shot doesn’t work out, the experience itself becomes valuable—another lesson, another layer of understanding. Sometimes, it takes ten attempts to capture the perfect sunset, but each outing deepens his relationship with the landscape and informs the next pursuit. This process of refinement, trial, and discovery mirrors the way we approach design—a thoughtful evolution that ensures each space feels both effortless and deeply personal.

Art That Adds Depth to a Space

Noah’s career continues to evolve, taking on ambitious projects with brands like Canon, producing behind-the-scenes documentaries, and working with global ski icons. Yet at its core, his work remains deeply rooted in authenticity—capturing everything in-camera rather than relying on post-production. Each print he sells fuels his next adventure, a cycle of creativity that mirrors the ongoing inspiration we find in the spaces we create.

His photography does more than decorate a room—it adds a sense of place, a story, a moment suspended in time. A home designed with intention should evoke emotion and connection, just as a striking landscape photograph can transport us to a memory, a feeling, a place we long to return to. His images bring depth to a space, acting as a window to the outdoors, a reminder of the vastness beyond our walls, and an invitation to pause and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Connecting Art and Home

Noah’s photography reminds us that mountain living is about more than just the views—it’s about the way these places make us feel. At Collective Design, we craft homes that don’t just exist in nature but feel intertwined with it, enhancing daily life in ways both subtle and profound. His images capture the raw beauty of the wild, the fleeting moments of light and movement that make these landscapes unforgettable. Just as his photography invites us to pause and appreciate the details that make a place special, a thoughtfully designed home should offer the same sense of wonder and connection to the land it inhabits.

Get in Touch

We’re proud to showcase Noah Wetzel’s photography in our Frisco, Colorado, showroom, where his work offers a glimpse into the essence of mountain living. To learn more about his photography, visit https://www.noahdavidwetzel.com/. To explore how Collective Design can bring the spirit of the mountains into your home, contact us!

Collective Design – Luxe’s One to Watch

Collective Design Named in Luxe Magazine’s Ones To Watch

Featured in Luxe Magazine Nov/Dec 2024

With true team synergy, strong businesses find success. Since its founding in 2015, Collective Design has quickly become a notable force in the luxury interior design world. Known for their collaborative approach, this Colorado-based firm is comprised of a dynamic team of designers, each offering a unique perspective. What distinguishes the team is their ability to tailor each project to reflect each client’s personal style, resulting in highly personalized spaces. With a foundation rooted in transparency, craftsmanship and bespoke service, Collective Design delivers seamless project management and client satisfaction. As they expand their national presence, their commitment to pushing the boundaries of design while staying true to their core values—trust, excellence and integrity—remains steadfast. Collective Design is poised to continue crafting exceptional, one-of-a-kind homes that perfectly embody their clients’ vision.

Adrienne Rynes, President of Interior Design

EXPANDING REACH

With roots in Colorado’s mountain home tradition, Collective Design has grown its impact nationwide. As their portfolio grows, the group is establishing itself as a key player in the design industry, creating spaces that reflect both innovation and individuality.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Collective Design has established itself as a trailblazer in luxury interior design, consistently setting new benchmarks. Their commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and collaborative ethos have earned them wide recognition. As leaders, they continue to deliver spaces that are functional and visually striking, ensuring a lasting influence in the design world.

Outside Magazine Best Place to Work

**The Pinnacle Companies Recognized as Outside Magazine’s Top 50 Best Places to Work**

Every year, Outside Magazine celebrates the top 50 Best Places to Work in the country, recognizing companies that foster exceptional work environments. This year, we’re thrilled to announce that The Pinnacle Companies has earned a spot among the top 50. Being named to this national list is an honor that reflects the culture we’ve worked hard to create—one rooted in integrity, community, gratitude, and, above all, the happiness of our team.

Based in the Colorado mountains, we believe that delivering an outstanding client experience begins with creating a workplace where employees feel supported, inspired, and empowered. Our team thrives in a culture that balances professional excellence with happiness and flexibility, fostering relationships that enrich both our work and our clients’ lives.

Life at Collective Design extends beyond the office. Each year, we host a four-day trip to Mexico for all team members and their spouses, a chance to relax, connect, and celebrate our achievements together. And our love for the outdoors shines throughout the year with ski days at Arapahoe Basin, summer picnics, and monthly social hours on our rooftop—gatherings that strengthen our sense of community and remind us why we love what we do.

This recognition by Outside Magazine highlights the importance of creating a workplace where people feel valued and excited to come to work each day. We’re proud to provide a space where talented individuals can grow their careers while enjoying the mountain lifestyle.

For us, being named one of the Best Places to Work is more than an accolade—it reflects our belief that happy, healthy team members are the foundation of an exceptional design experience and lasting client relationships.

Parade of Homes 2024

PARADE OF HOMES

The Parade of Homes is a highly anticipated event celebrating the forefront of design and architecture. This year, the 2024 Breckenridge Parade of Homes will feature a standout property built by Pinnacle Mountain Homes, with interiors and furnishings thoughtfully curated by Collective Design, and architecture by the skilled team at bhh Partners. This home offers a fresh perspective on modern mountain living, highlighting unparalleled craftsmanship and innovative use of space.

Nestled in Western Sky Ranch, this home boasts breathtaking views of Breckenridge Ski Resort and the Tenmile Range. This stunning location has been skillfully transformed into a perfect setting for mountain living, seamlessly blending modern design with the majestic mountain landscape. One of the standout features is a striking board-formed concrete wall on the lower level, which serves as both a functional and visual centerpiece. The ability to integrate bold elements with practical design solutions shines throughout, creating a harmonious balance that is as beautiful as it is functional.

Outside, the home is distinguished by sleek, flat roofs that enhance its modern aesthetic while harmonizing with the surrounding natural environment. The home is also ZERH (Zero Energy Ready Home) certified, reflecting a deep commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability—a priority for everyone involved in the project.

Building in a mountain environment comes with its challenges, but Pinnacle Mountain Homes rose to the occasion, maintaining a strong focus on client satisfaction through exceptional communication and trust. Their dedication turned this vision into a reality, delivering a home that offers an extraordinary living experience. By prioritizing clear communication and maintaining a high level of trust throughout the process, Pinnacle ensured that high-quality finishes and superior craftsmanship resulted in a truly remarkable final product that will serve the owners for years to come.

The interiors, designed by Collective Design, are a beautiful reflection of the client’s personal style. The space marries modern elegance with a bespoke approach, featuring expansive floor-to-ceiling windows inviting the natural beauty of the outdoors, creating a light-filled, open atmosphere. Warm wood accents, sophisticated wallpaper, intricately detailed ceilings, and soft furnishings were carefully chosen to refine the home’s character while embodying the client’s distinct personality. The result is a vibrant yet inviting interior, where patterns and textures echo the outdoors, while a clean, sleek design imparts warmth and a sense of lived-in comfort.

We invite you to explore the 2024 Breckenridge Parade of Homes and experience how this home blends cutting-edge design with awe-inspiring mountain views. It’s a chance to see firsthand how a collaborative design-build process, rooted in trust and client satisfaction, can elevate the mountain living experience.

For more information and tickets, please visit the Summit County Builders Association website.

Celebrating a Space for Family

Celebrating a Space for Family in Western Sky Ranch

We are thrilled and honored to be featured in the March/April issue of Colorado Homes and Lifestyles magazine, sharing the story of our journey in creating a family home in the breathtaking landscapes of Breckenridge, Colorado. Our vision was clear from the outset: to build not just a house, but a home that would grow with our client’s family, filled with memories and celebrations across generations.

Set on a magnificent 24-acre lot in Western Sky Ranch, the home was designed with love and intention by Collective Design, alongside the architectural genius of bhh Partners. Together, they brought to life a space that marries modernity with the warmth of a family home, all while embracing the stunning natural surroundings of Breckenridge.

This home is a testament to our client’s values and our deep connection to the mountains. It stands as a place of gathering, growth, and endless possibilities, beautifully capturing the desire for a life intertwined with nature and each other.

We are deeply grateful to Colorado Homes and Lifestyles for highlighting our work. This feature is a celebration of our journey with the incredible teams we work with, the amazing clients that shared their dream with us, and the welcoming community of Breckenridge that we are proud to work in.

READ FULL EDITORIAL

get in touch

Integrated Approach

INTEGRATED APPROACH

AS SEEN IN Mountain Living March/April 2024

Collective Design teams up with Pinnacle Mountain Homes to define a world-class approach to building luxury mountain homes. The talented professionals at Collective Design hold a unique approach to the collaborative process of home building. We sat down to chat with them about how their integrated approach adds up to a world- class final product and an all-around exceptional experience for clients.

What does it mean to take an integrated approach? An integrated approach to home building boils down to assembling the right team from a project’s inception through to its completion. This involves selecting architects, interior designers, and builders prior to the project’s start, who then work collectively throughout the project, integrating their thought processes, planning, and execution. Collective Design has been utilizing this approach with the renowned builder Pinnacle Mountain Homes for nearly a decade to construct award-winning homes.

How does this approach impact the final product? Excellent design is encompassing, and the same applies to construction. The end product is always superior when we consider the overall picture rather than each individual component. With an integrated approach, builders can provide practical construction insights to architects. Designers can adjust fixed finishes before ordering. At the project’s conclusion, everyone can step back and appreciate how their combined expertise created a home that is more than the sum of its parts.

And how does this contribute to a superior client experience? Apart from the aesthetically pleasing and functional end product, the practical benefits to the client throughout the process are immense. An integrated approach eliminates the compartmentalization often seen in many construction projects. By fostering a deep understanding of each other’s processes, architecture, construction, and design can collaborate to manage budgets and schedules, resulting in significant savings of both time and money for the client.

Get in touch

Cultural Fusion in Design

Cultural Fusion in Design: The Influences that Inform Collective Design

Design is a universal language, and much like any language, it evolves through a rich tapestry of influence, dialects, and cultural expressions. For the team at Collective Design, a leading interior design and architecture firm, the foundation of our work lies in the intricate interplay of cultural elements. Firmly rooted in the belief that design is a reflection of society, we create spaces that not only stand the test of time but also resonate with the community they’re built for. This blog post is an exploration of how Collective Design seamlessly integrates a myriad of cultural influences into our projects, creating a sophisticated melange that encapsulates the essence of place and history.

Mining of the American West: Rustic Roots and Industrial Elegance

The history of the American West is a story of raw adventure, resourcefulness, and unyielding spirit. It’s little wonder how it captures the imagination of designers at Collective Design. The conversation begins with mining towns, each an architectural mosaic of Victorian opulence and industrial pragmatism.

Collective Design’s projects nestled in these ski town communities pay tribute to the mining era through distinct design choices. Copper accents and reclaimed wood nod to the industry’s craftsmanship, while expansive windows bathe interiors in natural light, reminiscent of the grandeur miners discovered in their stark, mountainous landscape. Collective revitalizes and remixes these historical themes, infusing them with modern luxury. The result is an experience that grounds visitors in a strong sense of place while elevating the environment to contemporary standards of comfort and style.

As an example, a recent project in Breckenridge, Colorado took inspiration from the state’s silver mines. Textures and materials in the design mirrored the rugged landscapes and the resilience of those who shaped them. It’s a reminder that even the most utilitarian of spaces can be a canvas for flourishes of beauty and meaning.

Scandinavian Modern: Crafting Timelessness Through Simplicity

In stark contrast to the rough-hewn aesthetics of the West lies the clean elegance of Scandinavian Modern design. This concept prides itself on ‘form follows function’, creating spaces that are clean, open, and filled with light. Scandinavian influence has been especially impactful in the ‘less is more’ ethos that characterizes modern design.

At Collective Design, the Scandinavian spirit is celebrated for its promotion of functionality without sacrificing beauty. The focus on craftsmanship and natural materials speaks to a deeper connection between the design and the surrounding environment – something Collective incorporates into their very foundation.

One such project in the heart of Keystone, CO hails the principles of Nordic design – restraint, simplicity, and a connection to nature. The space exudes a serene quality, with soft textures and a muted color palette fostering an atmosphere of calm. Large, open-plan layouts interconnected with the outdoor elements create a sense of unity with nature, a foundational element of Scandinavian design philosophy.

Koepke-kitchen-dining

Old Money Traditional: Elegance with a Sense of Heritage

Old Money Traditional design is characterized by its timeless appeal, evoking a sense of heritage and understated luxury reminiscent of historical estates and long-standing institutions. This design trend draws on classic elements from European aristocracy, like rich wood paneling, ornate architectural details, and heirloom furniture pieces that tell a story of lineage and legacy.

As 2024 unfolds, the allure of Old Money Traditional design is witnessing a notable revival, championed by those who seek a connection to the past’s elegance amid contemporary life’s frenetic pace. This resurgence is not just about replicating a historical aesthetic but about curating an environment that embodies stability, sophistication, and time-honored values. In an era where digital and transient trends dominate, the Old Money ethos offers a sanctuary of permanence, showcasing that quality and tradition can coexist within modern settings.

The design team at Collective Design taps into Old Money Traditional by carefully selecting antique pieces and coupling them with high-quality materials that age gracefully over time. The aim is to create spaces that look as if they have been curated over generations, rather than hastily assembled. This Collective project in a rural ski town, features custom millwork, elegant moldings, and a collection of classical art to convey a sense of sophistication and history.

In Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Collective Design

Cultural fusion in design is a powerful agent, capable of forging new connections and rekindling old ones. Collective Design’s approach to interior design and architecture stands as an exemplar of this potential, creating spaces that are not just passive backdrops to life but are active participants in the cultural conversation.

By journeying through the rich cultural influences that inform our work, we discover more than just beautiful spaces. We unearth narratives of resilience, of simplicity, of hedonism, and of progress. And in doing so, we are invited to reimagine these spaces not as isolated islands but as nodes in a vast, interconnected web of human experience.

For potential clients seeking not just a structure, but a living testament to the ethos and spirit of a locale, Collective Design presents a compelling narrative. With each project, they weave a tale that honors the past, celebrates the present, and prepares for the future, all in the language of design.

Luxe Feature: Elevated Living

Luxe Magazine Feature: Elevated Living

The following was featured in the Jan/Feb edition of Luxe Interiors and Design:

In a place as storied and magnetic as the mountains, inspiration is in no short supply. Take one look at the stunning homes created by Collective Design, and the influence of this awe-striking landscape is clear. “We seek to match the grandeur of these monoliths while striving to continue exploring our craft,” says Principal Architect Zane Levin. “Our style has embodied a mountain modern aesthetic, although we are incorporating other contemporary styles that harmonize with the surroundings and the various elements of human history in this place.” With these stylistic leanings in tow, the Collective team designs gorgeous homes—inside and out. “On the interior, our clients are no longer seeking the visual comfort and traditional wood features that used to dominate the mountain feel,” says Adrienne Rynes, President of Interior Design. “They want modern spaces that won’t feel dated in a decade.”

OUR CLIENTS WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEIR HOME IS A LUXURY ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS THAT IS COMPLETELY PERSONALIZED TO THEIR LIFESTYLE.”

Après Accents

Rynes shares a few of the features Collective Design favors for that après ski lifestyle.

In mudrooms, we use high-end ski lockers and boot dryers to make the transition easy.
A day on the slopes is often best paired with a beautiful hot tub, sauna and spa.
Once the boots are off and toes are warm, après has always been about socializing. Our communal spaces bring people together.

See it in Luxe Magazine