Although it was Brett and Jenny Lessley that brought his parents to Crested Butte, it was father Ron that really pushed to buy the Skyland home. Thrust into an instant situation of compromise, the four Lessleys remodeled their new acquisition to accommodate their individual tastes – more traditional for the parental generation and a modern flavor for the younger upstarts generation. Countertops, lights, furniture, rugs and fixtures all became a topic of family discussion. Rustic reclaimed wood floors, a vaulted barnwood ceiling uniquely trimmed in metal, and a 150 year old barnwood dining table ground the home in its mountain personality, while a crisper style pops with features such as the orange leather couch and repurposed table in the younger couple’s downstairs den. Look out for the airplane propeller (three of the residents are pilots) and the proliferation of local art by John Ingham, Sean Guerrero, Dusty Demerson, Jim Garrison, Raynor Czerwinski and Mike Arbaney. The collaboration on decor as well as creation of separate lounging spaces allows for each couple’s taste to be expressed, as well as providing for personal “get away” spots to make coming together as a family that much more special.
Regan Briggs is the Chef and Owner of the historic 1874 Windsor Hotel & Dining Room in Del Norte, Colorado. Her culinary career began in acquiring a pastry arts degree – with honors - from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. From pastry she expanded to other disciplines at prestigious establishments such as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and The Four Seasons in Los Angeles. She became the Executive Pastry Chef of Crescent Heights Kitchen and Lounge in San Diego as well as the Executive Sous Chef of Vu restaurant in Marina Del Rey before helping to open Wolfgang Puck at the famous Belair Hotel. Chef Regan’s zest for life and new experiences translates into imaginative and playful dishes. In her elegant dining room she exemplifies this world of endless possibilities through dishes such as Parppardelle with Confit Rabbit Ragu with wild mushrooms and sage, and Pan Roasted Pheasant Breast with pistachio braised fennel and cranberry gastrique.
Karen Hoskin livens up the evening with her hand-crafted cocktails. Karen is well known for her expertise in market fresh mixology, using culinary flavors in genre-bending, paradigm-shifting cocktails with her favorite spirit - rum. That reputation began in 2008 when she and her husband founded Montanya Distillers, creating authentic and obsessively-crafted rum from scratch by hand. Her Montanya Platino and Montanya Oro Rums have won 17 gold and silver medals, three “Best in Class,” and prestigious awards including the “2013 Craft Distillery of the Year” by the American Distilling Institute and “Best Rum in the World” by the Rum Awards in the UK for 2015.