To Darla Worden, a Home is a Love Story

Ask anyone about the story of their home: how it came to be, what they like most about it, how long they have lived in it, and you’ll most often find a story of love, family and friends. The story of the 2022 Home of the Year is no exception; the Aspen masterpiece called Casa Cresta was designed for a couple who like to throw a bash for 100 friends from around the world each summer—and also enjoy their home as a private retreat through Aspen’s four seasons as they celebrate their 38th year together.

In the book The Christmas Season about the Scandinavian holiday Jul, each chapter features DIY projects.

The homeowners were very much involved in the home’s design choices. The wife was hands-on—literally—as she visited showrooms, gathered samples and chose fabrics and finishes. “Every choice was done with warmth and intention,” she says.

Patricia Kennedy, principal creative of Rendezvous Design, created six iconic historical scenes for the Jackson Hole toile textile; check out the line of gifts including the wine bag pictured here, at rendezvousdesign.com.

Although the home is a spectacular feat of architecture—with a bold entry cube, 23-foot glass wall in the great room, floating stair and cantilevered bridge that accesses the primary wing—it is much more than its structural attributes. It was built to honor a marriage and as a place for special gatherings that’s remarkably engineered both for deejays and dancing and for quiet conversation.

Theresa Wangia at Beltshazzar Jewels creates one-of-a-kind pieces from rich leathers, wrapped stones, and chunky chains, beltshazzarjewels.com.

At Mountain Living, we judge the Home of the Year entries in July, which explains the greenery in the photos of this year’s winner, with the issue sent to the printer in September to reach your mailbox and newsstands November 1. Despite the Home of the Year’s summer setting, you’ll find snowy images throughout this issue, a tribute to our wonderful mountain winter with pages devoted to the holidays—a book about the Scandinavian holiday Jul, a gift guide devoted to dreaming by the fire, and a pictorial look at a family’s holiday traditions on a Montana Ranch.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays ahead, I send my heartfelt wishes that you are surrounded by family and friends, the greatest gift of all. “Gledelig Jul!”

Darla Worden
Editor in Chief