Colorado Aesthetics
Concerning the strong Colorado sun that which can be used only to the limits of your imagination. Believe it or not this bathroom probably stays nice and warm, the dark stones hit by the Colorado sun (if this were in Colorado) would create some amount of an island of heat. The result would be one last room you'd pay for heating but also this could amount to an even cozier spa experience. But on the flip side, if your home gets too hot for whatever reason, I'd say stay away from dark rock anywhere inside or outside of your home. Heat islands are caused by dark surfaces with little to no previous surfaces that collect sunlight and began to heat up. With good planning, heat island effect can be your asset.
Here's a good example of a Colorado aesthetic idea, and one that differs from New Mexican style-which Colorado often get relegated to--yes Colorado has strong roots in Spanish style but our materials and weather needs are different. Here's how it's done here. So much timber is used and that's very Colorado. Beams on the ceiling are forming a sloped roof good for snow loads while the interior is rustic and natural. The woodwork has a just cut, unfinished-look; the natural, matte, pine look makes the room bright and timeless. Home flippers will never feel inclined to "update" this because it will always look good. Notice the rocks in the mirror reflection, stone like limestone is ubiquitous here in Colorado use it liberally. It adds curb appeal, strength and re-sale value--can't go wrong with light large stone and pine.
Get the Colorado look. Many people think Colorado is just an extension of New Mexico's southwest aesthetic. As an architectural designer--I find this the case among my design colleagues who are not from Colorado. Although we do maintain lots of southwest elements, remember to use more pine wood and metal roof, remember our adobe is different for the different climate and also use limestone which is ubiquitous and natural to Colorado. One last note, steep pitched roofs are an element we Coloradans borrowed from Swiss architecture but it's fitting for our snow loads so do continue use those too.
Of course the wood columns and trusses are very Colorado, but I think what really takes it to a whole new Colorado level is the white and light grey rock that lines the bottom of the house--it calls to the snow atop the rocky mountains. Honorable-Colorado Mention is the white paint which could be the white abode which is useful in it and of itself for temperature and energy control up here a mile high, but also harkens back to old Colorado Native American and settlers.
Q