Slifer Designs led the industry of resort style interior design for more than 35 years, closing the doors of their full-service interior design department in early 2020 after providing their award-winning services across the nation – from Hawaii to Boston, Montana to Texas. Beth Slifer and her husband Rod are considered founders of Vail, and both of their companies have been cornerstones in the history of the town.
Slifer Designs grew to a company of more than 100 employees by the early 2000s and became known as one of the largest and highly regarded interior designs firms in the United States. Today, Slifer Designs continues to uphold its nationally-held reputation for resort residential interior design by providing expert design consultations, renting out space in the 20,000 square foot warehouse for staging and storage, and running a curated retail store stocked with high quality decor.
Here is our story.
Rewind 35 years
1984
In 1984, Beth and Rod Slifer were a newly married couple starting their life in Vail. Beth, a marketing executive from publicly traded companies to high-level government positions, came from Chicago to the very small town of Vail deep in the Colorado Rockies. Beth embraced life in Vail but knew she needed to keep her mind busy.
A friend who owned the penthouse at the Lodge at Vail asked Beth, who was known for her taste in fashion and furnishings, to help him decorate in order to expedite its sale. Beth jumped in, and once the project was completed it sold in two weeks.
That’s how this auspicious business started: a favor asked by a friend and true talent discovered.
Growth
1986-1998
For the next 12 years, Slifer Designs added staff and quickly grew to be the preeminent interior design company in the Vail Valley. News quickly spread of the firms’s professionalism and talent. However, due to its rural location, delivery of furnishings and accessories was sporadic at best, so final installation dates were a challenge.
Being forward thinking and innovative, Slifer Designs purchased a warehouse in Avon. This had perhaps the greatest impact on customer service – with the new ability to store furnishings for clients for weeks or months at a time, every item for a project could be received, checked, and prepped for installation by the local Slifer Designs warehouse team.
The warehouse and the trained white glove professionals who work there remain the most important element in the on-time delivery and seamless installation of products for our clients.
In conjunction with the development of the warehouse came an expansion of the retail showroom, which relocated from Bridge Street in Vail Village to Avon at the base of Beaver Creek Resort.
Expansion
2001-2010
With a thriving economy and a booming construction industry, the Vail Valley flourished in the early 2000s. And Slifer Designs expanded right along with it.
With projects coast to coast and internationally, Slifer Designs became one of the largest and most reputable interior design firms in the nation. By 2004, Slifer employed nearly 100 people and experienced revenue in excess of $30 million. Corporate offices and the retail showroom moved west to Edwards, the new center of the Vail Valley.
The world economy crashed in 2008, but the Vail Valley was immune until early 2010. With low real estate sales and a near complete halt in the construction industry, fewer projects were available for designers in our area. Like any savvy company, Slifer Designs downsized.
Slifer Designs Present Day
2010-2020
The economy rebounded, as did the business of interior design. The perseverance and strong business acumen of this team helped Slifer Designs thrive through high quality services and products, creativity of the design team, and care for our esteemed, treasured customers until the interior design department closed in early 2020.
Today, Slifer Designs still offers interior design support, including:
- Residential Interior Design Consultations
- Hospitality Interior Design Consultations
- 20,000 Square Feet of Warehouse Space for Rent
- White Glove Service for Staged and Stored Products in Warehouse
- Retail Store with Custom Furniture, Art, and Home Accessories
Slifer Designs holds itself to the highest standards in the industry. We expect open communication, authenticity, creativity, and teamwork from our employees, our partners, and our customers. We make a pledge to our clients that we will continue to provide the highest level of service and quality of products here in the Vail Valley.
