Hunting for Home: Meet the Designer Behind Steamboat's Newest Interior Design Studio

Opening Hunt & Gather wasn't just the start of a business – for Ash Hunt, it was the decision to stop waiting.

After dreaming of launching her own interior design studio for more than 15 years, it took a life-changing health diagnosis to shift her perspective.

"My family moved to Steamboat for a drastic change," she says. "A life-threatening diagnosis forced me to burn away everything that was no longer serving me. That included waiting."

For years, she questioned whether she had enough experience or credentials to call herself a designer. But after working at a local design firm, she realized something important: she'd already been doing the work.

"I didn't know everything, but I knew enough," she says. "So I stopped waiting and started Hunt & Gather. Because if not now, when?"

The name itself reflects both her identity and her philosophy. Hunt is Ash's maiden name, but it's also an apt description of how she approaches every project.

"I am a hunter. I am a gatherer," she explains. "I'm constantly searching for beauty, functionality, and a sense of ease, then gathering the elements that bring those ideas to life."

That process starts long before choosing fabrics or furniture. Instead, Ash begins by listening – asking questions, uncovering how her clients live and identifying what they truly need from their homes.

"The hunt is searching for the right solutions rather than settling for the obvious ones," she says. "The gather is bringing it all together: furnishings, materials, art and one-of-a-kind pieces that create a home with depth, character and purpose."

One recent project perfectly illustrates that approach: transforming a modest 1950s pool house for a family with 18 grandchildren.

The challenge wasn't simply making the space beautiful, it was making it work. By improving the layout and thoughtfully selecting every element, Ash created a home that could comfortably entertain a crowd, welcome overnight guests and still feel calm enough for everyday life.

"That's ultimately what I hope every client experiences," she says. "I want them to walk into their home and feel like it works effortlessly for the way they live, while also feeling like there's nowhere else they'd rather be."

Steamboat Springs has also become an important source of inspiration. Like many who call the Yampa Valley home, Ash finds herself continually drawn to the area's natural beauty.

"The flora, fauna and surrounding landscape all influence the color palettes and textures I'm naturally drawn to," she says. "But my clients' desires and preferences always come first. My job is to create a home that reflects who they are."

In the end, what matters most isn't simply creating beautiful interiors.

"My hope and desire is that every time I wrap up a project, I walk away with new friends," Ash says. "I want my clients to feel heard, supported and excited throughout the process."

That emphasis on relationships may be the defining characteristic of Hunt & Gather. Thoughtful design, carefully curated spaces and beautiful materials are certainly part of the equation – but for Ash, home has always been about people first.

With Hunt & Gather now open in Steamboat, she's finally doing the work she's imagined for years: helping people create homes that don't just look beautiful, but truly support the lives lived within them.

For more information or to book a service, visit https://hunt-gatherdesigns.com/.