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City View: Denver Design Soars
From the sweeping Rocky Mountains to industrial urban elements, Denver style shows wide-ranging and unexpected influences
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
I was born in the 1970s, so when I think of Denver, I think of Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan and the rest of the clan over at Dynasty. I also think of the opposite end of the spectrum, Outward Bound programs. Like a lot of the rest of the country, I have a view of Denver that's all kinds of wrong. While the city and its surrounding areas are full of people who love an outdoor adventure, this doesn't mean they don't have style. These adventurous Coloradans draw inspiration from viewing and exploring the spectacular landscape around them, as well as from preserving it.
Denver denizens also draw inspiration from the past and present, using reclaimed materials and sourcing materials and craftspeople locally. "The biggest misconception about Denver is that it's a western cow town lacking any sort of sophisticated design scene," says Jonas DiCaprio of Design Platform. "The design scene here is vibrant; there are so many talented local designers and craftsmen here who are creating just amazing work."
Allow me to introduce a Denver that has nothing to do with wearing dresses with shoulder pads to formal family dinners or cooking a can of beans over a fire.
Denver denizens also draw inspiration from the past and present, using reclaimed materials and sourcing materials and craftspeople locally. "The biggest misconception about Denver is that it's a western cow town lacking any sort of sophisticated design scene," says Jonas DiCaprio of Design Platform. "The design scene here is vibrant; there are so many talented local designers and craftsmen here who are creating just amazing work."
Allow me to introduce a Denver that has nothing to do with wearing dresses with shoulder pads to formal family dinners or cooking a can of beans over a fire.
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| Across the board, designers note that a big trend in Denver is integrating industrial and reclaimed materials into interiors. This includes used heavy machinery parts for table bases and lamps, and reclaimed wood floors, dividers and wall panels. "Using barn wood, barn doors and other agricultural parts and pieces gives a great contrast to a clean, modern aesthetic," DiCaprio says. "We're also seeing a lot of natural materials that bring in a lot of texture and warmth." |
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| DiCaprio takes part in the popular Denver trend of keeping things local. "One local cabinet and furniture builder I work with in Denver, Jeff Faine of AvenueTwo:Design, is just 25, and he is producing cabinets at the level of a Berloni or Pedini," he gushes. "The cabinets are all custom made, with incredible details and quality. Best of all, the materials, design and construction all happen here in Colorado." |
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| "Wall coverings and wallpapers are back in a big way," says DiCaprio. "The painted accent wall has been replaced with a wallpapered, tiled or wood-wrapped accent wall. |
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| "We truly live in a climate where you can have an indoor-outdoor connection year-round," says DiCaprio. "Most people think Denver is cold and snowy all winter, but there have been Christmases here that were 60 degrees. Many clients are looking for outdoor kitchens and living rooms that add on to the square footage of their living space." DiCaprio notes that houses can be left wide open much of the summer thanks to the temperatures and lack of bugs. |
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| "Many neighborhoods have a rich history, yet the character of a neighborhood can vary block by block," says Beth Mikon of Chalet. "Contextual design is not only possible but highly desired. However, this doesn't mean that individuality has to be lost on the outside or inside of a home." |
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One way to keep a unique style in the area is to embrace western motifs in fresh ways, Here a western-theme room gets a contemporary update, resulting in a Rocky Mountain transitional style.
"One of the biggest misconceptions about Denver is that it's just an outdoor town, so we don’t have real design," says Craig Lawrence of Rowland Broughton Architecture and Urban Design. "But the truth is, Denver residents and businesses have nurtured a strong art and design culture without losing a sense of the power of the landscape in which they live."
Lawrence notes that uniquely Denver style nods to the grand sweep of the plains and the soaring height of the Rocky Mountains. "This can take many forms, like the peaked tents of the Denver International A Concourse or as subtle an approach as the orientation of a home in the foothills toward the plains," he says.
Residents also enjoy their striking surroundings by creating indoor-outdoor living spaces with large glazed doors and contemporary outdoor furniture.
Residents also enjoy their striking surroundings by creating indoor-outdoor living spaces with large glazed doors and contemporary outdoor furniture.
| "Communities all across the Denver area are really developing an appreciation for the existing urban fabric," says Lawrence. "Both residential and commercial clients are looking for ways to preserve and improve upon the value of existing buildings, so some of the best interior architecture happening right now is happening in remodels and renovations." Many of these renovations create multifunctional open floor plans that incorporate living, dining and kitchen spaces. |
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| Architect Kenny Craft practices mostly southwest of Denver in Buena Vista, Colorado, but the city's influence is felt there, too. "In this new economy, square footage is more conservative and the overall architecture more austere, but these restraints often allow for some additional spending on extra, unique features that ultimately give the house its distinctive character," he says. |
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"For example, on this home's exterior, the overall architecture is restrained, but extra attention was given toward a custom steel porch and the 9-foot-tall custom front door made from reclaimed barn wood," Craft says. "The steel porch details, custom front door, Bevolo gas lamp and intricate rafter tails provide a richness that ultimately balances the otherwise simple architectural character."
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This corner chimney was created from local river rock by Denver mason Brad Pranger of BK Pranger Masonry. "We consider Brad Pranger to be an artist in his own right," says Craft.
"I believe that the biggest misconception about Denver style and the style for the surrounding mountain area is that it is very traditional and western. On the contrary, Denver is becoming well known for its cutting-edge contemporary design style, where rustic elements are often intermingled with contemporary lines and furnishings," says Lynne Bier of Home on the Range Interiors.
| "The rustic modern look, which began quite a few years ago in the Denver area, has spread to metropolitan areas across the world," says Bier. "This style is characterized by a blend of reclaimed materials, such as antique timbers or barn board, and industrial components, such as steel I-beams or steel components on furniture." A desire to work with sustainable materials also fuels this trend. In this room, rough-hewn reclaimed beams mingle with antiques and modern art. |
| Antique shutters take on a new life in this hallway. Have we changed your perception of Denver and Rocky Mountain style? I'd love to hear from more Coloradans about what makes your part of the country unique. Tell us below! |
Comments
olldbobbi The first picture, the cabinet by Design Platform, that's very cool. Functional and interesting! Also love the outdoor space by Rowland and Broughton; what's not to love!
10 months ago · Like
michelleann1 WTG Mile High City! I live in Denver and, indeed, the reuse of industrial and reclaimed material is big here. And with the interesting neighborhoods and homes, folks are going in and revitalizing many.
10 months ago · Like
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Great Divide Builders Colorado is such an exciting and inspiring place to work in the home building and design industry. Whether its modern industrial, classic and traditional, contemporary, or outdoorsy and rustic - anything goes and the sky is the limit in Colorado!
9 months ago · Like
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Ideabook updated on Aug. 3, 2012.
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