Eye on Denver: Trends in the Mile High City

Denver’s real estate market has been red hot for years, from new builds and condos to renovations and remodels. As the market begins to steady, we are seeing some new trends emerge. Here’s a look at three of the architecture and interior design trends we’re seeing in Denver Metro area homes and estates.

Photo by: Gibeon Photography
This Boulder Ridge home marries mountain contemporary architecture with Denver’s urban sensibilities, perfect for many Denver metro neighborhoods.

1. Mountain contemporary design isn’t just for the mountains.

Denver homeowners are vying for the rustic character of Colorado high country too, getting inspired by mountain modern design. In fact, the Boulder Ridge residence we designed in Steamboat Springs is one of our most asked about homes, with Denverites loving the combination of a sleek, modern interior and rustic exterior.

“Our clients were seeking a custom home cozy enough to seek respite from Colorado winters, with modern sensibilities for the family’s active lifestyle,” said Vertical Arts Partner Sarah Tiedeken. “They were looking for all the home’s architecture and design elements to live in harmony without being matchy-matchy, and the-end result really resonates with Denver homeowners we’ve talked to.”

The home has been featured in Denver Life + Home, Prestige Magazine and Colorado Homes and Lifestyles.

Photo by: Gibeon Photography
Forty miles south of Denver, this Larkspur equestrian estate was designed for a couple looking to escape the city and enjoy time with their horses in the rugged landscape.

2. Location is king, and not just for access to the city’s amenities.

Many of our customers choose the location of their home or estate for the lifestyle even if it means commuting into Denver for work.

When Lori and Shan Dagli purchased their mid-century, split-level home in Bow Mar, Colorado, they knew a facelift was in order, but the process was well worth creating a kid-friendly space in the sprawling lakeside neighborhood of Bow Mar.

Further south of Denver, other clients chose a sprawling 128-acre site in the heart of Larkspur’s rugged landscape for their equestrian estate. They enlisted Vertical Arts to create a modern design that spoke to the site’s Western legacy and paid homage to their Moroccan heritage. The expansive estate allows them to fully immerse into the equestrian lifestyle, within a 30-minute commute of everything Denver has to offer.

“We hear from many people who work in Denver but prefer to live outside of town where they can create a lifestyle that suits their family’s passions,” said Vertical Arts principal Brandt Vanderbosch. “Designing a home to perfectly suit their needs allows them to fully unwind and enjoy their time at home, making a short commute completely worth it.”

Photo by: David Patterson
This custom fabricated door is not only an unexpected work of art from Twenty1Five, but serves as a functional partition to the laundry room.

3. Standard finishes on cabinets, doors and windows are a thing of the past.

We’re seeing a trend in making these once ordinary elements extraordinary through unique design and fabrication.

“With the age of internet shopping, it’s becoming more common for people to end up with the same look in their homes,” said Tiedeken. “Our customers are looking for any opportunity to take design elements of once ordinary elements and creating something personalized and authentic. We see this a lot in custom doors, unique kitchen elements and specialized furniture pieces.”

Vertical Arts can design highly customized and artistic elements for all areas of their clients’ homes. And, they’ve partnered with Palmer Lake-based Twenty1Five, a custom fabrication shop that specializes in creating wood, metal, concrete and glass furniture and architectural projects that bring personal stories to life.

“Our clients love that their piece is the only one like it anywhere,” said Tiedeken.