Houzz Tour: A Striking Design, Artful Ideas and Cool Surprises
High ceilings, dramatic windows and a standout wine cooler are highlights of this Colorado home
Becky Harris
October 31, 2021
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
This Denver-area family had a vision of turning their typical brick ranch house with low ceilings into something that fit their bold and contemporary tastes. But as their plans for a remodel and addition evolved, they realized there wasn’t much worth saving. “These homeowners were very intentional with the design and put a lot of thought into it,” says Justin Bride, owner of Ascent Contracting. “With the new roof structure, layout and windows they wanted, it didn’t make sense to keep anything but the foundation.” The result of their efforts is a striking home that has a surprise around every corner.
Photos by Kylie Fitts
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Bow Mar, Colorado
Size: 6,236 square feet (579 square meters) including finished basement; five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Architect: Brad Tomececk of Tomececk Studio Architecture
Contractor: Ascent Contracting
The first surprise is in the entry, where dramatic asymmetric windows kiss the vaulted ceiling. This area illustrates why taking the house down was necessary. The original home’s low roofline with corresponding 7½ foot ceilings was replaced by a higher one composed of scissor trusses. This allowed for the soaring vaulted ceilings and expansive windows that were so important to the architectural appeal of the home. All the windows and doors are low-E, energy-efficient and aluminum-clad.
Windows and doors: Marvin
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Bow Mar, Colorado
Size: 6,236 square feet (579 square meters) including finished basement; five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Architect: Brad Tomececk of Tomececk Studio Architecture
Contractor: Ascent Contracting
The first surprise is in the entry, where dramatic asymmetric windows kiss the vaulted ceiling. This area illustrates why taking the house down was necessary. The original home’s low roofline with corresponding 7½ foot ceilings was replaced by a higher one composed of scissor trusses. This allowed for the soaring vaulted ceilings and expansive windows that were so important to the architectural appeal of the home. All the windows and doors are low-E, energy-efficient and aluminum-clad.
Windows and doors: Marvin
Find a general contractor on Houzz
The vaulted ceiling continues across the living room, and spectacular windows and bifold doors are located opposite the entry windows. A large skylight in the middle of the ceiling lets in more natural light.
The massive fireplace is a surprise in this room. Black metal shelves stand up to the scale of the surround. Local metalworker Dustin Oliver of Metal Craft fashioned these shelves as well as other special elements in the house.
To the right is another surprise, a bold bar alcove. The team transformed a ready-made walnut console into a bar by adding a thick quartz countertop. Cabinets flank it, concealing an ice maker and a 6-foot beverage fridge. Graphic black-and-white wallpaper draws the eye.
The massive fireplace is a surprise in this room. Black metal shelves stand up to the scale of the surround. Local metalworker Dustin Oliver of Metal Craft fashioned these shelves as well as other special elements in the house.
To the right is another surprise, a bold bar alcove. The team transformed a ready-made walnut console into a bar by adding a thick quartz countertop. Cabinets flank it, concealing an ice maker and a 6-foot beverage fridge. Graphic black-and-white wallpaper draws the eye.
The fireplace is a major element and divides areas within the open plan. Its surround is board-formed concrete veneer. Creating it was no easy task — the cement truck had to pour the concrete down on a connector through an opening in the roof. “This took a lot of planning and coordination,” Bride says.
The flooring throughout the house is 4-by-4-foot Italian porcelain tile; where to cut openings for electric outlets in it required thoughtful coordination. These outlets make it possible to plug everything in without having to stretch cords across the floor to wall outlets.
Beyond the fireplace, a bubble-like glass chandelier over the dining table draws people into the next space and toward the next surprise.
Browse sofas in the Houzz Shop
The flooring throughout the house is 4-by-4-foot Italian porcelain tile; where to cut openings for electric outlets in it required thoughtful coordination. These outlets make it possible to plug everything in without having to stretch cords across the floor to wall outlets.
Beyond the fireplace, a bubble-like glass chandelier over the dining table draws people into the next space and toward the next surprise.
Browse sofas in the Houzz Shop
“Our clients did not want a traditional formal dining room,” Bride says. Instead they wanted a cozy area with a view of a showstopping wine cooler. “A showcase wine cooler was a must-have,” he says. “It is encased in clear glass, and the homeowners wanted a floor filled with loose river rocks just for fun, and the stones add an old-world feel. We recessed the floor to make this work.” The wine room has a Wine Guardian wine cooler that has its own thermostat and remote control. Inside the space there are beautiful walnut-and-black metal racks as well as a ladder. An ornate door pull adds an unexpected eclectic touch to the wine cooler’s glass surround.
This photo also provides a better look at the bold X-and-O wallpaper in the bar alcove. “The homeowners really knew what they wanted and had great taste. They chose all the finishes with some help from a designer friend,” Bride says.
This photo also provides a better look at the bold X-and-O wallpaper in the bar alcove. “The homeowners really knew what they wanted and had great taste. They chose all the finishes with some help from a designer friend,” Bride says.
The slim wine room abuts the basement staircase, which has an elegant black metal railing. With 1,098 square feet of living space, the downstairs area includes two of the bedrooms.
The dining-and-wine-tasting area is open to the kitchen, with subtle delineation between the spaces provided by the ceilings. This wine-tasting area has a flat ceiling defined by soffits, while the kitchen has a vaulted ceiling. The ceiling fixtures in both spaces are lined up, a subtle touch that’s easy on the eye.
Shop for a round dining table
The dining-and-wine-tasting area is open to the kitchen, with subtle delineation between the spaces provided by the ceilings. This wine-tasting area has a flat ceiling defined by soffits, while the kitchen has a vaulted ceiling. The ceiling fixtures in both spaces are lined up, a subtle touch that’s easy on the eye.
Shop for a round dining table
The high ceiling makes the kitchen feel large and bright. Along the sink wall are more spectacular windows. The lower windows are push-out casement models — no cranking required. Peaked clerestory windows overhead follow the line of the ceiling.
Six seats abut the large island, and oversize pendants that resemble paper lanterns overhead suit the scale of the space.
Six seats abut the large island, and oversize pendants that resemble paper lanterns overhead suit the scale of the space.
Different cabinetry finishes and an Oriental rug create a warm custom look. The cabinet hardware changes with the finishes, with each type of hardware complementing each cabinet finish.
A painting hung on the vent hood adds an unexpected artful touch. To keep things clean and simple and put the focus on elements like the painting, the homeowners wanted to keep elements like the vent hood very plain. And they hid the outlets in pop-up receptacles in the countertops.
Also seen in this photo is a cozy sitting-TV room for the family. It includes built-in cabinets and another fireplace.
A painting hung on the vent hood adds an unexpected artful touch. To keep things clean and simple and put the focus on elements like the painting, the homeowners wanted to keep elements like the vent hood very plain. And they hid the outlets in pop-up receptacles in the countertops.
Also seen in this photo is a cozy sitting-TV room for the family. It includes built-in cabinets and another fireplace.
A blue wall and cabinets bring saturated color into the space. The custom walnut cabinets that flank it and brass metal finishes add pleasing warmth. The cabinet on the left contains rollout pantry shelves and a hidden door to a walk-in pantry behind it, where small appliances are stored. The cabinet on the right contains a Viking fridge and freezer.
In the couple’s bedroom, a cloud wallcovering creates a serene vibe. The door on the left is also covered in the paper for uninterrupted floating within the clouds — even the acrylic door pull keeps the view clear. This door leads to a “secret” workout room with cork flooring.
The homeowners opted for a partial wet-room strategy in their bathroom. Two sets of shower heads and the bathtub are in the same area behind the shower enclosure, with a floor that slopes toward a linear drain along the base of the tub. Marble-look porcelain clads the shower walls; the floor and accent wall tile are penny rounds.
Clear glass lends an open feeling, lets the entire bathroom enjoy the natural light from the window and makes the bathroom feel more expansive; the curbless shower adds to the open feel. The window glass is frosted for privacy.
Find a local pro for shower glass and doors
Clear glass lends an open feeling, lets the entire bathroom enjoy the natural light from the window and makes the bathroom feel more expansive; the curbless shower adds to the open feel. The window glass is frosted for privacy.
Find a local pro for shower glass and doors
Like the kitchen, the bathroom has a high ceiling that makes it feel larger than it is. The custom vanity is walnut. “It adds a hint of rustic style,” Bride says. Also adding a hint of rustic style are twin mirrors on a barn-door track. Crafted by Oliver, this unexpected custom piece is another cool surprise.
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Amazing! Please advise of the color/brand of blue paint used for the lower kitchen cabinets. Wow!!
Love! Where did you buy the black windows please?
Hi @Cathy Hosek! The windows are by Marvin.