Photo: James Florio

South Elizabeth Remodel

Denver, Colorado

South Elizabeth revisited is a remodel of an existing Denver home originally designed by Jim Olson in 2006. This once-formal 20,000-square-foot home now employs warm wood and bronze tones to soften the interior and harmonize with the meadow, gardens, and forest that surround it.

Design Mentor
Jim Olson
Design Associate
Jesse Kingsley

At the center of the auto court is a large tree, flanked by a newly landscaped pathway and canopy, redefining the arrival sequence. It culminates in a bronze front door set within a glazed wall. Inside, wood accents throughout the grand central hallway reduce the scale and soften the formality, extending from handrails along the second level to screens composed of tall vertical slats that elegantly divide the space.

Initially conceived as a two-bedroom dwelling, the now four-bedroom layout better suits the evolving needs of a young family. Previously separated spaces are reclaimed for family use, including a spacious kitchen and family room that extend into the courtyard through sliding glass doors. The former library, now a cocktail lounge, features a bronze bar with intricately latticed doors set against a deep stone backdrop. These recent architectural movements are complemented by interior design by Cecelia Tanoni.

Venturing outside, an outdoor kitchen and dining terrace expands opportunities for entertaining, while lush landscaping and smooth stones lead to a dark linear pool that stretches into an untamed meadow. The pool mirrors the tree line and sky back towards the home, resembling an alpine lake. Anchoring the eastern boundary, a pool house offers warmth from a fireplace and shade from the trellis above, along with an outdoor shower framed by foliage.