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From the columned portico to the ground's exotic trees, shrubs and flowerbeds overflowing with color, elements of a Southern plantation home grace this Cherry Hills residence.
The lady of the house, a native of New Orleans, expresses her heritage throughout her home's décor. Visitors step into a grand foyer with marble tile floors in black and white; beyond, the living room's tall windows frame a tranquil scene of flowers and trees. Walls painted a soft golden hue rise 20 feet to the coffered ceiling. Quarter-sawn oak floors, dentil molding and a huge fireplace exude traditional Southern grandeur. In the dining room, intricate plasterwork decorates the ceiling. White trim edges rich, red walls.
Situated on two acres, with nearly 400 feet of frontage on Cherry Hills Golf Course, the property commands extraordinary views of the mountains. The owners have capitalized on this feature by making the landscape a major design element. Accessed from the living room and kitchen, the large patio opens to a 180-degree panorama; a slate walk leads to the pool area. Trees and shrubs shield the home from neighbors, giving the illusion of being in the country.
The owners finished renovating the brick residence two years ago. "Eighty percent of the house's floor plan was what we would have wanted if we had built the house from the ground up," explains the owner. Its architecture incorporates Williamsburg and Georgian style elements.
INVITING, WARM, ELEGANT
With nearly 12,000 finished square feet, the floor plan places the master suite and office on the main floor with the living, dining and family rooms. The second story holds additional bedrooms. The basement contains a home theater, recreation area, fully-equipped gym, and wine cellar with table and chairs for tastings.
"The attention to detail is exceptional," remarks interior designer Lynne Lyon of Lynne Lyon Ltd., Denver who assisted the owner.
The owners renovated the residence with the intention of creating a warm and inviting, yet elegant, ambience. A chandelier hangs in nearly every room, including the master suite's walk-in closet. And the house boasts nine large fireplaces.
Even so, the owner says, "We're very casual people." The formal setting of the foyer, living room and dining room eases into casual elegance in the rest of the home.
The kitchen was designed with the lady of the house's delight in cooking in mind. It has two islands: one for prep and one for cooking. The room also has a fireplace with a cozy sitting area so the couple can carry on a conversation while she prepares meals. Every Sunday, family and friends join them for dinner in the casual dining area, where the patio and expansive view are just a step away.
The family room off the kitchen offers an inviting, comfy setting to chat or watch TV. In order to have this space on the main floor, the renovation converted two bays of a four-car attached garage into the family room. To replace the bays, the owners built a detached garage in the style of a Williamsburg carriage house.
The other end of the main floor holds the office and master suite. Moss green walls with gold gilding, built-in shelves, parquet floor, fireplace and private patio create an inviting setting to work in. The master bedroom continues the theme of Southern elegance with high ceiling, dentil molding, large carved stone fireplace and four-poster bed.
Six closets were gutted for the master bath. In addition to a tub and fireplace, the bath features a shower with river-rock flooring and slab-granite walls.
CLIMATIC LANDSCAPING
Each of the main rooms has views of the carefully landscaped lot. Per the owners' wishes, a bounty of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials have replaced much of the turf. Using the contours of the property and enhancing the grades, landscape architect Keith Clarke of Keith Clarke LLC, Denver, designed the plantings based on the climatic situation of each exposure. For example, the west exposure features a dry streambed through tall grasses, Japanese maples, dwarf evergreens and woodlands.
To keep the view corridor to the golf course open, the south exposure is primarily turf. Hybrid tea roses accent the upper patio. Clarke chose them because their colorful blooming "gives the biggest punch for the three-to-four month season." Numerous pots are filled with Whirlwind Blue Scaevola, reminiscent of the South's azaleas.
The east exposure features the pool setting. Oaks and other trees create an element of privacy while still keeping the view open to the golf course. Annuals in poolside flowerbeds add splashes of vibrant color.
More than 85 trees have been added to the grounds. Currently, Clarke spends up to 12 hours a week maintaining the landscape and doing new plantings.
This Cherry Hills renovation has placed warm, Southern-style elegance in a sublime Colorado setting, complete with dramatic mountain views.
Published in Colorado Expression Architecture & Design of the West, Spring 2008.
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