Greater Park Hill Community

Home Descriptions

Aug 25, 2006

By Kayte Fulton

The 28th annual Park Hill Home Tour will again make a statement this year. As I interviewed the group of owners who are generously offering their homes for our fundraiser, a theme began to emerge. Several homeowners commented that they feel they are not really owners so much as caretakers or temporary stewards of unique homes in a unique neighborhood. Each felt an obligation, albeit a welcome one, to the past and the integrity of the home?’s design when considering and making changes.
This notion of owner as caretaker is certainly echoed in the mission of Park Hill United Methodist Church, which can certainly be categorized as a community caretaker, as its spiritual and community work has placed it at the center of Park Hill since its founding in 1911.
Likewise, we break new ground this year with the inclusion of Historic Treat Hall on the campus of Johnson & Wales University. One of the oldest structures in Park Hill, this building was the centerpiece of Colorado Women?’s College when it was constructed in 1890. Today, Johnson & Wales is partnering with numerous Colorado and Park Hill groups in a praiseworthy caretaking effort to restore the original beauty and centrality of this historic Park Hill property.
As we watch with dismay as more and more historic homes and structures are demolished and replaced with indistinct dwellings, it is once again wonderful to celebrate the spirit of Park Hill through owners who take seriously their role as caretakers of a crucial part of Denver history.


The Gerwin Home - 1756 Grape Street
This owner takes her role as caretaker to heart, having lovingly renovated several homes in the last decade. When she moved to Denver and focused on Park Hill, she knew she was working on a very special project. This Italian Revival style home built in 1928 has always been a handsome example of form and function with solidly built lines and an elegant floor plan. However, like all of our enduring homes of that era, this one needed some updating. The owner worked diligently to upgrade the infrastructure ?– all electric and plumbing ?– even as she augmented the design to bring the home into the 21st century lifestyle.
The kitchen retained is original footprint, now in the center of the large first floor, but its look is now one of Mediterranean splendor. The plaster finishes, which continue on almost all walls of the first floor, glow with rich parchment and gentle brown tones. This creamy palette is punctuated in the eating area with a burnt sienna painted wall and a mission style dining table. The kitchen gleams with stainless appliances, gold and brown toned granite countertops and a to-die-for copper sink. This rustic but refined kitchen sets the tone for this home, designed for cooking and entertaining.
The one story addition flows from the kitchen and includes a corner home office bridging the eating area and the family room. With built-ins to serve the modern executive and windows on to the back garden, this space makes working from home a joy.
From the home office, a step leads down to the new family room. This large, new room is light filled and features a gas fireplace positioned to be seen from this room and outside on the patio; a clever move indeed, it seems to extend the area for cozy entertaining beyond the walls of the home. At the far end of the family room, are modern built-ins for the perfect party: a pull out refrigerator drawer, a separate ice maker and storage all fit snugly under a poured concrete counter top. Here again is a copper sink, though of a more diminutive size for the bar.
A step leads from here up to the traditional formal dining room filled with stately antique furniture. The large, original living room rounds off the first floor. With the luxurious plaster-finished walls, the original French doors flanking the fireplace and overlooking the front garden, and a grand piano, this room exudes a peaceful quality perfect for either reading or more formal entertaining. The original tiled fireplace pays graceful tribute to the original architecture.
The second floor features three bedrooms, a full bath and a master suite. Two of the guest rooms are adorned with treasured family antiques set against lavender and taupe walls, and the bath is striking in a deep cerulean blue. The other has been made into a music room, complete with recording equipment for this multi-talented owner. Each room retains the original wide crown molding and trim painted a creamy white. The master suite retains most of its original design but with one important update; the owner commandeered one of two closets in the adjoining guest room and turned it into a beautifully tiled walk-in shower for the master. The suite features a good-sized bedroom and a transitional dressing area with a large closet between bed and bathrooms. The scale is cozy rather than overwhelming, and the effect is very welcoming. A special feature of this suite is a small tiled balcony overlooking the beautiful landscaping of this prime Park Hill block. Both latte and Chardonnay would work well here.
The back garden will especially inspire tour-goers this year. Designed around a stunning Catalpa tree, the owner has polished the back yard garden into a restful space, which is easily transformed into a party-perfect spot with several seating areas. The brick exterior of the one story addition matches the original perfectly, and this brick continues into the yard as it supports a built-in gas grill, and numerous planters. Speakers were strategically added to the exterior facilitating all types of entertainment. Cut stone forms a patio area for seating in front of the fireplace and it gently rings the beautifully landscaped yard. The hot tub was moved and tucked between two sections of fence so as not to be the focal point, but it?’s still handy for an after work retreat.


The Olson Home - 1960 Holly Street
With its yellow stucco fa?§ade, blue trim and wrapped roof, this home is a bit of Proven?§e right here in Park Hill. The owner?’s tastes are perfectly matched to this charming home; it?’s awash in the colors, textures and design elements of a French cottage. Her love of gardening, and the good fortune to have a landscape-designing daughter has turned the oversized lot into a jardin reminiscent of Giverny.
You?’ll enter the house across an ample covered porch and into a large living room trimmed in wide crown molding ringing creamy taupe walls. The over-sized dining room shines in deep cherry red with white trim and beautiful antique furniture. Flanking the dining room are a bright, west-facing sunroom with windows on three sides and a wonderful kitchen. The yellow walls and wicker furniture in the sunroom entice you to a lazy afternoon of summer reading.
The kitchen was substantially renovated and now reflects the look and feel of a true French cuisine. Augmenting the design of painted, crockery and tile roosters, tumbled tile in creamy tones on floor and backsplash, bistro curtains and dried herbs are high-end stainless appliances. An extraordinary hand-painted mural of a rural Proven?§e scene, lovingly crafted by the owner?’s talented son, brings a unique touch to this warm and functional kitchen.
The public and private spaces of this one story home are nicely segregated by a narrow hallway to the bedrooms and bath. The master is painted a robin?’s egg blue with green undertones and is a lovely backdrop for the richly textured and patterned brown bedding ensemble. The artwork in the room is from the Art Nouveau and Decorative Arts era and conveys a soothing and ethereal quality. The front guest room is painted a delicate, creamy blue and displays three generations of homemade quilts among the antique white and wicker furniture. The feeling here recalls some of the quaintest Coastal B&B?’s. The other guest room is painted in a playful lemon yellow and houses an antique walnut bedroom suite. The red/burgundy accent color finishes the d?©cor perfectly.
While this home reveals much of its decorative prowess on the main floor, it also features a wonderful renovated basement. From the wood floors to the deep egress stone-surround window wells, this basement really belies its name. The main room continues the French cottage theme in its d?©cor and color choices. The ochre plaster-wash wall finis, painted black furniture and rooster paintings create a warm and playful space. The large space is separated into two rooms by oak French doors. This element is both striking and practical, as it results in a large sitting room and a work and sewing room that can be opened gracefully onto one another.
This Park Hill cottage sits on three lots, affording the owner design options galore. Removing the driveway, the owner opened up additional entertaining and gardening space. Old-fashioned perennials grace this new side garden that honors the Park Hill tradition of blending old and new. As you stroll by over the next several seasons, keep an eye on this maturing work of art.