I Had Been born in the 1970s, so when I think of Denver, I Believe of Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan and the rest of the clan over at Dynasty. I also think about the other end of the spectrum, Outward Bound programs. Like a lot of the remainder of the country, I have a view of Denver that’s all kinds of wrong.While the city and its surrounding areas are full of people who love an outdoor experience, this does not mean they do not have style. These adventuresome Coloradans draw inspiration from viewing and exploring the magnificent landscape about them, in addition to from maintaining it.

Denver denizens also draw inspiration from the past and present, using reclaimed materials and sourcing materials and craftspeople locally. “The biggest problem about Denver is that it is a western cow town lacking any type of sophisticated design scene,” says Jonas DiCaprio of Design Platform. “The design scene here is lively; there are so many talented regional designers and designers here who are producing just amazing work.”

Let me present a Denver which has nothing to do with sporting dresses with shoulder pads into formal family dinners or cooking a can of beans over a flame.

Design Platform

Across the board, designers note a big craze in Denver is integrating industrial and recovered materials into interiors. This includes used heavy machinery parts for dining table foundations and lamps, and reclaimed wood floors, dividers and wall panels. “Using barn wood, barn doors as well as other agricultural components and pieces gives a great contrast to a clean, contemporary aesthetic,” DiCaprio says. “We are also seeing a lot of natural materials that bring about a lot of warmth and texture.”

Design Platform

DiCaprio participate in the favorite Denver tendency of keeping things local. “One local cabinet and furniture builder I work with in Denver, Jeff Faine of AvenueTwo:Design, is just 25, and he is producing cabinets in the level of a Berloni or Pedini,” he gushes. “The cabinets are all custom made, with incredible details and quality. Best of all, the materials, design and construction all occur here in Colorado.”

Design Platform

“Wall coverings and wallpapers are back in a big way,” says DiCaprio. “The painted accent wall has been replaced with a wallpapered, tiled or wood-wrapped accent wall.

Design Platform

“We truly reside in a climate where you could have an indoor-outdoor connection yearlong,” says DiCaprio. “Most men and women think Denver is cold and snowy all winter, but there have been Christmases here which were 60 degrees. Many customers are searching for outdoor kitchens and living rooms which add on to the square footage of their living area.” DiCaprio notes that homes can be left wide open much of the summer thanks to the temperatures and absence of bugs.

Chalet

“Many neighborhoods have a rich background, however the nature of a locality can vary block by block,” says Beth Mikon of Chalet. “Contextual design is not only possible but highly desirable. But this does not signify that individuality has to be dropped on the outside or inside of a house.”

Chalet

One way to keep a unique style in the area is to adopt western themes in fresh ways, Here a western-theme space gets a contemporary upgrade, resulting in a more Rocky Mountain transitional style.

ROWLAND BROUGHTON ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN

“One of the biggest misconceptions about Denver is that it is just an outdoor town, therefore we do not have actual design,” says Craig Lawrence of Rowland Broughton Architecture and Urban Design. “But the truth is, Denver residents and businesses have nurtured a powerful art and design culture without sacrificing a sense of the power of the landscape where they reside.”

ROWLAND BROUGHTON ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN

Lawrence notes that uniquely Denver style nods into the grand sweep of the plains along with the towering height of the Rocky Mountains. “This can take several forms, like the peaked tents of the Denver International A Concourse or as subtle an approach since the orientation of a house in the foothills toward the plains,” he says.

Residents also enjoy their striking surroundings by producing indoor-outdoor living spaces with large entry doors and contemporary outdoor furniture.

ROWLAND BROUGHTON ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN

“Communities all across the Denver area are actually developing an appreciation for the present urban fabric,” says Lawrence. “Both residential and industrial customers are searching for ways to conserve and enhance upon the value of existing buildings, so some of the best interior design occurring right now is occurring in remodels and renovations.”

A lot of these renovations create multifunctional open floor plans which incorporate living, kitchen and dining spaces.

Kenny Craft, CNU LEED AP

Architect Kenny Craft practices mostly southwest of Denver in Buena Vista, Colorado, but the city’s influence is felt there, too.

“In this new economy, square footage is much more conservative and the overall architecture more austere, but those restraints often allow for some extra spending on additional, unique features that ultimately give the home its distinctive character,” he says.

Kenny Craft, CNU LEED AP

“For instance, on this house’s exterior, the general architecture is restrained, but additional attention was given toward a personalized steel porch along with the 9-foot-tall customized front door made from reclaimed barn wood,” Craft says. “The steel porch details, customized front entrance, Bevolo gas lamp and complex rafter tails provide a richness that ultimately balances the otherwise simple architectural character.”

Kenny Craft, CNU LEED AP

This corner chimney was created from local river rock by Denver mason Brad Pranger of BK Pranger Masonry. “We consider Brad Pranger to be an artist in his own right,” says Craft.

Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

“I believe the biggest misconception about Denver style and the style for the surrounding mountain area is it is very traditional and western. On the contrary, Denver has become well known for its cutting-edge contemporary design style, where rustic components tend to be intermingled with contemporary lines and furnishings,” says Lynne Bier of Home on the Range Interiors.

Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

“The rustic contemporary look, which started quite a few decades back in the Denver area, has spread into metropolitan areas across the world,” says Bier. “This style is characterized by a blend of reclaimed materials, such as antique timbers or barn board , and industrial components, such as steel I-beams or metal parts on furniture.”

A want to work with renewable materials also fuels this tendency. Within this area, rough-hewn reclaimed beams mingle with antiques and contemporary art.

Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

Antique shutters take on a new life in this hall.

Perhaps you have changed your understanding of Denver and Rocky Mountain style? I would really like to hear out of Coloradans about what makes your part of the country unique. Tell us below!

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