Striking the perfect balance of luxury style, budget, and functional design isn’t an easy feat when it comes to home renovation. But for one young family seeking to revamp their one-story 1950s ranch home in Denver’s Southern Hills neighborhood, Laura Iverson, principal designer and CEO of Laura Iverson Design, was able to achieve this remodel trifecta.
Finding family-friendly, modern and creative design solutions to the poor circulation and lighting caused by the dated floor plan of the home was the main goal for this remodel.
“The homeowners initially explored vaulting their ceilings into the attic space,” says Iverson. “But this option would have been very expensive and would not have added any value to the home. I proposed an alternative design solution that would achieve the goal of making the space feel larger and more modern and still allow for a healthy design budget.”
Starting by evaluating the architecture of the home, Iverson opened up the floor plan by removing all the doorways in and out of the home’s public spaces, removing headers, and widening the openings between each room—all of which worked seamlessly within the existing structure. Redesigning all of the windows and doors and removing mullions allowed for much more natural light to come into the home, as well as provided opportunities for a more efficient lighting plan.
An unexpected redesign of the home’s existing sunroom added even more airiness and function to the main living area. Heating this space and adding home entertainment and a lighting plan—along with installing a sliding glass door for accessibility from both the kitchen and family room—helped create a new 500 square feet of usable, extremely versatile space perfect for both the kids’ daytime play and evenings of entertaining for the parents.
The sunroom wasn’t the only space made more functional with this new, more efficient floor plan. The new design also allowed for a mudroom space off the garage, a home office in the kitchen, and the major transformation of a hall bathroom and closet into a private master bath and suite.
“Opening up the floor plan beautifully expanded the home’s space and light," says Iverson. "It allows you to experience its unique design elements from multiple vantage points."
Having moved to Denver from the Pacific Northwest, the family had an appreciation for all things modern and designs that were sophisticated and clean. Natural elements synonymous with the west coast were incorporated throughout the home, including exquisite natural stone, glass, and ceramics for the spa-like master bathroom and white oak hardwood flooring throughout the main living spaces.
“We prioritized the budget so we were able to spend more on some luxurious design pieces, but remain practical with others,” says Iverson.
The result of this thoughtful design? A Denver home truly transformed.
Before 3 BR / 2.5 BA 2,448 sf
After 4 BR / 3.5 BA 3,128 sf