41st Annual Home Tour
Home descriptions by Lisa Culhane • Photos by Rae Marie Photography • Artist renderings by Marc Applebaum
Welcome to the 2019 Park Hill Home Tour. These tour homes were picked based on their unique character, charm and significance in the ongoing and ever-evolving story of the neighborhood. We have no doubt you will enjoy visiting and exploring all of them on Sunday, Sept. 8.
As in past years, the homes will undoubtedly amaze you with architectural details and thoughtful designs. Every year the houses on the tour reveal their own unique theme. We are delighted to share this year’s overarching story, which we discovered when we asked each of the participants to share their favorite feature of their home. They all answered the question in the exact same way: “The neighbors.”
“We live on the best block and have the best neighbors,” was the universal narrative, complete with shared stories of camaraderie, connection and fun.
With that in mind, while you tour the homes and take in their distinctive appeal, this year we also urge you to step back and appreciate the community in which they stand – and their connection to the surrounding neighbors. That is, after all, the real story of Park Hill.
Click here for information about where and how to purchase tickets, as well as details about the free daylong Park Hill Street Fair that is also on Sept. 8.
Christi and Brett Mathens: 2291 Cherry St.
This Craftsman-inspired home, built in 2016, balances the contemporary with the traditional and then adds a pinch of the owner’s Austin, Texas roots.
The eucalyptus wood floors, natural stone accents and high ceilings lead you into a house that was built for entertaining adults and children alike.
As you enter the home, you’ll notice the dining room on the left, which is connected to the kitchen through a butler’s pantry. On the right is a room outfitted for making music, which the family excels at. The leather couch and chairs make it the perfect spot to settle in and play all those guitars while the wet bar and bathroom make it an easy place to stay for however long you desire.
As you continue in, you’ll see that this house was built around the kitchen, designed around the marble slab that makes up the kitchen island. This heart of the home has plenty of space to welcome the Mathenses four children and their friends. The mudroom has floor-to-ceiling cubbies to hold all their stuff, and a natural wood wall on which their daughter embossed a family motto. The see-through fireplace between the living room and the back patio brings the out-of-doors in, which makes that bookshelf made from 100-year-old barn wood feel right at home.
As you make your way upstairs, take in the master suite, with its large walk-in closet, spa-like bathroom and separate office space. Three additional bedrooms allow everyone in the family to sleep upstairs, with added space for a friend or two. The upstairs laundry room is another bonus that makes taking care of the family a bit easier.
Following the flow back downstairs, the finished basement is a mecca for kids of all ages and as you can see, designed as a place for people and their friends to gather.
Bridget and Kory Mitchell: 5800 E. 17th Ave.
Originally built in 1937, this Georgian house was completely renovated over a three-year period and purchased by the Mitchells in 2017.
The bright and clean aesthetic of the house is inspired by Studio McGee and beautifully executed by Bridget, who is bringing that same talent and good taste to her recently opened store, Red Lark, at 2208 Kearney St. The boutique focuses on carefully curated homewares, accessories and unique gifts (for more on Red Lark, check out page 16).
The preferred gathering place for the owners and their toddler is the kitchen and attached family room. This inviting space includes one of the home’s five fireplaces and was built for cooking, relaxing and hanging out. The kitchen includes a granite island, Sollera cabinetry, six-cooktop gas range, with a warming oven and wine fridge.
The formal living room and dining room use natural elements and textures to convey a Studio McGee feel that is at once welcoming and formal. The dining room opens onto the side patio, which gives you the feeling that you’re enjoying the best of being indoors and out.
Upstairs you’ll find the master suite with its fireplace, walk-in closet, jetted claw foot tub, steam shower and private balcony, plus the baby’s room.
Two bonus rooms await you on the third level, one of which has been converted into a playroom. The finished basement has two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, half-bathroom, laundry room, wet bar and family room.
Danielle and Michael Martines: 1926 Leyden St.
This brick home was built by the owners in 2016. Note the brickwork and detailing of the exterior, which exemplifies the approach the Martines took to create a new house that was reminiscent of the original Tudor home that was first there.
Every detail was carefully selected by Danielle, which you’ll appreciate as you walk through the home. As you enter, to the left is a dining room that connects to the kitchen through a butler’s pantry. To the right is a first-floor guest suite and additional first floor powder room.
You are then drawn into the hub of the home, which includes the family room, kitchen and outdoor space. The expansive, open-concept kitchen is built for entertaining with a wine station, large island and welcoming details.
The mudroom was built to accommodate the family’s busy life, taking even the dog’s needs into consideration in this space.
Beyond the kitchen and family room is an outdoor living space. It’s easy to see why this is one of Danielle and Michael’s favorite places to hang out with its outdoor kitchen, fire pit and spa pool.
There are three bedrooms, an office and a laundry room on the second floor. The master suite has an attached master bath, where you can again see that every detail was considered as this home was built.
As amazing as the top floors are, prepare to be wowed by the basement. The main room includes a bar created from old wine barrels and railroad ties, a pool table and teenage hangout space. Prepare yourself for the pièce de résistance – the wine cellar. Built to resemble a wine cellar in Tuscany, it includes a brick barrel-arched ceiling made from 100-year-old brick, and a travertine tile floor. The basement also includes a workout room, a full bathroom, bedroom and additional powder room.
Brie and Kevin Cosgrift: 5045 E. 17th Ave.
A 2017 year-long, full remodel by homeowners, the Cosgrifts transformed this 1934 Tudor into a 21st century beauty with an open floor plan, improved room-to-room flow, and inviting, sun-filled living spaces. With 3,376 square feet of living space, the renovation preserved many of the home’s original features and created multiple family rooms for relaxation and entertaining.
The Scandinavian-inspired design reflected throughout the house and backyard shows off the clean lines and open-air feel of the house. The first floor is an inviting space with plenty of room for relaxing and entertaining. The state-of-the-art kitchen and attached sitting area create plenty of space for the inevitable phenomenon of entertaining – where everyone ends up in the kitchen.
The original unique design of the house puts a room at the top of the first landing and creates an additional family room that adds to the spacious feel of the house.
The second floor’s renovated bathrooms and bedrooms modernize the home while maintaining the original Tudor characteristics. The basement renovation uncovered original hardwood floors and opened up space for an additional bedroom, bathroom and laundry room.
Out back, a garage-to-office conversion, newly added two-car garage, a chicken coop and view into the school playground adds functionality and beauty to the Cosgrift’s backyard.
Jim and Alisa Copeland: 1734 Holly St.
The Copelands bought their 1926 English cottage-style home in 2012 from the estate of Frances Melrose. Ms. Melrose, a third-generation Denverite and one of the first female writers for the Rocky Mountain News, moved into the house “in a blizzard” in 1961. The house was originally designed and built by Thomas Idris, an arts and crafts teacher at Manual High School. Idris was a woodcarver, originally from Wales, who wanted his house to look like the thatched roof cottages of the old country.
The modest home is featured in The Park Hill Neighborhood historic Denver guidebook, but for nearly 90 years had few updates from its original state. It was in very rough condition when it went up for sale, and neighbors were concerned the home was going to be scraped. However, the Copelands had a vision for renovating and expanding it in a manner sympathetic with the original architecture and Craftsman design elements. Jim, a carpenter specializing in home restoration and renovation, embraced the challenge of turning a diamond in the rough into the gem it is today.
Over a period of six years, Jim meticulously and lovingly worked on every square inch of the house, renovating and/or restoring all the original woodwork, doors, windows, hardware and lighting fixtures, bringing them back to their original working order and beauty.
The first floor was remodeled to create a more open floor plan, a larger kitchen and add a stairway to the new second floor living space. The second-floor attic conversion, which added two bedrooms, a bath and loft, was accomplished without changing the original roofline of the house by utilizing dormers to increase the usable floor space. Built-in cabinets, drawers and secret hideaways were designed to utilize every nook and cranny of available space. Don’t miss the triangle drawer in the upstairs bath and wizard’s closet under the stairs. The interior and exterior woodwork and architectural design of the new second floor was carefully matched to the original design.
A pleasant winding walk through the lovely front gardens, designed by Alisa, welcomes visitors to this storybook home through the south side-facing front entry, which features the original circular-windowed front door. Out the back, French doors lead to a delightful patio with grape and rose arbors, vegetable garden and flagstone pathway through an arched gate.