TRANQUILITY
IN AN URBAN SETTING
LoDo residence uses
understated tones and décor
to achieve spa-like serenity

By ELLEN GRAY
Photography LINDA HANSELMAN

Downtown Denver has reclaimed its reputation as a vibrant, bustling community and is now home to a diverse demographic mix, including singles and the newly single, retired couples, empty nesters and young people embarking on their new lives.

The LoDo (lower downtown) area in particular is literally bursting with new residential, retail and entertainment development, and more people are looking at the area as a wonderful place to call home.

The urban lifestyle has long held an appeal for Dee Chirafisi and Jim Theye, who have strong ties to this area. Dee is co-owner of Kentwood City Properties, a firm specializing in downtown Denver real estate.
Last September, the couple moved into their new four-story residence, a stunning home that embodies the very essence of a true downtown loft.

Two walls of the four-story loft boast floor-to-ceiling windows, affording a dazzling rush of both sunlight and moonlight. Inside, a monochrome palette provides a dramatic backdrop for the huge pieces of artwork that punctuate the walls. It’s truly no exaggeration to suggest that you feel as though you’re wandering through someone’s private museum, where oversized art highlights the towering walls in a vibrant and dazzling display.

When you enter the loft, your gaze is magnetically drawn toward the far end of the home, where a large outdoor garden space beckons to visitors. This beautifully designed area is an ideal venue for outdoor entertaining and showcases itself as a tranquil haven in the midst of a boisterous urban setting.

When considering a move downtown, Dee and Jim had a few criteria in mind that simplified their choice. “We wanted to be close to the Museum of Contemporary Art as well as the bike path. We wanted a highly urban lifestyle, and we wanted to be able to walk to the office,” she summarizes. They found the perfect location on Delgany Street, and their early timing enabled the couple to assist in the design and finishes that completed their unit. As an aside, Dee is also the marketing agent for the remainder of the project.

Working with Spectrum Interior Designs, they created a look that is at once clean, contemporary, light and open. The entrance, with its attractive terrazzo floor, abuts a durable bleached cork floor that is designed both to soften noise and eliminate the echo that can resound in such a layout. All the wood throughout the home is walnut, including doors, stairs and dividers within rooms.

Inside the living room at the home’s entrance, the massive west wall is covered by a 6-by-9-foot painting of horses. The piece, painted by artist Don Coen, is titled Thirty Miles Outside of Laramie, and makes visitors feel as if they’re gazing out a huge window at a mountain range where horses roam the plains.

At the far end of the first floor, framing the garden, is a stunning kitchen. Tastefully done in bamboo, stainless steel and laminate, the kitchen achieves the desired effect of literally disappearing into the huge window that fronts one side of the home. Look closely at the terrazzo countertops, and you can pick out bits of pale stone, mother-of-pearl and shells. The countertops were designed by Dee, who selected the colors and tone that were expertly crafted and customized.

The window opens to the back patio, which is framed by a beautiful teak-like wood, set off with sophisticated planters, a bamboo grass koi pond and a fountain designed by a Colorado artist. Kinetic patina steel sculptures, the work of an artist from Santa Fe, lend a touch of whimsy to the serene setting.

Back inside the home, the staircase’s all-glass railings blend wonderfully with a four-story ceramic tile wall that reaches to the top of the home. Ascend the stairs one story, and two sleek home offices are cleverly concealed behind doors. In the main room on this level is a fabulous Ecosmart fireplace. The nontraditional ventless fireplace, which resembles an interesting rock collection, is manufactured by an Australian company and is akin to the type found in some restaurant and retail establishments.

All lighting in the home is recessed, in keeping with the owners’ desire to eliminate hanging fixtures that could detract from the overall clean lines and simple effect. Directional cans are used to highlight artwork and illuminate tables and various spaces. This design concept even carries over into the bathrooms, where lighting is concealed behind mirrors and cabinetry to ensure a sleek, minimal look.

One of Dee’s favorite rooms in the home is the second-floor powder room, a dramatic space accented by all natural stone-covered walls and the same cork floor and walnut that are found throughout. All rooms in the home have sliding or pocket doors, which incorporate rectangular frosted glass panes set in walnut.

The second-floor guest room, with its floor-to-ceiling window on one side, is a dramatic space. Inside the guest bath, with its terrazzo-tiled shower, stunning ceramic tile covers the walls, achieving the effect of grass wallpaper. The guest room itself is a true haven, decorated in soothing hues of mocha and pale green.

The top floor of the unit is the owners’ retreat and includes a floor-to-ceiling glass-sided workout room, laundry and expansive master suite. Peering straight down to the first level from the open-air stairway, you’re reminded of a hotel with an atrium in the middle. The master bedroom affords a dramatic view of the lower downtown skyline, and, as in the rest of the home, exudes a spa-like quality with its restful tones and muted décor.

This downtown loft is a marvelous study in contrasts. Some visitors would be stunned by the view, others wowed by the design and structure. Regardless, this is a home that represents everything one would envision in an urban dwelling.