We love that our community eats, sleeps, and breathes good design. Take for instance Distinctive Mantel Designs. A full-service provider for fireplaces, their priorities go beyond the product. “We are a forward-thinking, design-based company first and foremost,” said VP Eric Walden. “We work with our clients (designers, architects, builders, and homeowners) to achieve the best...Read More

When considering courthouse architecture, “community” isn’t always the first word that comes to mind. But DLR Group’s approach—which resulted in AIA and IIDA awards—proved that respect for a region and its people is the recipe for success. At the center of the Dennis Maes Pueblo Judicial Center lies a crafted communal convergence: a unique kiva-inspired...Read More

This op-ed column, authored by rotating guest writers, aims to stir conversations on architecture and design among our creative community.  IMAGE: Ryan Dravitz  | WORDS: B. Martin, K. Seitmann, B. Tomecek, and B. Wheeler WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE IMPORTANCE OF A SENSE OF PLACE. “ … Space in the image of man is place.” -Aldo van...Read More

Looking for a custom home builder or remodeling company? Meet Haley Custom Homes, founded in 1998 by Colorado native and entrepreneur, Dan Haley Fuller. From 2,000 square feet to 20,0000+, Haley Custom Homes caters to the modernist or traditionalist.   But what makes them unique? “We use a building technique on all of our homes, that the Japanese...Read More

For our winter issue, we dove deep into both the past and present of Cliff May Homes, from the story of the architect to the history of his flat-packed system and even a current-day remodel of a Cliff May home in Harvey Park.  To unearth the history of Cliff May, his projects, and his work...Read More

California architect Cliff May traded dreams of musical stardom for a life rooted in grand conceptual design. Along the way, he cast a long and lasting shadow on the world of modern architecture. Often considered the father of the modern ranch house, Cliff May should perhaps be better known as a purveyor of the casual and...Read More

LONG BEFORE IKEA INTRODUCED FLAT-PACKED FURNITURE TO THE U.S., CALIFORNIA BUILDER CLIFF MAY HOMES PIONEERED THE IDEA OF FLAT-PACKED HOUSES IN COLORADO. WITH 170 OF THESE PREFABRICATED GEMS STILL STANDING, DENVER’S HARVEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO MID-CENTURY BUILDING INNOVATIONS THAT MAY OTHERWISE BE FORGOTTEN. By Atom Stevens SIXTY YEARS AGO, SOMETHING BOLD...Read More

With great architecture comes great responsibility, and with an eye toward revival and respect for history, one Harvey Park couple breathed life into a classic Cliff May home with the help of neighbors, friends, and even the former owner. WORDS: ATOM STEVENS IMAGES: DANIEL O’CONNOR When homeowners opt to renovate, they typically call on experts...Read More

Say hello to Hmarq Studios! A full-service commercial and residential interior design firm, Hmarq’s projects range from small businesses to retail establishments, multi-family, and single family. “We are a woman-owned, fun, down-to-earth company, which has highest respect for our clients, their budgets, and our product,” said Owner Heidi Marquardt.  With over 20 years of combined experience in commercial...Read More

The 2016 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in architecture, and this year’s winner is: Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena. “The jury has selected an architect who deepens our understanding of what is truly great design,” said Tom Pritzker, Chairman and President of The Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the Pritzker...Read More

Case Work: Studies in Form, Space & Construction by Brad Cloepfil/Allied Works Architecture debuts January 24 at the Denver Art Museum.    This is the first comprehensive exhibition exploring the sculptures and drawings of Allied Works Architecture. Presented within an immersive installation designed by Allied Works, the exhibition features a cross-section of over 60 works...Read More

Photographing flora is no easy task. What appears to be a simple shoot of a few houseplants for the winter issue of Modern In Denver was actually an 8+ hour job that required an emergency trip to the fly shop for fishing line to help style the leaves. “I think we usually had more light...Read More

Just because there’s a blanket of snow on the ground doesn’t mean there’s not something interesting growing on inside. From a splash of colorful contrasts to leafy cantilevers, it’s no secret that houseplants can chlorophyll a room. Yet these aren’t your everyday arrangements. Sumptuous succulents and provocative palms provide an architecturally intriguing infusion of life...Read More

WE ARE MORE EQUIPPED AND BETTER ENTERTAINED THAN EVER, BUT WE AREN’T EXACTLY WELL. CALL IT THE PARADOX OF PROGRESS. COULD THE POWER OF DESIGN BE OUR SALVATION?   WORDS: CHARLIE KEATON Forget political gridlock and never-ending debates about policy reform. In the face of a national health crisis, a wave of integrated design innovations, from facilities to technologies...Read More

A NEW YEAR INEVITABLY BRINGS WITH IT THE RESOLUTION TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF OURSELVES. NOW MORE THAN EVER, TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT STRUGGLE. WANT TO GET IN BETTER SHAPE? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT.   The average American now accesses more than 26 different apps per month, spending well over 37 hours Tweeting, Snapchatting, or crushing candy. But...Read More

The average American works 47 hours per week, highest in the industrialized world, while also taking fewer vacation days and retiring later in life. Which means that when it comes to maintaining proper physical and mental wellbeing, getting to the gym a few days per week isn’t nearly enough. More and more, employers recognize the need for workspaces that...Read More

Medical science has evolved so rapidly in the past decade that it’s nearly impossible to talk about newly constructed facilities without using words like “futuristic” or “science fiction.” Operating rooms, in particular, have been ground zero for advancements that incorporate everything from industrial robotic technology to digital imaging that allows for the kind of non-invasive...Read More

Sleep: necessary, glorious, and often elusive. According to even the most conservative estimates, 40 percent of adults don’t get the recommended seven hours per night—and even among those who do reach that magical threshold, quantity doesn’t always equal quality. As a result, millions of Americans wander through life, zombie-like, in a fog of drowsy irritability....Read More

In the winter 2015/2016 issue of Modern In Denver, we featured the comprehensive, six-part story, “Designing Wellness.” From Apple to apps, here are some tech-foward, well-designed health products to, well, get you well.   QARDIOBASE The rapid evolution of health technology has tipped the scales—literally. Qardiobase is a fully integrated “smart scale” that measures not just your weight,...Read More

Christian Musselman has fun. But don’t mistake that for lacking professionalism—producing detailed custom home portraits is serious business. From children’s toys to mid-century masterpieces, the Denver-based illustrator has crafted a lifelong dream into a successful career of serious play. WORDS: CORY PHARE As a child, Christian Musselman was struck by the design of his grandparents’...Read More