There comes a moment in every remodel when you might be tempted to say” We might as well just scrape the home and start over fresh.” It’s understandable, as remodels, renovations, and retrofits, can present unique and often *unexpected* challenges to a project depending on a variety of factors:
- The year it was built
- Deferred maintenance from previous owners, or normal wear and tear on the home.
- How it has been added on to or remodeled over the years
Projects intended to transform an existing built environment require a customized approach, in order to bring an older structure into the current day.
Adaptive reuse in Denver and the Front Range is about giving existing buildings a second life, and some of the most rewarding projects I’ve collaborated on have challenged the misconception that meaningful change always requires more square footage.
Arapahoe Acres
Homeowners often come to me planning a major overhaul. Expansion, reconfiguration, the works. The house as they see it, just doesn’t function anymore.
As we dig into the homeowners’ goals for their home, we often come to see more opportunities than limitations with the structure.
This was the case with Arapahoe Acres, a 1947 ranch located just south of the University of Denver. The home had been well-maintained and tastefully updated, but the owners still felt that it didn’t fit their needs. There was an attached garage, but it was barely big enough for a single car. There was a well-appointed kitchen, but it was stuffed into a narrow galley space. And there was a primary suite of sorts, but the closet and dressing room took up far too much space, and left far too little for the bathroom.
These Homeowners were ready to drastically change the layout of their home, but after completing a Needs and Options Report to establish priorities for the project and explore possibilities, we discovered there were ample opportunities to improve the overall flow of the home, within the existing footprint.
Spaces that felt tight became our guidelines for better flow and sightlines. Underused areas were reimagined with purpose. We realized collectively that the limitations of the home’s layout didn’t leverage what was possible within the footprint, but offered us all the information we needed to completely shift how residents of the home lived while preserving the original structure and footprint.
Most importantly, our shift in approach complemented the homeowner’s desire to retain the original character of their home.
Mid-Century, Meet Modern.
Throughout the mid-century, many homes were built with similar core tenants in mind: Strong architectural identities, clean lines, low profiles, and my favorite – an emphasis on connection to the outdoors.
Fast-forward to 2026, and not all mid-century homes are holding up to modern day routines, needs for storage, or functional use. Kitchens of the 1950s are often closed off, storage space is limited or ill-fitted to modern appliances, and the way rooms relate to each other can feel fragmented.
A Mid Century renovation in Centennial’s Crestview neighborhood tells the story.
There has been a surge in mid-century restoration and adaptive reuse as homebuyers, homeowners, and historic restoration enthusiasts of all generations grow an appreciation for the architectural styles of the 1950s.
Mid-century homes are typically receptive to renovations that feel like a natural evolution of the existing structure because so many of the design principles used in their original design—elegant, minimal detailing, connection between the inside and the outdoor, and an emphasis on the human scale rather than an imposing monumental statement—are relevant again today.
Our goal was to work with the history and bones of this home by introducing contemporary elements like natural lighting, indoor / outdoor living, and open layouts to complement the existing structure.This approach allowed us to unite key areas without losing the rhythm of the original design.
Making Use of the “Unusable”
Some of our most interesting work happens in spaces that were never quite right to begin with.
Layouts that made sense decades ago but don’t anymore present a fun puzzle to solve, and we like to ask a few questions to guide
- What if that unused corner becomes the most lived-in space in the house?
- What is circulation, rather than square footage, is the real issue?
- What if the fix is subtraction, not addition?
In both Arapahoe Acres and Crestview Midcentury Modern, these questions led to more creative, and often more efficient solutions.
The satisfaction that comes with a home that evolves instead of being replaced is something we hear about often. Yes it’s more sustainable, and yes it reduces the material waste of scraping a full building, but it’s also a deeply personal choice to preserve the existing structure or’ bones” of your home.
The quirks we like stay, the story continues, and the end result often feels richer than something built from scratch. If you’re living in a home that feels like it’s not quite working, it might just need a new perspective.