While some homes have layouts that make them feel much more spacious than their square footage might suggest, this 1959 ranch home in Denver’s University neighborhood suffered from the opposite problem.
On paper it boasted three bedrooms, three baths, and 2600 finished square feet. In reality the main level was split into small, closed off spaces and while the basement was finished, its low ceilings and lack of natural light made it an uncomfortable space.
Relocating the basement stairs turned out to be the key to the design. Originally, they were right in the middle of the house, creating a barrier between the kitchen, dining room, and living area, and complicating the layout of a desired second level.
Moving the stairs to the north side of the house made it possible to create a continuous open kitchen-living-dining area, and to create a large primary suite on a new 560-square-foot second story. A 200-square-foot porch spans the entire west side of the second story with views across the western Denver metro area to the mountains beyond.
