Hale Duplex

At first glance, there was nothing that owners of this 1940s attached home needed to change. Located in Denver’s Hale neighborhood near restaurants, grocery stores, and music venues, the home had a cozy living area, a light-filled bedroom for both of them to use as a work-from-home office, and a spacious back yard for entertaining and gardening. But big changes were coming in the form of a small package: they were expecting their first child, and there was no room for a nursery.

Hale Duplex Level 1 Plan - Before
Level 1 Plan, Before
Hale Duplex Level 1 Plan - After
Level 1 Plan, After

The existing door from the office to the back deck was the logical location for a primary bedroom addition to start. While the back yard provided ample room for an addition, the owners wanted to prioritize keeping as much of the open space as possible, even if it meant a smaller bedroom.

Hale Duplex Bedroom
Interior view of the new primary bedroom

A tidy 250 square foot addition balances the desire to preserve the back yard while still allowing for a spacious bedroom and a walk-in closet.

The construction process was daunting at first, but Jeff’s expertise and guidance made us confident that we could pull it off. His suggestions helped us find space and cost savings, while complying with Denver’s complicated zoning. Now we have a beautiful addition to our home for our family that is better than we could have hoped for.

Curtis Haverkamp and Sarah Lotfi, Owners
View into the bathroom from the existing hall, with the new dressing area and primary bedroom are beyond.
View into the bathroom from the existing hall, with the new dressing area and primary bedroom are beyond.
The new dressing area between the bathroom and primary bedroom.
The new dressing area between the bathroom and primary bedroom.

Rather than adding a second ensuite bathroom, the existing bathroom’s window became a door into the new bedroom, creating a dressing area and a jack-and-jill style bathroom that serves both the existing bedroom—now the nursery—and the new primary bedroom.

View into the new bedroom from the existing office.
View into the new bedroom from the existing office.

In the existing office, a new window replaces the natural light that came from the old patio doors. Access to the back yard is now from the primary bedroom via a small deck.

Interior finishes such as solid wood doors, reproduction door hardware, and matching flooring make the new space feel like a natural extension of the original house.

Hale Duplex Exterior from the northwest
Exterior view of the bedroom addition from the northwest.

With plenty of space remaining outside, the owners have plans to develop a new outdoor living area and rejuvenate their raised garden beds to create a space for their family to play, relax, and grow.