Colorado Skies

A Home Full of Love

Interview by Jordan Staggs | Photography by Chris Luker

When Don Ruggles founded his architecture firm more than fifty years ago, he also established a legacy of beautiful and functional design for all. Recently rebranded as Ruggles Lindemann Bell, the company carries on his vision under the leadership of its co-CEOs, director of architecture Justin Bell and director of interior design Emily Lindemann. “Even though the leadership roles have transitioned to the Lindemann and Bell side, we want to have Ruggles continue to lead us in name,” Bell says. “It’s his founding principles we were built on, and we want to honor that. Also, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone more respected in the design community than Don Ruggles!”

Together, Lindemann, Bell, and their team recently completed a stunning new-build for a young family whose roots in Colorado go back several generations. Situated on one of the highest points in Greenwood Village, the nineteen-acre site is protected by a conservation easement and boasts views from nearly every room showcasing three of Colorado’s majestic peaks—Pikes, Longs, and Mount Blue Sky. VIE was thrilled to catch up with the designers and take a photographic tour of this stunning estate.

VIE: This residence in Denver certainly has a lot to love! What was your first meeting like when planning this project? Did the homeowners have a list of must-haves or dreams for their new home?

JB: The first meeting was at the site to walk the property with our clients. It is such a beautiful property, spanning nineteen acres at one of the highest elevations in the city. There are vistas and mountain views in what seems like every direction. The clients had a programmatic wish list that included items like a two-story great room, an abundance of porches, and even a root cellar. However, the primary focus was on capturing the site’s best features and integrating the home into the landscape as though it had always been there.

VIE: You mention the family wanted to feel like the home had “been there forever,” even though it was brand-new. How did you accomplish this timeless, lived-in feeling?

JB: I think we accomplished this in a couple of ways—authenticity in materials and using precedent architecture and detailing. The home uses all-natural materials, most of which are native to Colorado. We used a handmade brick made from Platte River sediment and a stone from Telluride. The gutters, downspouts, and accent roofs are copper, and the main roof is a weathered Vermont slate. The siding is a western red cedar. We also utilized details from the Low Country style of architecture in South Carolina and Georgia. Stepped brick corbels adorn the gable ends. An elliptical arched porte-cochère greets you at the entry approach. There is a sunroom and a side entry hallway that appear as though they used to be porches infilled with windows over time. The porch ceilings are painted a sky blue to ward off evil spirits—or mosquitoes, depending on which wives’ tale you believe.

VIE: The L shape is not only an aesthetic decision but also a strategic move to maximize views of the landscape. What other ways did you work to make the connection to the outdoors feel seamless?

JB: We placed the home on an existing plateau with a natural drop-off to the west, allowing us to incorporate a walkout basement without having to dig a giant hole in the site. From the front elevation, the house feels very quaint, but as you roll around to the rear, the drop-off creates a dramatic 2.5-story elevation. We also wedged the house between an array of existing pines, so there are a lot of old-growth trees framing the house as if they grew up together. The landscape architect used large boulder steps to soften the transition from the upper yard to the lower basement pool area.

VIE: The home also features many details one might find in the South—the aforementioned blue ceilings on the porch and a classic porte-cochère, for example. What was the inspiration behind these details and the decision to use them on this residence?

JB: We decided to use Low Country vernacular for the inspiration behind this home. It really checked all the boxes for what the client was looking for. Natural materials, understated details, and refuge from the sun by way of porches. It’s an architectural style of practicality and authenticity, both of which embody our clients’ taste and vision.

VIE: What materials were ideal for building this home, and how did you work with the builder to ensure it would withstand the climate and other environmental factors?

JB: Most of the natural materials hold up very well with the climate. Brick, stone, slate, and copper will typically outlive all of us. One thing unique to Colorado is the snow loads. Our roofs need cleats at the lower sections and heat tape on the north elevations to keep snow on the roof until it melts.

VIE: The interiors are gorgeous and, unlike the soft neutral of the exterior, do not shy away from color and patterns. Who is responsible for the touches of whimsical wallpaper and bright hues? How do you meld the bolder interior areas with the more muted spaces, such as the great room and kitchen, while keeping it all cohesive?

EL: Our client has a love of color and less expected details. When we were designing the interior of the home, we wanted the house to feel classic overall but have whimsical touches that reflected her personality. The foyer and great room are great examples of spaces we intentionally designed to be more neutral, as they are rooms that connect surrounding spaces to one another. It was important to have those be the relief from the brighter hues. Then, in the supporting rooms, we let each have a unique personality, with classic yet fun color palettes and patterns.

VIE: Tell us a little about the art in the home. Where was it sourced? Did the clients already have some pieces, or did your team do the majority of the curation? How does it fit into or anchor the interior design?

EL: The clients are art collectors, and most of the pieces are from their existing collection. We wanted these to layer seamlessly into the interior design, so we planned the locations of each piece very early in the design process. In most cases, we designed the entire room around the art pieces.

VIE: Do you have a favorite room or space in the home?

JB: My favorite room is the octagonal porch. It was initially meant to connect two intersecting porches, but ended up being a way to frame multiple mountain views within the same space. Visually, it’s the anchor that grounds the home.

EL: My favorite room is the great room. It has spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, yet has so much interest of its own from an architectural and interior design standpoint. It includes thoughtful details, unique textiles, and finishes. It represents the essence of the home, in a sense.

VIE: How does this project compare to others you have worked on recently? Does the location drive your inspiration, or are there other factors you focus on?

JB: I would say it’s pretty unique compared to most of our homes, but all our homes are unique in their own ways. We draw inspiration from many architectural styles, but even homes with similar styles stand on their own. The site and program can have just as much of an aesthetic impact as the style of architecture. I will add that we try to incorporate precedent in all our designs. I think that’s the secret ingredient of timeless architecture and design.

EL: Each of our projects is a truly unique representation of the homeowners, so no project is ever the same. This project is a beautiful representation of a family that celebrates the surrounding outdoors and appreciates traditional design.

VIE: What are some details you’re most proud of or things that the casual viewer might overlook upon their first glance at the home?

JB: This jurisdiction has very strict height restrictions. The entire home does not exceed thirty feet in height. Even though this compresses the home a bit, it still feels very spacious on the inside, and the elevation has a stately presence about it.

EL: The kitchen countertops are a subtle blue quartzite, which took us more than two years to find! It’s a subtle detail, but it was such a fun sourcing project. All the furniture, wallpapers, and lighting have unique trim details and hand-painted elements that tell a unique story and make each space feel truly special.

VIE: How have your clients enjoyed living in their completed home? How does it make you feel to see families thriving in a new space you created?

JB: We had it photographed over a couple of days last year, and I was able to be a fly on the wall, observing how the family lived in the home. I was able to see them interact with their home in many ways I intended and many ways I had not. It was a beautiful moment for me to see this drawing, which I was very proud of, on paper, now playing an integral part in an ever-growing family. It was and still is the most rewarding part of what I do.

EL: They are loving it! We have visited several times, and it brings us so much joy to see them settled.

VIE: What’s up next for RLB? We’d love to hear about your other upcoming projects!

JB: We have a project in the Bahamas that just broke ground and another one in Bozeman, Montana, that we just started designing. There’s also some momentum on a possible ski resort in Colorado. We like to design in all types of temperatures!

EL: We have several exciting projects on the boards. We are working on everything from a modern mountain home to an oceanfront retreat in the Bahamas and an Italian-inspired villa in Denver. Timeless design transcends a single aesthetic, so we are grateful to have the opportunity to design a wide variety of styles right now.

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Visit RLBhouse.com and follow @ruggles_lindemann_bell on Instagram to learn more and see more projects.