This Post and Beam Denver Home is a Renovation Success Story

Already living in a 1955 Cliff May home in Denver, Colorado, Danielle and Cole St. Peter of Post and Beam Living were enjoying their recent restorations and mid century neighborhood of Harvey Park when another home fell into their laps.

The Sale of the Denver Area Post and Beam Home

Amazingly, the St. Peters’ buying process was contingent upon a string of four off-market transactions. “It was a crazy deal and tested my abilities!” says Adrian, who handled each exchange. Adrian, also a former Cliff May neighbor, shares that, “It was a super stressful time making sure each one was able to move along for the next. But in the end, everyone ended up in the place they wanted, for the price they wanted and on time.”

Clerestory windows above a piano in a mid century modern living room — Clerestory windows above the piano add even more light to the already luminous space. The high ceilings allow for this tall plant to make a statement. The dining area and kitchen are down a few short steps, on the other side of the entry.

The Motivator

Just a week after moving in, the happy news of Danielle’s pregnancy meant that renovations needed to be tackled quickly. “The very first thing we did was rip up the carpet. It was old and needed to be done,” says Danielle.

They had the drywall repaired and the flooring throughout the house redone in “red oak common #1,” a popular hardwood choice during the mid century. Danielle and Cole were living downstairs while tackling upstairs renovations mostly by themselves, with Cole’s father acting as the general contractor.

Mid Century Modern dining room and kitchen in a Denver house — Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining area created an open floor plan, which allows for more natural light to flow into the large room. Completely redone, the glossy darker tones of the kitchen contrast the rich wood décor in the dining room.

The Past

Thanks to old photos from long-time previous owners, the Pattersons, Cole and Danielle discovered the stairs leading up to the living room were originally located near the front door. Centrally located since the prior renovation, the couple notes that the stairs create a welcoming invitation up to the living room.

During the house’s early years, the Pattersons created shade for the deck by adding a roof which connects seamlessly to the existing house. “We’re really grateful for it because now we can truly enjoy the space,” states Danielle. “We can use it almost year-round,” Cole adds.

Mid Century Modern dining room in a post and beam house with Nelson saucer pendant lamp. — The St. Peters removed shutters from the three asymmetrical windows, further enhancing the clean lines of the design. The nursery mimics this cluster of windows.

The Originals

While original to the Denver area post and beam home’s design, drywall covered wooden beams throughout the house. “We wanted to expose the beams and let them become an architectural feature as opposed to being hidden by the drywall,” shares Danielle. The exposed wood also provides visual breaks in the all-white living room.

After removing Saltillo tiles from the fireplace, a painstaking task requiring hours of chipping at mortar, the St. Peters revealed the original white brick. Cole remembers it as “very much a labor of love.”

Mid Century Modern Kitchen with black cabinets — Removing a wall allowed room for a new kitchen island. The refrigerator and sink were relocated to new areas. The kitchen floors, formerly linoleum and Saltillo tiles, were redone with “red oak common #1” hardwood, consistent with the rest of the home.

The Enhancements

While the kitchen still had some original features—including a pink oven and boomerang countertops—the room needed to be gutted thanks to sixty years of wear. “It was really hard for us to decide to take this kitchen out,” Cole admits. In order to create a truly open floor plan, they had a divider removed between the family room and one side of the kitchen. They also removed a wall on the other side in order to connect to the dining room.

Having seen a previous renovation, the guest bathroom needed a complete makeover. Not only did the couple replace all the fixtures, they reconfigured the floor plan so that the tub could be positioned at the back of the room and the toilet next to the vanity. These changes allowed Danielle and Cole to gain over a foot of space for the master bath, which is located on the other side of the wall.

Vintage Curtis Jere birds soar above a rare Broyhill Brasilia bookcase headboard and matching side table.

The Oasis

Removing large draperies and an overgrown juniper bush cleared the incredible window work in the master bedroom, allowing for outside access and mountain views.

Mid Century Modern master bedroom — “In our bedroom, we just see the junipers and the trees, and it does feel like a little oasis even though we’re in the suburbs,” Danielle describes.

Living happily with baby Tabor and Sidney the dog in the Denver area post and beam home, Danielle and Cole have plans to tackle the basement next. Hoping to continue the Pattersons’ master gardening legacy, the couple looks forward to sprucing up the front yard as well.

Want to learn more about MCM neighborhoods in the Denver area? Read on about Arapaho Acres. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Mid Century Modern inspiration!