A couple from England loved the bones of their 1990s home and its location in the Laramie Foothills just north of Fort Collins. But they wanted modern European design and an open floor plan to maximize their spectacular views.
We sat down with the homeowners to identify basic goals to guide the project:
Maintain home’s original footprint
Remove log-timber “mountain lodge” look of home to reflect clean, modern style
Create one large open kitchen-dining-living space to maximize views
Update kitchen, master bedroom suite, powder bath and deck
Make the home bright with natural light
Keep as many original windows as possible
Photo of Laramie Foothills by The Nature Conservancy.
Despite the home’s semi-remote location, dirt-road access and Mother Nature’s challenges, HighCraft’s dedicated team completed the project on schedule. To maximize the homeowners’ view, interior walls were removed and the fireplace was relocated.
Heavy mountain log posts and rails for the garden-level stairs, and a wall obstructing the back deck view, needed to be removed.After removing the old fireplace wall, a custom steel rail and cabling system was fabricated and installed to maintain an open layout and preserve the view. The vast expanse of natural slate (more than 2,200-s.f. tile installed in a custom cobble pattern) makes the room feel even larger and more open.Dining room (after) — A 15-foot 5-panel NanaWall system was installed to open the entire wall to the back deck.The new glass wall system (opened) creates a larger space for entertaining.
The original fireplace wall.When HighCraft relocated the fireplace, the venting and cooling-fan solutions were concealed in a clean, modern floor-to-ceiling framed surround. This created a sleek, contemporary wall that showcases the 60-inch natural gas fireplace insert as a dramatic focal point.
In addition to installing the massive 15-foot operable glass wall system, many original windows were kept and serviced. New windows were purchased by the same manufacturer. The steel railing-cabling system (seen here) was also used on the front entry facade.The former kitchen with heavy log beams (above). The new sleek, open, modern design with pops of bright color to add interest (below).Thinking about tackling your own whole-house transformation? Our design-build team is here to help. Contact us for a free consultation: info@highcraft.netor (970) 472-8100
A couple from England loved the bones of their 1990s home and its location in the Laramie Foothills just north of Fort Collins. But they wanted modern European design and an open floor plan to maximize their spectacular views.
