Built in 1888 and designated a Denver Individual Landmark in 1978, this nearly 6,000-square-foot home is an extraordinary blend of eclectic Italianate and Queen Anne architecture—and more than a century of history.

When Truth Design Build began its whole-home renovation, that history included everything from exquisite original millwork and plaster details to antiquated building systems, rainbow-painted faux brick, a childlike castle mural hidden beneath the stairs, and enough unexplained quirks to convince more than one member of our team that we might not have been working alone.

Our goal was never to make this historic home feel new. It was to make it work beautifully for another century.

Working within Landmark preservation requirements, we carefully maintained and restored the home’s defining architectural features, including its original wood floors, elaborate trim, doors, transoms, plaster crown details, and soaring ceilings.

Behind those historic finishes, however, the house underwent a comprehensive modernization. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, ventilation, and life-safety systems were extensively upgraded, while new walls and openings reshaped portions of the interior for contemporary living.

The renovation included a completely reimagined kitchen, primary suite, bathrooms, laundry and living spaces, with new cabinetry, tile, lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and custom details throughout. New arched openings and carefully integrated millwork allowed the altered spaces to feel as though they had always belonged to the house.

The result is intentionally difficult to categorize: part historic preservation, part modern renovation, and entirely personal. Antique fixtures, original Victorian woodwork, contemporary finishes, collected art, bold color, and the owners’ creative sensibility now coexist throughout the home.

Rather than erasing its age—or its eccentricities—the renovation gave this 138-year-old Denver landmark what it needed to remain unmistakably itself while functioning as a comfortable, modern home.