Historic Denver Home Gets a Playful, Functional Redesign
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Not every renovation means ripping everything out and starting over. Sometimes the best design honors what's already there—and builds around it with intention, personality, and a little bit of weird.
That was the approach for this Denver home redesign. Our client, Stephanie, is a fashionista with a love for vibrant color, Scandinavian simplicity, and spaces that feel collected rather than decorated. She wanted a home that worked for her real life—with plenty of storage, natural light, and rooms that felt fun to live in.
The result? A space that blends 1941 charm with contemporary function, custom pieces, and design choices that are unapologetically hers.
The Bathroom: Why We Kept the Original 1941 Tile
Let's start with the bathroom, because it's absolutely fabosh.
The original 1941 tile, sink, and shower were all intact—and honestly, gorgeous. Stephanie initially wanted to swap out the medicine cabinet and console sink for something new. But when you have vintage details this good, why change them?
We kept the original bones and added personality through the details. Stephanie found this stunning Gucci wallpaper that worked perfectly with the bathroom's existing colorway—bold, playful, and totally unexpected. The console sink stayed put, though it may eventually need repair work. But for now? It's perfect.
The Window Treatment: 1960s Palm Beach Vibes
Stephanie already had a simple curtain rod with sheer fabric, but we wanted to elevate the space to feel like a resort bathroom from the 1960s Palm Beach era. Think The Palm Royale on Apple TV—that glamorous, slightly over-the-top elegance.
We brought in Schumacher stripe fabric with a custom scalloped bottom trimmed with pom-poms. It's playful. It's vintage-inspired. It's gorg-y. And it transforms the whole vibe of the room.
Bathroom Sources:
Wallpaper: Gucci
Window treatment fabric: Schumacher stripe with custom scalloped hem and pom-poms
The Bedroom: From Terracotta and Yellow to Scandinavian Serenity
The bedroom had one of the biggest overhauls in the house. Originally painted in terracotta red and yellow, we repainted the walls white to create a calm, Scandinavian-inspired retreat. Stephanie wanted simplicity here—clean lines, natural materials, and a space that felt restful but still had personality.
I have no problem painting walls white (there are a million shades to choose from which probably says a lot about how much people love this color). When your walls are a gallery white it leaves so much room to play with textiles and art, which we did a lot of in here!
Custom Drapery and Window Treatments
We designed custom drapery using Maxwell fabric and The Shade Store fabric, trimmed with Samuel and Sons pom-poms for that signature FORM zhush. The ceiling-mounted curtain rod came from ONA Drapery in Boulder, giving the room height and elegance.
We also added inset flat Roman shades from The Shade Store. Full transparency: they didn't perform their best work on the first try, and we had to have one shade remade. But we got there, and the final result was worth it. (It's moments like these that Stephanies was so glad to have a designer on her side to take care of the things that don't work out on the first try!)
The Custom Dresser: Built for a Fashionista
Stephanie has a serious wardrobe—and she needed storage that could keep up. We worked with Tomasz, a local Denver woodworker and restoration expert, to design and build a custom dresser specifically for the wall opposite her bed.
Here's what made it special:
9 drawers total, all designed to open fully so Stephanie could see everything inside
Rounded edges and pegged legs for a clean Scandinavian look
Custom hardware from Matilda Goad in the UK: lacquered brown bamboo pulls and small brown knobs with metal backplates
This piece was designed to fit her exact needs—function and beauty in equal measure. That's living design.
I love when we get to add handmade pieces to a space, especially when we're supporting local artists. Handmade brings so much soul into a space, it adds character, and you know that it's a one of a kind piece that no one else will have. Plus, this is so well made, it can become an heirloom and be passed down for generations. Now that's sustainable!
Bedroom Sources:
Custom drapery: Maxwell fabric, The Shade Store fabric, Samuel and Sons pom-poms
Ceiling-mounted curtain rod: ONA Drapery, Boulder
Roman shades: The Shade Store
Ceiling fan: Lightology
Bed: Room & Board
Bedside desk: Design Within Reach
Table lamp: Lumes
Bedding: West Elm
Bed coverlet: Custom-made from leftover office drapery fabric
Small stool: West Elm
Custom dresser: Designed by FORM, built by Tomasz (local Denver woodworker)
Dresser hardware: Matilda Goad (UK)
Rug: Jaipur Rugs, sourced through Rogala Designs
The Living Room: A Furniture Refresh That Honors Memory
The living room got a complete furniture refresh—new sofa, new chairs, new coffee table, new sideboard—but the soul of the space? That came from what Stephanie already owned.
Take that large New York street sign hanging above the sofa. It's not centered (and that's the point). This piece represents where Stephanie's mom grew up, and she's held onto it for years. There was absolutely no reason to move it or replace it. Sometimes the best design decision is knowing what to keep.
Playing with Placement and Personal History
We positioned the Thayer Coggin sofa—a beauty with soft, curved lines—off-center from the street sign. It creates visual interest and feels collected rather than matchy-matchy. The orange print hanging nearby? That had been living in Stephanie's closet for years. She loved it but never knew where to put it. We had it framed in light burl wood (which echoes the darker burl wood coffee table from Crate and Barrel) and suddenly it had a home.
The Custom Yellow Side Table: Making Magic from Scraps
Here's where things get fun. While working on Stephanie's custom bedroom dresser, we spotted a vintage wood table base in the woodworker's shop. We flipped it upside down and had a custom round piece of yellow glass made for the top—instant pop of color in a space filled with subtle neutrals and cool tones. This is what we mean by living design: seeing potential in unexpected places and creating something completely unique.
Layering Old and New
The new pieces—a Loloi area rug, leather chair from Interior Define, green and metal accent chair from Room & Board, black sideboard from Industry West—create a fresh foundation. But they're balanced with Stephanie's existing items: the orange print, the street sign, a small ceramic balloon (an original art piece gifted to her that we insisted she display), and a glass bowl she already owned.
The sideboard styling itself tells a story: a plant pot from HomeGoods, a small painting from Rogala Designs, coffee table books from Lulu's, and that ceramic balloon. It's a mix of high and low, new and cherished, that feels authentic to how Stephanie actually lives.
New lighting—wall sconces from Cedar and Moss, a black metal floor lamp from Pottery Barn, and a Slim Aarons print—complete the space. Oh, and a new Room & Board runner in front of the sideboard, because sometimes it's the small details that zhush a room from good to fabosh.
Living Room Sources:
Sofa: Thayer Coggin
Area rug: Loloi
Coffee table: Crate and Barrel (burl wood)
Leather chair: Interior Define
Green and metal accent chair: Room & Board
Runner: Room & Board
Black sideboard: Industry West
Wall sconces: Cedar and Moss
Floor lamp: Pottery Barn
Slim Aarons print
Custom yellow glass side table: Vintage wood base, custom yellow glass top
Sideboard decor: HomeGoods (plant pot), Rogala Designs (small painting), Lulu's (coffee table books), client's own ceramic balloon and glass bowl
Pillows and throw: Small shop in Aspen (client-sourced)
The Office: English Elegance Meets Grown-Up Functionality
Stephanie wanted her office to feel English—sophisticated, layered, a bit bookish—but also functional for actual work. The conversation kept coming back to one theme: making the room feel more adult.
Originally, we'd planned custom built-in library units. Had them drawn up, got estimates, the whole deal. But once Stephanie had her floors redone throughout the house, the project evolved into a full-floor refresh. Each room needed attention, and suddenly the built-ins became less of a priority. Sometimes the best design plan is the one that adapts to reality.
Painting Strategy: White Walls, High-Gloss Blue Ceiling
We painted the walls white to create a clean gallery backdrop, then carried the same blue from the living room and dining room onto the office ceiling—but in a high-gloss finish. It's unexpected. It's a little bit fancy. It draws your eye up and makes the whole space feel more intentional.
Custom Window Treatments with English Charm
The custom drapery became the showstopper. Most of the fabric came from Egg and Dart at the Denver Design Center, including an absolutely adorable dog print by Ashley Wild. We added a custom flat Roman shade with trim and a ribbon detail at the bottom, plus tailor-pleated drapery panels. The result feels collected and sophisticated—very English country house, very Stephanie.
Working with What She Already Loved
Here's where we practiced what we preach about living design. We moved Stephanie's existing Design Within Reach brown leather sofa from her lower-level TV room into the office for seating. Her red drum table (formerly in the wine room) became a small coffee table. Her vintage desk—very pretty, very vintage—moved up from the lower level and found its perfect home here. Same with her vintage storage unit.
And that goat lamp? Stephanie found it on a work trip years ago. It stayed. Obviously.
The only new pieces: a rug from Lulu and Georgia and that custom window treatment. Everything else was a thoughtful repositioning of items she already owned and loved.
We kept her local artist Meredith Steel piece exactly where it was—that gorgeous woman artwork wasn't going anywhere. When something's that gorg-y, you don't mess with it.
The Power of Editing and Rearranging
This room is proof that you don't always need to buy new. Sometimes the best design move is recognizing that the brown leather sofa works better upstairs, that the vintage desk deserves to be seen, and that a red drum table can have a second life as a coffee table.
It's about editing, rearranging, and trusting that the pieces you've collected over time have value. Our job was simply to help Stephanie see the potential in what she already had—and fill in the gaps with custom touches that elevated the whole space.
Office Sources:
Custom drapery fabric: Egg and Dart (Denver Design Center), including dog print by Ashley Wild
Custom flat Roman shade with trim and ribbon detail
Paint: White walls, high-gloss blue ceiling (same blue as living room and dining room)
Area rug: Lulu and Georgia
Brown leather sofa: Design Within Reach (existing, moved from lower level)
Red drum table: Client's own (moved from wine room, now coffee table)
Vintage desk: Client's own (moved from lower level)
Vintage storage unit: Client's own
Goat lamp: Client's own (found on work trip)
Wall art: Meredith Steel (local artist, existing piece)
Living Design: Using What You Already Have
One of the core principles at FORM is that great design doesn't mean starting from scratch. We love incorporating the things you already own—the heirlooms, the pieces with memory, the handmade items that hold soul.
For Stephanie's home, we reused fabric from the office drapes to create a custom bed coverlet. We kept her existing curtain hardware in the bathroom and built around it. We honored the original 1941 tile instead of ripping it out.
These choices give a home story. They make it feel collected, lived-in, and uniquely yours. That's what we mean by living design—spaces that evolve with you, that reflect your history, and that work for your real life.
Why Denver Homeowners Choose FORM Interior Design
If you're looking for an interior designer in Denver who gets it—who understands that your home should feel like you, not like a magazine spread—we should talk.
FORM Interior Design specializes in creating spaces that are:
Functional for how you actually live
Full of personality and unexpected moments
Rooted in what you already love, with thoughtful additions
Designed collaboratively, not prescriptively
We work with vintage homes, modern builds, rentals, and everything in between. Whether you need Full-Service Design, a Single Consult, or Furniture Styling to make the most of what you have, we're here to help you trust your taste and create a home you're proud of.
Make it pretty. Make it functional. Make it weird. Make it yours.
Ready to Transform Your Denver Home?
Let's talk about your space. Whether you're in a historic Denver home like Stephanie's or a modern build that needs personality, FORM Interior Design brings intentionality, collaboration, and a whole lot of zhush to every project.