Arapahoe Acres

This is the next addition of the Arapahoe Acres interiors. This home was the last to be completed in AA. It has 5 bedrooms and 2 baths, and a great room on the lower level; all which were not photographed. I had no idea the home was this large! Yvonne, you were holding out on me. The upper level combines living, dining and kitchen; which is what I photographed.
This home was photographed weeks before having Zedekiah and it was just printed in the AA neighborhood newsletter. Since I did not write the article, I am not publishing it in its entirety here. This is a great home. A couple of months after photographing it one of our friends asked if it was for sale (there was a designer’s sign placed on the grass). “That is such a beautiful home. We’d love to buy it!” But alas, I think Yvonne and Phil will remain our neighbors for a long time to come. It is a beauty and very well preserved and loved.

This Arapahoe Acres home was built in 1954 by Edward Hawkins.  It is situated in the middle of the block, nestled into the slope.Hawkins did not bulldoze the natural slope found on the land; he incorporated it into his designs.Therefore the lower level of the home abuts the hill while the upper level rests atop it. When entering, one is ushered into a tiny foyer with beautiful mahogany paneling.It is surprisingly light owing to the wide stairwell and the fretted glass panels surrounding the front and interior door.

While the main living space is upstairs at garden level, downstairs has what was originally a small family room, two bedrooms, and a bath.

There are so many wonderful details that one cannot help but notice in this home.The first, and most dramatic, has to be the latticed stair enclosure one climbs to enter the heart of the home.Once atop the staircase a view of the beautiful garden, along with the salvaged sculpture from National Jewish Hospital, is seen through the south facing window wall.

A more subtle detail, but no less important, is the fireplace wall in the living room.The concrete hearth and mahogany shelves create a composition on the roman brick wall that reinforces the horizontal character of the room.   A series of panoramic photographs from neighbor Ron Pollard have been placed along the longest shelf.The images show a bit of Englewood history.They were taken of Cinderella City Mall as it was being demolished in 1998.

The vaulted ceiling throughout and clerestory windows on the east and west walls both attribute to the open feeling in the space.Pony walls enclose the kitchen and a former patio just outside the kitchen is now a sun filled room.The addition, dubbed “the lounge”, stays true to the original design.Dark lapped wood paneling along with south and west facing window walls, keep the lounge light and open to the outdoors.

This little nook has a desk that appears to have been built with the original construction of the home.  The window seat seems to be an extension of the original desk, added at some later date.  The tell tale signs are a partially covered outlet and some unpainted paneling behind the seat.

A very beautiful, well preserved home here in Arapahoe Acres.

When I went to photograph this Arapahoe Acres home I was told that they had once received a call from the city asking when they had installed a pool. The homeowner was a bit confused. The person from the city said, “It says here you have a pool house.” The homeowner quickly replied that the home was named after the first homeowners, the Pools, and that they do not have a pool or a pool house.
This home does not need a pool. It is so beautifully complete without one. The homeowner, Dave Steers, has a restoration/renovation business and has done his share of work throughout the neighborhood.

The woodwork in this home is so beautiful. The paneling is to die for. See the hinge to the left of the light? Hidden closet there. If only homes were still made with aesthetics in mind!

The front room with a view into the family and dining rooms as well as the shaded patio.

The kitchen was restored bringing the original sliding cupboard doors and lower mahogany cupboards back. I love that the original owner requested a glass back splash so she could keep an eye on the kids as they played in the yard. Not only practical but unique and forward thinking.

Of everything in this home, I want this. A tub room looking out to a beautiful garden. The first time I saw this I was stunned by its tranquil beauty.

With two sinks and jetted tub this bathroom addition is one that keeps with the original scale of the home but brings in modern conveniences and some modern styling.