Architecture & Interior Design
Simple Luxury
This Cherry Creek townhome is filled with custom details, creative solutions, and the latest in home technology
BY
Nancy Milligan
PHOTOGRAPHY
Linda Hanselman

Click here to see photos of the Wilson's townhouse.

Doctor Carl and Mary Wilson's luxurious townhouse embodies their preference for city living. When they purchased the Cherry Creek residence two years ago, Mary envisioned a remodel that would make the most of the 2,369-square-foot living space.

The remodel proved an elegant and efficient study in designing for a narrow footprint with limited natural light and space. "With careful consideration, a small space can be as comfortable and luxurious as a larger home," explains Mary. The width of the house ranges from 14 to 22 feet, with windows at the front and back only. She started by gutting the entire space and removing every interior wall, using scale and proportion to delineate areas of use. The challenges she faced while serving as both interior architect and interior designer included coaxing light to penetrate throughout the home and allowing for more than five miles of low-voltage wiring for a home automation system and lighting.

"Home technology is the way of the future," Mary notes. The sophisticated automation system allows the Wilsons to control nearly every mechanical and electronic device in their home, including lighting, fireplaces, heating and cooling, and even the espresso machine.

Luxurious furnishings and finishes offer a different level of style. The sculptural lines of both architecture and furniture delight the eye; highly textural fabrics and materials delight the hand. Stunning carpets, lush upholstery, hand-troweled walls, rich woods and lustrous stone are all integral to the detailed design concept.

The color palette was inspired by nature, resulting in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. "Carl and I want to feel calm and comforted," Mary explains. "I want my home to be an example of what one can expect from custom, urban interior design. And more importantly, to show that more rooms and bigger spaces do not necessarily equate to fine living."

DESIGN DETAILS

Interior design & Interior Architecture:
Mary Wilson, Nielsen-Wilson Design, (303) 388-9502 x24

General Contractors:
Darren Vessel, Single Source, (303) 477-1100; Chris Withers, Old Greenwich Builders, (303) 333-2234; Mike Floyd, Kane Creek Construction, (303) 988-7699

Interior Architecture and Interior Design:
Mary Wilson, Nielsen-Wilson, (303) 388-9502 ext. 24.

General Contractors and Sub-Contractors:
Darren Vessel, Single Source Inc. Denver, (303) 279-7824; Chris Withers, Old Greenwich Builders, Denver, 303-333-2234; Mike Floyd, Kane Creek Construction, Denver, (303) 988-7699; Custom Millwork fabricated at Reinhardt Studios, Denver (303) 592-7359; Kitchen Cabinets, Bultaup, (800) 808-2923, (303) 777-5409; Lighting Coordination, 186 Lighting Design Group, Denver, (303) 534-5350; Special carpentry, Gregg Fournier, The Whole House Company, Larkspur, 303-521-4733; Automatic System, Lutron, lutron.com and Crestron, crestron.com; Automation, Audio/Video installation and programming, Powder Networks, Inc., Denver, (303) 698-9900; In-ground spa, Monarch Pools, Denver, (303) 757-5481; Plantings, Urban Roots, Denver, (303) 893-4064.

Entry:
Entry table: Barbara Barry, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, New York, (212) 779-8810; Entry chair: Barbara Barry, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, see above; Entry chair fabric: J. Robert Scott, Boyd and Dreith, Denver Design District (DDD), (303) 777-4600; Bronze Buddha hands: Marc James, Nielsen-Metier, DDD, (303) 722-0072.

Living Room:
Sofa: Vintage, Reupholstered at Daubitz & Son Upholstery Inc., Dallas, (214) 748-3551; Sofa fabric: Sina Person Textiles, TJ Horan, (303) 296-9116; Two X back arm chairs: Barbara Barry, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, see above; X back arm chair fabric: Rogers & Goffigon LTD, George Cameron Nash, Dallas, (214) 744-1544; Two up holstered side chairs: Saladino Furniture Inc., New York, (718) 768-0923; Chair fabric: Pindler & Pindler, Hoff Miller, Ltd., DDD, (303) 698-0800; Leather coffee table and roll out benches: Mulholland Bros., Objects Ltd., DDD, (303) 777-6830; Torchere light: Phoenix Day Company, San Francisco, (415) 822-4414; Sculpture pedestal and small side table: custom designed by Nielsen-Wilson Design, Denver, (303) 388-9502; Modern gold leaf side table: Leavitt/Weaver, Randoth & HEIN, San Francisco, (415) 864-3371 or (415) 864-3550; Twig side table: Corbin Bronze, Ltd., Egg & Dart, DDD, (303) 744-1676; Two wall sconces: Paul Ferrante, Inc., John Brooks, DDD, (303) 698-9977; Floor re-finishing: Synergy Floor Covering, Denver, (303) 722-7161; Window Covering: Conrad Shade with Albert Haus Hardware, Kneedler-Fauchere, DDD, (303) 744-7474.

Powder Room:
Console: Antique, turn of the century; Mirror: Ruth Livingston, Boyd and Dreith, DDD, see above; Artwork: Burmese Prayer Pages, Nielsen Metier, DDD, (303) 722-0072.

Dining Room:
Table and side chairs: Barbara Barry, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, see above; Chair fabric: J. Robert Scott, Boyd and Dreith, see above, and Fonthill LTD, Nielsen-Metier, DDD, see above; Day bed: Antique, reupholstered by Daubitz & Son Upholstery Inc., see above; Day bed fabric: Glant Textiles, Kneedler-Fauchere, DDD, see above; Pillow fabric: Pindler & Pindler, Hoff Miller, Ltd., see above; Pendent light fixture: Phoenix Day Company, see above; "Woods" Oil Painting: Wolfgang Schroeder represented by The Hart Gallery, Chicago, (312) 932-9646.

Kitchen:
Cabinets: Bultaup, see above; Range: Wolf 60" dual fuel, subzero.com; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero, subzero.com; Ice maker: Sub-Zero, see above; Wine storage: Sub-Zero, see above: Warming Drawer: Dacor, (800) 793-0093; Faucets: Dornbracht, dornbracht.com.

Family Room:
Hide area rug: Edelman Leather, Boyd and Dreith, DDD, see above; Two custom chaise lounges: Cameron Collection, Town, DDD, (303) 282-8696; Chaise fabric: Sina Pearson, TJ Horan, Denver, (303) 296-9116 and Roger Goffigon Ltd., Town, see above; Side chair: Ted Boerner, Boyd and Dreith, see above; Side chair fabric: Glant Textiles, Kneedler-Fauchere, see above; Ottoman: Leavitt/Weaver, Randoth & HEIN, see above; Ottoman leather: Spinneybeck, San Francisco, spinneybeck.com; Chiseled wood side table: + Gallery, Denver (303) 296-0927; Custom flag table: Berman-Rosetti, John Brooks, DDD, see above

Landing:
Settee: Charlie Bright Chair Company, TJ Horan, see above; Settee leather: HBF, TJ Horan, see above; Wall sconce: Paul Ferrante, Inc., John Brooks Inc., see above; Triptych artwork: Nicholas Silici represented by + Gallery, Denver, (303) 296-0927; Bamboo flooring: Synergy Floor Covering, Denver, see above.

Master Bath:
Lighting: Boyd Lighting, Boyd and Dreith, see above; Chaise lounge and stool: Haziza, Sun Valley, CA, (800) 242-8992; Fabric on chaise and stool: Coconut, Weave Design Inc., Carter Didlake, Inc., Denver, (303) 794-4722.

Master Bedroom:

Bed: Christian Liagre, Holly Hunt Collection, Kneedler-Fauchere, see above; Headboard leather: Edelman, Boyd and Dreith, see above; Side tables: Ted Boerner, Inc., Boyd and Dreith, see above; Credenza: Donghia Furniture and Textiles, Boyd and Dreith, see above; Table light: Phoenix Day Company, see above; Swing arm lights: Phoenix Day Company, see above; Drapery fabric: Classic Cloth, Kneedler-Fauchere, see above; Sheer fabric: Rogers & Goffigon, Town, see above; Bedding fabric: Bart Halpern, John Brooks, Inc., see above; Pillow fabric: Zoffany Fabrics, John Brooks, Inc., see above; Artwork above bed: Framed Ishene (antique bark cloth), Joel Cooner Gallery, Dallas, (214) 747-3603.

Floral Arrangements:
Delilah's of Denver, (303) 864-1678.