The Children's Hospital 2010 Designer Show Home

This past spring, nine local designers joined forces to create a beautifully inspired interior at 100 Vine Street in Denver's historic Country Club neighborhood. Their mission was simple: stay true to the history of the home by working with neutral walls and hardwood floors. (All rooms were painted using Benjamin Moore’s "Navajo White" or "Tapestry Beige," and trim and cabinetry is a slight variation on "Linen White.") Within those parameters, designers were free to pursue their own vision and allowed to style and furnish their rooms accordingly.

Designed by Temple Buell in 1929 for his brother-in-law and family, the magnificent architecture was left untouched, and is now paired with a worthy interior design scheme that complements it. During the weekend of April 15-18, 2010, more than 750 people came to tour the home, raising more than $13,000 for The Children’s Hospital.

Don't miss these amazing "before" and "after" photos, then scroll down to read about each space and the designers behind the vision.

©Teri Fotheringham Photography 2010, denverphoto.com

Accessories. Black Tulip Antiques is a small, nationally known antiques store located in Denver. Black Tulip's extensive inventory, ranging from silver to garden antiques, was donated for the interior designers and floral/garden designers to work with, which resulted in a home filled with inspiration. Black Tulip Antiques, Denver, (303) 777-1370, blacktulipantiques.net. 

Teenager’s Bedroom. The design scheme for the teenager’s bedroom, by Ramey Caulkins of Griffin Design Source, is tailored yet comfortable. The room receives beautiful afternoon light, making it a wonderful space for lounging. The bed is flanked by a skirted table and anchored by a vintage 1970s C. Jere sculpture of a Parisian cafe, which sits above the headboard. Griffin Design Source is a full-service interior decorating firm, founded in 2003 by Ramey Caulkins. Caulkins has more than 15 years of experience in the design industry, including design and architectural work for both residential and commercial projects. (Headboard by Griffin Design Source; bed linens by John Robshaw and pillows by Griffin Design Source; small white table by oomph design; skirted table by Griffin Design Source; draperies, Scott's Cloth by Griffin Design Source; white pouf by John Derian; vintage settee and cane back chair, available through Griffin Design Source; chest of drawers from Black Tulip Antiques, artwork available through Griffin Design Source.) Griffin Design Source, Denver, (303) 475-5048. 

Kitchen. The kitchen was created by The Lark, a home accessories and gift shop, located in Denver's Country Club neighborhood, that's been in business for 40 years. Jane Smithers and Jill Livran, the shop's third owners, accessorized the kitchen with traditional blue-and-white porcelain items, boxwood topiaries and Simon Pearce handblown glass. They created a warm and elegant space any family would like to gather in. The Lark, Denver, (303) 744-7464. 

Little Girl’s Bedroom. Michelle Buquet and Suzanne MacKenzie of Buquet Designs combined antiques with functional pieces to create an atmosphere fitting for the purpose of the space. They used whimsical Designers Guild fabrics on the bed, which offer a burst of color. White-painted European antiques (the chest of drawers and bookcase) add sophistication and uniqueness. And a pink floral rug keeps the room warm and welcoming for a child. Colorful, folk-art-inspired paintings by Sandra Renteria continue the whimsical theme. Buquet Designs, Denver, (303) 810-0022.

Guest Bedroom. When dreaming up a plan for the guest bedroom, interior designer Kristina Baker of Kristina de Atucha Interior Design thought about all of the elements of a room that make her feel welcome when staying at a friend's house: a cozy, comfortable bed with beautiful linens and a well-lit place to cuddle up and read. She also wanted the guest room to be filled with vibrant, welcoming colors, and ended up choosing a palette that was a bit different than what she usually gravitates toward: mustard yellow, cornflower blue and shrimp are the highlights. A special thanks to Schumacher and Quadrille for their generous donations of wallpaper and fabric, which helped realize the vision. Kristina de Atucha Interior Design, Denver, (303) 345-1960.

Master Bedroom and Sitting Room. Interior designer Ingrid Freitheim worked around several challenges to design these rooms. In the bedroom, she had to work around a wall of closets. Not wanting the bed to face the closets, she got rid of them and placed the bed along the wall with a view toward the windows, where a grouping of furniture is arranged. Peaceful ocean blues and taupes add to the comfort of the space. Freitheim turned the sitting room into a cozy office, but for future owners it would make a great, spacious walk-in closet. A special thanks to Egg & Dart, Moda Antica, Kravet and Authentic Rugs for donating pieces to the design. The Brass Bed created the most inviting bedding for the four-poster bed. Ingrid Fretheim Interiors, Denver, (303) 399-8417. 

Master Bathroom. This room was a complete overhaul. Kristin Park from Park Architects and Bill Miller from Waterworks teamed up to rework the master bathroom into a beautiful, functional retreat. The theme of the room is based on the original harlequin stained-glass window. The stones and tile were selected to represent the period style of this well-kept and elegant home. Plumbing was selected at Waterworks and coordinates well with Park Architects' custom cabinets.  In furnishing the bathroom, the design team embraced the words “simply elegant” with a mix of furnishings that includes faceted crystal containers and custom-made towels with trimming that complements the grey grout on the floor and the wall color. All items are available at the Waterworks store in Cherry Creek North, Denver. Waterworks, Denver, (303) 394-2940, waterworks.com. 

Living, Home Office and Dining Rooms. The design team from HW Home sought to bring a mountain-modern aesthetic to urban living. The living room is light, airy and perfect for entertaining guests. Music is the centerpiece with a baby grand piano, and transitional furnishings include pieces from the HW Home-inspired Interiors Collection, Oly Studios and a Tamarian Nepalese hand-knotted rug.

In the study, a traditional tufted English Sofa is offset by modern leather club chairs, and a permanent palm brings the outside garden environment in. The built-in cabinetry was transformed by Benjamin Moore’s “Warm Caviar” paint. The black-and-white motif in the writing respite, or "home office," is centered around the dramatic contemporary artwork. The dining room focuses on modern dining in an historic home. Antiqued mirrored accents offset a modern dining table and chairs. The original chandelier still hangs and a centerpiece of vivid hydrangeas and dahlias completes the space.

HW Home is a premiere home furnishings and accessories retailer and interior design firm. Locally owned and operated since 1999, HW Home has been a leader in bringing fashion-forward styles to Colorado. HW Home, Denver, (303) 321-7343, hwhome.com. 

Family Room. The family/garden room is a blend of traditional and modern furnishings with an emphasis on bringing the outdoors in. The space was created as a comfortable setting for a family to read or watch TV together. The furnishings and artwork are donated by Kravet/Lee Jofa, Hoff Miller, Hickory Chair, Eron Johnson Antiques, Wesco Fabrics, Williams-Sonoma Home, Jan Showers, The Lark, Carter Didlake, Edelman Leather, The Collection, Jeffrey Keith and Heidi Jung. Dromma Designs is a full-service residential interior design firm serving a national clientele by drawing upon local, national and international resources. Dromma Designs believes in creating a home that enhances the lifestyle of the client and brings a unique design sense to each project. Dromma Designs, Denver, Colorado, (303) 941-9730.