Past + Present = Perfection

With its streamlined design and open, airy spaces, mid-century modern style has proven to be a very contagious bug in today’s design circles. Homeowner Mayra Galvez and her husband, Goro Morris, are not immune. Galvez, marketing director for Denver-based architecture firm Semple Brown Design, and Morris, a homebuilder, took on the roles of designer and general contractor for the renovation of this 1960 home in Littleton’s Arapaho Hills neighborhood. After 14 months of hard work, they turned their retro ranch into a modern oasis that both respects the home’s roots and suits the couple’s contemporary lifestyle.

CH&L: Was the home’s retro style relatively intact when you bought it?
Goro Morris: It definitely wasn’t in its original condition because the homeowners before us had stepped on it fairly heavily.

CH&L: So what was your goal for the renovation?
Mayra Galvez: To bring it into the 21st century where we could use it, but ­at the same time to keep with the aesthetic of a mid-century-style home.

CH&L: Finding that balance can be tough. How did you revive the mid-century style without it feeling outdated?
MG: I just tried not to over-design it, to really keep it as simple as possible. We could have added a lot more tricks and lighting, and fancy this and fancy that, but we just asked, ‘What are the three key materials that were used originally in the home? What were the three main goals?’ We wanted to preserve the openness to the outdoors and [create] very flexible spaces. And we just expanded on those ideas.

CH&L: And what did you decide about the materials?
MG: The original architect kept the materials simple enough that we could still find them today, which made it 10 times easier. We reintroduced some of the existing materials like stone, cinder block, concrete and wood, and then introduced some more sustainable materials like bamboo flooring. We couldn’t use some of the materials that were used back then, like mahogany, which is non-sustainable wood. Instead, we bought cabinetry that was very simple, and we stained it to match the existing mahogany.

It’s really incredible to walk into one of these homes where nothing has changed [in half a century]. The craftsmanship back then was truly inspiring.

 
CH&L: It looks like you’ve done some fine craftsmanship yourself. Did you alter the layout?
GM: We changed the roofline quite a bit where the carport used to be. We bumped out that part of the house and put on what everybody’s calling a butterfly roof. It’s just a big V.

MG: We added extra square footage, about 1,085 square feet, but it started out as a three-bedroom home and it still is a three-bedroom home. In the addition, we created a master bedroom and a master bath. And part of the existing master bedroom we included in the new closet. That gives you a sense of how big the master bedroom was: it’s part of our closet right now, which is pretty small.

CH&L: Now that you’ve been through this remodel, what would you say is the key to respecting a home’s heritage while also enhancing its style when you’re modernizing it?
MG: Keeping it simple. We also did research. We grabbed magazines and we grabbed books, and we talked to a couple of friends who live in mid-century homes.

We chose our favorite components of the home and emphasized them: the connection between the indoors and outdoors, views of the garden, natural daylighting, an open floor plan and the warmth of mahogany.

The advantage of designing a modern space with simple architectural and interior details is that it lends itself to vintage as well as new modern pieces and materials. It’s truly a balancing act.

DESIGN DETAILS

Construction: Goro Morris, Square Plumb Level Builders, (720) 273-5651
Art: Mayra Galvez, Galvii Shop, galviishop.com

ARTWORK ADAM (large piece in dining area) by Mayra Galvez, Littleton, (720) 635-2201, galviishop.com ABSTRACT #3 (stairway) by Mayra Galvez, Littleton, (720) 635-2201, galviishop.com LITTLE ONE by Ferris Lock and Kelly Tunstall, available at David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, (303) 893-4234, davidbsmithgallery.com EXTERIOR PAINT Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com FURNISHINGS Y SUSPENSION LAMP in Red by Kartell, available at Design Within Reach, Denver, (720) 407-0000, dwr.com EAMES PLYWOOD DINING CHAIR by Herman Miller, available at Design Within Reach, Denver, (720) 407-0000, dwr.com LAX PLATFORM BED by Mash Studios, available through Velocity Art & Design, Seattle, WA, (206) 749-9575, velocityartanddesign.com LAX HEADBOARD SHELF AND COVER by Mash Studios, available through Velocity Art & Design, Seattle, WA, (206) 749-9575, velocityartanddesign.com REZEK 2 SQ. STRIP LIGHT (master bath) by Artemide, available through Artemide, New York, NY, artemide.us CLEO TABLE LAMP (master bedroom) by Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com DINING TABLE custom design by Square Plumb Level Builder, Littleton, (720) 273-5651; PATIO CHAIRS vintage Bertoia Diamond Chairs, manufactured by Knoll, knoll.com