A Stunning Modern Build with Captivating Views of the Iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Designed for single-level living, this residence pairs sculptural architecture with warm interiors and carefully framed vistas.

3 hours ago

Mindy Pantiel,

Exterior “The challenge was to take advantage of views from the foothills to downtown,” says architect Michael Woodley. Clad in bamboo, metal and stone, the house is a study in natural, low- maintenance materials. | Photo: Eric Lucero

From the street, the house tucked at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac resists labels. A Midcentury Modern butterfly roof celebrates the entry, yet it’s not a midcentury home. The rest of the structure also hits modern notes without fully committing to a particular genre. “The blend of elements makes it so you can’t define it, and that was the objective,” says architect Michael Woodley.

Set on a long, slender lot, the home stretches luxuriously across its site, capturing views of the foothills, downtown Denver and the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Beyond the dramatic opening, shed roofs dominate, while a singular arc roof curves gracefully over the great room and kitchen, creating a barrel ceiling that feels both soaring and intimate.

Living Room Stone tiles crafted from recycled materials create a three-dimensional effect, and the Adriana Hoyos sectional provides a comfy TV viewing spot. Come evening, the Varaluz lighting with a bronze finish twinkles. | Photo: Eric Lucero

The empty-nester couple who call the home theirs had one clear directive from the start: single-level living. “We wanted to eliminate stairs as much as possible,” the wife explains. The pair also own a Mountain Modern retreat in Summit County, but for this residence they envisioned something different. “We wanted this house to be less rustic but not stark—contemporary, but warm and comfortable.”

Interior designer Dixie Mazzi of Moonsail Studios collaborated with Woodley and builder Marc Fletemeyer to shape the home’s flow and material expression. That teamwork began at the entrance with an oversize pivot door composed of cedar and glass slats. “It’s an artistic statement piece,” says Mazzi, who worked with the homeowner to find an array of custom furnishings and unique materials.

Entry A pivot door built by Arcada Custom Wood Products opens to a customized Azari rug. The metal and faux-onyx chandelier is from Galleria Lighting. | Photo: Eric Lucero

Among those materials is a custom blend of stone on the exterior and interior walls that also wraps the great room fireplace. The stone is arranged in a pattern that feels structured yet organic; the look manages to avoid rigid geometry while steering clear of rustic randomness. White oak floors anchor the interiors, where canted walls create subtle lift, and layered walnut kitchen cabinetry topped with horizontal banding draws the eye upward to the soaring ceiling.

Thoughtful glazing placement is also key. Clerestory windows bring light into the kitchen from multiple directions, and on summer nights the owners can see the twinkling lights of Red Rocks from their bedroom window. In the stairwell, Fletemeyer executed a striking wall of glass with minimal mullions. Says Woodley, “Another builder might have gone more conventional and thrown in a lot of structure, but Marc created the exact look we were after.”

Patio Walls fashioned from Telluride stone flank a quartet of swivel rocker club chairs by Ebel surrounding the fire pit. The bamboo siding is MOSO; the metal is from Champagne Metals. | Photo: Eric Lucero

Against this architectural backdrop, Mazzi introduced a single resonant color: aubergine. “I kept that thread in the back of my mind and introduced it in many different ways,” she says. The rich purple hue appears in the backs of chairs in the great room, where the rug has a whisper of eggplant, and in deep stripes distinguishing the dining chairs. Even the hand-blown glass blossoms of the branch-like dining light fixture are tinged with the hue.

To soften the crisp lines and substantial materials, Mazzi layered in curves wherever possible: a coffee table composed of two overlapping kidney shapes, rounded counter stools and light fixtures that bow and bend. In the great room, metal orbs in varying sizes reflect light in all directions while an elongated metal fixture undulates like a ribbon above the kitchen island. And in the primary suite, a tile feature wall with bronze highlights adds depth, while aubergine leather wraps the base of the bed, and layered drapery softens expansive windows.

Dining Room Dixie Mazzi designed the ash slab table with a laser-cut steel inset. Chairs from Design Master Furniture feature striped back fabric by RM COCO. | Photo: Eric Lucero

The home borrows warmth from the mountain vernacular through stone and wood, embraces urban elements like glass and steel, and is layered with fabrics and furnishings. In the end, the mindful balance yielded a house that resists categorization—just as intended.

Kitchen Counter stools touting Carroll Leather seats and Kravet backs surround a custom ash lumbar table with a rolled steel base. Woden Woods fabricated the stained oak cabinets. | Photo: Eric Lucero

Primary Bathroom Curving lines on the Hubbardton pendants soften the hard-edged granite countertops from The Stone Collection. The Akdo porcelain tile floors and the Artistic Tile shower floor are from Decorative Materials. | Photo: Eric Lucero

Primary Bedroom The bed has a base wrapped in Dover leather from CSB Arredi. A carved marble wall with metal highlights from Zephyr adds distinction. | Photo: Eric Lucero