From Show House to Our House

The 2013 Denver Designer Show House transformed

HOUSE NOTES

As a successful entrepreneur, Trevor Pettennude knows that though the past holds value, you must have vision to move forward. To accommodate their growing family, Pettennude and his wife, Katie Taggett, were planning to add on to their 1920s Jacques Benedict Mediterranean just south of Cheesman Park in central Denver. But fate intervened in the form of a 1927 Arts and Crafts home in the Morgan Historic District that had both historic bones and the ability to “really live like a modern home,” Pettennude says.

Pettennude and Taggett purchased the house in 2013, the same year it was used as the Denver Designer Show House (a biennial charity event in which the local design and build community transforms a home to raise funds Children's Hospital Colorado). The owners were taken with Duet Design Group’s work on the show house and enlisted Duet designer Miranda Cullen to expand their ideas throughout. “[Their work] maintained the elegance of the house but still brought in a bit of a modern twist,” Pettennude says.

Duet’s mission was to create a functional home for a young family of four while incorporating the couple’s “handful of amazing antiques” and budding contemporary art collection. “I like to bring a little history to the home, as opposed to just dressing it up with everything brand new,” says Pettennude.

Also on board to help the designers augment the couple’s collection was Denver art consultant Ann Benson Reidy, who had worked with Cullen and Duet on the show house. “I wanted to elevate the home,” says Reidy of the works she helped select—a job made even more fun by Pettennude’s “fearlessness " when it came to going for the unexpected.

The Pettennude entrepreneurial spirit paid off design-wise. “The result is a fun juxtaposition of their tastes,” says Cullen. “Antiques and high-styled pieces combined with painted textural pieces—contemporary, traditional and transitional. The mix makes each space feel unique without creating a departure from the overall home.”

Pettennude concurs. “We have a house in the middle of the city that lives like a new home but has the elegance of an old one,” he says. “It’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

The foyer features a round entry table by Bungalow 5. The two pieces flanking the entry to the dining room are from Colorado artist and architect Kelton Osborn.

The antique bronze “nymph table” and mirror were part of the owners’ collection. The custom ceiling by Decorators Supply was installed during renovation. The living room’s simple elegance is enhanced by a Visual Comfort chandelier and custom sofa made by Ablyss Upholstery. 

This commanding grand staircase anchors the home. Artful touches like the wall clock—purchased by the owners in France—and the 1stdibs sculpture on the landing serve to highlight its form and flow.

The kid-friendly family room boasts twin chaise lounges by Dovetail Furniture, covered in Garrett Leather. Two pieces by Lourdes Sanchez hang between full length drapery panels in a Schumacher fabric. The floor lamp is Visual Comfort and the trunk and chandelier are RH.

The dressing room was expanded by previous owners from what was thought to be a sewing room. The six-panel art is by Denis Lebecq. The Noir bench is covered in a water-safe fabric from Link Outdoor.

The former office has been converted to a gallery for repose and reflection. The large artwork is by Japanese-born, Denver-based Homare Ikeda. The daybed is from Town Showroom.

The master bedroom boasts an inviting custom rug made overseas by NIBA Collections. Inspired by photos of decorative trim that homeowner Katie Taggett had shown her, Cullen designed a wall treatment that ties in with the existing molding. The Schumacher wallcovering on the ceiling adds both elegance and fun.

DESIGN DETAILS

INTERIOR DESIGN Miranda Cullen, Duet Design Group​