Living the High Life

A luxurious contemporary home atop downtown Denver’s Four Seasons Hotel represents an adventurous new direction for stylish empty nesters

March 20, 2015

Nancy Richman Milligan,

For this Texas couple, all signs pointed to big change. First, a job-related relocation brought the couple to Denver. Next, their youngest child made plans to head to college. Then, these soon-to-be-empty nesters opted for the biggest change of all: high-rise city living. “Their previous home was very traditional, colorful country French,” says interior designer David Hintgen, who was hired to design the new space. “I worked primarily with the wife and she wanted to take a completely different approach and live in a contemporary home with neutral colors. She was adventurous in seeking something she had never tried before.”

The designer came in early on the project, when the couple’s future home, a penthouse atop Denver’s Four Season’s hotel, was still 5,000 square feet of raw space. He designed an open living plan that includes a spacious living/dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms, five baths, an office and a media room. “A lot of detail and thought went into creating this custom home, from the lighting plan to the furnishings to the finishes,” Hintgen says. He even helped the homeowners select art, such as a three-dimensional sculpture in the entry hall and three aerial photographs of snow-covered trees that read as abstract art.

In one of many purposeful design moves, Hintgen strategically located a custom glass wine storage wall to mark off a bar/lounge area for relaxing and enjoying a sip. The unique wall also helps establish a dramatic sense of entry: “I wanted to extend the entry a little farther before you turn into the heart of the house, where an expanse of west-facing windows opens to breathtaking views of the mountains,” he says. Located on the 42nd floor with two large balconies, the home has what Hintgen says are “the best views I’ve ever seen in this town.”

Neutral shades of gray and a variety of textures bring depth and sophistication to the design, which encompasses luxury at every turn. Hintgen designed much of the furniture, including an oversized sofa/chaise in the living room, an intricately tufted velvet upholstered bed in the master bedroom and a stunning steel-and-teak dining table. In addition, he selected pieces from high-end brands such as Bolier & Company and Barclay Butera Home.

The finishes throughout are exquisite—lustrous slab onyx on the entry floor and master bath island, marble-wrapped bathrooms, a travertine-encased fireplace, herringbone oak floors, mahogany vanity drawers, high-gloss lacquered cabinetry, metallic grasscloth wallpaper, seashell mosaic tile, silk shag rugs, and luxe upholstery fabrics—proving Hintgen’s belief that contemporary need not be cold or hard-edged. “Most people say ‘contemporary’ with a sense of caution. They appreciate a lot of aspects of contemporary, but they want comfort,” Hintgen says. “A warm, comfortable contemporary is right in my wheelhouse.”

Working closely with their designer, these adventurous homeowners found themselves in sync with his ideas and vision. As for Hintgen, who spent more than a year dedicated to every detail of the design, “I think of this home as my trophy project—this is what I would do in my own home.”