This Home is an Ode to Timeless Design

Photography by Susie Brenner

There is a certain joy in purchasing a home with the intention of redecorating everything. That’s not to say the process lacks hard work, planning, sweat and perhaps even some tears. But working with an existing structure to design the home of your dreams is an exciting experience.

That’s what happened when the homeowners purchased this Greenwood Village home in 2016. Decorated in the style of French Country, the owners chose the home based on the layout, location and style. “We knew it wasn’t perfect as is,” says interior designer Nadia Watts. “But we saw the remodel potential.”

One of the many benefits of hiring an interior designer? “We can help clients identify good bones and opportunities in their budget and aesthetic,” Watts notes.

From the start, Watts insists on discussing the entire scope of a project with the client. “This includes a conversation about timing and budget, which can be one of the biggest challenges with new clients.” She pulls inspiration and ideas and works with what her clients are drawn to, and what they aren’t.

Being in the space and collaborating on the design of a home is just what Watts did with her Greenwood Village home clients.

As soon as the owners got the keys to the home, they got to work. “We immediately redecorated by painting all the interior walls, added new carpet, wallpaper and window coverings,” says Watts.

These cosmetic changes lightened things up and gave the home a better flow—setting the stage for some of the bigger changes to come.

A full kitchen remodel and bathrooms update was in the long term plan. “We spent years gathering inspiration and information about layouts and options, colors and textures, and visiting appliance showrooms to see the latest models and gadgets,” says Watts.

Come Fall 2019, it was time to get serious about the remodel. The homeowners and Watts worked with Diamond Homes to complete the project.

The near whole-home remodel consisted of redesigning the kitchen, a second kitchen, butler’s and bar area, mudroom area, main and secondary powder rooms, master bathroom and entry, basement bar area and kitchenette, multiple secondary bathrooms and the laundry room.

The result? A New Traditional home featuring classic materials and clean lines. “My design selections throughout the home were inspired by the client’s taste for timeless design,” says Watts.

“We wanted to respect the traditional architecture of the home during our design process, keeping the feel and flow consistent but with an updated aspect to our choices.”

The remodel process also yielded a new, functional space for the homeowners. The home had a secondary room off of the kitchen that seemed like an afterthought, and it was only accessible through the kitchen. “We started by adding an entrance into the room from the mudroom off the garage, then added pantry storage, a work station for cooking prep, a double oven, and extra dishwasher,” says Watts.

Voilà! A second kitchen was created. “We were able to create an organized space for the clients to drop groceries, hide extra appliances and a clean-up space for entertaining.” What was an unused room before became highly functional without compromising the elevated design of the home.

Standing out between the traditionally designed living spaces are the elegant transition rooms. The butler’s bar features beautiful blue cabinetry that ties into other areas of the home.

“These smaller spaces give you the opportunity to use bold elements you might not necessarily want in the main rooms.” — Interior Designer Nadia Watts

The mudroom and master entry have grass cloth to the walls that added warmness and texture to the rooms. “These smaller spaces give you the opportunity to use bold elements you might not necessarily want in the main rooms,” says Watts.

This home’s interiors, infused with classic materials and clean lines, will stand the test of time, much like Nadia Watts’ connection to her clients. “We built a great relationship and continue to work together,” she says of the homeowners. “Life-long clients is a goal for my business.”

DESIGN DETAILS
INTERIOR DESIGN Nadia Watts, Nadia Watts Interior Design CABINETRY Danny Strait, Aspen Leaf Kitchens Limited BUILDER Brian Husmann, Diamond Homes