Denver Architects

Cozy and casual defined the layouts of Denver area kitchens for decades. The style was uncomplicated and, by today’s standards, certainly uncool. Kitchen countertops were yellow or green laminate. Kitchen cabinets showed the city’s Western inspirations; they were made of oak and more rough than rustic. But all of that has now changed, as the Denver metropolitan area is projected to become a tech mecca in the coming years. And with technology comes Millennials, who now make up a large chunk of the city’s population.

Of late, home design in the Mile High City shows an eclectic mix. Some homeowners are trending toward antique Victorian, and others favor sleek modern. But as diverse as these trends are, they point toward one theme: a gradual ditching of the Western cowboy, home-on-the-range image that Denver is known for. And that movement determined which of Denver’s most celebrated residential contractors made this list. This is not to suggest that none of these licensed contractors has put up a Santa Ana-style ranch. Many have. But each one also straddles the new “mountain modern.” Their layouts show neutral colors, cleaner lines, and fewer features with cattleman designs.

Denver’s interior style is a fusion of urban and rustic, chic and accessible, cutting edge and traditional. What else could you expect from a thriving city surrounded by the Rockies in one of the country’s most outdoor-centric states? Due to the environmental inspiration and the appeal of this culturally stimulating city, Denver has attracted interior design firms with an impressively diverse toolkit. They combine an appreciation for the pleasing patterns found in nature, the bold pizzaz of a global palette, and the refined sophistication of modern, urban living. The list below showcases the eclectic blend of top interior design firms that have either just begun to make a name for themselves or are earning industry awards for their stellar reputation.

Denver’s restaurant scene runs the gamut of cuisine, vibe, aesthetic, and speciality. The stylistic demand is as varied as the menus, as is the art of creating a popular eatery that integrates seamlessly into the character of the neighborhood in which it is placed. Whether we are looking at architects who are still growing their portfolio but have made a noticeable, albeit small, splashes in Denver’s restaurant design, or firms with a longer history of making their mark on Denver’s aesthetic, the list below includes a diverse group of professionals all ready to meet different market needs. Some of these firms have a strong grasp of how to pull out the unique character of a chain, while others are pushing the boundaries of Denver’s style and crafting the new trends that Coloradoans will celebrate in the future.

Design-build firms in Denver carry a complex toolbox. They are required to bring the technical, the practical, the artistic, and the visionary to each project they tackle, as they help their clients design and construct unique, sustainable Denver homes. The list below includes both boutique and large-scale firms — firms that specialize entirely in residential and ones in which residential is only one branch of a bigger tree. Each firm brings a commitment to sustainability, which is a hallmark of Denver’s construction value system, while also building structures that can withstand the city’s distinct four seasons and its record hailstorms.

Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, with an architectural scene that boasts classic highrises of brick and steel alongside newer structures with a more futuristic energy. Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Denver’s major commercial architects are tasked with maintaining a skyline that works with and against the city’s dramatic, and often snow-capped, mountainous backdrop.

Denver’s residential aesthetic is an eclectic mix of the old and the new, and rather than throw away its history, Denver architects are finding the delicate balance between innovation and revival. Depending on neighborhood, one can find both historic and modern, craftsman and mountain rustic, Victorian and cutting-edge sustainable. Denver architects have the state’s consistent sunshine at their disposal, when designing either passive solar spaces or artistic, light-filled additions. Colorado residents don’t just appreciate a refined interior, they cherish a good outdoor view (or multiple), and the residential architects who are defining Denver’s new appeal must be always inclusive of the highly venerated outdoor culture that makes the people who live here proud to call Denver home. The architects listed below represent the high quality and versatility of Denver’s residential design scene, and though they range in size and focus, they all represent a cutting edge eye for detail and a mind for efficiency.