Denver home blends stone and nature in design

Denver artist Ashley Sawtelle and her husband decided to renovate their hillside home after five years of living there. The 1955 house had served as their family space while they adjusted to working from home. They chose architect Alicja V. Hudson of BlackSwan Creative Labs to redesign the layout while maintaining the home’s connection to its natural surroundings.

The entryway was the first focus. Sawtelle found it cramped and unwelcoming. Hudson moved the staircase back, improving the flow on both levels.

The design balanced opposing qualities. Downstairs, where the bedrooms are, the ceilings remained low to create a cozy feel. Upstairs, higher ceilings emphasized openness.

Sawtelle’s appreciation for the outdoors shaped many decisions. She kept existing stone and trees. Pink flagstone, native to Colorado, inspired the floors in the primary bathroom and the wall colors in her bedroom and pantry. The powder room’s terrazzo backsplash was a last-minute change—she chose to mount it on the wall instead of the floor just before installation.

The living room features a saturated, mossy rug and a chartreuse built-in bookshelf, reflecting the home’s midcentury style. Sawtelle avoided a neutral palette, opting for color’s emotional impact. “This space could have been neutral,” she said. “But I wanted the emotive qualities of color.”

Since completing the renovation, she has added personal touches. A set of cane dining chairs came from Facebook Marketplace, while kitchen stools were sourced from a Los Angeles studio. A curved Crate & Barrel sofa sits alongside a cobalt blue estate sale find and a vintage swivel chair reupholstered in floral fabric. In the bedroom, the couple kept their 15-year-old West Elm acorn set, which matched the beams and paint color.

An unexpected benefit of the renovation was the arrival of new neighbors. The family has children the same age as Sawtelle’s sons. A shared trail connects their properties.

Hudson’s design preserved the home’s character while making it more functional.

Front door, Townsend Harbor Brown by Benjamin Moore; Exterior cladding, Delta Millworks.