A Hilltop Ranch That is Free-Spirited and Fun

Back Exterior Homeowner Stephanie Duffy relaxes poolside on an RH lounge chair. Hoff’s Landscape Contractors installed the pool, and Denver Pergola Systems built the custom overhang. The black cube side tables are from Design Within Reach, and PlushGrass installed the putting green and turf. Photography by David Lauer.

“Jobless and unemployable” is how Shannon Duffy describes himself and his brother Erik in 2010. Thankfully, the Iowa-bred brood with farming roots decided to trust what they knew—livestock—and put themselves to work. Their business, Tender Belly, took just five years to become one of Colorado’s top-grossing artisan pork-product manufacturers.

The company’s success not only kept the Duffy brothers busy, but it also allowed Shannon and his wife, Stephanie, to consider a house change. The 40-something couple were looking for a spot better suited to their time in life and with more room for their newborn son and two dogs. So they sold their small house in Denver’s Lower Highlands neighborhood and opted for a 1955 ranch on a 13,000-square-foot Hilltop lot. “I grew up in a ranch house in Iowa, and this reminded me of it,” Shannon says. “The house had good bones, and it had a great yard. It fit our eye.”

A burgeoning business and an infant aren’t usually conducive to a full-on remodel but, whether it be bacon or building, “Shannon always does what he wants,” Stephanie says. “He’s a free spirit with a lot of drive.”

The original house had low ceilings, chopped-up areas, a pink kitchen and a men’s smoking lounge. Shannon and Stephanie’s vision was to open it up and create exposed living spaces, with ease of movement and wide hallways. “We wanted quality over quantity. We wanted awesome functionality that could offer the perfect place for living and entertaining,” Stephanie says.

The result is an ultrachic yet inviting abode, with an outdoor pool area, a putting green, and a commercial-grade kitchen for family wear-and-tear, company photo shoots and large gatherings.

The renovation started in July 2015 and took almost 19 months to complete. They gutted the house to the foundation, leaving only the outer brick walls. Staying true to the neighborhood was important, so the home’s exterior still resembles its quaint neighboring ranches. “From the outside, it’s a sleeper house,” Stephanie says. “But then you walk in, and it’s like, wow!”

The interior is “modern chill with a bit of industrial,” Shannon explains. They opted for durable, high-end quality pieces from Studio Como, Studio 2b and Design Within Reach, plus Kelly Wearstler light fixtures and wallpaper, plumbing fixtures and tile from Ann Sacks, wool carpet from CPA, and Jonathan Adler accessories. The only thing the couple brought from their LoHi house was a mattress.

“I’m an off-the-cuff dude,” Shannon says. “Looking back, maybe we should have scraped the house and popped the top. But we weren’t there yet, and this is what we wanted. I’m glad we didn’t do anything different.” And with that, the bacon king heads off on his longboard to cruise the streets of Hilltop, accompanied by his stylish wife and adorable son.

Living Room A sectional, cocktail table and side tables by Rolf Benz from Studio 2b mingle with a custom-designed coffee table by Where Wood Meets Steel and an Eames chair and ottoman from Design Within Reach. The rug is from Lolo Rugs in Cherry Creek, and the ceiling fan is by Haiku. The reading lights are from RH, and Rio Grande Co. designed the fireplace and stone wall.

Kitchen The custom cabinets are by Timberline Kitchen & Bath, and Revampt custom-designed the table. Denver Upholstery designed the green bench, and the pendants are from Scout Design Studio in Dallas. The KWC faucet fixtures are from Rampart Supply, and the cabinet and drawer pulls are from Rio Grande Co. All appliances are Wolf, from Specialty Appliance. The wallpaper on the outer wall is by Kelly Wearstler.

Master Bedroom The custom-designed headboard is by Denver Upholstery, and the pillows are from Jonathan Adler, Boll & Branch, and the Kravet/Lee Jofa/Brunschwig & Fils Gallery in the Denver Design District. The silk wallpaper is also from the Kravet/Lee Jofa/Brunschwig & Fils Gallery, and the custom side table was designed by Scout Interiors and built by LVTD. The table lamp is from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and the bench is from Jonathan Adler.

Master Bedroom A nook in the master bedroom provides an oasis, says homeowner Stephanie Duffy. “I love our master bedroom because it’s warm and cozy. I sit in the living area and read books in front of the fireplace.” All furnishings are by Jonathan Adler. The wool carpet is from CPA by Stark, and Rio Grande Co. built the fireplace and stone wall.

Exterior Living Room Glass sliding doors by Fleetwood open to a comfortable, covered outdoor living room, with furniture by RH and heaters by InfraTech. The red wall clock is from Williams Sonoma Home, and the kitchen chairs were sourced from Houzz. The custom outdoor rug is from CPA by Stark.

DESIGN DETAILS 
ARCHITECT Paul Bormann, Bormann Eitemiller Architects INTERIOR DESIGNER Lauren O’Neill, Scout Interiors CABINETMAKER Jim Carey, Timberline Kitchen & Bath Design OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGNER Jeff Stone, Artisan Outdoor Kitchens LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Troy Shimp, Lifescape Colorado