A Renovated Bungalow Is Illuminated With Natural Light And Bold Accents
A Santa Barbara couple updates a 1900s Wash Park home while preserving its historic charm
Dining Room A cozy dining room features Made Goods chairs upholstered in Schumacher fabric which flank a table from Columbine sitting atop a Jaipur rug. The chandelier is by Visual Comfort, while the room in accented with decorative vessels and bowls from various local boutiques. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
When Matt Murphy, a vineyard owner in Santa Barbara County, decided to buy and remodel a second home in Denver, he and his wife, Cat, took the road less traveled: They chose quality over quantity. “They didn’t want to turn this into a project that maxed out their square footage,” explains architect Matt Lawton, of Sexton Lawton Architecture. “They wanted to be sensitive to the neighborhood with an appropriately scaled project.”
In doing so, he and the Murphys worked together to preserve the historical integrity of a 1900s home while infusing it with modern amenities, natural light and a functional floor plan.“We just loved Wash Park—it was our top pick in Denver,” says Cat Murphy. The couple had been renting an apartment in Cherry Creek to be close to Matt’s young daughter for half the year, spending the other half at their California vineyard, Presqu’ile Winery. But after a while, they realized they wanted to buy a home to give them a sense of place, a cozy sanctuary of sorts, so they purchased a Craftsman-style bungalow on a coveted block in the Washington Park neighborhood. “We liked the family-oriented vibe, the established trees, the preserved bungalow houses—it’s old Denver with new life,” she says.
Exterior A transformed Washington Park bungalow, now sleek with a bold black exterior and a striking teak slat accent under the truss, blends modern texture with classic charm. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Fortunately, Lawton and the Murphys shared an aligned vision. “Our goal was not to start over, but to keep the spirit of the house and build upon it with contemporary details and enhanced spatial clarity,” says Lawton. He avoided the predictability of a pop-top remodel by keeping the front portion of the house and entry porch, while rebuilding the entire back of the house, including the kitchen, breakfast nook, family room and guest suite, as well as reconfiguring the main staircase. “We wanted to preserve the integrity of the home while removing the quirk,” says Murphy, explaining that there had been two previous additions that didn’t quite feel cohesive.
Interior designer Andrea Schumacher was brought in to infuse the interior with her signature vibrant colors, textures, bold patterns and timeless layered design. “I wanted to skirt the lines of maximalism and be in the middle of modern and traditional,” she says. “The home is more transitional, with clean-lined upholstered goods mixed with antiques.” Schumacher used traditional rugs with contemporary upholstery and a hint of bohemian, resulting in a balance of old and new.
Kitchen In this custom kitchen, the refrigerator and pantry mimic elegant armoires, with a playful wine-colored BlueStar range as a nod to the owners’ Santa Barbara vineyard.” The hanging pendants over the island are from Visual Comfort. All cabinetry was built by Wood-Mode LLC, with custom hardware. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
The “wow” is about the details and proportions, not square feet, she explains. “I tell my clients to trust me. You just have to take the leap.” And they did. The home has a luxurious modern quality with approachable durability for sleepovers, family dinners and wine industry gatherings. “Our goal was to carve out intimate yet welcoming rooms similar to the bungalow’s original character,” adds Schumacher. She and Lawton achieved their clients’ vision by designing a dramatic entry screen to let natural light shine through, and installing a grass-cloth wallcovering for subtle sophistication—along with a carved marble mantel, white oak cabinetry adorned with brass hardware, and a wine-colored BlueStar stove as a nod to the couple’s vineyard (and Matt Murphy’s passion for cooking).
“It’s funny because the older I get, as an architect, the more respectful I’ve become of historical context,” says Lawton. “That’s not to say, when you’re starting a project you should just replicate all of the historical details. The best is a blend of historical and new, and that’s where the real finesse comes in—putting those two together to make sure they fit into our modern lifestyle.”It’s clear that all parties involved in the renovation agree with Lawton’s assessment. Sums up Schumacher, “In a neighborhood where many historic homes are scraped for newly built residences that stretch to the lot limits, the Murphys wisely opted to invest in the details and preserve the natural charm.” Wise, indeed.
Sitting Room This cozy space includes an elegant Fortuny chandelier and wallcoverings in mauve grass cloth by Phillip Jeffries. The sofa is from Columbine, with fireplace chairs by Vanguard and a coffee table by Villa & House. The area rug is from Kravet, with a side table by Made Goods and a rug stool from Shaver-Ramsey. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Entryway “We rotated the stairway 90 degrees and created a landing,” says designer Andrea Schumacher. “We didn’t want to have a two-story blank wall, so we created a custom screen to draw the eye visually toward the stairs.” The entry light was sourced from a vintage outlet, and sconces are from Visual Comfort. The area rug is from Shaver-Ramsey. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Living Room The family room, which was part of the addition of the home, features a sectional sofa from Vanguard Furniture, while an existing ottoman was reupholstered in a textural Kravet fabric. The pillows are by Lee Jofa and Stroheim. The area rug is from Shaver-Ramsey. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Powder Room “The powder room was a tiny little gem of a space, so we wrapped it in hand-painted wallcovering,” says interior designer Andrea Schumacher. The sconces are from Visual Comfort, and the mirror is by Regina Andrew. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Bedroom In the primary bedroom, Schumacher used Moroccan mother-of-pearl nightstands to give the home a bit of a traveled look. The bed is by Vanguard Furniture with bedside lights by Visual Comfort. The duvet and shams are from Ivystone. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Bathroom In the primary bathroom, Schumacher sourced a vintage walnut console that was modified by Dovetail Restorations to be used as a vanity. The sconces are from Visual Comfort. The two rounded-corner mirrors are from Uttermost; the brass parrot is from Garage Vintage. | Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Architecture: Sexton Lawton Architecture
Interior Design: Andrea Schumacher Interiors
Construction: Larraz Building Excellence
