Denver resident Spencer Schar is an entrepreneur who takes a keen interest in architecture, design, planning, and real estate development. This article will explore Colorado’s most iconic architectural styles, from A-frame cabins to grand colonial-style homes.
A-Frame Cabins
One of Colorado’s most distinctive architectural styles, this unique concept was introduced by the celebrated architect Phillip Johnston in 1938. Distinguished by two triangular roofs, the A-frame cabin is typically constructed from logs, wooden boards or wood slats. The interior of A-frame cabins can include a wide range of different materials, including wood, iron, and stone. Renowned examples include the Colorado Architecture Center in Aspen and Snowmass Village Town Hall in Snowmass. This architectural style remains incredibly popular across Colorado today, particularly in the mountains.
Mid-Century Modern
An architectural style that is as attractive as it is functional, the mid-century modern style became popular during the mid-1900s. It is characterized by a minimal aesthetic and heavy reliance on natural materials. Encompassing abundant use of natural light, open floor plans, and a sleek, modern aesthetic, mid-century modern interiors are often designed with light hardwood floors and modern furniture. Famous examples include Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois, and Eames House in Los Angeles. Homes in a mid-century architectural style can be found all across Colorado today, particular in Denver’s larger suburbs.
Mountain Rustic
Nothing says “Colorado living” quite like an alpine home at the foot of the Rockies. The mountain rustic style integrates heavy use of stone and logs to blend homes into their natural alpine surroundings. Embodying a rustic yet refined aesthetic, this style of home is perfect for families drawn to the mountain lifestyle, lending the look and feel of log cabins. Boasting wooden paneling, stone facades, thick beams, and vast rock fireplaces, mountain rustic homes are created to blend seamlessly with their stunning woodland surroundings.
Victorian Style
Although most Victorian homes date back to the late 1800s, they continue to hold their own as a staple of Coloradan living today. This romantic architectural style features intricate flourishes and details, evoking a sense of high-class charm. Driving through historic Colorado Springs, particularly near Broadmoor, house-hunters are enticed by an array of Victorian-style homes featuring steeply pitched roofs and extravagant features such as stained-glass windows, elaborate staircases, decorative woodwork, and bay windows.
Modern Style
As populations in Colorado Springs and several other cities along the I-25 corridor continue to grow, house-hunters are increasingly favoring options that are both functional and offer a sleek, modern appeal. Characterized by sweeping windows, straight lines, and sharp corners, the modern architectural home incorporates neutral color palettes and asymmetrical exteriors, as well as copious amounts of natural light and integrated outdoor spaces.
Craftsman Style
While Victorian homes are the height of extravagance and modern homes are characterized by their minimalism, craftsman homes strike a practical yet attractive balance between the two extremes. Durable and organic, with a heavy emphasis on precise woodwork inside and out, craftsman homes are distinguished by their wide, low-pitched roofs, wide eave overhangs, framed windows, covered porches, and wooden interior elements.
Colonial Style
Popularized in the early 1700s, the colonial architectural style spread with the expanding British Empire. Characterized by low-sloping roofs, ornate doorways, and a heavy focus on symmetry, many fine examples of colonial-style homes and buildings exist across Colorado’s larger cities today. Formal and considered, colonial-style houses are designed with strict symmetry, often incorporating shutters and columns, arches, or pilasters for a decorative touch. With vast floor-to-ceiling windows, they provide ample natural light, with interiors typically featuring whitewashed walls contrasted with dark timber and rattan screens and blinds.