ABOUT THIS HOME
Half our homeowner pair, a former college track athlete and current coach, wanted a place to further his passion. Since pole vaulting facilities are in short supply in Northern Colorado, he solved the problem by having us build his own.
Out of sight from the front approach to the house, the dream home gym features a Mondo rubberized track surface, professionally painted gym floor, full weightlifting gym, basketball half court, and steam room. The space is conditioned to provide comfortable workouts year-round, and the garage doors can open in good weather to let the breezes in and expand the view.
Built into one end, the bunkhouse for the family’s three college athlete sons allows the kids to come home to visit but gives them their own space to recreate and relax. Incorporated into the covered deck of the main house, the hot tub and swim spa are easy to enter and exit and offer a soak or a swim in any weather.
A metal building provided the most cost-effective construction for the gym, but the exterior needed to tie to the aesthetic of the main house. Multiple metal profiles and colors along with a timber-frame roof over the gym’s garage doors did the trick to unite the look of the two structures.
Connected to the gym via a floating walkway anchored with slip joints, the home is a new take on a modern farmhouse with a color palette that features more color than the traditional black and white. Beams from the exposed timber frame roof give the rooms visual warmth while the high ceilings keep them bright and airy.
Hill Country limestone from Texas and dark-stained cedar accent the exterior and spill through to the interior to provide continuity. Hiding everyday elements such as the hall closet and subzero refrigerator allow clean lines to flow uninterrupted throughout the home. Custom touches such as the metalwork on the deck railing and fireplace surrounds and the Raw Urth vent hood in the kitchen are understated but blend with their environment to create a cohesive sense of place.
Another unusual custom feature in this home: A dog den for the family’s beloved bulldogs features self-filling water bowls, built-in cabinetry for toys and other accessories, and durable solid-surface countertops that are easy to clean.
