Innehållsförteckning för June/July 2020 från 5280 Home

THERE ARE PLENTY OF CLICHÉD cultural sayings that convey the meaning of home: It’s sweet. It’s where the heart is. There’s no place like it. But as I write this on day number “let’s potty train the kitten” of quarantine, none of these adages seem to capture just how important home has become to all of us lately. Home isn’t only sweet; it’s a source of security and comfort when the outside world feels overwhelming and unsafe. It isn’t only where the heart is; it’s where life happens and memories are made. And true, there’s no place like it, because at the moment it’s an office, a gym, and a (virtual) happy-hour hangout all in one. If this socially distant season has taught me anything, it’s that our home environments…

You might know them as granny flats, carriage houses, or casitas, but their official, not-so-sexy name is “Accessory Dwelling Units” or ADUs. Built on the same property as primary residences, these sidekick spaces can serve as suites for visitors or aging parents, or as rental properties for homeowners looking to make some extra cash. Flirting with the idea of adding an ADU to your slice of Denver? We distilled expert advice to help you avoid the potential pitfalls and reap the (many!) benefits.…

The city says… √ Your ADU has to have its own address. √ If you’re in a single-unit zone district (read: you live in a stand-alone house), you (the owner) have to live on-site, either in the primary residence or in the ADU. √ Whenever feasible, the dwelling’s utilities have to be shared with the primary house. √ You’re going to pay almost all of the same permitting fees as you would if you were building a primary residence. (Bummer, we know.) √ In single-unit zone districts, you can’t sell your ADU separately from the main property (no, not even to Granny). √ You may not put the “I” in DIY and build your own ADU—unless you’re a licensed general contractor. Only GCs are allowed to construct these units in…

COVER From “The House Next Door” Pages 58–65 Interior design: Homeowner Elizabeth Prentiss. Architecture and construction: Factor Design Build, 4015 Jackson St., 303-872-3482, factordesignbuild.com. THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR Pages 58–65 Interior design: Homeowner Elizabeth Prentiss. Architecture and construction: Factor Design Build, 4015 Jackson St., 303-872-3482, factordesignbuild.com. Landscape design: Phase One Landscapes, 2310 S. Syracuse Way, 303-750-6060, phaseonelandscapes.com. Breakfast nook: Built-in banquette, Factor Design Build; light fixture, Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com; table, Saarinen round dining table, Design Within Reach, 2701 E. First Ave., 720-407-0000, dwr.com; chairs, Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com; indoor/ outdoor rug, Dash & Albert by Annie Selke, annieselke.com; throw pillows, Anthropologie, 3000 E. First Ave., 303-394-1443, anthropologie. com. Kitchen: Headlands pendants, Serena & Lily; counter stools, Serena & Lily; cabinets, UltraCraft, ultracraft.com; backsplash tile, Settecento, settecento.com; sink and faucet, The…

Upon launching Zeal Living out of her Westminster home five years ago, Caitlin Halberstadt returned to her roots—both cultural and entrepreneurial. Born and raised in South Africa until she was 9 years old, Halberstadt uses fair-trade practices to import “home decor and jewelry with heart” from 17 countries across her home continent, then sells the unique goods in Zeal’s online shop. “I see my job as a conduit,” says Halberstadt, who finds makers through her frequent travels to Africa, her longtime connections there, and even Instagram. “These artisans have all the talent,” she says. “I provide the connection to the U.S. market, and Zeal helps them care for their families and lift themselves out of poverty.” A pioneering spirit fueled by passion is something of a Halberstadt family trait. Caitlin’s…

GIVE IT SOME (FORE)THOUGHT “I tell clients to ask themselves: What’s my use [for the ADU] going to be now? What’s it going to be in five years? You want the ADU to be able to change with your family’s needs. Say you have kids and you need a nanny now, and down the road, your parents will be older and you want them to be closer. Will they be able to live in the ADU comfortably? For example, maybe you want a design with a wider interior staircase so that you can get a chair lift in there [for older parents] one day. Thinking ahead now saves a lot of time and money later.” EXPERIENCE COUNTS “There are a lot of wonderful architects [in our community]; I recommend making…

When the neighbors’ for-sale sign went up next to Elizabeth Prentiss’ Boulder home two years ago, she got an idea: What if her family bought the home, knocked it down, and used the space to create the yard of their dreams? That’s exactly what happened—and what kick-started her home’s transformation into a laid-back, entertaining-ready house, both inside and out. Before the neighbors decided to sell their home, Prentiss thought her family would be the one to move. Thirteen years earlier, she and her husband had fallen in love with Boulder’s kid-friendly Newlands neighborhood, and eagerly scooped up an available spec home. Over time, though, the thrill of finding (and living in) a move-in-ready abode faded. “We still loved it,” says Prentiss, a former interior designer who now works in marketing,…

First, determine how big your property is. (You probably have this info in your annual property tax statement from the city.) Go to denvergov.org/zoning to access the zoning code and a link to a city map, which will allow you to determine your zone district. With this information and your lot size on hand, you’ll be able to figure out if an ADU is allowed in your neighborhood. Tip: If you have a “TU” in your zone district or a “1” at the end of it, you’re in luck. But keep in mind that zone districts don't always follow the same rules: “In some neighborhoods, you can build an ADU on a smaller lot [than would be permissible in other neighborhoods],” says Amir Abu-Jaber, an architect with Denver's Community Planning and…

5280 Home: So how did this whole thing start? Nate Jenkins: In 2012, I bought a 1913 bungalow at 28th and York, and at the time, the term “ADU” wasn’t even a thing, really. I had no idea that I was living in an allowable district for ADUs. Even the term “carriage house” felt anachronistic. But I cracked open the zoning code. It was just curiosity that made me do it: What can I build on my property? That seems like a very architect-like thing to do. Yeah, it was. I found this term, “accessory dwelling unit,” so I Googled it and began researching. Soon, I started to model what the zoning allowed, which wasn’t really this edgy, cool form I was aspiring to design. I looked at [my drawings]…