Life’s Report Card

Since the early 1980’s, Doug has submitted his work for 3rd party evaluation by industry experts. He believes that design awards are “life’s report card” for the professional designer. It’s one thing to think you did a good job, and to have the client say you did a good job, but it’s a whole other thing to have a panel of peers compare it to dozens or scores of others, and say “this is the best!” Asked which award he is most proud of, Doug replied, “my next one”!

2025 Chrysalis Award: Regional Historic Restoration

This is the 12th prestigious Chrysalis Award Doug has won since 1990, in several categories including Historic, Kitchen, and Whole House.  Entries were judged on overall design, creative use of materials and space, and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure.

This 1926 bungalow in Wheat Ridge was built by the current owner’s grandparents, and she was determined to do an addition that respected the home’s architectural character, and to remove some of the modern “improvements” that had been inflicted on it.  The new kitchen was designed with custom Plato cabinetry to mimic a kitchen from the 1920’s, using retro style appliances like the “icebox” refrigerator

The basement, formerly dark and dreary,  was opened to a large outdoor sunken patio that captures the south sun, while a new pergola-style porch off the back addition provides covered outdoor space off the sunroom.  The original steep and narrow stairs were replaced by gentle and wide stairs that wrap around the new elevator. Windows were replaced, two bathrooms redone, an all new heating and cooling system make the home ready for the next 100 years!

Contractor: Coggeshall Construction

Photography: Philip Wegener Photography

NKBA Rocky Mountain Peak Awards 2024: Best Kitchen Refresh

Sometimes the little things can make all the difference, if you consider kitchen lighting to be a “little thing”.

The NKBA’s Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines thinks it’s a big thing, and this kitchen refresh proves the point.

Scrapping the builder grade three can lights for six specifically placed new adjustable downlights with narrow spotlight bulbs raised the light level 8 fold, from and average of 16 foot candles to 126 foot candles.

At the same time, the appearance and function of the kitchen has dramatically improved. Before, one couldn’t tell what kind of wood the cabinets were. Now we see it is a lovely walnut veneer. A new stainless hood, new ridge beam, and tiled island complete the makeover.

The client raved: “…we are thrilled by it. Of everything we did on this remodel, lighting was by far the biggest bang for the buck”, adding “it changed everything, and everyone who visits comments on the change”

This inventive ADU conversion reimagined a 20th-century carriage house and modern garage into a welcoming retreat for the clients’ parents. Conceived during the pandemic (2021), it anticipated today’s surge in ADU popularity.

The cozy primary suite occupies the low-ceilinged carriage house, while the former garage now houses a vaulted great room and kitchen. The restructured roof provides a clear span, with faux beams concealing ambient lighting. Upstairs, a gentle stairway leads to an attic den overlooking the living space.

Accessibility, comfort, and light guided every choice — from the radiant heated floors and walk-in shower to the seven lighting circuits and skylit spaces.

Contractor: Mike and Danny Garner, Garner Homes

Photography: Philip Wegener Photography

This modern rustic mountain cabin in Flagstaff won the 2023 award for its unique stairway, which anchored a total remodel of the existing A frame. The original stairs were narrow and dangerous, with winders at the bottom to catch the inattentive user.

Now , wide treads out of cantilevered thick solid treads float in space with cable railings and steel newels,  and provide both a stairway and an art piece in the center of the home.  The rise is gentle and the run generous.  The inset “paw prints” speak to the real owners of the home, their  pet dogs.

The home belongs to Bill Owens, the well- known remodeler from Columbus Ohio and an NAHB Vice Chair.  He volunteered it as the Model Remodel West for 2019, sponsored by Pro Remodeler magazine, and subjected himself to almost  impossible deadlines to get it done in time for editorial needs!  But it was a resounding success, achieving high levels of energy savings using closed cell foam and Zip R wall exterior insulation and all new windows and La Cantina doors, Velux skylights, and Navien tankless water heating.

Contractor: Owens Construction

MAYOR’S DESIGN AWARD 2014

This magnificent 1908 Sterner & Williams classic revival in Denver’s Country Club neighborhood wasn’t so classic in back, where a poorly built and leaky 1970’s greenhouse addition provided breakfast room space overlooking the backyard. But one still needed to go outside to get to the garage/carriage house.

To connect the two buildings, we designed a large but discreet addition, with mostly flat roof, with the breakfast room “tower” expressed, and clad in matching brick and wonderful glazed Ludovici roof tiles. The kitchen, formerly landlocked, moved out here along with the breakfast-room and a new bathroom off the new mudroom at the entry to the garage.

The award, presented by Mayor Hancock, states “for your contribution to imaginative design in Denver neighborhoods”.

Contractor: Garner Homes  

Photographer: Philip Wegner Photography

1998 Grand Prize in the Best in American Remodeling Competition

A homeowner-designed faux Tudor from the 70’s went on the market in 1996.  And was still for sale in 1998 when architect Doug Walter saw it, and saw it’s potential.  It was decently built, despite the style (?) and sat on a wooded acre in Greenwood Village, with bridle trails on two sides.

What he came up with was a farmhouse style remodel that totally reskinned the home, getting rid of the fake mansard roofs.  A modest two story addition on the front allowed room for a front porch, a proper entry, and a larger bedroom upstairs.  On the east, a tall airy porch was built to overlook the property and the neighbor’s horse pasture. Horizontal siding was chosen for the walls in addition to the existing brick.

Inside, the great room’s 16 foot high ceilings were brought into scale with new beams at 10 feet, with lighting attached.  A feature window assembly with gently arched top became the focal point, and allowed sunlight deep into the space.  The former kitchen became the mudroom and laundry, with a new kitchen carved out of the north 1/3 of the great room. Upstairs, all three bedrooms gained en suite baths, while the basement remained unfinished.

Contractor: Champion Construction

Photography: Philip Wegener Photography

1996 Great American Home Award: National Trust for Historic Preservation

This grand turn-of-the-century mansion on Denver’s Montview Parkway had a very formal floorplan, one that was closed off from the backyard, where the owner had built a pool. Access to the pool, yard, and garage was across an old deck, down some steep stairs, dangerous in winters.

  So an addition was proposed that would open up the kitchen to a new breakfast room overlooking the pool, while providing space for a small family room and a mudroom laundry. A new wide inside  stair got them to the on grade mudroom, and continued to the basement, replacing a  narrow steep one.

A tower form was chosen to echo the architecture of the main house at a smaller scale, using the same brick and tile roofing.  Stucco was introduced as a compatible material to signal this was new.  But the intent was to make it look as if it were built in 1908 along with the main house.  This award was but one of several awards this project garnered. 

Contractor: Michal Collins Fine Homebuilding

Photography: Philip Wegener Photography