I don’t think that toddler growing up in New Jersey ever imagined that I would move out West—much less become an architect.
But here I am, celebrating 47 years of residential remodeling in Denver, my adopted city.
Over that time, I’ve successfully completed more than 550 projects, remodeling just about every kind of home Denver has to offer: Log Cabins, Victorians, Bungalows, Colonial Revivals, Tudor Revivals, Spanish Revivals, Ranches, Split Levels, “Moderns,” and even McMansions.
And here’s what I’ve learned:
Every house is different. And every client is, too.
The challenge—and the fun—is figuring out how to make the house you have work for the life you live today.
My job is to find the most cost-effective way to transform a home, whatever its age or architectural style, while respecting its character and staying within the client’s budget. That means helping homeowners make smart choices—choices that deliver the most value and the best possible return on their remodeling investment.
That’s what it’s all about.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
When you’re choosing a designer, I believe experience should be high on the list.
Ideally, you want someone who has done it before—and, even better, someone who has done it before on a house like yours, not once, but multiple times.
You don’t want your home to be the project where your designer learns on the job.
Ask to see photographs. Ask for addresses. Look at projects involving homes of the same vintage and architectural style. Then really study them.
Does the addition announce itself from half a block away? Or does it feel like it belongs?
Can you immediately tell what’s new—or does it take a moment to figure it out? To me, that moment of uncertainty is a win. The best additions don’t try to outshine the original house. They understand it.
WALKING THE ARCHITECTURAL TIGHTROPE
My background in historic preservation has given me a particular appreciation for that balancing act. I also served three years as a Denver Landmark Commissioner, which gave me an even deeper understanding of the responsibility that comes with altering historic and architecturally significant homes.
In Denver’s Historic Districts, additions must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Standard 9 calls for additions to be “compatible and differentiated”—in other words, they should respect the original architecture while still being identifiable as a contemporary addition.
That sounds simple.
It isn’t.
It’s an architectural tightrope: honor what was there, make it work for today, and know where to draw the line.
And honestly, I apply that same philosophy to any addition—not just those in historic districts.
I start by carefully studying the original home: its proportions, materials, details, scale, and architectural intent. Then I use those lessons as inspiration for the new work.
The goal isn’t to create a perfect imitation.
The goal is to create something new that feels right.
An addition that complements the original home without competing with it. Something that looks as though it belongs—but still tells you, if you look closely, that it’s of its own time.
47 YEARS. 550+ PROJECTS. AND STILL GETTING IT RIGHT.
After nearly five decades in the business, I’ve learned that good design isn’t about following a formula. It’s about knowing how to read a house, listen to a client, solve problems creatively, and make decisions based on experience.
That experience matters.
It’s reflected in the hundreds of homes I’ve worked on—and in recognition from the City of Denver, Historic Denver, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
So, when you’re considering a remodel or addition, remember:
You only get one chance to remodel your home.
Why make your house the place where someone else gets their experience?
It’s not my first rodeo. And that’s exactly why hiring an experienced designer makes good sense.