Lemonade Vista
What do you do when your home burns down the day you closed on the purchase? This was the staggering circumstance the owners of this beautiful 1-acre lot in Boulder County were faced with after the devastating Marshall Fire destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in late 2021. After the initial shock subsided, the owners made the quick decision to rebuild. Speed was a critical consideration in creating this inviting family home. We were enlisted to create a new vision for the homeowners on a property brimming with potential. The house’s name of Lemonade Vista is a reference to making lemonade from lemons.
Perched on a hillside with unobstructed mountain views to the west and sweeping views of Boulder to the north, we knew that the opportunity for indoor/outdoor living needed to be seized upon with the new house design. The social spaces of the house all sprang from the need to connect with the site’s stunning vistas, while ample covered decks and patio spaces expand the living spaces to take full advantage of the breathtaking views. The oversized roof overhangs also serve double-duty protecting the large expanses of glass in the living and dining areas from Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine. The open floor plan allows for effortlessly connected social spaces, while finer details such as varied ceiling planes and a stand-alone book-nook help to visually differentiate each space and avoid the feeling of living in a “box”. The owners wanted the primary bedroom on the main floor (embracing aging-in-place principles) while orienting the room to capture some of the best views in Boulder. The 5 piece primary bath creates a luxurious retreat. The well-organized mudroom has a hidden pass-thru to the walk-in pantry for easy delivery of groceries. The sunny modern kitchen features a cozy banquet for morning coffee, and opens to a covered south facing porch complete with an outdoor fireplace, TV, BBQ and bocce court. Follow the floating stair up to a pair of Kids’ bedrooms, with million-dollar view private balconies. Head down to the basement, where we guided sunshine deep into the space with a giant south-facing window flooding the floating stair. There the owners have a guest suite, home gym and media room. A wall of sliding doors lead out to a lower patio and the extraordinary mountain view. The home includes an oversized three-car garage, an electric car charger and room for all the owner’s hobbies. Even the driveway was carefully considered and designed to serve the owners as a pickleball court. A future detached ADU is planned for the backyard.
The HERS 4, near Net-Zero energy home includes a host of sustainability features including discretely placed roof-top solar panels, air source heat pumps, an Energy Recovery Ventilator, electric heat-pump water heater robust insulation, Energy Star rated appliances and windows, EPA Watersense plumbing fixtures and LED lights.
The home achieved Energy Star v 3.2 certification. The final product is a 4,400 SF energy-efficient, ignition-resistant, modern home that connects its owners to its magnificent location. This project was a reminder to everybody involved that architecture is not only a pretty picture – it’s a process of exploration, perseverance, and rediscovery.
Interior Design by Kimball Modern & Rodwin Architecture. Construction by Blue Spruce.