Old Town Home Reimagined

Live Where You Work: Old Town Charm Meets Modern Comfort

Working and living in historic Old Town Fort Collins is a sought-after life and, with this character rich home, the homeowners were able to achieve it. This house had been used as a rental for years and showed signs of disrepair, including pungent cigarette smoke and cumbersome, outdated systems. When the owners decided on a total tear down and rebuild, this home become a full-scale upgrade, blending modern amenities with historic features to create a stylish and functional living space.

Starting with the repurposing of the walnut tree, it was carefully cut into planks and air-dried for nearly a year. These sustainable materials now serve as the kitchen butcher block, powder bathroom countertop, window sills, and family room bench, all milled and finished by Pin & Scroll / Forrest Cramer. Located in the City of Fort Collins floodplain, the home required a vented crawl space and careful coordination with city officials. Newly sourced Laporte Quarry stone was added to complement the original stones that survived the renovation. Hand-split by the stonemason, these historic materials were repurposed as wall veneer, uniting the home’s past with its contemporary aesthetic.

The home features a standing seam metal roof and heat-modified wood siding from Vintage Woods in Gypsum, Colorado, adding warmth and texture to the exterior. ZIP R sheathing at R-7 provides superior insulation, while all-electric systems—including 200-amp service for induction cooking, heat pump HVAC, and a patio heater—deliver modern comfort and energy efficiency. Triple-pane Internorm windows and doors from Austria fill the interior with light, accented by a bold red front entry door. In addition, a wine room was constructed with a chiller for 200+ bottles of the latest vintage, as well as a home office with full-height, book-filled built-ins, adding functional workspace. Energy Star certification ensures efficiency throughout. Outside, the detached garage includes a habitable guest space for friend and family gatherings.

From reclaimed walnut and local stone to high-performance systems, this home honors its past while embracing modern Old Town living.

Architect: DNA Design + Architecture / Olexa Tkachenko
Interiores: DBL Interiores / Diana Benson
Landscape Architect: Helios Design
Landscape installation: High Country Landscape
Civil Engineer: Highland Development