Location: Washington Park (Wash Park) — Denver, CO 80209
Project Duration: 8 Weeks
Scope: Main-level renovation, structural modifications, custom millwork, specialty finishes, and full exterior repaint
Builder: Verified Builders
Project Overview
This Washington Park two-story had good bones — original hardwoods, a generous main-level footprint, and the kind of architectural detail Wash Park is known for — but the interior felt locked in another era.
Dark cherry-stained cabinetry, a heavy traditional fireplace mantel, and a compartmentalized floor plan made the home read smaller and darker than it actually was.
The brief from our clients was clear: open the main level, lighten the palette, and layer in the kind of custom craftsmanship that would carry the home for the next generation.
Working alongside the homeowners, our structural engineer, and the City of Denver, we delivered a complete main-level transformation in eight weeks — on time and on brief.
What follows is how 874 S Gilpin Street went from dark and closed off to bright, open, and quietly modern.
The Design Brief
Three priorities shaped every decision on this project:
Open the floor plan — remove the load-bearing wall between the living room and kitchen so the main level reads as one connected space.
Flood the home with daylight — cut new window openings into the existing brick exterior and replace all main-level windows.
Reimagine every surface and built-in — custom cabinetry, custom millwork, specialty paint finishes, and a refined material palette that ties the home together.
Pinning all three down at the design table — before demo — is what made the eight-week build possible.
Our remodeling planning and design process is built around exactly this kind of upfront vision-setting, and it’s the single biggest reason this project landed where it did.
Structural Transformation
20-Foot Steel Beam and Open-Concept Conversion
The defining structural move was removing the main-level load-bearing wall and installing a 20-foot steel beam to carry the load above.
That one change unlocked the rest — front entry, living room, and kitchen now read as one continuous, light-filled space.
Structural work was completed per stamped engineering plans and inspected under City of Denver building code requirements, with permits pulled and signed off at every milestone.
Coordinated structural-and-finish builds like this one are the heart of our full house remodeling services.
New Window Openings in Existing Brick
To bring in the daylight our clients wanted, we cut new window openings into the home’s existing brick exterior, framed the rough openings to spec, and installed a full set of new Pella windows.
Custom Interior Features
Every built-in on this project was designed and fabricated specifically for this home.
Built-in window bench with shaker-front drawer storage, running the full length of the front window wall
Floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinetry anchoring the hallway between the kitchen and staircase
Hood cover above the gas range, designed as a sculptural focal point and painted to match the cabinetry
Indoor fireplace rebuilt with a clean modern profile and finished in clay paint for a soft, hand-troweled depth that replaces the home’s original dark wood mantel
White oak staircase with light-natural treads and a minimalist wall-mounted oak handrail
Home office built-ins including a desk nook that continues the kitchen cabinetry run, so the workspace feels designed-in rather than added-on
Insulation, Drywall, and Building Envelope
Behind the finishes, we brought the envelope up to current performance standards:
R-30 insulation installed in all affected exterior walls, meeting Denver energy code
New drywall throughout modified areas, with hand-matched wall and ceiling texture so the transition between new and existing construction is invisible
Coffered ceiling preserved and carried through the newly opened spaces, so the home’s original architectural detail reads as continuous throughout the main level
Flooring
The existing red oak hardwood floors were patched into the newly opened areas and then fully sanded and refinished as a single continuous surface in a light-natural finish.
The result is one uniform floor running unbroken from the front door through the kitchen — visually reinforcing the new open-concept layout.
Windows and Doors
We replaced all windows and doors throughout the entire home with new Pella windows in clean white interior frames, paired with dark exterior cladding on the second-floor windows for a sharper Craftsman silhouette.
A new front door with sidelights and transom completes the entry sequence.
Kitchen Transformation: Kashmir by Portola Paints
The kitchen is where this renovation tells its clearest story — and it’s the kind of room that defines our approach to custom kitchen remodeling in Denver.
Before: A traditional galley with dark cherry-stained shaker cabinetry, a heavy stained wood hood, and limited daylight. Beautiful millwork, but a design language rooted firmly in the early 2000s.
After: A fully custom shaker kitchen painted in Kashmir by Portola Paints — a soft, mineral-toned sage-greige that gives the cabinetry a hand-finished, almost limestone-like quality in the light.
Kitchen highlights:
Custom hood cover in matching Kashmir
White quartz countertops with soft veining and a waterfall peninsula edge
Stacked tile backsplash in a warm neutral tone that picks up the cabinet color — for homeowners weighing similar choices, our guide on how to choose the right backsplash for your kitchen walks through the decision framework we used here
Brushed brass hardware throughout
Full Miele appliance package: pro-grade stainless gas range, built-in wall oven, panel-ready dishwasher, beverage/wine fridge, and refrigerator
Pendant lights over the peninsula
Integrated built-in desk and office nook continuing the cabinetry run
Floor-to-ceiling pantry wall with brass pulls
Specifying a Portola Paints finish on the cabinetry — rather than a standard cabinet enamel — was a deliberate call.
Portola’s mineral-based paints carry a depth that flat enamel can’t replicate, and they pair with the home’s other Portola finishes (the lime wash feature wall, the clay-finished fireplace) for a cohesive material story across the main level.
A custom cabinet package at this level — full-overlay shaker doors, a custom hood, a pantry wall, and a hand-applied Portola Paints finish — sits in the upper tier of cabinetry investment.
If you’re scoping a similar project, our breakdown on how much it costs to replace kitchen cabinets is a good starting point.
Lighting and Electrical
We added and relocated fixtures throughout the main level to match the final layout — recessed cans on dimmers, decorative pendants over the peninsula and dining area, and accent lighting on the new built-ins and coffered ceiling.
Painting, Specialty Finishes, and Exterior
The finish work is what gives this project its identity. Beyond the full main-level repaint and the Kashmir cabinetry, we applied:
Portola paint finishes on key wall surfaces for a soft, mineral-rich texture
Lime wash feature wall — a chalky, old-world finish with subtle movement and depth
Clay paint finish on the fireplace — a warm, hand-applied matte surround
The exterior received a full repaint in a clean warm-white tone, with the home’s existing timber gable trusses and entry portico re-stained to refresh their natural-wood character.
Together with the new light-framed Pella windows, the home now reads as a confident modern-Craftsman — settled in comfortably alongside Wash Park’s mix of Tudor, bungalow, and contemporary architecture.
Project Snapshot
874 S Gilpin Project Snapshot — Washington Park Whole-Home Renovation by Verified Builders
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Address | 874 S Gilpin St, Denver, CO 80209 |
| Neighborhood | Washington Park (Wash Park) |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Structural | 20-ft steel beam, load-bearing wall removal, new window openings cut into existing brick |
| Insulation | R-30 exterior walls (Denver energy code) |
| Windows & Doors | New Pella windows and doors throughout entire home |
| Kitchen Cabinets | Custom shaker, painted in Kashmir by Portola Paints, brushed brass hardware |
| Custom Millwork | Window bench, pantry wall, hood cover, fireplace, white oak staircase, handrail, office built-ins |
| Specialty Finishes | Portola Paints, lime wash, clay paint |
| Appliances | Full Miele package |
| Exterior | Full exterior repaint; existing timber trusses and portico re-stained |
Project Team
A project of this scope only comes together because of the people behind it. Credit where credit is due:
874 S Gilpin Project Team — Designer, General Contractor, Photography, Tile Installation, and Specialty Paints credits for the Washington Park whole-home renovation by Verified Builders
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Designer | Megan S. |
| General Contractor | Tom C. |
| Photography | Rob V. |
| Tile Installation | Jack and Jose |
| Specialty Paints | Portola Paints |
Ready to Start Your Denver Renovation?
Verified Builders specializes in whole-home renovations, structural remodels, custom kitchen design, and specialty-finish interiors across Denver and the Metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was a whole-home renovation of this scope completed in just 8 weeks?
Three things made the timeline possible: a fully finalized design before demo (no mid-build decisions slowing the schedule), pre-ordered long-lead materials like the steel beam and Pella windows, and a sequenced trade calendar where structural, mechanical, drywall, finish, and paint crews are scheduled with overlapping precision.
What is Kashmir by Portola Paints, and why was it chosen for this kitchen?
Kashmir is a soft, mineral-toned sage-greige from Portola Paints. Unlike standard cabinet enamel, Portola’s mineral-based paints carry a hand-finished depth and subtle texture that gives painted cabinetry an almost limestone-like quality in natural light. We specified it on the custom shaker cabinetry and hood cover because it ties seamlessly to the home’s other Portola finishes — the lime wash feature wall and the clay-painted fireplace — for a layered material story throughout the main level.
Do you need a permit to remove a load-bearing wall in Denver?
Yes. Any structural modification involving a load-bearing wall in Denver requires stamped engineering plans, a building permit issued by Denver Community Planning & Development, and inspections at framing and final stages. On this project, our structural engineer designed the 20-foot steel beam specification, we pulled the permit, and the City of Denver inspected the work at each required milestone. We handle the entire permitting and inspection process in-house on every project we take on.
How much does a renovation like this one cost in Denver?
Whole-home main-level renovations in Denver with custom millwork, structural modifications, and specialty finishes generally sit in the upper end of the renovation market — driven primarily by the custom cabinetry package, structural engineering scope, and specialty paint application labor. Our Denver kitchen remodel cost guide covers the line items most homeowners want to understand before they start.
Can the kitchen design from this project be replicated in another Denver home?
Yes. The combination of custom shaker cabinetry, a Portola Paints mineral neutral, white quartz counters, brushed brass hardware, and a stacked tile backsplash works across a range of floor plans — from Wash Park bungalows to Cherry Creek new builds.
What neighborhoods in Denver do you work in?
We complete renovations across Denver and the Front Range, with concentration in Washington Park, Wash Park West, Cherry Creek, Platt Park, Bonnie Brae, Hilltop, Cory-Merrill, Belcaro, and Country Club.
Do you handle both design and construction?
Yes — and it’s the single biggest reason projects of this scope come in on accelerated timelines. Our in-house design team works side by side with the construction team from the first walkthrough through final punch list, which means design decisions get made in real time with the build team in the room.
