This Designer Refused to Make This Historic Colorado Cottage Bigger – Her Philosophy Was 'Better Space, Not More Space'

On one of Cherry Hills Village's oldest streets, charming historic homes are increasingly being traded for ever-bigger replacements. But when this 1936 cottage became available, its owner saw something worth protecting. Having spent more than 50 years living in the neighborhood, they understood that the home's greatest value wasn't its square footage, but the character it brought to the street.

Designer Susan Weiss of Emerson Bailey agreed, and completely reimagined the 4,083-square-foot house without adding a single extra foot. Instead, every decision was guided by one simple mantra: 'better space, not more space.' Original details were carefully preserved, mature trees were left undisturbed, and a series of awkward additions were transformed into light-filled, beautifully proportioned rooms that feel as though they've always belonged. In a neighborhood where bigger has become the benchmark, this home makes a compelling case for something more enduring.

It's easy to assume the most impressive home renovations begin with an extension. But for Susan, the success of this project lay in resisting that temptation altogether. Although the 1936 home had been altered over the years with a series of patchwork additions, the goal wasn't to make it larger. Instead, Susan and architect Justin Bell focused on untangling a disjointed floor plan, opening up dark, low-ceilinged rooms, and restoring a sense of proportion and flow – all within the home's existing footprint.

The owners, who were already local residents, purchased the house 'as stewards, rather than developers'. 'They had watched older homes in the area disappear and be replaced by much larger houses, and they were determined to protect the character of this one,' Susan explains, adding that the client's desire to protect what makes the home special gave the project its emotional core. 'The brief centered on saving the soul of the property, creating a home that felt as though it had always belonged there. Every decision favored a more thoughtful use of the existing house over additional square footage.'

That same philosophy extended beyond the walls of the house, where from the outside, very little hints at the scale of the transformation. 'We refined the gabled rooflines, window placement and ceiling pitches so the house could function more openly while preserving the smaller moments that make it feel like a home,' Susan explains. 'We paired traditional gestures, including Dutch doors, shutters, dormers, cupolas and window seats, with simple detailing and honest natural materials. The result feels new in function but familiar in spirit,' she adds.

'The exterior continued to express wonderful cottage character through its painted wood siding, modest scale, and relationship with the mature landscape,' she continues. In homage to the area's equestrian history, they worked to preserve the home's relationship with the land. 'Meandering stone paths, boxwood borders, bluestone hardscaping and covered outdoor spaces make the garden feel like a natural extension of the architecture,' she adds.

While the architecture nods to American traditions, the interiors draw on a mix of influences. 'I would describe it as a refined, classic cottage shaped by American and European farmhouse influences,' says Susan. 'Its proportions and craftsmanship are rooted in tradition, while the editing and furnishings give it a contemporary clarity.' But rather than recreating a period home, they focused on creating one that felt collected over time. 'We interpreted those references with a lighter, more considered approach. Simple silhouettes, thoughtful proportions and a limited palette give the house clarity, while subtle irregularities and materials that develop patina bring warmth and character,' she explains.

That sense of restraint runs through every room. Large-plank European white oak floors, softly textured plaster walls, honed limestone and marble, soapstone, aged iron and unlacquered brass create a palette that's rich in texture rather than bold color. Instead of relying on decoration, the interiors let honest materials and natural light do the talking, while antique rugs, original artwork and handcrafted ceramics introduce moments of warmth and personality. Furniture follows the same philosophy. 'The balance came from paying close attention to proportion, silhouette and placement,' Susan continues. 'Antique Swedish furniture and vintage pieces bring history through their worn finishes and simple forms. Contemporary upholstery and lighting introduce cleaner lines and give those older pieces room to breathe.'

For all its soaring ceilings and beautifully crafted details, what strikes you most about this home isn't its scale – it's how comfortable it feels. Every space, no matter how grand or intimate, has been carefully designed around the experience of living in it. 'Proportion was fundamental to the sense of comfort,' says Susan. 'Even in the vaulted great room, smaller furniture groupings, a substantial fireplace, exposed timber and an antique rug bring the volume back to a human scale,' she explains, adding that the open fireplace gives the open-plan room a 'strong center of gravity'.

The furniture layouts were deliberately conceived to accommodate different ways of living and entertaining in the home. 'The great room and covered porch support larger gatherings, while window seats, bedroom alcoves and smaller niches provide places for reading or being alone,' she adds. The color scheme for the home is also intentionally soft with muted whites, pale putties, chalky grays, warm taupes and natural wood tones flowing through the house. 'The muted palette creates a calm background for antique rugs, original artwork, ceramics, flowers and greenery. These elements introduce measured color through nature, patina and objects collected over time,' Susan adds. 'Aged iron, deep upholstery, charcoal stone and timeworn timber create contrast and give the pale rooms definition.'

The kitchen doesn't compete for attention. Instead, it recedes into the architecture, with tonal cabinetry, a sculptural plaster hood, honed stone and open oak shelving creating a backdrop that feels calm rather than contrasting. 'The kitchen and great room best capture the spirit of the project because they express its most significant architectural transformation. A series of dark, compartmentalized rooms became a vaulted, light-filled space that brings cooking, dining and gathering into one connected volume,' says Susan. 'The plaster hood, stone fireplace, exposed beams, natural materials and antique furnishings give the open space warmth, depth and a sense of permanence.'

Boasting another dramatic ceiling, the primary bedroom balances a neutral palette with vintage layers and an inviting window nook that draws your eye outwards. 'The primary bedroom sits beneath a vaulted ceiling and includes a bay-window alcove. Woven shades, antique furniture and soft textiles create a sense of calm,' says Susan. It's generous in scale yet deeply cozy, too, proving that sometimes comfort comes not from filling every inch of a space, but from giving it room to breathe. 'Each piece contributes its own character, giving the interior depth without feeling overly designed,' she adds of the antique finds.

The sense of calm continues into the primary bathroom, where a freestanding tub sits beside generous windows overlooking the surrounding greenery. As Susan explains, 'The primary bath continues the natural palette with stone, dark-toned cabinetry, aged metal fittings and a freestanding bath positioned beside the windows.' While the foundation remains understated, the room is layered with moments of character – from the antique mirror and artwork to the vintage rug and aged brass that balance the otherwise contemporary space.

Tucked beneath the roofline, the guest bedroom embraces the home's quieter, more intimate character. Rather than fighting the architecture, Susan chose to celebrate it – 'Dormers, sloping ceilings, built-in storage and window seats turn the architectural constraints into moments of charm,' says Susan. Soft linens, antique pieces and a pared-back palette ensure the space remains every bit as considered as the home's main living areas, with just a touch more softness.

The powder room may be one of the smallest spaces in the house, but it perfectly encapsulates the project's material-first approach. A monolithic stone basin, grasscloth walls, and warm unlacquered brass create a space that feels warm and dramatic, while the antique-style mirror and sculptural sconces add just enough ornament without disrupting the room's restrained character. 'The bathrooms are tailored and sculptural, combining natural stone and custom cabinetry with living brass, aged iron, antique mirrors and contemporary lighting,' Susan adds.

The house may have been reimagined from the inside out, but its strongest connection is still with the landscape that has surrounded it for almost 90 years. Designed as an extension of the living spaces rather than an afterthought, the covered porch blurs the line between indoors and out, inviting everything from quiet morning coffees to long evenings by the fire. 'Its stone fireplace, bluestone floor and deep upholstered seating give it the character of an exterior room rather than a terrace,' says Susan. 'Beyond it, the landscape leads to a small dipping pool.'

Susan and the owners focused on preserving what made the property special in the first place, while also proving that thoughtful design is often about knowing what to leave untouched. 'Simple silhouettes, thoughtful proportions and a limited palette give the house clarity, while subtle irregularities and materials that develop patina bring warmth and character,' she explains. 'The result feels settled, personal and shaped by many hands and histories.'

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