BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO

There’s a particular kind of magic that lives in old homes, not just in their architectural details, but in the way they hold memory, habit, and future possibility all at once. Built in 1898, this classic Denver square arrived with strong bones and warm wood already telling part of the story. The opportunity for Atelier Interior Design wasn’t to reinvent it, but to listen carefully: to the house, to the homeowners, and to the rhythms of a growing family finding their footing.

From the outset, preservation mattered. Original windows, doors, and millwork weren’t obstacles to work around, they were assets to be protected. But reverence alone doesn’t make a home livable. With one young child and another on the way, this project demanded rigor behind the scenes: spaces that flex, storage that disappears into the architecture, and rooms that earn their keep every day. 

Color enters not as decoration, but as conversation. Anchored by a beloved piece of art and the natural warmth of the home’s original materials, the palette feels confident yet grounded, expressive without being overwhelming. It’s a reflection of the homeowners themselves: one bold, one measured, both deeply invested in creating a space that feels like home rather than a statement.

We sat down with Atelier Design’s Owner, Katie Schroder to discover their study in balance, between past and present, intuition and intention, beauty and use. This is design that doesn’t shout, but knows exactly who it is. 

This home has so many layers, from historic bones to bold color to modern interventions. When you first walked through the space, what excited you most about its potential, and what felt like the biggest design puzzle to solve? 

Upon first entering the home, the warm woods stood out and made me really excited! They wanted to restore everything and often times, people want to replace old with new, more functional windows or doors. I live in a 100+ year old home myself so this project was dreamy for me. The biggest puzzle to solve was how to make the house very functional for a busy family who had one young child and one on the way at the start of this project. They are practical people who wanted every space to be highly useful for their daily lives: the dining room features a banquette nook, the kitchen received better, more functional cabinets, a bar was added for adult entertaining, the dining room became a reading room, and an odd room off the bedroom was converted into a walk-in closet, among other improvements.

The color palette is playful and confident without feeling chaotic. How do you help clients embrace that level of color while still making sure it feels livable, especially for a young family with a lot of movement and energy?

Our clients hire us for our use of color. They showed us this great piece of art they loved in the reading room; it had all sorts of color and we were hooked! The husband was more daring and willing to take risks while the wife wanted to maintain that it was still livable and not too over the top. The tones from the warm woods and this great piece of art lead us down the right path, as we wanted those elements to shine but not take away from them. 

These homeowners brought a strong Brooklyn influence and a meaningful art collection into a very classic Denver square home. How do you approach blending a client’s past life and personal history into a new space so it feels authentic rather than themed?

This is our favorite part! It’s the psychology of it all. I have a behavioral science undergraduate degree so I love to figure people out by really listening to everything they are saying or not saying. It’s important to ask questions about what things from the past are important, even if we can’t use it, at least it gives me a sense of what resonates with them. We ask our clients to send us images of things they like even if it’s just 3-5 images; it says a lot and tells a story of the bigger picture. If they can’t do that, we ask them which projects they like of ours. Surprisingly, hearing what they don’t like is just as important as what they do like. We find this process to be so important, for us to define a space(s) that can truly be a reflection of the them. We pride ourselves in revealing their personality in their home weather it’s whimsical, edgy, traditional, California Coastal, Southwest or a combination.

There’s a real ease to the way mid-century pieces, modern cabinetry, and classic tile all coexist here. What’s your process for mixing eras so the result feels collected and soulful instead of overly styled?

I think it’s important not to lean too heavily on one era. We figure out the overall feeling they want the space to have above the rest like modern, clean, traditional, mid-century, etc then that drives the overall vision of the space. To keep things eclectic, we incorporate other eras in order to give the home texture and soul. We love it when a client has one or several antique pieces they want to include in the space. It’s a balance or feeling that can’t always be explained. 

Function clearly played a big role in this project, even if it’s not always visible. What are a few subtle design decisions in this home that are doing the most heavy lifting for day-to-day family life?

The kitchen is the heart of the home. This family in particular loves to cook, so every square inch of the kitchen is utilized. The integrated wood handles in the kitchen are incredibly useful but also a great design element. We didn’t photograph it but the kitchen is near the back door and we built a little area for coats, shoes, gloves and a landing area for groceries. 

You’ve long been known for fearless color and global influence, but this project feels especially confident. How do you see your design voice evolving right now, and where does this home sit in that larger trajectory for Atelier?

Fabulous question! Our design voice is definitely evolving. Our experience with many different styles, colors, and cultures gives us the opportunity to avoid being pigeonholed into one style and encourage experimentation. We love the challenge of different projects that are outside the norm of what we do. The best part of being an interior designer is being able to flex different muscles when the time is right.

What are you currently working on, or dreaming up, that has you especially energized at the moment? Are there any materials, palettes, or project types you’re eager to explore more deeply this year?

I really love the warm tones of the moment such as terracotta, desert rose and burgundy. Blending a single tone can really create a lush, inviting and cozy space that you don’t want to leave. We’re incorporating antiques a lot more in our spaces as it’s not only good for the environment, but also adds an incredible amount of soul to a space.

After stepping back from this finished home, what do you hope the family feels every time they walk through the door, and what do you hope readers take away from the story of this space?

I want them to feel that rare sense of absolute confidence, the quiet realization that every decision was right and that their investment with Atelier yielded something far more valuable than square footage. Whether they are retreating into a room to recharge as an introvert or opening their doors to fill the space with the laughter of friends, I want the home to feel like a perfect fit for every version of themselves.

Atelier’s approach is curious, collaborative, and deeply human. It reveals itself most in how a space feels rather than how it photographs. In this home, the quiet elegance of its country-inspired design speaks to a larger truth about thoughtful interiors: they listen before they speak. Whether through the preservation of architectural details or the way light falls across an aged wood floor, the design here feels as lived-in and cherished as life itself. As Denver’s design landscape continues to evolve, projects like this remind us that the heart of great interiors lies in understanding the stories we want our homes to tell, and then giving them room to unfold naturally. Visit them at www.atelierid.com for a deeper peek at their volume of stunning design work.