After winding down the gravel drive to 1515 E. Tufts Ave. in Englewood, visitors happen upon a 1927 home standing across from a vine-draped red brick silo.
The Spanish revival main house on the 1.06-acre lot spans a massive 6,367 square feet, with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and has a $5.5 million asking price. When the current owners moved in, they made major renovations to the structures on the property while taking care to preserve its historic integrity.
In addition to the main house — with its thick wooden beam ceiling, colorful owl wallpaper and home theater— a tall, squat silo, originally built in the 1880s, sits across the way.
“It was built of brick with three levels and was designed for storage purposes,” said Trish Bragg, listing agent with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in Denver. “As far as we know, this is the only silo in the neighborhood.”
Bragg said the main home was originally a farmhouse and that it’s one of the oldest homes in the Cherry Hills Village neighborhood. Attached to the silo is a casita — a small apartment with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
The silo, once believed to store grain, is now a three-story multipurpose space that the current owners renovated. A brown wooden door, just off the bedroom of the casita, leads into the first floor of the silo, which serves as a garage. A metal spiral staircase continues up into a television room on the second floor and an office on the third.
Owners ensured the silo would stand ‘for another 100 years’
Bragg said when they moved into the home, the current owners made extensive renovations to the house, including the silo.
The agent said the owner declined to be identified out of a desire to maintain privacy but Bragg played intermediary in an email exchange between the owner and Homes.com.
The owner wrote they shored up the structure with new I-beams, re-excavated the footers and poured a new foundation beneath the garage and apartment.
“It was a major unexpected expense, but it was important to make sure the silo stands strong for another 100 years,” the owner said. “We were able to use the original window frames but re-glazed the panes for better energy efficiency.”
They also used many of the building materials from renovations made to the main house to match the silo’s decor to the other buildings on the property.
“The doors were custom-crafted to match the original 1920s doors in the house,” the owner said. “The goal was to create a flexible space for guests, kids to hang out, additional office space or even a live-in relative or nanny.”
Owners made extensive renovations but kept the home’s integrity
In addition to the silo, the owners constructed a new wing for the main house and planted more trees on the grounds.
“Being old-house fans, we managed the renovation to keep as many original elements as possible while still functioning for a modern family,” the owner said.
For the owner, one of the best aspects of the home is the living areas.
“We have hosted many large parties where guests can split off into different conversation areas, yet it still feels cozy when it’s just the family hanging out,” the owner said. “I like that the rooms are large but warm and that every room gets used.”
The outdoor spaces are just as inviting.
“The front porch is sheltered and always cool in the summer,” the owner said. “The back courtyard has been the site of many heart-to-heart hot tub and fireplace gatherings and Ping pong tournaments.”
The ideal buyer is drawn to the past
Bragg said prospective buyers have been intrigued by the home, particularly the silo.
“People have responded very positively to the uniqueness of the silo as well as its practicality — especially the peace and quiet it would provide as an office,” Bragg said.
She said people also appreciate the privacy of the property.
“Some neighbors had no idea this property existed, given that it’s not visible from the street,” she said.
The ideal buyer will value quiet and history.
“I think this home will appeal to someone drawn to the authenticity of 1920s Spanish architecture, an open and efficient ranch layout, and a serene, rural feeling,” Bragg said.