Loft and condo living in Denver has come a long ways in the past decade. There was a time of very limited choices, with 60’s style low-rises and high-rises being the majority of the inventory. These were less than inspiring options that in many cases that required major remodels of the units before there could be anything hip about them. This was followed by a wave of conversion projects in Denver which carved large warehouse buildings, historic mansions and apartment buildings into lofts and condos with mixed success. Living in some of these may bring to mind the artist loft in a dusty old warehouse in the industrial section of the city. Since the buildings that housed these lofts and condos were not “purpose built” there were often problems with temperature control, sound transference and unpredictable HOA costs to maintain the buildings. Although some of the spaces were very unique and inspiring, many others just ended up lacking light or having very strange floor plans. By comparison, you’ll be amazed at what you’ll actually see in today’s version. These high-end lofts are state of the art when it comes to amenities. Today’s version of Denver loft and condo living often include balconies, washer & dryers in the units, the best floor and wall coverings, secure garages, workout facilities and lobbies that are a pleasure to step into.
With the changes in these structures, the demographics of the owners have shifted as well. Although the converters of old may have been designing their lofts to appeal to actors and artists, today’s developers are building to house people from all walks of life. Yes, the penthouse units may be a fit for prosperous doctors, lawyers, corporate executives and sports figures. But, many of the buildings offer so many different floor plans and price points that they are being bought by people ranging from first time home owners to retirees who want a second home in the city. We can honestly say that we can develop a “profile” anymore for a loft or condo dweller. We are working with so many different people with different motivations for buying their loft or condo that the only “profile” is one of diversity.
So why are we seeing the growing popularity of the modern loft in Denver? One of the obvious reasons is that “burb” living has lost the appeal to many. We hear this from our clients as they point out the increased traffic on commutes, the cost of upkeep of large homes, the proximity of unique shops and restaurants as well as other amenities that are part of city life. Many of our clients simply want to live where they work so that they can have more time for themselves and spend less time in the car and cutting grass they only see on weekends.
Other trends we are seeing is that the interior of the lofts are changing. Although many buyers still like the rough lumber look on the ceilings and exposed red brick walls, more recent interpretations of the “loft” are softening. Rather than exposed mechanical, buyers are looking for clean lines like you see at the SPIRE building or even luxury fine finishes such as the Four Seasons Denver. The more sophisticated and modern look is on the rise. Further, the floor plans are moving towards bedrooms being separated from the living area and an emphasis on walls of glass to let light into every area of the unit. It seems that Denver loft and condo developers are no longer going with “fads”, but rather using fundamentally sound architectural design that is human friendly.
Furnishings are making a change as well. Loft dwellers of old used to collect anything and everything to furnish their space (we have seen literally everything)- sometimes, the more garish, the better - with no rhyme or reason to the décor. Today we are seeing furnishings and décor that are designed for the space. Often owners do choose very modern styles, with smaller pieces to create a sense of space in the condos. Certainly we see influence from the east where smaller city living spaces have been perfected. The sleek look of open space with the use of Murphy-Beds or wall beds for the flexible use of space is more and more common. Sliding doors are also being utilized to offer a sense of openness. Lofts are being designed and decorated to off a feeling of abundant space, natural light and a sense of simplicity. There are those exceptions that still work very well and we have seen owners who have furnished their space with Old World antiques with stunning results. One of the most entertaining parts of our jobs is being able to see how different each loft or condo is from the next. Two units may start with the exact same floor plan and finishes, yet the owners influences on the spaces often create dramatic differences in a short period of time.
The good news for Denver loft and condo buyers is that as time progresses, the many styles of lofts and condos the Denver market has to offer are increasing dramatically. The variety of these homes in the sky is apparent, but many offer the unique dramatic views only Denver can provide. No matter how many lofts and condos we show, we always take a moment to enjoy the spectacular views offered of the Downtown Denver Skyline and the Rocky Mountains.
If you would like to see what Denver’s loft and condo market has to offer in 2010, we would be happy to introduce you to the rich variety available. Just shoot us a note at agents@mynewera.com or ring us directly on our cells (303.521.6262 or 303.522.7746) and we will get hard to work putting our experience to use for you!