The Krumme Residence
A Blend of Styles Brings Vision to Life
Just off Highway 7, as it climbs out of Estes Park towards Lily Lake, is the spectacular residence which was born out of Catherine Krumme’s vision for a Southwest Territorial style home to occupy the 35-acre mountain tract owned by her family. T.W. Beck Architects worked with Catherine to bring her vision to life by blending styles to create a home that architect, Thomas Beck, refers to as Mountain Territorial Style, which blends beautifully with its Rocky Mountain setting.
With basic elements of southwest-style compound, this design incorporates the warmth and openness of traditional mountain residences. As specified by Catherine, “lots of curves” create a unique, exciting but very livable space. Taking cues from its surroundings the home not only adopts the colors of the mountains but mimics their shape and, as Frank Lloyd Wright would say, is “built of the hill, not on the hill.” And as do the hills, the structure gains elevation as a tower, reminiscent of a territorial lookout, rises through its two floors to a third-story art studio, topping out at thirty feet. The home is situated to capture the 270-degree views, from which it was inspired, through the window walls of the great room on the main floor.
The exterior of the home is stucco, accented with a base of a thin veneer of genuine stone. Curved, metal, standing seam roofs continue the curve motif of the design. Southwest-style transoms crown the Sierra Pacific windows. A dramatic entry invites visitors into a welcoming foyer that sets the mountain territorial tone and opens to the three-story tower’s rotunda. A curved staircase on the outside wall of the rotunda leads to the main level. Water trickles down the inside rail of the staircase and a copper “stepped” waterfall to a small pool at each floor level. As the focal entry element, the tower was incorporated into the home to follow the existing contours of the hill, further making the structure one with its environment.
Mountain Territorial Style Informs Interior as Well
The Krumme residence features stained and stamped concrete floors on the 1586 square-foot lower level which includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a rec room that opens to a patio. The 756 square-foot, 2 ½ car garage is accessible from the lower level.
A curved, bamboo wood staircase leads to the 2448 square-foot main level. A great room, dining area, kitchen, powder room, master bedroom and bath, office area and laundry room can all be found on this level. Floors are of bamboo and slate. Interior features, such as an adobe fireplace in the master bedroom, reinforce the southwestern influence. Gluelam arched trusses, with lower chord steel tie rods, span the great room ceiling. Sixteen feet of Sierra Pacific sliding doors (four four-foot doors) open the dining room to a covered flagstone patio. The patio is enclosed and gated with iron fencing. Decks off the great room and kitchen are built of Choicedeck recycled “lumber.” The design maintains the Mountain Territorial Style with log post and iron railing.
In the rotunda, a second curved staircase with waterfall railing leads to the 314 square-foot, third-floor artist’s studio. The studio, at the top of the tower, affords breathtaking 360 degree views. Throughout the home, in and out, the contours of the terrain are reflected in curved walls, ceilings, and staircases. In the same way, the wood trim and doors, the arched roof the entryway and the tower itself are reflections of this terrain.
The Krummes brought their vision to T.W. Beck Architects as repeat customers. They worked with Beck previously on a major expansion, and rebuild of a mountain home on an adjacent 35-acre tract. Although an entirely different style, their vision and needs are yet again beautifully interpreted and brought to life in this truly unique and magnificent home.
