See also: Heather Purcell Leja of Design OnScreen talks architecture and modernist preservation
Highlighting some of the flashier elements of these mid-century homes (see original kitchen above), the tour is also about the more subtle blend of architecture and landscape."A lot of what is really interesting about the homes is that the main room that you first walk into, many accentuate the lines of the view," says Mara Owen of Wheat Ridge 2020. "There is a house on the tour right now where you walk in, and they have a view of the mountains because it is built up on two or three acres. The entire house is angled so it is almost a stadium that opens to this huge view of the mountains -- all the angles and lines just blend and show off the view. It's things like that that you might not know existed until you walk into one of these houses. It's those things that are unexpected -- and that's why they are on the tour."
Not limited to just homes that are pristinely preserved, the tour also shows off houses where homeowners have done modern renovations while paying homage to the structure's history."We try to get a lot of different houses on the tour -- from people who haven't changed anything and it's all original, all the way up to the people who have changed everything because they had to -- because the home may have been altered at some point by a previous owner. We try to appeal to everyone, because not everyone wants the only non-remodels with original tile and everything like that," says Owen.
For those interested in the history of the homes showcased on this tour, Owens says that many homeowners still have the original plans and blueprints, and will be on hand to share stories about their properties with guests.The one-day tour runs this Saturday, September 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 day of, with the ticket pick-up starting at Mod Mood at 1 p.m. (advance purchase online is highly recommended, as tickets are limited.) A map of the homes will come along with the tickets, and participants can choose to visit homes on the tour in any order they choose. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Mid-Century and Modern in Wheat Ridge Home Tour, visit sponsoring non-profit Wheat Ridge 2020's website.
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