At first glance, the clean geometry and streamlined palette of this contemporary Hilltop home may project an image of practicality and restraint, but there’s also a whole lot of fun thrown into the stylish mix at 20 South Elm. From the exciting textures of sculptural tiles to glowing orb lighting, this home may be elegantly simple, but it’s also full of surprises.

Designed by Ken Bridges, principal of Blueline Architects, and listed by agents Lindsay Filsinger and Corrie Lee of milehimodern, the 4,549-square-foot house with a 2,031-square-foot basement is situated on an 8,750-square-foot lot with a two-plus car garage and heated driveway. Equipped with five bedrooms and six baths, and made cozy by two inviting fireplaces, this home is especially family-friendly. Plus, it’s within walking distance of parks and schools, and Cherry Creek is only a short bike ride away.

The home’s interior design—by Filsinger, with the help of Janelle Anderson of Squibb Estates—emphasizes open, flowing spaces and abundant natural light, with luxurious entertainment amenities including a butler’s pantry, outdoor kitchen and patio dining area, and basement wet bar.

“It’s the perfect balance of luxury and function,” Lee says. “It is so thoughtfully done, so tastefully done, and nothing was skimped on in this house—there are unique finishes such as leather cabinets in the kitchen, and there are dual cascading doors going out to the backyard, which makes indoor/outdoor living just seamless.”

The star of this home may just be its lavish tile work, showcasing a fanciful array of shapes and colors. “The choice of tile is not only beautiful, but it’s unique,” Lee notes, “so you don’t feel like you’re going to see it in every house.” At every turn, the designers went out of the way to be out of the ordinary—with refreshing results.

Situated on a tree-shaded residential block in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood, the house makes a bold, contemporary statement with its stone and blackened-metal exterior. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The entryway is bright and open, with pale oak flooring and an elegant floating stairway with Parallam engineered-wood treads. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The fabulous fractals on the living room fireplace wall are large, Ann Sacks Ogassian Penta field tiles in dark gray. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The dining space is illuminated by a dramatic chandelier from Galleria Lighting & Design. Dual cascading doors open directly to the patio and yard, allowing an unobstructed indoor/outdoor flow. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The striking kitchen features Vogo Cabinets with a finish that resembles zebrawood, and an island clad in leather. The glamorous backsplash is a custom pattern created with Ann Sacks MADE Elements tiles in New Bronze Luster. The custom range hood is by Weld-Wright. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The well-lit butler’s pantry offers lots of extra storage space in glossy Vogo Cabinets. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The master bedroom and its adjacent terrace create a sprawling lounge space for easy, barefoot living. Curved wooden beams provide a graceful arc above the bed, with clerestory windows allowing extra daylight to filter inside. Photo by Kylie Fitts
The master bathroom showcases two different patterns of Ann Sacks tile—Jute glass mosaic and Lucian metallic chevron—contrasted with Tourmaline Granite countertops and Cast Iron porcelain floor tiles. Sleek Brizo plumbing fixtures and a Jacuzzi soaking tub complete the scene. Photo by Kylie Fitts