When Hugo Matheson, Kimbal Musk, and Jen Lewin set out to transform the space on the corner of 16th Street and Wazee (formerly Gumbo’s), their ambition was to create a bistro so inviting it would lure people in from the street. Judging from the crowds at the Kitchen Denver, they succeeded. The decor is a minimalist mixture of vintage (or replicated) factory, farmhouse, and schoolhouse fixtures and furniture: lots of metal, reclaimed wood, and filament light bulbs. Massive windows create an airy, open atmosphere visible from outside, and dark oak floors, exposed brick walls, and stripped concrete pillars provide a raw backdrop. Here, a few highlights.

Lighting: Industrial barn light fixtures in bright green; exposed filament lights; and decorative incandescent light bulb chandeliers (with one working LED light) custom-designed by Lewin.

5280 Home 2012
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Furniture: Tabletops by local carpenter Egils Artemis, made from reclaimed Douglas fir; minimalist wooden Kyoto Barstools from Design Within Reach ($195, dwr.com); and gray, upholstered banquettes that provide a soft accent—or what Matheson calls “a bit of Marie Antoinette.”

The Kitchen Denver, 1530 16th Street, 303-623-3127, thekitchencommunity.com

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Get the Look

It used to be that you had to troll antique shops to find true industrial-style pieces, but today replicas abound.

Bare Bulb Filament Pendant in Polished Nickel, $75, Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com

Tolix Cafe Chair, $269, Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com

Factory Light No. 7 Cable, $289, Schoolhouse Electric, schoolhouseelectric.com