Dawn Fulenwider needed to live in her 1970s mansion overlooking Denver Country Club before she knew what it needed.
And that turned into a nine-year renovation.
“It was in great shape, just a little dated,” Fulenwider said. “We really lived in the house before making major changes, which helped us understand what it needed.”
Fulenwider, the ex-wife of Cal Fulenwider III, CEO of developer L.C. Fulenwider Inc., bought 2155 E. Alameda Ave. in 2015 for $1.9 million from Robert Timothy, the former president, CEO, and ultimately chairman of the board of Mountain Bell, who had the home built in 1978.
The 5,000-square-foot home is one of seven custom residences built in the 1970s on what was once the sprawling estate of Colorado Gov. John Evans’ great-grandson. It sits on half an acre.
It’s listed for $4 million.
“It’s nice to see interesting houses,” Fulenwider said. “There are so many brick boxes around. It’s been wonderful having something unique.”
The renovation started modestly with paint and new floors, but the owners soon tackled more ambitious projects.
Fulenwider and her husband, Willis Wood, reconfigured and expanded the kitchen, adding a new island and a custom-designed artistic fan over the cooktop. They also created a butler’s pantry and a new powder room and updated all the home’s bathrooms.
(Courtesy REcolorado)
The interior at 2155 E. Alameda Ave. (Courtesy REcolorado)
The basement received special attention, with a new recreation room carved out of the former storage space. Throughout the 2-story home, they modernized the closets and updated the fixtures. The library received an update.
The couple also carefully preserved one historic element: the original stone terrace and staircase, which cascades through their tiered backyard garden. They renovated it for safety while maintaining its historic integrity.
Although the couple, who split their time between Denver and Florida, planned to stay in the home long term, they decided they needed a 1-story home and are moving to North Polo Club.
They initially listed it for sale in October, then removed it from the market in late November and relisted it Jan. 9 with Christy Owen and Amy Harmon with Urban Market Partners.
“Most people don’t know it is here,” Owen said. “It’s truly a hidden gem.”
The estate, known as Strawberry Hill, was divided into eight sites and developed after the great-grandson reportedly burned down the original mansion so no one else could live there, Owen said.
Fulenwider’s home is one of two for sale in the enclave. The 6,613-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-bath home at 2111 E. Alameda Ave. was listed for $4.2 million in October.
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