Hilltop midcentury modern lists for $4.3M after “architectural archaeology” restoration

When John Huggins and his wife Monica Martinez bought 35 Eudora St. in 2007 for $850,000, they wanted to restore the midcentury modern home to its mid-1960s glory.

Huggins employed a method he calls “architectural archaeology” to meticulously restore the Hilltop home, a 1966 masterpiece designed by the renowned Denver architect Donald R. Roark.

“We tried to stay true to the original owners’ vision and imagination. We wanted to bring back the wild colors, and the source of most of the original colors was already here,” Huggins said.

“When we started the renovation, we used architectural archaeology. We looked behind switch plates or behind sink cabinets and found the original wallpaper.”

Huggins said the 4,700-square-foot house is light and open. “It’s cheerful, bright and modern.”

It features white-painted brick piers that support large east-west beams, colorful accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The home’s kitchen still has its original cabinetry, as does the great room with built-in walnut cabinetry. The main part of the house still has its original terrazzo tile.

It also has its original Majestic Char-Grill outdoor kitchen and high-quality finish materials, including vintage Prescolite lighting fixtures, Nutone intercom system, and gold Phylrich Swan and Dolphin faucets.

The couple adores their four-bedroom, five-bath home, but their daughter is due to start high school next year. To ensure she could attend the school of her choice, the family decided to move and sell their home for $4.3 million.

“My wife wants to be in a more walkable neighborhood closer to central Denver, and we’re ready to downsize to something that will still provide space for the three of us,” said Huggins, president and co-founder of Notable Systems.