The importance of a knowledgeable designer during a major remodel can’t be overstated. Upending your life and home is daunting enough to begin with; creating a vision for what comes next and then executing that vision requires skill and experience.

Through delays, design challenges and the demands of high-altitude living, one couple created a kitchen that balances rugged Colorado surroundings with contemporary comfort.

Remodeling a living space is a big undertaking, even under the best circumstances. Plans rarely unfold perfectly; there are often delays, permit hurdles or supply challenges that most homeowners come to expect. For Jill and Lucas Ketzer, however, their remodeling journey began during an especially tender time: the unexpected loss of Jill’s father.

Ellen Neufeld’s home in Centennial, a quintessential suburb in the southern Denver metro area, needed a tune-up.