The surroundings were lovely, but the home, built in the 1960s, was dated. After buying the house, Scott Davidson's first plan was to tear the place down and build a duplex.

"But once I spent time living here with the beautiful mature trees and gorgeous gardens, I knew it had to stay," said Davidson, co-owner of Aspen Associates Realty Group.

The remodeled home features a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces. The comfortable interiors and subtle details reveal how creative design solutions can transform an outdated home into a modern masterpiece.

For their efforts, Sarah Broughton and John Rowland, of Aspen-based Rowland+Broughton Architecture, earned a 2008 Architect's Choice Award, given by the Denver chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Rocky Mountain News and the city and county of Denver.

"It was a challenge to take an old house and make it new without compromising the original character," says Broughton. "Scott was an ideal client because, although he knew what he wanted, he was completely open to collaborating with us."

Instead of adding a lot of extra square footage, which would have required cutting down the trees and leveling the landscape, the architects maintained the basic footprint, while remodeling the interior, updating the exterior and respecting the mid-century ranch style.

First, they reworked the roofline, then added clerestory windows and a few hundred square feet of space to the existing structure. The exterior was re-clad with zinc, fir siding and cut limestone.

Using these same materials on the interior, the architects were able to strike a connection between the indoors and outdoors. A stunning example of this is the cut limestone wall that pierces through the interior, continues to the fireplace and ends beyond the back exterior wall.

Knocking down walls between the kitchen, living and dining rooms opened the floor plan.

Floor-to-ceiling exterior glass doors open to the backyard and an outdoor living space. A polished white concrete terrace is adjacent to the outdoor dining area, and a linear firepit and overhead heat lamps make it possible to use the space year-round.

Davidson loves to entertain, which dictated the open kitchen design. Custom dark-stained oak cabinets and a walnut butcher block island maintain a warm, modern feel. Cut limestone bricks provide a textured backsplash, and a zinc hood offers a subtle architectural element.

Although the architects' attention to detail is evident throughout, the greatest hallmark of this residence is the team effort that drove the design, layout and finishing touches.

"Everything was collaborative - from the design, to the finishes, to the furnishings," says interior designer John Bossard, founding principal of The Bossard Design Group. "We were all eager to listen to each other and learn."

Bossard's eye for combining contemporary pieces with antiques and incorporating a natural color palette defines his approach to comfortable, elegant interiors.

"During our first consultation, Scott mentioned that he wanted the design to radiate warmth, but remain fresh and modern," says Bossard. "This was achieved through the finishes, wallpaper, floor coverings and furnishings."

Classic and contemporary meet in the living room, where Bossard covered two classic wing chairs with modern fabric. Two bronze benches and a settee flank a 1970s lacquered coffee table.

Bossard furnished the adjacent dining room with an oval Julian Chichester table, and elegant chairs are covered in a shimmery silk-cotton.

"We maintained a traditional flair with chairs and the candlesticks, but kept the rest modern," he says.

Beyond the dining room, the master bedroom and bathroom are a study in creative use of space. The architects bumped out the bedroom a few feet to add a sitting area framed by a sizable picture window. The dressing room occupies a space that was once a gardening shed.

In stark contrast to the bedroom's muted tones, the master bathroom is a gleaming, floor-to-ceiling expanse of bright white yule marble from Marble.

"You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to find these pieces, even though it is produced just down the road," Davidson says.

Davidson's favorite space is the vibrant den, which serves as a cocktail lounge, movie room, library and wine cellar.

Dark paint on the ceiling, deep red carpet underneath and textured grasscloth on the walls create a cocoon-like space.

A giant picture window frames two mature Aspen trees and a spectacular view.

Davidson smiles as he looks out over the snow-covered landscape. "Sitting inside the house, looking outside is the most perfect feeling in the world."

The details

* What: Single-level ranch-style home west of downtown Aspen in the Cemetery Lane neighborhood

* Built: 1960s

* Remodeled: 2007-08

* Size before remodel: 3,090 square feet

* Size after remodel: 3,600 square feet

Sustainable Design

* The architects retained 60 percent of the original roof and walls, as well as the mature trees on the lot.

* A 400-square-foot solar panel produces 4.2 kilowatts of energy per hour from photovoltaic panels.

* Recycled construction materials included cardboard, wood and metal scrap.

* All old windows and doors were replaced with new energy-efficient alternatives.

* An old furnace was replaced with an efficient boiler/radiant heat system.

* The metal siding and roof are durable and low maintenance.

* Clerestory windows, glass sliding doors and skylights increase natural daylight, reducing dependency on artificial light.

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