The homes of Old Cherry Hills are an eclectic mix of architectural styles ranging from the charm of smaller ranches and rambling farmhouses to sleek structures that boast all the modern bells and whistles.

Amid this diverse array, one home sits boldly at the end of a private lane, proclaiming its originality and beauty like a beacon in a storm. The Tuscan-style villa of K.C. and Janice Jones is perched upon a 2.5-acre site and incorporates the creativity and vision of its owners.

K.C. Jones, a respected homebuilder who has designed several upscale Denver homes, and his wife, Janice, a national vice president for Pulte Homes, together have created a house that is akin to a work of art. Clearly, no detail was overlooked in this 15,000-square-foot home, and creativity was at the forefront of its design.

“This home was not so much driven by architectural style as an overall approach to individuality,” Janice says. “We tried to view the entire process as an expression of originality and uniqueness.”

Fronting the home’s entrance is a subtle cascading koi-filled fountain. Off the driveway, a small vineyard reminiscent of the Italian countryside encases Concord grapevines and strawberry plants. This, then, sets the stage for an enchanting, surprise-filled home.

The two-story stone entryway is a delight to the eye, with its natural stone tile cleverly set in place by artisans who were given nothing more than rough drawings on which to base their work. “This is the liberty of doing your own home and being the builder on the project,” Jones explains. Four different kinds of marble were incorporated into this room alone, all set in place by craftsmen who were directed to come up with a stylistic design that would enhance the home’s artistic flair. “So often in a home, the craftsmen are told to the final detail exactly how to put things in place. In this home, we let the craftsmen decide what would look best, and their excellent work shows through in so many areas of the home,” Jones says.

Initial design of the home proved a bit of a challenge because of the long and narrow layout of the lot. Taking this unusual shape into account, the Joneses envisioned a home that met the lot’s proportions, even drawing some inspiration from The DaVinci Code, according to the owner. “We loved the idea of the symbolism that could be integrated, in terms of lining things up and creating a symbolic mystery about the home,” she explains.

Throughout the house, interesting combinations of wood, marble and tile are used to create stunning effects that are conversation pieces in themselves. The formal powder room, for example, incorporates a tasteful mix of honed and shiny marble that gives the impression of comforting warmth tinged with sleek sophistication.

One focal point of the house is a huge pre-cast concrete fireplace that sits prominently in the entryway. The gas-burning structure was fabricated to appear several hundred years old and is topped by a dramatic two-story-high mantle and beautiful arched window. The walls of the fireplace are moss rock flipped backward, and the grout between the stones is a muddy color, which blends with the rock and lends an authentic touch to the room. “I told the vendor what I envisioned, and she came up with a design. We tried to let others bring their creativity to this project, and trusted that in the end they would do their best work,” Jones explains.

One reason the home is so original is the owners’ attempt to mix elegant formal touches with rustic styles, effectively casting aside many rules about traditional home design. The fireplace in the library, for example, is ensconced in a unique pre-cast marble remnant, culminating in an interesting and playful appearance. Several natural materials are used in the room’s woods and flooring. “We mainly stuck with warmer hues, but we weren’t driven by color. We gave careful consideration to the light-to-value ratio and how the rooms would be illuminated,” Jones says.

Another interesting aspect of the library is its grid ceiling design, which was created by the trim carpenter after the owners showed him a picture of how they wanted it to look. This same design is carried out in several other rooms throughout the home. “The carpenter took on the project and gave it a life of its own. People get so caught up in trying to direct every detail of a building project, but we choose to let the people be creative and see what they come up with,” Jones explains.

Most of the flooring used throughout the house is composed of stained oak panels in varying widths. In some areas, the floor is enhanced with natural maple and black walnut and cherry inlays in an interesting herringbone effect, again the creation of the installers. The staircase is a beautiful slab marble with limestone mosaic and wrought-iron rail; the steps themselves are cut from slabs.


Down the long hallway leading to the kitchen, the owners installed floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, which overlook a charming piazza that can be illuminated for nighttime entertaining.

In virtually every room of the home, lighting is used to accessorize and liven up the d8Ecor. The entryway chandelier is a wonderful replica of Murano blown glass, but it’s the chandelier in the dining room that really steals the show. This fixture is made of hand-blown cobalt-blue crystals and was custom made by a Murano family that has been making glass for three generations.

“Lighting is everything in this home,” Jones says. “The whole house has a rustic feel, but we integrated fussy, delicate lights, which are a big contrast. Many people are afraid to do this type of decorating.”

The massive kitchen provides yet more interesting features. A large European-designed stove is framed by stone, and the honed marble Giallo Reale countertops have their shine sanded off for a more subdued look. The backsplashes, containing a mixture of three different marbles and cobalt blue glass tile, are topped by cinnamon-colored distressed wood cabinets that were sanded at the edges to let the natural color come through. The entire room is punctuated with unique ceramics and deep, rich blue tones, melding warmth and coolness, which are well balanced to create a contemporary feeling with Old World charm.

“This room is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about the house, and this is why,” says Jones. Here she gestures to a huge window over the sink, which looks out to fabulous Italian statuettes situated about the grounds.

While many whimsical or unexpected touches are found throughout the home, perhaps the most surprising room is Janice’s office. “I wanted this one room to be fussy and feminine, and for it to be a complete escape from how the rest of the house is designed,” she explains. Leftover molding from another house project adds detail to the walls, and decorative chandeliers lend a sense of whimsy.

Another unique feature of the home is the movie theater, uncharacteristically situated on the main floor of the living area. At the front of the room are three large screens topped by replicas of the MGM movie studio lion. The room’s woodwork was crafted to closely resemble furniture and is stunning in a rich bronze color accentuated by blue tile. The only piece of artwork in the room is not really artwork at all. Rather, inlaid into one wall is a huge piece of arched onyx glass, dramatically backlit during the day by the sun’s natural light. This same use of onyx is repeated in the bar in the great room, where backlighting throws soft illumination onto the entire area.

Indeed, the owners’ penchant for glass and light is evidenced throughout the home, with windows abundantly used wherever possible. “A lot of people want the back of their home to face west for the mountain views,” Jones says. “We did things differently. We were very sensitive to the dark because the home is so long and narrow, so we brought in a lot of high windows to allow for more natural light. The home’s eastern orientation keeps it cool in the summer months as well.”

These windows are more than just decorative, serving well their function as lenses to the outside world. The family eating area looks out onto a spacious open-air beamed-ceiling room, which overlooks an enticing infinity pool offset by a cascading waterfall. A roomy hot tub spills over into the fountain, and off in the distance, a wishing well sits near a meandering creek.

Both inside the home and out, the owners worked tirelessly to ensure that no detail would be overlooked. With a goal toward erasing the obvious, a slew of elements add to the home’s mystery and sense of whimsy. Such touches are found throughout the home, from the secret passageway that literally cuts through the stone in the home’s great room and leads all the way to the chimney, to the flat-screen plasma television in the master bedroom, cleverly framed to appear as art. Every 30 seconds, a remote-controlled DVD changes the picture on the television, showcasing various beautiful images of art, all set to soothing music.

The entrance to the master bath is fronted by a barrel ceiling made of a blend of three types of glass tiles. Marble, glass tile, granite and onyx are all mixed together within the room, and natural light is enhanced by a large, elaborate chandelier hanging from a geometric cutout in the ceiling.

As if the home itself were not enough of a haven, the grounds are every bit as enticing as what’s inside. Beautiful trees surround the property, a tribute to the owners’ determination to save as many old trees as possible. To one side, a bell tower rises majestically, its structure backlit to illuminate a statue of Venus encased in the brick archway. Stone benches and meandering paths are found in unexpected spots. “We never gave up, even in the understated spots. The result is a place that is very random, different and altogether unexpected,” Jones says.

“Both my husband and I lead such busy lives. With my job, I’m always traveling and on the go. This house is truly our haven, and it’s hard to leave,” Jones says.