Many potential Denver home buyers -coming from out of state -frequently request that I send them a list of high-quality restaurants prior to their exploratory visit. These are my favorites, and if I haven’t tried them and thought them terrific, they have been highly recommended by my friends.
Barolo Grill
3030 East 6th Avenue, Denver 303-393-1040
Fruition
1313 East 6th Avenue, Denver 303-831-7962
NoNo’s Café
3005 West County Line Road, Littleton (on the border of Littleton and Highlands Ranch) (303) 738-8330
Pasquini’s
1310 S. Broadway, Denver 303-744-0917 (also have locations in Highland, Uptown, Denver Tech Center, and Lone Tree neighborhoods)
Rioja
1433 Larimer Street, Denver 303-820-2282
Squeaky Bean
3301 Tejon Street, Denver (Highland neighborhood)
TrattoriaStella
3470 W. 32ND Avenue, Denver (Highland neighborhood) 303-458-1128
Sushi Den
1487 South Pearl Street, Denver 303-777-0826
Vesta Dipping Grill
1822 Blake Street, Denver303-296-1970
Please feel free to call me if you are relocating or considering purchasing or selling real estate in Denver.
Families moving to Colorado universally wonder which community is the Best Place to Raise Kids in the Denver area – Business Week Magazine answered this week by selecting Highland Ranch as their top choice in Colorado.
Highlands Ranch is a southern Denver suburb located in Douglas County. It boasts excellent schools – Newsweek Magazine listed Highlands Ranch High School and Thunderridge High School on their Top 1500 High Schools in the U.S; and has endless outdoor recreational opportunities – see Highlands Ranch parks and trails.
You might also want to check out this video tour to learn more about why Business Week selected Highlands Ranch as the best place to raise children in Colorado.
Feel free to contact me with any questions about Highlands Ranch.
Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
Re/Max Professionals
Denver home buyers, moving from one neighborhood to the next, are usually familiar with local furniture stores. Buyers from out of state, as well as first-time buyers, typically ask me for available Denver furniture recommendations.
Connecting a buyer to a furniture store is similar to connecting them to that perfect neighborhood and home – It depends on the composition of the family, lifestyle, taste, hobbies…
Here are a few of my top Denver furniture picks categorized by budget, lifestyle or period piece:
High End:
Denver Design District – A 3 building campus that houses everything from furniture lines, floor coverings, kitchen design, lighting, – plus every other home ware under the sun. In the old days, Denver locals were only allowed admittance with an interior designer or on selected days when they opened to the public. Now, the Denver Design District is grouped into two sections – “retail showrooms” and “trade showrooms.” The public can visit and purchase directly from the retail showrooms. The public can also purchase from the trade showrooms by using one’s own designer or one of the professionals on-site at the campus. Location: Broadway and Central Avenue, Denver. Phone and Contact: Marina Dagenais 303-282-3226
ARHAUS – More intimate than the Denver Design Center, ARHAUS offers sophisticated, mostly traditional styles with a fresh edge. An extensive collection of upholsteries, dining, bedroom and accessories give more of a boutique feel rather than a chain feel (which it is.) Two Denver Locations: 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive in Lone Tree and 171 Clayton Lane in Denver (Cherry Creek.)
Modern:
Mod livin’ – A homegrown Denver company showcasing all things mid-century modern – This video captures it all:
Location: 5327 East Colfax Avenue, Denver
Pet Friendly:
The Livable Home – Is an innovative, local Denver company that could also fall into the “high-end” section of this post. Owner, Amy McCawley’s innovativeness warrants a standalone category. Ms. McCawley selects fabrics for her store’s sofas, chairs and ottomans based on their ability to withstand pet hair and pet stains. Best of all – this is done without chemicals and instead done with careful selection of picking a fabric based on different factors, one being a tight weave. And of course, pet-lovers can order custom doggie beds for their favorite pooch. Location: 2510 15th Street, Denver
Arts and Crafts:
Modern Bungalow – Is a one-stop-shop for all things arts and crafts. From furniture to lighting to area rugs arts and craft lovers can find every possible home décor under one roof.
Location: 2594 S. Colorado Blvd. (Colorado and Yale in the U-Hills Plaza)
Green/and or Recession Busters:
Brandt & Whitney, Inc. – Okay, so they don’t actually sell furniture, rather they rehab, repair, reupholster and do custom upholstery, make slip-covers and more. A perfect solution for that favorite couch with good bones and worn upholstery or that antique armoire you keep meaning to have repaired.
Location: 4885 S. Broadway, Englewood
Inexpensive:
American Furniture Warehouse – Another local company with stores all over the Denver metropolitan area that offers inexpensive couches, bedroom suites, kitchen tables, accessories and more.
Locations: Many throughout Metro Denver
Feel free to contact me if you are considering a move to Denver.
Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
RE/MAX Professionals
The average price for a Denver home in July was $276,654. This is the average price for the entire Denver MLS (Metrolist). To see MLS data broken down by specific geographic regions, visit: Denver home market statistics.
I ran an MLS search to see what you get specifically in Denver County for exactly $275,000. - slightly below the average purchase price of the entire MLS. The results produced the following 9 single family residential listings:
As you can see, there is a wide variety in the selection of single family homes available at $275,000. Architectural styles range – from a tri-level contemporary to a Victorian to frame or brick ranches. Locations also span the gamut from the Clayton neighborhood (north of Denver) to the Baker area (just south of Denver) down to the southernmost part of the County. Not bad for slightly under the average Denver home price…
Feel free to contact me to assist you on purchasing your next Denver home.
612 Chadwick Circle in Highlands Ranch Co is a fabulous 2-story Ryland home, located within walking distance of many of Highlands Ranch’s favorite restaurants, stores and recreational centers.
Features of this 3 bedroom/ 3 bathroom home include: brand new carpet; custom window treatments, central air conditioning; gas fireplace; large backyard; upstairs laundry; an amazing master bedroom with his and her closets (one is a walk-in); a master bathroom that has a separate shower and tub, plus many more extras!
The location is perfect for families, singles or couples looking for great home amenities in a superb location. North Ridge Recreational Center, restaurants like the Old Blinking Light, or shops like the Tattered Cover Bookstore are all within walking distance. You can also walk to kid’s parks, Civic Center Green’s Amphitheater, a dog park and easily access the extensive Highlands Ranch trails.
When I moved back to Denver from California I had to come to grips with a whole new style of gardening. During my 13 year return to Denver, I have learned to improvise and have adopted a rather “Darwinistic” approach to gardening.
The plants chosen for my list are all perennials (come back each year), require full to partial-sun, and are a USDA hardiness zone 5. All of these plants are amazingly easy to grow in Denver with minimal effort. I watch the water requirements, occasionally add soil amendments, and fertilize in spring.
1. True Geraniums (Geranium sanguineum) – Alternative names include: hardy geraniums, cranesbill geraniums and bloody cranesbill geraniums – and are not to be confused with annual or florist geraniums. These early to mid summer garden workhorses are gorgeous at the front of flower beds and come in pinks, magentas, blues and whites. The “bloody” in the cranesbill name refers to the brilliant orange and red foliage that develops in fall.
2). Roses – There are a good 100 roses growing in my backyard and I have only had two casualties in 13 years. My absolute favorites are the David Austin roses – these look like old fashioned English garden roses yet have the extended bloom time of modern varieties. Roses also come in all shapes and sizes from ground covers to shrub varieties and do surprisingly well in Denver gardens. http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/Advanced.asp
3). Catmint: (Nepeta faassenii) – The “Walker Low” variety is a great addition to the front or middle of a Denver garden border. It has a showy lavender bloom that begins in early spring and repeats again later in the summer when cut back. While it can get up to 2 feet plus, mine rarely do as I keep trimmed back after the first flush of flowers.
4). Salvia – The two perennials salvias that are lovely in my garden include S. x superb “May Night” which is a deep purple/blue color and S. Sclarea “Clary Sage” which produces a pale blue flowers. The “May Night” thrives in the most difficult (hot, dry, lousy soil) stretches of my garden.
5). Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Yarrow produces a terrific, lacey looking bloom that comes in white, pink, red and yellow. Although a long time summer bloomer – yarrow can get aggressive and invasive in well amended and well watered areas. I have learned to limit it to portions of my Denver garden where little else will survive.
6). Daylily (Hemerocallis) – These come in a number of colors and the grass-like leaves add nice texture to Denver gardens. I like the Stella D’ Oro variety as it can handle some dappled light and produces a intense yellow bloom that is stunning underneath an Austrian pine in my yard. Admittedly, I do have to dig the day lilies up every three years and divide them to ensure continued blooms.
7). Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) – Of course this list would be incomplete without a mention to our Colorado state flower. Columbines can be single or bi-colored and come in reds, yellows, and blue colors. They can get a bit ragged looking after a few years but many varieties readily reseed. They bloom in early summer and can be coaxed into a repeat bloom by deadheading (pinching of the spent flower).
8). Clematis Vines (Clematis X jackmanii) – My favorite is the Jackman’s purple variety which produces a rich purple bloom. Clematis do like cool feet so I have found it works to plant them under a tree to shade the roots and coax the vine upwards to receive the required sunlight.
9). Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifoila) – This bluish/lavender mid-summer bloomer thrives in Denver and produces well into early fall. It requires almost nothing in terms of attention other that plenty of space. It does easily reseed into other pockets of the garden but small plants are easily transplanted into a more desirable location.
10). Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) – While they can look unsightly or dead in Denver gardens until late July or August they are a worth the wait. Not only do they come alive while other plants are growing tired, they do indeed attract butterflies along with an occasional humming bird.
Feel free to take this list to your local Denver Garden Center. My favorite garden centers include: Tagawa’s in Parker, Paulino’s in Denver and O’Toole’s in Littleton, Lakewood and Westminster.
Over the years, I have bought and sold many homes, mostly due to job transfers. That experience is an exhilarating process.
As a compulsory “sorter”, it is liberating to me to give “stuff” to others who might enjoy using it, when preparing to sell. Clearly an uncluttered home is more appealing to a potential buyer, but it is amazing how rewarding the procedure is to the seller. As I leave the home behind, I carry with me always the wonderful memories. Friendships also transcend geographical locations, and so goodbyes are only temporary.
Children seem to reflect your attitude during relocation. My husband and I attempted to look at each move with a sense of adventure and excitement. Now our adult children have friends all over the United States. (Our daughter even remarked as a child on one occasion, “When will we be moving? I’m ready!) Early on they learned that moves provided extortion opportunities, i.e. a new cat if you are going to make me leave my friends!
Moving into a new home is such fun. Placing all treasures and furniture requires some resourcefulness. New friends are rewarding and it is interesting learning their “memoirs”. Actually, new grocery stores stimulate me to try new foods. The seductions of new restaurants, arts opportunities, and shopping have dubious practicality, but are great distractions to necessary driver’s license changes, etc.
Eckhart Tolle believes that true freedom is achieved through “non-judgment, non-attachment, and non-resistance”. I know these sentiments make relocating as peaceful as possible, leaving AND entering.
Frankly, and I hope with wisdom and clarity, our moves were not without some heart-wrenching moments and cacophony. But, like childbirth, one quickly forgets the pain and remembers only what makes our hearts sing.
Families moving to Denver want to know about the quality of our public schools. The 2009 Newsweek list of the top 1,500 schools in the U.S. was released this month. This list is a great starting point for people relocating to Denver and making the all important decision on schools.
So, which Colorado schools made the Newsweek list?
In the Denver-Metro Area:
Aurora weighed in with four top high schools: Eaglecrest, Overland, Smoky Hill and Grandview. Denver County boasts – East, D’Evelyn and George Washington – all coming out on top. Heritage and Littleton High Schools in Littleton made the list as well as Cherry Creek High in Greenwood Village. Douglas County’s Highlands Ranch and ThundeRidge in Highlands Ranch made the cut along with Douglas County High in Castle Rock.
The Newsweek list arrives at their decision based on a devised tool called the “Challenge Index.” The Reader’s Digest Version: high schools are ranked by dividing the number of schools taking Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and or the Cambridge tests and then divide this by the number of students who graduate. See the full Newsweek article and complete U.S. list at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160
So, you are dreaming of moving into your new Denver home. Why not minimize the stress by using this “Denver Moving Game Plan” to get you to step #9 as quickly as humanly possible?
#1 Moving Checklist:
This handy checklist, “Countdown to Moving”, covers everything you will need to do from 3 weeks prior to your move date all the way to best part – the actual move-in date. Go here for your list: Countdown to Moving
#2 Need Denver Temporary or Extended-Stay Housing?
Whether you are moving to Denver and need temporary or corporate housing or you simply need a reliable place to stay for the night, this list covers it all. It also provides room, suite, studio or home rates throughout the Denver and surrounding metro areas. Go here for your list: Extended Stay Rates
#3 Who to Call? Denver-Metro Utilities, Movers, Phone, Cable…
From Arvada to Castle Rock and everywhere in between, this list includes who to call for gas, electric, cable, phone, trash service and Denver Post delivery service.
It also provides three reliable moving companies, Denver transportation contacts, gives a link to Denver area Hospitals as well as a link to finding a physician. Go here for your list: Denver Relocation Who to Call
Yes, I realize this step is a bit odd. It comes from experience – A zillion years ago when my eldest son was then 3, we had just moved from Southern to Northern California. On the very first night, my son developed the proverbial 2 am ear infection and we hadn’t a clue as to where the hospital was located.
#7 Need a Vendor for the Finishing Touches on your new Denver Home?
Do you need a contractor, a home cleaner, or a closet organizing service to make your new Denver home perfect? Visit: http://www.denverrelocationbroker.com/buyers/preferred-vendors to see a list of reliable folks that can help you realize your dream home.
#8 Find Activities for Your Children:
Engaging your children in youth activities can certainly buffer the stress of a move. Here are some Denver local sport activities to ease their transition:
Congratulations – you have plowed through the move to Denver with ease. Enjoy your new home and start exploring our wonderful city! Check out the art and theater scene:
