On December 30, 2021, a brush fire broke out at the intersection of Colorado 93 and Marshall Road. It went on to destroy 990+ structures and evacuate 37,000+ people, becoming the most destructive fire in Colorado history.
This spring, Boulder Country residents displaced by the Marshall Fire are finally moving back into their new homes, but it was a long journey to get here. Rebuilding after a disaster takes a great toll, as homeowners have to work through code, permitting, and insurance claims. They need to rebuild differently to help mitigate future risk. And once they finally do build, they have to face the place they once had to flee from, trying to make it feel like home once again.
To do this takes a cast of characters and expert craftsmen, so we’re going to take you room by room and trade by trade for one of the newest homes on Panorama Drive.
Nick Fiore, Flower Architecture
In his experience in construction and design, Nicholas Fiore knows how cathartic it can be to make something from scratch—especially when you’re trying to rebuild something you’ve lost. He was prepared for this to be a delicate process and was immediately struck by the owners’ resilience, ready to jump right into the design and the details.
“They were ready, willing, and able to dive into the design process,” says Fiore. “They knew the feel they wanted and all the good things about their previous house that they wanted to bring into the new home.”
While not 100% “form follows function,” Fiore carefully designed the home for a big family who needs a mudroom, a rec room, and spaces to make noise and messes.
Kate Manz, Designer
Known for her chic designs at Sweep Salons, this project was Kate Manz’s first new construction home. She treated each space and room as its own story and concept, imbuing warmth and love into every corner of the home.
“In a new build, it can sometimes take years to feel lived in, especially having to buy everything new post-fire,” says Kate Manz. “The goal was to help give the house a heartbeat and soul through each space.”
Ryan Wither, Buildwell
Raised in Steamboat Springs, Ryan got his logical side from his accountant mother and his irreverent side from his artistic father. He taps into both as he combines craftsmanship, engineering, and a precise eye for detail to bring together the whole team to create a project like this, combining custom features and beautiful style with important fire mitigation features.
Chino, Concrete
In addition to creating the new fortress around the home, Chino also brought homemade tamales to the job site, feeding the family and team as they rebuilt.
North Table Woodworks, Mill Work
One of the only objects to survive the fire was a double heart made of bike chain, and the owners knew they wanted to create a prominent place to display it. They worked with North Table Woodworks to create a custom niche wall.
“The layered niche wall was one way we added interest and texture to the vast room, as well as giving a home for unique objects and new family heirlooms to reside,” says Manz.
Additional Partners:
Vonmod, Kitchen & Built-ins
Evoke Outside, Landscape Architect
Decorative Materials, Tile
Forma Furniture, Furniture
WD Flooring & McDonald Carpet, Flooring
Artisan Rug Shop, Rugs
Harrison Home Systems & Window VanGo, Window Treatment
Moros Fabrication, Fabrication
Slade Glass
Galleria of Stone
Manz spoke highly of the team and the opportunity to collaborate with all the different disciplines throughout the project as they created something new from the ground up.
“I truly loved working with every person on this project,” says Manz. "The team was A++, and it shows and is felt in every little detail.”