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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Home Gym Goals

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W+M agent, Kate Kazell’s client, Melanie Phillips

“Fitness has been a huge part of my life for the past decade, and the way I’ve worked out has evolved. After moving across the country to Denver, my husband and I finally had the room to create our own home gym.”
— Melanie Phillips

For W+M agent, Kate Kazell’s client, Melanie Phillips, fitness has been more than just a passion- it’s a lifestyle. Known for her blog, @headstandsandheels, Melanie shares, “Fitness has been a huge part of my life for the past decade, and the way I’ve worked out has evolved. After moving across the country to Denver, my husband and I finally had the room to create our own home gym.”

The couple transformed an alcove in their finished basement into a stylish yet functional workout space. “We wanted the gym to be chic but also practical. We added brick wallpaper on the main wall, a large mirror, shelving for storage, fun neon lighting, and foam floor tiles.” The layout has four workout zones: floor exercises (yoga, Pilates), weightlifting, and two types of cardiowith a Peloton bike and treadmill.

The key to their home gym’s success is organization. “Once everything has a home, it makes the space functional for a variety of workouts.” Melanie advises starting with basics like dumbbells, a yoga mat, a mirror, and a bench, adding more equipment over time

With colder months ahead, the home gym becomes an even more essential part of Melanie’s routine. “We use our home gym most in winter. When it’s too cold to go outside, it’s great to have a space to work out at home.”

As someone who gets bored with the same routine, she keeps things interesting by alternating between online classes including, Sculpt Society, Form, and Peloton. The flexibility to switch between spin, strength training, and low-impact workouts has been especially important during her pregnancy.

Melanie's home gym reflects her fitness journey and lifestyle, offering the perfect space to sweat, stretch, and stay motivated.

 

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Vintage Vibe to Inspired Design

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West + Main agent Jessie Matteson

“We fell in love with the vision of what the space could be”
— Jessie Matteson

When West + Main Agent Jessie Matteson and her family bought their off-market home two years ago, they saw potential where others might have seen only orange shag carpeting, outdated windows, and mechanicals begging for an upgrade. But instead of being overwhelmed, Jesse and her family dove headfirst into what would become a major labor of love.

“We fell in love with the vision of what the space could be,”

says Jesse, who didn't shy away from doing much of the work herself. In fact, the family tackled the entire demo by hand. With the help of her handy father-in-law and dad, the Mattesons opened up the main level, knocking down walls to create a kitchen and dining area perfect for entertaining.

“We wanted a space that felt warm and inviting,” Jessie explains. “We went big with the kitchen island to make it a spot for friends and family to gather. It’s the main hangout spot in our home, so we made sure it was both pretty and practical.” The kitchen, with its massive island, quickly became the heart of the house. “We spend a lot of time around that island, whether it's hosting, working from home, or just living life.”

One of Jessie’s favorite features is the flooring, which was lovingly laid by her husband. “It adds such a cozy feel to the whole house,” she says, reflecting on the warmth and comfort it brings to the space.

The remodel also boasts a custom railing, adding a playful transition from the kitchen to the lower-level living room. And though the basement still awaits its full makeover, Jessie says, “The main floor is mostly finished, and it feels so good to see our hard work finally pay off.”

Remarkably, the family didn’t work with an architect or designer for the project. Instead, inspiration came from nearby neighbors who had tackled similar renovations.

“Once we saw that what we were thinking was possible, I started designing the kitchen layout myself,” Jessie explains.

As foster parents, they wanted flexible, cozy spaces that could evolve with each child. “We used furniture that was my grandmother’s and some refinished pieces my mom redid. A mix of new and old makes a space feel cozy and lived in.”

Renovations, of course, come with their share of challenges. But for Jessie, the highlight was working alongside her dad and father-in-law. “It’s the third home renovation we’ve done, and I love the extra time I get to spend with them. There’s a lot of problem-solving and brainstorming – it’s always fun, though sometimes stressful!”

As for advice for others thinking of doing their own remodel? “Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. For design, don’t overthink it. Often, the first thing that catches your eye is what you’ll come back to. And know your limits—it’s important to hire out when you need to.”

For Jessie, the remodel has been more than just an aesthetic transformation. “This house has been a real labor of love,” she says. And with the warmth and care woven into every detail, it’s easy to see why.

 

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Laundry Room Makeover

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West + Main agent Steph Christianson

“That tile gave the room a
whole new personality.”
— Steph Christianson

When West + Main agent Steph Christianson set out to remodel her laundry room, she didn’t just settle for a functional space—she turned it into a bold, eye-catching extension of her home’s personality. Inspired by the dark blue cabinetry in her adjacent kitchen, Steph brought the same pop of color into her laundry room, adding depth and drama to a space often overlooked. She invested about $10,000 to achieve the look, including new cabinets, countertops, a farmhouse sink, fresh tile, and a new light fixture.

The standout feature? The stunning patterned tile she chose from The Tile Shop. “It was definitely a splurge, but totally worth it,” Steph says. “That tile gave the room a whole new personality.”

Steph’s design process started with sketches on graph paper, which she took to her favorite local cabinet company for conversion into CAD drawings. “I made a few tweaks with their help, but the final result turned out exactly as I’d planned,” she shares. The new layout, combined with the height and color of the cabinets, brings a dramatic, moody vibe to the small space.

What started as a laundry room makeover led to some unexpected surprises—like a mini garage revamp! “I knew I’d reuse my old laundry cabinets in the garage, but adding a shiplap feature wall and butcher block workbench were last-minute decisions,” she says. “And I’m so glad I did! Who knew a garage could be such a fun design space?”

For those considering a remodel, Steph’s biggest piece of advice is to start with inspiration. “Make a mood board on Pinterest or Canva, and start narrowing down your favorite designs,” she suggests. “And be open to DIY projects or finding affordable dupes to stretch your budget.”

With the laundry room complete, Steph is already diving into her next project—a full basement remodel with some budget-savvy tricks up her sleeve. For her, it’s all about creating spaces that feel personal, stylish, and fun.

 

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: A Dream Home Become Reality

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West + Main agent Tiffany Ogle

“The most challenging part has been living through 5 years of various construction projects”
— Tiffany Ogle

"My husband and I fell in love with this home over 10 years ago," explained West + Main agent Tiffany Ogle. "We would walk by it daily and dream that one day we would be the owners. Finally, it went on the market in 2019 and we jumped at the chance to put in an offer. The home was outdated and had a heavy Tuscan vibe to it. We have spent the last 5 years renovating it and turning it into our dream home!"

One of the couples' favorite thing about their home is, of course, the location within their Colorado neighborhood because the the views are absolutely breathtaking. They also love their newly updated kitchen, the gym that they use daily, the movie theater for family time, and the fairly rare pool and extensive landscaping in the backyard.

"If we were to do anything over, we would not do the kitchen and backyard at the same time. It was very hard on the family and pets!"

"The most challenging part has been living through 5 years of various construction projects," shared Tiffany. "The kitchen and pool were done simultaneously and took about a year to complete. Having to cook and eat out of our bar area was very inconvenient. We couldn't go out outside in the backyard so walking my three dogs multiple times a day was very stressful."

BEFORE:

The family had never had a pool before in their primary home, but it's definitely a dream come true.

"The backyard was mostly a large putting green, overgrown with invasive plants species and trees," said Tiffany. "We wanted to turn it into our very own oasis. We love to entertain family and friends and we knew if we built a pool it would attract our friends and family year round. With 300 days of sunshine we decided to keep it open year round and we use it more than we imagined!"

AFTER:

"When we knocked down the wall in our kitchen we were left with a awkward load-bearing pole," explained Tiffany. "We didn't want a boring column so we decided to create some type of living art. We love moss walls and wanted to see if it was possible to create one in our home. We used a local Company and had them work with us to design a piece of living art for us."

"This was their first ever residential project and we loved how it turned out. This wall is alive and the hardest thing is not letting people touch it, the oil on our hands will kill the moss. We also had to install a whole home humidifier to keep it healthy. This art piece will last up to 10 years as long as we keep the moisture in our home over 40%!"

 

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Welcome To The Farm

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Client of West + Main agent Kendra Clark: Kalyn Denno

“It turned out to be one of our best decisions, as we not only had the opportunity to live comfortably during our renovation, but now we have an ADU that can be utilized for friends, family and potential rental income”
— Kalyn Denno

When West + Main Agent Kendra Clark's client, Kalyn Denno, bought this amazing property, they weren’t even looking to move, and they had just finished another huge renovation...but sometimes those casual late-night Real Estate portal sessions uncover new dreams!

"I am a sucker for an old home and couldn’t ignore the endless potential of this property,” said Kalyn. “The original idea was to simply renovate the home on the property and use the 2-stable barn as a workshop for my husband’s woodworking interests and for my furniture flipping and DIY pursuits. However, once we saw the scope of work to get the home where we wanted it and the onset of the pandemic, we quickly realized that we would have to move out for at least a year or more!”

Upon that realization, Kalyn turned to her husband and said, “I have a crazy idea... but hear me out. What if we turned our barn into a 2 bedroom house and moved into it while our home is being renovated? It will take a bit more time and a bit more money, but we wouldn’t be throwing money away renting somewhere else, but rather would invest it back into our own property." And, so they did!

Kalyn is a self-professed old-home addict who has a passion for design and all things old and is always searching for that special home that needs saving.

When we first saw this home it was old, musty, in need of repair...and I loved it!!” Kalyn and her family eventually aim to have a home that pays for itself and have utilized many opportunities from hosting small events + workshops at the barn, to short term rental opportunities, to selling farm stand products that come from our property.

"We purchased a long, handmade cabinet from Facebook Marketplace and have re-purposed it into an ‘on your honor’ farm stand. We plan on selling lavender from our fields, fruit from our trees and vegetables from our gardens. All of these accumulate and help us to achieve our goals each Summer."

Kalyn’s design style is a combination of traditional, vintage, boho and eclectic, and this home is the perfect showcase for her skills!

"I try to recreate the look and feel of an old home, but with new (up to code) bones. I find that the best way to accomplish this is to actually incorporate old things back into the home! The majority of our home decor (furniture included) is thrifted or second hand. I find that blending old with the new creates a ‘storied’ home...one that’s filled with warmth, charm and character. We also tried to honor our home’s history by incorporating as many elements back into it as possible. Salvaged items in our home include the original horse stable barn doors and track, furniture left by the previous home owners (the repurposed cubbies in the barn bedroom and the white bench in the mudroom), and a ton of the beams and barn wood were worked back into areas, such as mudroom nook ceiling, over the bar windows and into the barn and main home's hood vents."

 

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