1750 Sunset: An Architect-Led Luxury Home Designed for Modern Living in Boulder

In Boulder’s luxury real estate market, many spec homes are driven primarily by resale metrics, square footage, and market trends. 1750 Sunset takes a fundamentally different approach.

Designed by Tumu Studio, this architect-led luxury home was envisioned from the very beginning as a deeply intentional living experience rather than a conventional developer-driven project. Every decision,  from spatial flow and natural light to materiality and views, was approached with the care and precision typically reserved for a fully custom residence.

The result is a modern luxury home in Boulder that feels calm, refined, highly functional, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape.

What Makes 1750 Sunset Different From a Typical Spec Home?

1750 Sunset was designed around a specific lifestyle rather than a target square footage

The home was imagined for a well-traveled, design-conscious family that values connection, entertaining, craftsmanship, and access to nature. Instead of oversized rooms or unnecessary excess, the focus was placed on proportion, livability, and meaningful experiences within the home.

Compared to many luxury homes in Boulder, the square footage is intentionally restrained. Every space was carefully considered to feel comfortable, efficient, and timeless. This architect-led approach shaped every detail:

• Thoughtful indoor-outdoor connections
• Highly customized millwork and material selections
• Slim and minimal-looking structural members
• Mesmerizing natural light throughout the house
• Flexible spaces designed for both quiet daily routines and social gatherings

Everything was executed to a custom-home standard in collaboration with one of Boulder’s premier builders - Buildwell construction.

A Cinematic Arrival Experience

One of the defining characteristics of 1750 Sunset is the carefully choreographed arrival sequence.

From the street, the home feels intentionally understated. Low wood-and-steel garden walls, soft Mexican feather grass, and layered landscaping gradually guide visitors toward a ten-foot-tall front entry concealed behind a warm wood-slatted screen.

Inside, a bronze slatted partition with frosted glass partially obscures the view before dramatically revealing nearly 60 feet of uninterrupted views of the Flatirons and downtown Boulder.

The experience was intentionally designed to feel cinematic, moving from intimate and compressed to expansive and open.

Designing a Modern Luxury Home Around the Landscape

The design vision for 1750 Sunset centered on restraint, lightness, and connection to nature.

Rather than competing with the surrounding landscape, the architecture was designed to quietly frame it. Extensive coordination among architects, engineers, and builders enabled the structure to appear visually slim and unobtrusive while maximizing panoramic mountain views and natural light.

The main living area opens onto a large covered terrace with an exceptionally thin roof profile that appears to float above the space. Continuous glazing further dissolves the boundary between indoors and outdoors, creating a seamless connection to Boulder’s natural environment.

While the architecture appears effortless, achieving this level of simplicity required significant technical coordination and attention to detail.

Indoor-Outdoor Living Designed for Colorado

Indoor-outdoor living was a major priority throughout the design process.

The home features multiple outdoor spaces across three levels, each designed to support a different experience:

• entertaining
• relaxation
• quiet retreat
• mountain viewing

The primary terrace functions as an extension of the kitchen and living room, creating a natural gathering space for hosting and everyday living.

Below, the property opens into a rare flat backyard, an uncommon feature for hillside homes in Boulder. The backyard includes a pool, an outdoor kitchen, and multiple lounge areas that create a private oasis.

On the upper level, a quieter terrace connects to one of the two primary suites, offering panoramic foothill views, surrounded by a green roof system, creating a more intimate retreat.

Sustainable Luxury Home Design in Colorado

Sustainability was integrated into the architecture from the beginning rather than added later as a checklist feature. Key sustainability and performance features include:

• brise-soleil shading systems for passive solar control
• rooftop solar array
• high-efficiency heat pump system
• highly insulated airtight building envelope
• sustainably sourced thermally modified wood cladding

These strategies improve long-term energy performance while supporting the home’s clean, modern aesthetic. 

For luxury homeowners in Colorado, sustainability increasingly means creating homes that are both environmentally responsive and deeply comfortable to live in year-round.

Warm Modern Design With Custom Craftsmanship

Although the architecture is modern and minimalist, warmth and texture were essential to the design language.

Natural materials, including walnut wall paneling, Venetian plaster, textured tile, and layered finishes help create a home that feels sophisticated without becoming cold or overly stark.

Tumu Studio collaborated with local artisans on custom elements throughout the house, including handcrafted plaster finishes and fireplace detailing. Every transition, proportion, and material connection was studied carefully to create a cohesive and timeless experience.

The goal was to design a modern luxury home that feels elevated, tactile, and deeply livable.

Why Architect-Led Homes Feel Different

What ultimately sets 1750 Sunset apart is the level of intentionality behind every decision.

From the proportions of each room to the alignment of structural elements and sightlines, the home was designed holistically rather than assembled around trends or resale formulas.

There is a restraint to the project that feels increasingly rare in luxury residential architecture. Rather than relying on excess square footage or dramatic gestures, the focus remains on:

• experience
• craftsmanship
• livability
• connection to landscape
• timeless modern design

The result is a home that feels sophisticated yet welcoming, highly designed while remaining comfortable enough for everyday life.

Experience 1750 Sunset

1750 Sunset reflects Tumu Studio’s approach to modern luxury architecture in Boulder: thoughtful, restrained, site-responsive, and deeply connected to how people actually live.

For homeowners seeking a modern mountain home that prioritizes experience, craftsmanship, sustainability, and connection to nature, architect-led design creates a fundamentally different result.

To learn more about our approach to luxury residential architecture in Colorado, contact our team or explore additional projects.