Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood is a place to see traditional architecture, but Coldwell Banker agents AK Riley and Susie Warta have a classic five-bedroom design open Saturday that makes a grand statement from the street, while showing a creative, contemporary makeover inside.

“It has a family living area that is one of the best I have ever seen. If I could just have that room,” Riley mused.

The family room, set under a high, barrel-vaulted ceiling and opening wide to the big backyard via French doors, is a quality of space nobody was building in 1948 when this came out of the ground. It’s rendered bright-and-white, with its fireplace updated to gas log, while still showing the original brick chimney outdoors, framed above in an arched window.

It would be easy to call 5301 E. 6th Avenue Parkway a Tudor design, but by the book it shows more of a French eclectic influence. Buyers wanting the traditional feel of the neighborhood have a choice of classic styles that are often matched to dated floor plans, or of newer, modern styles on side streets that don’t match the surroundings. “The new-builds are similar to each other; one on this block looks similar to another on that block,” Riley said.

This one threads that needle. “It’s a statement house,” Riley added. “Neighbors tell me they have always wanted to see inside it.”

Lifestyle-wise it matches up to comparables built over the last five years, but more in keeping with the neighborhood. The brick elevation hints that some traditional details remain in the plan, including a formal space off the entry and a separation between kitchen and dining areas. But the kitchen is all-new with bright, glass cabinets and a six-burner range, over hardwood floors.

Those floors are showcased throughout the plan, including in a formal den and in all but one of four bedrooms on the second level. In addition to the primary, another large bedroom is ensuite, and all show contemporary baths. There’s a large bonus room with hardwood floors that the sellers recovered from the attic space; and a three-car attached garage, something Riley says is a rarity in Hilltop, opening onto Glencoe, the side street.

Agents say the market has taken a breather as interest rates climb into the lower-to-mid-6s, after dipping briefly in the 5s last month.

“I think it’s still a really strong market,” Riley said, noting that houses are selling in 55 days, while buyers are slowing down in making decisions. “For buyers, it’s a good situation to be in. They have time that they didn’t have in 2021.”

The message to sellers, Riley adds, is that presentation matters.

“Prices are high in Denver and more than likely they aren’t coming down,” she said. “Buyers are picky because they’re paying a high price, and that means staging matters and pricing matters.”

This one is priced $2.845 million, on a third-acre site a half block from Denver Tennis Club, two blocks from Robinson Park, and a walkable five blocks from the closest of the dining along Holly Street (Basil Doc’s and Kazumi Sushi); a bit further from Call Your Mother Deli and Pete’s Market.

OPEN THIS SATURDAY, 1-3 p.m.

WHERE:  5301 E. 6th Avenue Parkway, Denver; from Colorado Boulevard in Denver take E. 6th Avenue Parkway east a mile to Glencoe, turn left across the parkway’s esplanade; home is at the corner of westbound 6th and Glencoe.

SIZE: Five bedrooms/five baths, 5,853 sq. ft.  PRICE: $2.845 million  WEB: TheAKRileyGroup.com  OPEN:  Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.  AGENT:  AK Riley (720) 289.2929