Simplify your life at Brennan by the Lake

Low maintenance living in Erie by Boulder Creek Neighborhoods.

Paul and Susan Carlson had one primary goal when they began the search for their new home. “We wanted to simplify our lives,” Susan said.

Their previous home wasn’t enormous by modern standards, but at over 3,000 square feet it wasn’t exactly tiny, either. The Carlsons explained that there was always a to-do list associated with the house. Because of its size and its age, maintenance was an ongoing reality.

“We were ready to not have our house tie us down,” Paul said.

But the idea of moving was no small thing. Paul is, himself, a native of Boulder. “We lived in our house in Louisville for 30 years. We raised our sons here,” Susan said.

The couple loves the area, and certainly didn’t see themselves moving far. There’s something about life on the Front Range that just works for them. Fortunately, they had a bit of an inside connection to help guide their search, which eventually led them to Boulder Creek Neighborhood’s Brennan on the Lake neighborhood in Erie.

“Our son does all the landscaping for Boulder Creek,” Paul said. That didn’t make Boulder Creek a sure shot, but it did put the builder on the Carlson’s radar.

Of course, like all home buyers, Paul and Susan had a few non-negotiables on their must-have list. And, to make things even more interesting, the first two items were potentially at odds with one another.

“We love to have family dinners,” Susan said. “We love to entertain.” Naturally, that meant finding a home with nice, open spaces and plenty of room. It simply wouldn’t do to relocate to something that wouldn’t accommodate their social lives.

However, at the same time they wanted something smaller than their previous home. That’s right. They wanted less square footage without sacrificing the comfort and convenience of a spacious floorplan. While that may sound like a tall order, it was right up Boulder Creek’s alley.

Paul describes their new home at Brennan as “a great open-concept house.” Like all Boulder Creek homes, great care has been taken to maximize space. The living room area and kitchen flow together seamlessly, creating a great room that can easily handle the Carlson’s entire family. (It’s great for parties, too.) They love that everything they need on a daily basis is located on the main floor, reducing the need for daily trips up and down stairs.

Even though their new home is right around 2000 square feet, Paul and Susan agree that it more than meets their needs. The layout is stylish and practical, utilizing every square inch of space without ever feeling cramped.

When asked about the kitchen, Susan doesn’t hesitate. “I love it!” she said. She and Paul both like to cook, so it was important to have enough space that they weren’t constantly getting in each other’s way. And given that the kitchen is a natural gathering place during family events, a small one just wouldn’t have worked. Susan says their new kitchen is “really well designed,” allowing for ample space.

As for the living room, Paul said, “I like the amount of windows and how much natural light comes into the house.” The large windows add to the sense of space, creating a great room that feels both cozy and sizable at the same time.

Frankly, none of that is surprising for a Boulder Creek home. The builder has even coined a phrase to describe their designs: “right-sizing.” Rather than focusing exclusively on building smaller homes (what many would call “down-sizing”), Boulder Creek focuses on making the very best use of available space. The result is floorplans that live large without a lot of wasted room.

So that’s two of the Carlson’s non-negotiables down. What was the third? Low maintenance living. Once again, Boulder Creek had them covered.

“It’s just a lot of work,” Paul said of their previous home. Susan added, “He was working in the yard all the time.”

If there’s a single downside to owning a large house that homeowners feel the most in their weekly schedule, this is it. Home maintenance can feel like a part-time job, often sucking up as many as 8 hours a week. All that time doing yard work, snow removal, and other on-going tasks could be spent relaxing. It’s a very real burden, but not for Boulder Creek buyers.

That’s because every Boulder Creek home capitalizes on the benefits of a low-maintenance lifestyle.. Paul’s days of toiling in the yard are officially over. Everything from lawn care to snow shoveling is taking care of for him, and that’s something he’s definitely excited about.

Now he and Susan can spend that time and energy doing things they enjoy. “We like to walk and hike,” Susan said. “I’m really excited to have the Thomas Reservoir right next to us.”

Brennan by the Lake is just north of Thomas Reservoir, which means all kinds of fun outdoor activities are only minutes away. There are parks, walking trails, fishing spots and even picnic areas, making it a great place to enjoy a carefree afternoon as a couple or with the grandkids when they visit.

In fact, the Carlson’s are sold on the entire Brennan neighborhood. “It feels more open to me,” Susan said. “It’s less congested.” Paul added that “access to I-25 is a piece of cake.” As the couple likes to travel, that’s a big deal. It makes trips to and from DIA a breeze. And their new low maintenance home means they can leave with the peace of mind that they will have less home maintenance headaches on their mind when they return..

“We’ve built three other houses, ourselves,” Paul said. He describes the experience of working with Boulder Creek as completely different, highlighting how easy it was. “They were awesome to work with.”

Susan agreed. “They’re very well organized,” she said, adding, “There were no surprises.”

When it comes to an investment as big as your home, surprises are something you don’t want. Which is why the Boulder Creek staff works so hard to ensure that buyers are always in the know. Questions are welcome at any stage of the process, and buyers consistently report feeling well informed and comfortable throughout.

Erie is growing, and Brennan by the Lake offers homebuyers an opportunity to be a part of this vibrant community. But the opportunity won’t last forever. Boulder Creek has a reputation, not only for top-quality homes at an incredible value, but for selling quickly, too.  With homes ranging from 1500 to over 2700 square feet and prices starting in the mid $400s, it’s no wonder they are so popular.

If you’re currently shopping, now is the time to take a closer look at Brennan by the Lake. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

For more information on Boulder Creek Neighborhoods or Brennan by the Lake, call 720.548.2820 or visit livebouldercreek.com/communities/brennan.

By A Martin, At Home. Photography by Timothy Seibert