It's not often a custom-built home predating the 1930s has the original architectural drawings — let alone a scale model. But such is the case with this 1929 house, in which Kristin and Blair Richardson and their four children are the fourth family to have resided. Prior to the Richardsons, no children had lived in the 21,000-square-foot mansion.

Set in the architecturally rich Denver Country Club neighborhood, the home is a showpiece. Gothic and Tudor architectural themes contribute to its cathedral-like grandeur, from the structure to the décor.

Before they bought the house, Kristin and Blair had given their realtor specific criteria for a house: big, old and a fixer-upper. At the time they were living in Hong Kong, and Blair occasionally stopped in Denver to house hunt. Kristin recalls, "We couldn't find anything that met our needs, so our realtor printed the entire listing in our price range." Blair brought a picture of the house and said to Kristin, "This is it." She balked, saying, "I just felt it was too big and too overwhelming. But when I toured the house, I knew it was exactly what we'd been looking for."

When the Richardsons moved into the estate, it was a cavernous, echoing house. "There was a lot of work to do," Kristin recalls. "It was an overwhelming challenge, and I had four children under the age of 5." The house, she says, "was tired, and it had been empty for three years." While renovating, she worked to preserve the integrity of the original materials. It took a year and a half to complete the first floor alone. "Overall, including resurfacing 13 bathrooms and decorating, it took six years," Kristin explains. In the process, she studied the history of previous owners and their lifestyles.

Denver architect Burnham Hoyt designed the house for John Morey and his wife, who were of Scottish descent. Hoyt incorporated Scottish motifs of thistle, the national emblem, and red squirrels, the native icon, into materials throughout the interior and exterior. The Moreys entertained often, which is apparent in the grand style and size of the rooms. When Mr. Morey passed away in the '50s, their daughter, Sara Ferguson, and her husband moved in to take care of an ailing Mrs. Morey. Following the Fergusons, the Egans lived there, and in 1995 the Richardsons purchased the home.

Entering the property is like taking a step back in time. To call it a house is inadequate — it's more akin to a royal palace. The massive structure sprawls over the acreage in majestic style. To call it a home is real.

One walks through wrought-iron-clad doors into the Gothic-influenced vaulted entryway. The room is an introduction to the palatial grandeur that lies ahead. Travertine marble flooring meanders through the main floor. A cursory look at the elegant decorations and appointments reveals regal style.

Heavy oak double doors with linenfold carved paneling open to the expansive great room. "These doors are one of my favorite features in the house," Kristin says. The 20-by-40-foot great room is an introduction to the grand scale of the house. The huge limestone-framed fireplace is adorned with latticework etching and a carved coat of arms above the hearth. It showcases the original andirons and centers the room. "We had a screen hand-hammered for the fireplace," Kristin explains. "It is customized to fit perfectly, as I didn't want anything to attach to the limestone." Rich floral panels, trimmed in deep burgundy fringe, hang on either side of the fireplace. The colors work perfectly with the oak flooring, paneling and the soft golden hue of the ceiling.

Gothic and Tudor influences appear in the ornate limestone tracery on the windows and in the etchings over the fireplace. One of the eye-catching pieces in the room is a breakfront containing some of Kristin's china collection. The piece, she says, "came from the Tong Castle in Scotland." Constructed of solid mahogany, it fits the room as perfectly as if it were custom made. Another gorgeous attraction is a large, intricately patterned wall tapestry, which leads the eye to the detail on the sculpted plaster ceiling. The great room is just that — large enough to hold 100 guests.

Like the Moreys, the Richardsons entertain often. Blair and Kristin are committed to philanthropic endeavors, hosting many events each year. "The house is perfect for entertaining. The rooms are open and flow well, allowing guests to move through different parts of the house," says Kristin. She did the decorating herself, every square inch of the house. "The architecture is strong enough that a lot of furnishings work well," she explains. "We didn't change anything. All of the original marble and cabinetry is in-tact."

Wishing to furnish and decorate each room with a warm, homey feeling, Kristin spent countless months searching for furniture, rugs, fabrics and accessories. She worked closely with Janice Woods of Black Tulip Antiques for period pieces. Kristin's forte in decorating is fabric and trim treatments. "I'm sure we've invested in thousands of yards of fabric," she says.

Kristin gave each room a theme. "The library is Asian, billiards is Colorado, and the cloister is open garden," she explains. "One of my favorite rooms is the cloister." Enormous area rugs and tapestries fit the scale of the rooms and cut down on echoing sounds, and window treatments complement the multi-paned, ornamental limestone tracery in the windows. Fabric and furniture selections were chosen for the theme of each room.

Beyond the leaded glass doors in the great room is the vaulted cloister room. It has expanses of ogive-shaped windows with French doors that open to a wrap-around deck. They frame three walls of the room, paved and walled in brick. "When we entertain, guests often migrate to this room," Kristin says. "In the summer, the gardens are overflowing with colorful flowers and plants." Centering the room is a large, ornate fountain, framed by a red brick inset. A seating area with botanical upholstered furniture offers a comfortable resting spot. It is hard to leave this warm and inviting retreat, where foliage, flora and sunshine proliferate.

Walking down two steps, we reach the library. "Directly above was an 8-foot-deep plunging pool that required the ceiling to be lowered," Kristin explains. "This is one of the warmest rooms in the house." The room is lined from floor to ceiling in dark wood paneling. Asian art is the tasteful décor. Windows have stained glass circular insets representing Morey's hobbies: golf, cars, riding and hunting. Built-in bookshelves line the walls. One of the focal points is the fireplace with carved wood facings. Kristin placed two chairs and ottomans in a crimson and taupe pattern in front of the fireplace. Soft lighting from table lamps works with natural lighting to create an inviting feeling. As with all of the rooms, this one is decorated with opulent furnishings and handsome drapery panels.

The stately billiards room is around the corner. Carved oak doors and wainscoting frame the room, where the pool table takes center stage. Kristin used forest green fabric to cover the walls. Setting off the intricate lines in the room, she studded the fabric with round nailheads. "We wanted to have a Colorado lodge feel in one of the rooms," she says, "and this one is perfect for that theme." A scale-appropriate antler chandelier hangs in the center of the room and lends the finishing lodge touch. It wouldn't be a Colorado room without the inclusion of a fireplace. This one has a hammered metal screen.

Kristin points to a long triple-vault hallway resplendently lit with Steuben glass globe fixtures. "I used a painter to customize a mosaic ceiling pattern," she says, with a glance toward the ceiling. Rooms off the hallway include a powder room, brightly decorated with fans, and a space for arranging plants.

This passageway leads to the kitchen on one side and the formal dining room on the other. The kitchen area is a wing that used to be the servants’ quarters. "The house was built for two people," Kristin says, pausing, "and they had six servants." The focal point of the butler's pantry is the 8-foot-long sink constructed from German silver — a combination of copper, nickel and zinc alloys. It has a traditional S-curved divider and a rich, nickel-colored patina. These sinks were prevalent in wealthy homes after the turn of the century. The customized addition of drainboards, backsplash and front fascia is unique to this design.

Glass door cabinetry fitted with the original glass pulls holds more of Kristin's extensive china collection. Adjacent is a plate-warming oven, still functional today. Your attention is drawn to a call box with buttons displaying aged, hand-written room names. Seeing "Mrs. Morey's bedroom,” you understand when Kristin says, "The house was pristine, very little was changed." She continues, "The call box works fine; we just had it disconnected because the kids were pushing buttons all the time."

The kitchen is updated with appliances and granite countertops. She decorated the walls with plaid fabric, giving the area a pleasant, cozy feel.

Upon entering the long formal dining area, one word comes to mind: magnificent. Bay windows surround a sunny formal dining nook fitted with a round wood table and six chairs. It often doubles as a serving area. Adjacent to the nook is the large dining room, centered with a grand table elegantly set for 10 with crystal, silver and china and gorgeous fresh flowers. Silk taffeta frames the nook and windows. The draperies pile elegantly on a plush area rug. At the end of the dining room is a classic oil painting of Kristin and her first-born daughter, Devon.

Beyond the dining room is the solarium. Walking in, you feel as if you've stepped outdoors. Through the windows and doors, sunlight floods this aptly named room. On one wall, French doors open to a private patio. Nestled beneath a bay of windows is a fountain. "We think this may be a Rookwood creation," Kristin says, while pointing to some of the ceramic tile features. The solarium, she says, "is so bright and airy. I'm really proud of the way it turned out." She had a mural painted "to replicate the lush, colorful English-style gardens with overgrown plants," she says, gesturing around the room.

Pocket doors were placed between many of the public rooms. Heavy oak frames encase leaded glass sliding doors between the solarium and the great room. Having made a loop around the first level, we're back at the entry. A two-story bay surrounds the palatial travertine marble staircase, which is 5 feet wide. Railed on one side by an exquisitely designed and ornate handrail, on the other side is an original antique. Ascending to the first landing, Kristin holds the original braided rope handrail and tassel, a classic Tudor element. "It has faded over time," she says. The Richardsons also have two of the Moreys’ Louis XIV-style chairs, placed in the same location on the first landing.

The second level presents the master and children's suites. There are more than eight bedrooms in the house and innumerable closets. "There are closets in every room of the house," Kristin says, leading us to a special closet. "This is the interesting one. It's a closet inside a closet."

She turned a sitting area into the family room, with an entertainment center and over-stuffed sofas. The Richardsons’ personal living space reflects the personalities of the family. The two girls and two boys — Devon, Zachary, Mac and Kendall — have independent spaces and personalities. "Kendall and Mac are into lacrosse," Kristin says with a smile. "Zachary is technologically astute and great at construction, and Devon, our oldest, is a big talker." The Richardsons spend a lot of time together both upstairs and on the lower level.

Winding down the stairs to the basement, we enter a vast entertainment room. "This used to be a ballroom," Kristin says, pointing toward a closet. "And that was a hidden bar in Prohibition days."

Blair and Kristin contribute to numerous philanthropies. "We believe in giving back to the community and are specifically interested in education," she confides. Kristin is on the board of Denver Public Schools Foundation and Denver Academy board of trustees. Blair is on the advisory board of Colorado Uplift and the ACE Scholarship Board. They are both actively involved with Children's Hospital. The Richardsons graciously open their home many times a year for charitable events, as they did for us.