The interior was neglected and the grounds were a mess. But for $125,000, Alix Leadley knew the old bungalow was a bargain in 1994. So she bought it.

But decorating was a challenge. Leadley would come through the front door and the place would feel disorganized, unsettled.

“Everything I did was pretty much an expensive mistake,” Leadley says. One wall in the living room was maroon; the rest were white. The bathroom was cramped, the lawn was mostly dirt, and the outdated kitchen lacked sufficient counter space for cooking meals.

“No matter how much you cleaned this house, it still looked messy,” she says. “I added a sun room on the back and it was just a big room with a cement floor — too cold to do anything. It ended up being the dog’s room.”

Three years ago, Leadley suffered a stroke, and there was no longer a question: The home needed remodeling to meet her needs. Today, she walks with hesitation and occasionally struggles to pronounce words. But her recovery inspired her to get her house in order, with the help of interior designers John Moinzad and David Hintgen of JMDH Interiors of Denver.

“Structurally, Leadley’s house was built to last,” Moinzad says. “It was very sound, so she wanted the interior to be timeless. “

Inspecting the home, they saw Leadley had inherited some beautiful antiques, along with English prints of hunt scenes. They suggested she consider a European country style.

But first, they recommended practical renovations: re-roofing and re-stuccoing the outside of the house; replacing outdated wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling; and landscaping front and back. They also suggested excavating the basement to create a private apartment for her 21-year-old son, Alexander Leadley, who lives with her.

She agreed with their suggestions, giving them eight months to get everything done.

Today, in an old neighborhood overrun by look-alike mansions, Leadley’s 1909 bungalow preserves the essence of the past, inside and out.

Interior designers John Moinzad and David Hintgen created simple, easy-to-maintain landscaping and lighting for the front of a 1909-built bungalow in Cherry Creek, Colo.

For all the floors, Moinzad and Hintgen put down bisque travertine stone with a semi-rough surface to keep footing secure. Over it they’ve placed rugs for warmth. In the event that Leadley needs a wheelchair, the rugs can be rolled up and stored.

In the living room, the two designers have created the illusion of a larger space by filling it with comfortable seating, tables and tall accessories. They also use natural colors like wheat and pale honey to make the space seem larger. For contrast, Leadley’s antiques have been refinished in rich brown hues.

Although the renovation was expensive, Leadley says feeling more in charge makes it worthwhile.

“It’s organized and it’s clean, and I still have lots of space to put stuff,” she says.

What does it feel like now when she comes in the front door?

“It feels like home,” she says.