Meet Kim and Juta Cinco of Baseline Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim and Juta Cinco.

Hi Kim and Juta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Thanks for having us—we’re excited to share our story!

We formed Baseline Design as a shared dream to create spaces that are contemporary, resilient, and deeply personal. After a decade of working in medium to larger architecture firms in the Bay Area, we decided to build something of our own—something smaller, personal, and more aligned with the values we care about: sustainability, beauty, and connection.

We launched our practice in Lafayette, Colorado, and found our voice combining great design with high-performance building standards, specifically certified Passive House design. This particular interest started with one fire rebuild after the Marshall Fire—an especially meaningful project for us personally—and grew into a series of projects that prioritize energy efficiency, climate resilience, and thoughtful detailing. We’ve been grateful to collaborate with like-minded clients, builders, and communities ever since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not easy—but always worth it.

As a two-person firm, we wear every hat. From design to client communication, contracts, business development, marketing, even IT—there are no shortcuts when you’re building something from the ground up. We’ve had to work hard to find balance and boundaries, and over time, we have found a good working cadence. It is not easy, but the trade-offs are invaluable. We love it and wouldn’t do it any other way.

One lesson we have learned is how to redefine what success looks like. We started our firm because we love design and we wanted to serve our local community in a personal, intentional way. We revel in the small moments when design comes together and our clients feel the impact that a well-designed space can have on how they feel and how they live. This metric of success sometimes means saying no to work that doesn’t align with our values, or turning down growth opportunities in favor of sustainability—not just environmentally, but also emotionally and creatively.

But the lessons? Don’t undervalue your voice. Say the thing that feels honest. Stay weird in the right ways.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Baseline Design is an architectural design studio based in Lafayette, Colorado. We specialize in residential and small commercial projects, with a focus on passive house design and fire-resilient construction.

One of the things that makes us who we are is our personal approach. We treat each project as a unique collaboration between site, client, and climate. With each set of parameters, we develop designs that are modern, clean, and tailored, while deeply rooted in performance. Whether it is a certified Passive House or not, we focus on thoughtful design and detailing to create comfortable, robust spaces. We’re the ones you work with throughout all phases. And we’re likely to stick around afterwards too if you’ll have us – we always enjoy catching up with previous clients for dinner or drinks.

We’re most proud of the relationships we’ve built—with clients, with contractors, and with our community. A good project is one where you can feel the care and intention in every detail. We want readers to know that contemporary and sustainable design doesn’t have to be flashy or expensive—it can be thoughtful, warm, and quietly radical.

What matters most to you?
Integrity and authenticity. In our work, our relationships, and our values.

We believe design should do more than look good. It should serve people and the environment. That means advocating for our clients’ goals, designing with climate in mind, and staying true to our voice even when it’s not trendy.

We also believe in smallness, in being nimble, accessible, and community-focused. We don’t want to scale up just for the sake of scaling up. We want to keep building work we’re proud of, with people we respect, in ways that align with our values. That’s what matters most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baselinedesignco.com
• Instagram: @baselinedesignllc
• Other: Baseline Design Phone: (720) 515-2277 , Emails: kim@baselinedesignco.com, juta@baselinedesignco.com

Image Credits
Christopher Shaw
Ethan Herrold