Su Casa Southwest Homes Winter 2014 Digital Edition

apps for the

Southwestern homes

home ÂŽ

inspiration ideas resources

perfectly Placitas

classic Southwestern design

green and grounded in Santa Fe

tips from builders + remodelers

Vol. 20 no. 1 WINTER 2014

Pella has more energy efficient window and door options to fit your home and budget. So you can spend less on your home energy costs and have more for other things that matter to you. In fact, Pella offers many different energy-saving glass options. So we can help keep your home — and your budget — comfortable. Other windows and doors merely frame the landscape. At Pella, we’re creating a better view of your energy costs. Month after month. Year after year.

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© 2013 Pella Corporation

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Southwestern homes

inspiration ideas resources

46 southwestern

homes

Above: Chris Corrie; Right: Amy Gross

46 green and grounded

An award-winning Santa Fe home epitomizes green building

sensibilities. But at its heart, it’s really just comfortable family space.

54

a home evolved

Two wine enthusiasts decide to expand their storage space—and wind

up building a new addition to their Paa-Ko home.

60

sticking to the classics

Placitas was the perfect place for two classic car buffs to build their

traditional Pueblo-style home.

special section 34

interiors

Show House Santa Fe goes fashion-forward, and interior

designers share their favorite accents and furniture pieces.

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

56 18

Sho wroom Hours 9-5 M-F ~ 111 N. Saint Francis Drive Santa Fe ~ 505.988.3170 And introducing our new on-line sho wroom and shop a t www.Da vidNaylorInteriors.com Photo: Kate Russell

A Ralph Lauren–inspired bridal suite designed by David Naylor for the first-ever Show House Santa Fe. Below: Chef James Campbell Caruso of Albuquerque’s Más.

34

in every issue 14 Inside Su Casa

16 Life+Style Southwest An old-fashioned penny floor; Steve Thomas’s latest remodeling project; solar customers dish on their energy savings; a roundup of useful homebuilding apps; and advice from builders for anyone building or remodeling their home.

18 Southwest 101

Talavera tile: straight from Mexico, with love.

30 Cosas Bonitas

If you’re looking for a conversation piece you’ll be able to pass to your children, custom furniture is the way to go.

38 Masters of New Mexico

Master wood carver Jose Jaramillo of Albuquerque.

42 Design Studio

Feng shui isn’t some trendy buzzword; it’s just good design sense.

68 Su Cocina

Santa Fe superstar chef James Campbell Caruso opens his newest tapas restaurant, Más, in Albuquerque’s Hotel Andaluz.

78 Su Libro

Books on French decorating, soul-warming winter cocktails, and ideas for built-in spaces that will transform your home.

88 Adios

Kate Russell

A home office as fashionable as it is functional. over: The expansive and comfortable dining and sitting areas in a classic C Southwest-style home in Placitas. Read more on page 60. Photo by Amadeus Leitner.

Visit SuCasaMagazine.com

Sergio Salvador

68

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

MADE TO ORDER

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To learn more, contact your dealer or visit geappliances.com

See our great line of GE appliances at: Builders Source Appliance Gallery 308 Menaul NE. Albuquerque, NM 87107 Phone: 505.889.3001 www.builderssource.com

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Local partners serving the needs of New Mexicans for more than 20 years.

inspiration ideas resources

Published by Bella Media, LLC

Publisher Bruce Adams

Associate Publisher B.Y. Cooper

Editor Amy Gross

Associate Editor Phil Parker

New Home Purchases Refinancing Reverse Mortgages Conventional, FHA & VA

Contributing Editor Amy Hegarty

Contributors Memphis Barbree, Rodney Gross Ben Ikenson, Jessica Muncrief Tom Smylie, Steve Thomas John Vollertsen, Colin Whyte

Lead Graphic Designer Sybil Watson

Designer & Media Specialist Michelle Odom

Photography Chris Corrie, Kirk Gittings Amadeus Leitner, Gabriella Marks Sergio Salvador

Advertising Manager Cheryl Mitchell

Advertising Sales Executives Melissa Salazar, Yvonne Johnston David Wilkinson For advertising information contact: 505-344-1783

Operations Manager Ginny Stewart-Jaramillo

SuCasaMagazine.com For subscriptions, call 818-286-3162

505/275-3040 or 800/375-9101 www.ameriplexmortgage.com 2 A L B U Q U E R Q U E L O C AT I O N S

2424 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 120 8421 Osuna Road NE

Su Casa Northern New Mexico (ISSN 1094-4562 & USPS # 2-3618) Volume 20, Number 1, Winter 2014. Su Casa Northern New Mexico is published quarterly in March, June, September and, December by Bella Media, LLC at 215 W. San Francisco Street, Suite 300, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA, Phone (505) 983-1444. Š Copyright 2013 by Bella Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Basic annual subscription rate is $9.95, Canada & Mexico is $23.95, Other international countries is $27.95. U.S. single-copy price is $4.95.

Back issues are $6.95 each. Periodicals postage paid at Albuquerque, NM, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Su Casa Northern New Mexico P.O. Box 16925, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6925 Subscription Customer Service: Su Casa Northern New Mexico P.O. Box 16925, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6925 Phone (818) 286-3162, Fax (800) 869-0040, ssacs@magserv.com, www.sucasamagazine.com

Building Green for Decades • Solar Options • Multiple Wall Construction Options Contemporary and All Southwest Styles • Multiple Parade of Homes Awards Innovative Cost Saving Approach to Difficult Lots • No Cost Interior Design Services for 2013 Customers by Designer with Multiple HGTV Show Wins.

H om e Bu il de rs Asso c ia tio n o f C e nt r a l Ne w M e xic o Boa r d o f D ire c to rs

President: Rob Hughes First Vice President: David Newell Second Vice President: Bret Bailey Immediate Past President: Mike Cecchini Associate Vice President: Ron Sisneros Secretary/Treasurer: Carla Wersonick Builder-at-Large: Jim Maduena Custom Builders Council, Chair: Norm Schreifels Green Build Council, Chair: Lora Vassar Home Builders Care, Chair: Bain Cochran Membership and Parade Committee, Chair: Diana Lucero Production Builders Council, Chair: Brian McCarthy Remodelers Council, Chair: Jamie Baxter Advisory Members: Robin Harder, Michael Richards, Stephanie Peterson H om e Bu il de rs Asso c ia tio n o f C e nt r a l Ne w M e xic o S ta f f

Executive Vice President: Jim Folkman Vice President of Operations: Lana McClure Events Specialist: Kimberly Johnson Receptionist/Clerical Assistant: Mercedes Morton

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Copyright Š 2014 by Bella Media, LLC. Bella Media, LLC 215 W San Francisco, Suite 300 Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-983-1444 sucasamagazine.com Please direct editorial queries to editor@sucasamagazine.com.

Su Casa’s cover and text are printed by Publication Printers in Denver, Colorado, on SFI-certified paper. The papers used contain fiber from well-managed forests, meeting EPA guidelines that recommend a minimum 10% post-consumer recovered fiber for coated papers. Inks used contain a percentage of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) standards and is a certified member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Inside Su Casa

the art of the imperfect

S

Publisher

A natural split in the wood makes this dining room table truly one-of-a-kind. Read more on page 46.

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

CHRIS CORRIE

Bruce Adams

David Robin

everal years ago, when retiling my home with traditional Saltillo tile, the installer pointed out to me an imperfection in one of the tiles. Apparently a cat had walked across that particular piece while it was setting, creating an imprint of a paw. I loved that little imperfection and asked the installer to place it prominently; it brought a greater significance to my floor, and my home.

While there are certainly things in our home we want to be perfect—gas lines, electrical connections, heating systems, solar panels—the creative spirit required for designing and building homes is not a perfect science.

Even the materials we use in our homes can be imperfect—and yet, be perfect for us.

Take, for example, wood. Each piece of wood has unique characteristics—knots and grains that create interesting challenges for the artisan or builder. The truly talented can take the imperfections in wood and style them into something beautiful, functional, and unique.

One of our featured homes, a green masterpiece in Santa Fe, utilizes wood from a huge dying walnut tree the builder/homeowner felled himself. Filled with imperfections, the wood took on new life as a bed, a bench, a dining room table, and a number of other design elements in the builder’s home, thanks to his practiced eye and skilled hands.

This issue of Su Casa covers green building and remodeling, but on a deeper level, it is a celebration of the imperfect, from handmade Talavera tiles to wood carved around knots into beautiful patterns. Every slightly flawed piece is completely unique and beautiful in its own right.

In a world that often demands perfection, those flaws make for a stunning metaphor: We, too, are far from perfect, but possess unique qualities that make us special to one another. And that’s worth celebrating.

Life+Style Southwest

Photographer Memphis Barbree and her wife, Dr. Beth Saltzman, were looking for a way to acknowledge the history of their 1940s-era Nob Hill home as they remodeled. They found 37,088 ways. “I imagined a penny floor designed in one of those traditional art deco penny tile patterns,” says Barbree. “When I proposed the idea to Beth, she laughed and said, ‘Well, we’ve put every last cent into the house by now, so I suppose it’s perfect to put every last penny into the kitchen floor!’”

The floor, designed and handmade by Barbree, is sealed with a low-VOC epoxy designed specifically to cover copper and to self-level. “It was the most expensive part of the project, but so worth it,” Barbree says. “It really finished off the floor perfectly and allows the pennies to shine through with a beautiful multidimensional copper glow.” Read more about Barbree and Saltzman’s one-ofa-kind floor on page 76.

Memphis Barbree memphisbarbree.com 16 16

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2013 S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Amadeus Leitner

a whole lotta Lincolns

Southwest 101

by Jessica Muncrief

Talavera tile

A soaking tub surround by Mexican Tile Designs with washed green Verde Botello Deslavado and Flor de Liz tiles. Left: Kim White of Statements designed this lively kitchen’s mix of Talavera patterns and solids.

T

he roots of Hispanic culture run deep in New Mexico. It’s in the language, the music, and the food. It’s in the colors we paint our walls and the art we hang on them. It’s even built into the architecture, like the vibrant Talavera tile found, in some form or another, in many Southwestern homes.

“Talavera solids and patterns have been used in traditional New Mexico homes for generations,” says Kim D. White, owner of Santa Fe’s Statements in Tile/Lighting/Kitchens/Flooring. “The rustic nature of the tile and the vibrant patterns add whimsy and color to an interior.” Step into a Santa Fe adobe and the decorative tiles are bound to be somewhere: brightening a kitchen backsplash, adorning a courtyard fountain, or accenting stair risers.

“People like the hand-hewn, slightly irregular look of Talavera, and the fact that each tile is a little different from the one next to it.”

—Andy Kayner, Mexican Tile Designs Spaniards brought this type of ceramic and tile craft from Talavera de la Reina, Spain, to Puebla, Mexico, in the 16th century. The natural clays indigenous to the region were deemed perfect for molding and glazing into vases, dishes, religious ornaments, and, most notably, the tiles that were in high demand for the building of churches and monasteries. American appreciation for the pottery as an art form surged in the early 1900s, and it has long been a staple in authentic and traditional Southwestern design.

Every year, Andy Kayner takes “one crazy road trip” through central Mexico to purchase ceramic tiles for his company, Mexican 18

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Tile Designs, in Durango, Colorado. “There’s no industrial directory to find these people,” he says. “Sometimes we just see clues that ceramics are being made nearby.

We’ll walk down a dirt road, go behind a house, and find a family making tiles. Every once in a while we hit a gold mine with beautiful, unique Talavera.”

Beware of cheap imitations. The real deal is handcrafted only in central Mexico, following a traditional process that can take months to complete. “People like the hand-hewn, slightly irregular look of Talavera, and the fact that each tile is a little different from the one next to it,” notes Kayner.

Talavera tiles do come in solid colors, but the most stunning are hand-painted with bold designs and patterns.

“Traditional Talavera tiles are made using low-fire glazes in rich, bright colors,” says White. “People love the wide array of patterns available and truly identify these types of patterns with Talavera.” Classic blue and white is the most traditional color combination, and most artisan groups still keep it simple, limiting their palettes to just six basic hues.

Intriguingly, the consensus seems to be that this historical art form is still decidedly modern. Angela Moreno, owner of the studio Talavera de la Reyna, in Puebla, has garnered praise for revitalizing the industry with contemporary patterns and collaborations with modern artists. “Our mission is to elaborate the best Talavera in Puebla, caring to preserve the tradition and at the same time renewing it,” she writes on her website.

Sounds a lot like the spirit of the Southwest.

Statements in Tile/Lighting/Kitchens/Flooring, statementsinsantafe.com Mexican Tile Designs, mexicantiledesigns.com

Left: Christopher Martinez; Right: Mexican Tile Designs

The colors of Mexico

Life+Style Southwest

by Phil Parker

high-tech tool belt Apps for every kind of home project They can’t replace the tape measure or hammer for sheer functionality (yet), but smartphones and tablets are the 21st century’s essential tools for savvy homeowners. When it comes to calculations, data, ideas, and inspiration, these apps—most available through both Apple and Google Play markets—make home improvement easier. What more can we ask of our tools?

Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap Color matching made easy. Take a photo of a color you like. ColorSnap quickly browses 1,500 options to show you the closest available Sherwin-Williams paint color, a palette of coordinating hues, and recommendations.

Free, sherwin-williams.com

Big Blue Pixel Inc. Photo Measures Take a photo of a part of the house you want to redo, then write notes right on top of the image. Photo Measures is a great way to keep dimensions, sizes, angles, and other details straight. $6, bigbluepixel.com

HomeZada HomeZada Mobile HomeZada helps with clutter and peace of mind by creating an inventory of your possessions.

Knowing a list of the exact contents of your home is stored securely online helps you stay organized, and HomeZada also ensures you have the proper level of homeowner’s insurance. It also makes filing a claim much easier.

Free, homezada.com

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Loupe, Inc. PlanGrid Major construction projects can require collaboration with professionals from many areas. With PlanGrid, everyone stays on the same page—even the homeowners. Master sets of documents, like blueprints, are uploaded into a cloud and can then be accessed and annotated from anywhere via the app.

Free–$100, plangrid.com

GET THE FOUNDATION YOU NEED FOR THE HOME YOU LOVE. Anuman Interactive Home Design 3D Draw a two-dimensional floor plan, then view the room you’ve made in 3-D with one click. The app comes with a range of colors and a catalog of more than 150 room components such as doors, windows, and furniture. $7, homedesign3d.net Skylink Group Skylink HomeControl Remotely turn on any electronic equipment in your home with Skylink’s app. Control modules can be wired out of sight, and wireless receivers are easily plugged into wall outlets or lamp sockets. Coffee makers, lamps, fans, garage doors, and security systems can all be controlled from anywhere.

Starter kits $45–$116 skylinkhome.com

Whether you’re building, buying, re-financing or remodeling, Kirtland FCU has 24 mortgage loan professionals who can secure financing to fit your budget. Kirtland FCU offers a wide range of conventional, VA and FHA mortgage plans.

And for a limited time, we’ll pay the upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium on the FHA mortgage you secure with us.

Since Kirtland FCU provides local servicing of our loans, you’re on solid ground.

Our membership is more inclusive than you think— visit KirtlandFCU.org or stop by our convenient branch locations to learn how you can become a member.

Houzz Inc. Houzz Interior Design Ideas Quick ideas for improving your interiors are just a click away with this app, which allows instant access to Houzz’s database of more than 1.5 million high-resolution photos.

Browse by style or room, and save favorites to a virtual idea book for easy reference later.

You’ll also find highly rated products and local designers, architects, and contractors.

Free, houzz.com

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Life+Style Southwest

by Colin Whyte

Courtesy of Affordable Solar

solar gain

Investing in solar today means impressive returns tomorrow

Jennifer Esperanza

A

Solar arrays like this spread from Affordable Solar (above, top) help New Mexicans take advantage of big, sunny skies. Installation (above, bottom) is heavily incentivized.

A Sol Luna Solar parking canopy (opposite) provides shade and offsets energy usage.

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s evidenced by the Zia symbol on our state flag, sunshine is a pretty big deal around here. So with over 300 sunny days a year in Northern New Mexico, why isn’t every savvy homeowner in New Mexico a solar homeowner?

The non-profit Solar Foundation lists New Mexico 10th out of all the states in solar jobs per capita and 21st if the per capita caveat is removed. Similarly, New Mexico comes in 10th in terms of number of homes powered by solar; the foundation lists 76 solar companies in the state. Clearly, solar is a growth sector in a state that needs growth.

But even some 50-odd years after the silicon solar cell was discovered and solar seemed well on its way to becoming a significant energy source, the whole notion of solar power is still often confusing to the layperson, as it seems awash in misconceptions regarding expense, efficiency, and aesthetic impact. Everyone knows solar’s “a good idea”—clean, renewable, not tied to foreign despots, ostensibly free (once geared-up), etc.—but just how worth it is it to the regular Joe or Jane?

Very, as it turns out.

Sol Luna Solar in Dixon offers grid-tied/net-metering photovoltaic (PV) systems, allowing clients to operate what they call “a working power plant that collects the sun’s energy and supplies it back to the utility company, thus earning the client a credit [or] refund for the energy surplus.” This style of system tends to perk up ears pretty quickly, even among folks who might not think of themselves as particularly green. Sol Luna also offers solar thermal radiant and solar hot water systems.

Owner Mark Johnson says, “The panels pay for themselves typically about a quarter of the way through their life cycle, and the rest is [the client’s] to keep for free. Imagine making a no-risk investment with guaranteed returns.”

Affordable Solar in Albuquerque offers an interesting leasing program whereby customers can use renewable solar energy to help power their homes for less than the cost of their electric bills—from just $79 per month. Rebecca Langton summarizes the net gain of tapping into the sun’s power as an owner: “Remember when gas was a $1 per gallon 20 years ago? Can you imagine being able to lock in your electric rates for the next 25 years?”

Death and taxes might be the only certainties in this world, but the accessibility

Courtesy of Sol Luna Solar

Courtesy of Sol Luna Solar

“If [the system] continues to pay, I’ll quit watching it and just look for the checks in the mail!”

—Jim Ballog, Albuquerque homeowner of solar in New Mexico has never been better as renewables are heavily subsidized these days. Numerous statelevel personal tax credits on solar installs are bolstered by property tax exemptions and federal offerings, which, once combined, can be massive. “[A] solar renewable energy system provides guaranteed returns,” reiterates Johnson. “With the 30 percent federal tax credit and 10 percent state tax credit for residential and commercial installations . . . and another average 15 percent depreciation credit for businesses . . . many clients are seeing up to 55 percent in credits for their system. These benefits make going solar the obvious choice for energy price stability, long-term investment opportunities, and lasting green impacts.”

It’s one thing to listen to solar companies wax poetic about the benefits of solar. More impressive: talking to people who are actually seeing returns.

Talk to us today about putting Green in your life! Call 505.890.5000.

Design . Build . Remodel JosephCustomHomes.com

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Šmarkwilliamphotography.com

We were GREEN before GREEN was cool!

Terri & Diana... making great things happen!

The accessibility of solar in New Mexico has never been better.

“I’m looking at a payout in eight years,” says Jim Ballog, who recently had a 7-kilowatt PV system installed in a trench behind his 3,000-squarefoot Albuquerque home. His system, which cost around $30,000 to start, dropped to only $14,000 once all of his incentives were applied. Ballog couldn’t be happier with the switch—or with the satisfaction of selling electricity back to public service.

“I recently got my first check back,” he says. “My bill was $5.52—and that was for paperwork! My credit was $44, so I got a check back for $39-andchange my first month. And it looks like it’s putting out more this month. If it continues to pay, I’ll quit watching it and just look for the checks in the mail!”

Heather Karlson and her husband Bill Leeson live just outside Santa Fe. After thinking about installing solar for years, motivated by an environmentally conscious goal of getting to zero carbon usage, they chose Positive Energy Solar to install a system on their property. “They seemed to have a lot of experience and know exactly what to do,” Karlson says, “and they gave us good advice.”

Positive Energy’s Karen Paramanandam says the company sizes its solar systems based on a house’s energy usage over at least the previous 12 months, so it provides precisely the amount of energy needed. In Karlson and Leeson’s case, 16 panels on posts in a sunny, open area of the yard generate enough electricity for their home and an electric car. In about six years the system will have paid for itself: “And then it’s all gravy,” says Karlson.”We’re not paying for electricity, and we’re getting money back.”

With incentives waiting to be claimed and refunds available for the taking, going solar is a no-brainer. Call it gaming the system, or just call it what it is in a very sunny state: smart.

For more information, start with pnm.com/solar or visit nmsea.org to download their handbook.

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Life+Style Southwest

by Phil Parker

what to expect when you’re

building or remodeling

From permitting to dust control, tips from the pros

B

uilding or remodeling a home should be a collaborative process— hopefully even an enjoyable one— but even with the best planning, it’s a stressful endeavor. If you’re taking the plunge, take some advice, too, from veteran local builders who speak with the hardearned wisdom of experience.

Is granite a must-have, or could you make do with another countertop material? Prioritize, says Miriam Joseph of Joseph Custom Homes.

Miriam Joseph, ASID Joseph Custom Homes josephcustomhomes.com • Make sure you’re working with a licensed general contractor in all phases and that the project is permitted. A permit is required for all new home construction and usually required for remodeling projects.

• The homeowner should come up with a wish list and a budget. The list divides into categories: must-haves, wants, and if possibles. In other words, prioritize.

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Talk to everyone associated with a potential builder, says Bill Reynolds of New Haven Homes.

Kyle Harder, Harder Custom Builders Ltd. buildharder.com • If you have trouble making decisions, the project will take longer and can potentially cost more money. Once a decision is made, if you as the owner have doubts and change the selections, be prepared for an additional cost in time and money.

• For a remodel, if you’re living at home while the work is done, be prepared for dust and debris. Dust is impossible to isolate completely. And be prepared for the unexpected behind walls.

Doug McDowell, McDowell Associates mcdowellsantafe.com • Rope off any areas on your property that should not be disturbed, or they will be.

• Focus on problems when they occur and solve them. Don’t make things personal or you become the problem.

• Assume nothing!

Douglas Maahs, D Maahs Construction dmaahsconstruction.com • Be concise on the preliminary estimate to avoid change orders. Require lineitem estimates.

• If you live in the home during a remodel, make sure your contractor is prepared for and experienced in containment.

• Always require proof of insurance.

Bill Reynolds, New Haven Homes mynewhaven.com • Talk to several builders and get a list of every home they’ve built. Call the references. The best question to ask is, “Would you build again with this builder?”

• Get a list of the builder’s subcontractors and material vendors. How long have they done business together? Does the builder pay invoices on time? Would they hire this builder to build their own home?

• Talk to the builder’s banker and their CPA. Would they hire this builder?

• If more than one builder passes these tests, hire the one you like.

You’re going to become close friends before it’s all done.

Deborah Short, Vineyard Homes vineyardhomesnm.com • Hire someone who stresses “perfect detail.”

• Anyone can give you a lower price by leaving out or overlooking the amenities you want. Don’t assume you can get the quality workmanship from the builder or remodeler offering the lowest estimate.

by Amy Gross

new endeavors Jim Folkman steps down from the HBACNM to focus on the Foundation for Building In 1992, when Jim Folkman took the reins as executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico (HBACNM), the HBA only had 325 members, and membership was Jim Folkman headed south.

“My immediate directives were to keep the HBA’s doors open and grow the association in terms of membership, activities, and revenue,” Folkman recalls. “Some of the board members had taken out personal loans to keep the HBA afloat. My job was to relieve them of that debt.”

He did. And Folkman, who has since witnessed membership peak (in 2007 it hit 1,140 before plummeting during the housing crash), has been with the HBA for the inception of several industry trends (think granite countertops and hard-surface floors) and during some of its most memorable moments.

In December, after 21 years with the HBA, Folkman turned over the helm to John Garcia, who most recently served as director of the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department. Folkman’s not retiring, however, “just refocusing my career,” he says. Actually, he’ll be concentrating full-time on what used to be a part-time component of his job: the Foundation for Building (FFB), a nonprofit established by the HBA in 1999. The foundation, which supports affordable housing and skilled labor training, is the umbrella for Build Green New Mexico, a statewide organization for certifying green residential construction. Folkman will be the FFB’s new executive director. But he will be missed at the HBACNM. “Jim has been the leader and the visionary behind the HBA and has been critical in developing the HBA’s credibility in the market and with our municipalities,” says David Newell, development director for Mesa del Sol and the HBA’s incoming board president.

“Because of Jim’s ability to be deferential and to build relationships, coupled with his forward thinking, the HBA of Central New Mexico is well known as one of the most progressive HBAs in the country.”

(re)making your home beautiful

by Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas, working on the renovation of his cottage.

M

y current renovation project is a real sweetheart: a small shinglestyle Victorian cottage in a seaside village in Maine. We have an island camp that we dearly love, but since it’s only accessible by small boat, it made sense to find a shore base for the winter when the weather turns foul.

I’ve done many renovations in my career, both on television and off, and here are a few of the valuable lessons I’ve learned: Location. Ideally you want the worst house in the best location.

That way you can put some money into it without exceeding home values in the neighborhood.

Good bones. Fixes to structure, foundation, rotten sills and walls, and major site problems are expensive, and you probably won’t see a return

on those investments. A good survey before you buy is essential. You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck by renovating the kitchen and baths, and with cosmetic upgrades.

The three most expensive words in renovation are might as well. The four most expensive: while we’re at it.

Cost. The three most expensive words in renovation are might as well. The four most expensive: while we’re at it. Inevitably the project will grow in scope. Keep cost overruns at bay by containing them in three “buckets”: workmanship, materials, and features.

•Don’t skimp on workmanship (aka “build quality”), because good workmanship ensures fewer failures and lower ongoing maintenance costs.

•The bucket in which you can find savings without compromising core build quality is materials. For example, a high-pressure laminate countertop such as Formica is durable and practical, and while not as chic as stone, is much less costly. Concrete floors, popular in the Southwest (I used concrete myself in my Santa Fe renovation), offer a great look at a far lower cost than, say, marble, or even hardwood flooring.

•A cold-hearted look at the features bucket will yield the highest savings. I had my heart set on a sauna in my current project, but I eliminated it to save cost. Wainscoting, crown molding, media rooms, extra bathrooms, dog-wash stations, and man caves are all features—and great candidates for the red pencil.

Why even bother with renovation?

Because dated homes are often in established neighborhoods, with mature trees and landscaping, and are closer to transportation, restaurants, and the town center.

They typically have an established infrastructure—sewer, water, electrical, driveways—and in many cases they were built with materials that are scarce or expensive today, like old growth hardwood floor, brick or field stone fireplaces, and tile floors.

Renovation also preserves a piece of history. Buildings are three-dimensional starting points for conversations about the past and provide bridges to the stories that knit us together as a community. There is much talk about sustainable or green building, and I am a known advocate. But the core driver of sustainability is sense of place. If you feel connected to the place you live, you are inclined to take care of it, otherwise known as stewardship.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my renovation career is that I’m not really the owner of the houses I’ve owned, merely the steward. With any luck, my renovations will last many years after me, sheltering families and launching lives.

Steve Thomas is a home renovation expert and the spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity International.

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Cosas Bonitas

heirloom quality

For furniture that endures, go custom

by Phil Parker

Photographs by Gabriella Marks

Above: Hand-carved arms of solid walnut highlight a Louis XIV–style sofa from Matthews Custom Furniture.

A Above: Whimsical inlays by Harvey Ellis adorn furniture designs at Adobe Bungalow. Above, right: A buffet from Carved Custom Cabinets, inspired by vintage Mediterranean furniture.

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

handmade piece of custom furniture is more than a home decoration; it’s a conversation starter. “We had that made,” you might casually tell a guest, pointing out a treasured hand-carved dresser. Intrigued, they’ll ask why. And it’s then you realize that in addition to holding a significant place in your present, your dresser also has a history. But a one-of-a-kind custom piece might have a future, too, as a cherished heirloom handed down to children and grandchildren. Using skills honed over the years and passed down through generations, the artisans who design custom furniture put heart and soul into each beautiful, handmade piece.

The furniture makers at Ernest Thompson in Albuquerque have been with the company an average of 16 years. “They’re craftsmen,” says owner Mike Godwin. “They’re real artists for what they do.

There’s a lot of creativity to it.” Ernest Thompson sells three brands of custom furniture and cabinets: Southwest Spanish Craftsmen, which offers variations on the popular Spanish Colonial look; Taos Furniture of Santa Fe, whose pieces are a classic old-Spanish style; and the versatile Ernest Thompson brand. After working on Wall Street, Godwin and his wife and co-owner, Doreen, moved to Albuquerque and bought Ernest Thompson 23 years ago. “We were tired of the hustle and bustle, and were looking for a better lifestyle,” he says. “We have never looked back.”

Santa Fe’s Carved Custom Cabinets is primarily in the business of, well, cabinets. But the company also makes furniture featuring its signature weighty, glossy finish. Carved Custom Cabi-

Sleek, Sexy, Sophisticated.

Fireplaces, windows, skylights & speciality products.

Supplying high quality building productS Since 1989.

ViSit our Showroom:

2718 University . Alb, NM 87107 . 505.888.4464 . MountainWestSales.net

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Above: The Prairie Post Bed, constructed with quartersawn white oak or solid cherry, is in the Mission Collection at Adobe Bungalow.

nets’ artisans have fine-tuned the process of applying 10 to 12 coats of finish, sanding between coats. The resulting finish is “really buttery,” says Lannie Loeks, who owns the company with her husband, Chris Clemens. New Mexico’s historic furniture informs their style. “It’s fun to offer something that feels so right,” Loeks says. “We give someone something that will last forever and is truly beautiful. And it’s correct—it’s right for here.”

The Stickley brothers started their furniture business almost 150 years ago. The company has endured to this day, and its wares are sold in Albuquerque at Adobe Bungalow Fine Furnishings. “Because we live in the Southwest, and we’re more of a casual area, most of our customers order the mission style,” says Adobe Bungalow manager Esther Pacheco. The Stickleys were pioneers of mission style, known for perpendicular lines and flat panels that accent the grain of the wood (usually oak). But more modern options are also available. “Contemporary design is very much ‘in’ in New Mexico,” Pacheco says, noting the style’s smooth, clean lines. “It’s a high-end, high-quality type of furniture.” With a classic name to back it up.

Ron Grazier emphasizes customer interaction at Contemporary Southwest (off Highway 14 in Sandia Park), where he is the designer and co-owner, with wife June. “The joy of having handmade furniture is that if [the customers] really want to get involved, they can,” he says. “We really get people into being a part of it.” Grazier started the business 25 years ago in a garage and says 80 percent of his clientele are repeat customers or referrals. The company’s name would suggest an exclusive style, but Grazier says the term “contemporary Southwest” actually includes a range of options for proportion, fit, and finish. Contemporary Southwest also makes mission, traditional, rustic, cabin, and Texas ranch furniture.

There’s no showroom for Matthews Custom Furniture. “It’s strictly custom,” says Jim Matthews, who started the company in Albuquerque 18 years ago. Restoration jobs make up half his work—refinishing or repairing pieces beloved by his clients. Matthews Custom Furniture doesn’t specialize in a particular style or design, instead creating pieces ranging from antique reproductions to contemporary. “It’s exactly what the customers want,” Ernest Thompson Matthews says. “That’s my thing.” ernestthompson.com

Contemporary Southwest contemporarysouthwest.com Adobe Bungalow Fine Furnishings adobe-bungalow.com Carved Custom Cabinets carvedcustomcabinets.com The Las Cruces bedroom ensemble at Contemporary Southwest.

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Matthews Custom Furniture matthewscustomfurniture.com

Above, top: Panels in a credenza from Ernest Thompson are mostly cedar twigs. Above, bottom: Contemporary Southwest’s craftsmen produce a variety of furniture styles.

Experience a gallery where you are the artist.

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interiors

by Amy Gross

Photographs by Kate Russell

fashionable spaces Top-notch designers lend their talents to Show House Santa Fe Eleven designers, nine spaces. In October, the first-ever Show House Santa Fe brought together some of the finest interior and landscape design talent in the City Different to transform a traditional Southwest-style house into a series of chic, artistic spaces. Inspired by specific fashion icons both classic and contemporary, the interior and landscape designers spent about two months installing their assigned rooms and spaces and two weekends showing them off. The house, which is now back on the market through Ashley Margetson at Sotheby’s, has been returned to its original Santa Fe style. But for a few brief weeks, it was one of the most fashionable homes in the city.

“The collaboration of designers was a beautiful thing,” says David Naylor of David Naylor Interiors, noting that nearly 800 people visited the Show House over the two weekends. “We worried that with so many different designers working on the house, there might be an unevenness to it. But everyone amped up to the same level of ‘showy.’”

Much the way the rooms flowed seamlessly into one another, the designers’ ideas and work processes also blended well.

Naylor designed the warm, Ralph Lauren–inspired bridal suite in the guest house, and partnered with his co-chair, Jennifer Ashton of Jennifer Ashton Interiors, to transform the dining room into an elegant space swathed in ivory, a nod to Austrian fashion designer Emilie Flöge, the life companion (and frequent artistic subject) of painter Gustav Klimt.

The striking arched entry to the dining area, hand-painted by Santa Fe muralist Karen Brown, features a rolling geometric pattern reminiscent of Klimt’s Tree of Life. Another Naylor/Ashton collaboration, the vibrant malachite and fuchsia kitchen, celebrated the work of British designer Alexander McQueen.

Show houses are common design projects in other cities, says Naylor, but this was the first one to be held in Santa Fe. “The director of the San Francisco tour loved the Santa Fe regionalism,” he says. “But our fashion theme made it much broader than just this region. I think we knocked it out of the park.”

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The Millicent Rogers–inspired living room, designed by Annie O’Carroll and Emily Mingenbach-Henry.

Above, left, Greg Purdy and Lisa Samuel install their office. Above right: Bo relaxes in the entryway designed by Edy Keeler.

“The collaboration of designers was a beautiful thing.”—David Naylor

Each designer was assigned a space and had eight weeks to prepare it, relying on a fashion designer for inspiration. Pam Duncan of Wiseman & Gale & Duncan Interiors reimagined a traditional Pueblo-style master bedroom suite in the style of Coco Chanel’s black-and-white period, while Annie O’Carroll of Annie O’Carroll Interior Design and Emily Mingenbach-Henry of Emily Henry Interiors teamed up to channel Millicent Rogers in the bohemian living room. In the hands of Lisa Samuel of Samuel Design Group, one guest bedroom became a home office in the clean, modern style of Calvin Klein (see “Fleeting Beauty,” page 88), while Michael Violante and Paul Rochford of Violante & Rochford relied upon Italian designer Bruno Cucinelli to create the timeless, sophisticated feel of their guest bedroom.

French designer Guillaume Henry and his collections of fabrics influenced by famous painters inspired Jackie Butler’s (Artgraze) treatment of the powder room. In the entry, Edy Keeler of Core Value Interiors showcased a hand-carved credenza furniture maker Ernest Thompson created just for the Show House. Landscape designer Cath-

Violante & Rochford’s Heather French readies her room.

A hand-painted archway leads to the dining room and kitchen (see below) designed by David Naylor and Jennifer Ashton. Above, Coco Chanel’s black-andwhite period inspired Pam Duncan’s master bedroom.

erine Clemens of Clemens & Associates worked her magic—without the constrictions of a fashion influence—in the home’s outdoor spaces.

Much to the delight of the designers and organizers, sales of tickets to both the Show House and the Fashion Fusion party netcontinued on page 77 SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

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speak your piece Room by room, interior design experts share their favorite accents Interior designers are never at a loss for ideas.

Pinning them down to just one favorite accent piece? Whew. But in the spirit of Show House Santa Fe, in which the participants each decorated a single room, Su Casa asked several local design professionals to share the one element they most love to use in their own work transforming homes in Northern New Mexico.

Jim Zivic Design Studio’s Coal (anthracite) tables are nearly 100 percent pure carbon.

FOR THE LIVING ROOM

Courtesy of Lite Source

Coal Table Collection Favorite of: Chandler Prewitt, ACC “Most coffee tables are placed in the center of seating arrangements, so it’s important that it be one of the most exciting pieces of furniture in your living room. My current obsession is the furniture coming out of Jim Zivic Design Studio. I had the opportunity to meet with Tiffany Wheat and to tour the Zivic workroom a few years back. I was blown away when I saw the Coal table collection in person. These carbon masterpieces are carved entirely out of anthracite coal, while the holes or other ‘imperfections’ are filled with molten tin. Each form is unique and can be used for a variety of purposes. This table is a great addition to any home that focuses on organic modern design.”

Starting at $22,000, available exclusively through Ralph Pucci International in Los Angeles and New York, jimzivicdesign.com; ACC, accsantafe.com

FOR THE ENTRYWAY

Cristallo Ceiling Lamp Favorite of: Merri Jean Jones, Studio J Interiors “Creating an entry space for our home is very much like creating the opening lines of a good novel: It draws you in, stimulates your curiosity, and gives a sense of your unique story. This beautiful Cristallo Ceiling Lamp by Lite Source sets the stage for a couple who have lived in beautiful places all over the world. They love to entertain friends and family in a lively environment that reflects the cachet of their worldly adventures.” $2,500, through Albuquerque Lighting, albuquerquelighting.com, and Studio J Interiors, studiojinteriors.com 36

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

FOR THE BATHROOM

Manhandles by Soko Favorite of: Barbara Whitney Templeman, ASID, Barbara Templeman Interior Design “Details make the difference—and in interior design, the selection of every object and detail is important. In bathrooms, I like to use Soko’s Manhandles instead of ordinary towel bars. Think ‘functional art.’ Available in a variety of poses, sizes, and finishes, the figures are a grand finishing touch to the bathroom. Of course, not every project calls for this particular towel bar, but it’s great fun when it does.” $195–$275, through Barbara Templeman Interior Design, templemaninteriordesign.com

FOR THE KITCHEN

“In interior design,

LeMans Shelves by Häfele Favorite of: Marc Coan, Marc Coan Designs “I love this thing because I don’t have to get on my hands and knees anymore and crawl into the cabinet to get something out of a blind corner. Lazy Susans were my choice for dealing with blind corners for a long time, but they still provided only limited access. With the LeMans corner shelf, everything comes out of the cabinet on two very smooth pivoting trays for incredibly easy access. As I get older and less agile, it sure is nice to have accessible, convenient storage in base cabinets.”

Starting at $680, through Marc Coan Designs, marccoandesigns.com

the selection of every object and detail says Barbara Templeman, ASID

Courtesy of Häfele America

is important,”

Editor’s Find

“Thinking outside the box (or maybe ‘over the edge’?), designer Matthew Weatherly tipped over a standard modern-style desk to create the Sequel Desk. Extra space beneath the desk and open sides are its hallmarks; leave it clean and uncluttered, or slide a Sequel rolling file cabinet underneath—it’ll fit seamlessly into the metal legs. A slide-out tray houses your keyboard and mouse, and the front and back panels are magnetized to keep wires out of the way. The back panel is available in Cherry, Walnut, and Espresso, but if ultracontemporary is more your style, go full-on open by removing it entirely. I don’t normally look to the desk as exciting furniture, but for versatility and multifunctional design, this one’s got chops.”—Amy Gross $999, Design Warehouse, designwarehousesantafe.com

Knoll, Inc.

FOR THE OFFICE: Sequel Desk by BDI

A built-in recharging station and a fingerprint-resistant work area are just two of many useful design features of the Sequel Desk by BDI, available through Design Warehouse in Santa Fe.

Photo credit: Courtesy of BDI

FOR THE DINING ROOM

Brno Flat Bar Chair Favorite of: Edy Keeler, Core Value Interiors “One of my favorite things to use in dining areas is Mies van der Rohe’s flat bar Brno chair, in any wonderful fabric, hide, or leather, and hair-on-hide cowhides. On chrome or stainless, it is completely versatile, ‘sproingily’ comfortable, and lasts forever. This chair is truly evergreen, and it sets everyone at the table at ease for long conversation over good food.”

Starting at $1,780, available at knoll.com and through Core Value Interiors, corevalueinteriors.com SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

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Masters of New Mexico

by Phil Parker

the wood whisperer Master wood carver Jose Jaramillo

Jaramillo’s kitchen bar features a carved coat of arms, cathedral door panels, and custom base and crown molding made with American red oak finished to a warm amber color.

“When you look at the finished product at the end of the work, that’s a really good feeling.

It’s like, ‘Oh man, I did that!’”

—Jose Jaramillo

T

he first step in developing wood carving skills is to “learn how the grain goes,” says Jose Jaramillo, who has run Jaramillo Fine Wood Carving out of his Albuquerque home for more than 25 years. Because he works with almost every kind of wood available, Jaramillo is an expert at determining grain: Pine runs north-south or east-west, he says, while mahogany switches seemingly at random.

It makes for an interesting variety in carving, and Jaramillo can carve wood in just about any style a client could imagine. “Our style is ‘You name it,’” he says. “Spanish, Colonial, Native, Asian, even medieval.”

His versatility—not to mention his vision and expertise—has cultivated a vast array of clients and a fresh, interesting working environment.

“When everything’s different, you don’t get bored,” Jaramillo says. “You’re 38

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Clockwise from top left: Sergio Salvador (2); Julia Jaramillo

Jose Jaramillo in his Albuquerque workshop

not working in a factory, where you do one thing a hundred times.”

World-renowned interior designer Kris Lajeskie of Santa Fe’s Kris Lajeskie Design Group, Inc., is a huge fan of Jaramillo’s work. “Jose is hands-down the best artist in New Mexico,” Lajeskie marvels. “I’ve been working with him to create one-of-a-kind custom homes and furniture for 15 years. It is always a great pleasure and privilege to collaborate with him.”

A fourth-generation carver and Albuquerque native, Jaramillo started shaping wood around age 6 and started working when he was still very young. “To be honest, I didn’t have that much of a childhood,” he recalls. “There wasn’t too much playing time. It was hard to see kids playing when I couldn’t, because I had to work.” Keeping those memories in mind, he’s passing his woodworking skills

Home Builders Association

Grey Crawford

Don’t just follow the most important trend in residential construction...

Shelving for a client’s museum-quality collection of spurs, designed by Kris Lajeskie of Kris Lajeskie Design Group and carved by Jose Jaramillo.

Jose Jaramillo

Business: Jaramillo Fine Wood Carving

To find out how to make your new home or remodel more energy efficient and sustainable, please contact us at:

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Location: 10904 Rio Puerco SW, Albuquerque Signature Style: “We do everything. We do furniture, we do architectural stuff like mantels, we do ceilings, we do doors, we do sculptures in wood. You name it.”

SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

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on to his own children, but gently.

Decades of practice have produced some stunning craftsmanship and earned Jaramillo notoriety as a premier woodworker, including an appearance on HGTV. His work adorns homes throughout New Mexico and the country. In Beverly Hills, for instance, he built a stunning backyard gazebo. Dragons guard the entrance and fly through the trim, framing a threedimensional mural of a Chinese goddess above an ornate fireplace.

If your taste is a little less exotic, Jaramillo’s artist’s flair can upgrade shelving, doors, ceilings, and entire rooms; you’ll find his wood carvings in bathrooms, kitchens, and home movie theaters.

His projects, both great and small, number in the hundreds. “When you look at the finished product at the end of the work, that’s a really good feeling,” Jaramillo says. “It’s like, ‘Oh man, I did that!’ I really, really love my work.”

With years of wide-ranging work behind him, Jaramillo says the biggest challenge now is keeping disparate styles straight in his mind. One month he’ll do work for a Santa Fe museum that requires a Native aesthetic, and will then have to flip a switch in his brain and carve something much more modern for a home-building client’s cupboards. “When you have all that knowledge,” he says, “it’s hard to focus on one thing with one style.”

He’s not complaining. If there’s a good problem for an artist and wood carver to have, it’s a wealth of creativity.

Jaramillo Fine Wood Carving, 505-508-7513 40

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Sergio Salvador

From the balustrade and ceiling, to the bench and arched alder bedroom doors, nearly everything in this hallway was hand-carved by Jaramillo.

by Tom Smylie

just winging through The northern flicker is a familiar winter visitor

T

he thing that will likely catch your eye first is the flash of bright, salmon-colored wings. But watch more closely and you’ll notice the undulating, rump-bobbing flight pattern of a most distinctive bird. It’s the northern flicker, the largest of the 11 species of woodpecker found in New Mexico. At rest hanging on a tree, it hides its brilliance beneath folded wings, but in flight it’s a colorful (and heart-warming) sight. The northern flicker is one of the most distinguishable due to its size (over 12 inches), bright wings and tail, and distinctive call: a shrill, explosive “claip!”

The northern flicker was previously recognized as three separate species, but ornithologists have now reduced the three to a single species due to natural interbreeding of the races. It’s not uncommon to see flickers with multicolored wings, offering further evidence of crossbreeding of the same species. If you’re lucky enough to spot one, look for a distinct red or black mustache—this is the sign of a male. Like most woodpeckers, the male northern flicker announces his presence by drumming on a hollow tree trunk—or anything else, like a metal roof—to attract a female and warn off rivals.

Most woodpeckers drill into trees in search of wood-boring beetle larva, but the flicker seeks food requiring less labor. On the ground it probes for ants, grasshoppers, and other insects, and may also supplement its diet with seasonal fruits and acorns. Flickers can even eat fruits from the poison oak and poison sumac. Because they’re able to remove the nutritional wax coating of these berries and regurgitate or pass the rest of the fruit with no ill effects, they unwittingly sow the seeds of these poisonous plants.

Keep your eyes—and ears—peeled this winter for the active and colorful northern flicker.

If you’re not hearing him drumming on a nearby trunk, chances are he’s even closer than you suspect, visiting a suet feeder in your own backyard.

Tom Smylie, from Edgewood, New Mexico, is a retired wildlife biologist affiliated with the World Center for Birds of Prey.

Dan Williams, NM Department of Game and Fish

The northern flicker is New Mexico’s largest woodpecker. If a male is drumming beak-to-tree, he’s probably trying to attract a female.

3620 High St NE ABQ, NM 87107 505 681 7986

Marcsowers.com ©MarkWilliamphotography.com

Design Studio

by Ben Ikenson

positive energy The ancient practice of feng shui promotes balance in the modern home

W

hen was the last time you decorated a room by facing armchairs toward corners, backs to the room? Probably never. To do so would run counter to both common sense and the tenets of a complex practice that has helped put people in harmony with their surroundings for 5,000 years. Feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”), which translates to “wind-water” in English, derives from the Taoist understanding of nature as a living entity filled with constant exchanges of energy, or chi.

“Holding onto unnecessary stuff can affect a person’s well-being and what they truly want to achieve.”—Elisa Macomber

Jennifer Ashton

“Our surroundings have a powerful effect on what we attract into our lives,” explains Carol Olmstead, owner of Santa Fe– based Feng Shui For Real Life and author of Feng Shui Quick Guide for Home and Office: Secrets for Attracting Wealth, Harmony, and Love. “When the energy around you is blocked, your prosperity, relationships, health, and well-being can be affected. Feng shui adjustments unblock energy and assure that good things naturally flow into your life.”

Above: Since mirrors double what they reflect, they should face something positive like a lovely piece of art.

Right: The cheery yellow color of the couch encourages socializing. Candles represent warmth; pineapples, hospitality.

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feng shui your home: 5 easy tips Carol Olmstead, owner of Santa Fe–based Feng Shui For Real Life (fengshuiforreallife.com) and author of Feng Shui Quick Guide for Home and Office, offers the following tips for designers, architects, and homeowners:

1 Carol Olmstead This room begs for feng shui, say the experts. Olmstead calls the ceiling beams “poison arrows” directing energy out of the space.

Macomber says colors are needed: “A bowl of fresh fruit on the counter will liven it up.”

After personally becoming convinced of the practice’s lifeenhancing benefits more than 15 years ago, Olmstead studied extensively to become a certified feng shui practitioner and bid farewell to a career as a public affairs consultant in the Washington, DC, area. Ultimately, she moved to Santa Fe, putting her feng shui skills to good use designing a home that scored honors for best layout and best kitchen in its category in the 2003 Haciendas—A Parade of Homes.

“These days there are as many approaches to feng shui as there are to architecture or interior design,” says Olmstead.

“This gives the modern practitioner a wealth of tools to use to help clients rearrange spaces, shift the energy, and transform their lives.”

Elisa Macomber, a fellow certified feng shui practitioner and owner of Pink Dwelling, a Santa Fe–based placement design business, agrees, noting there are some universal rules to the practice. “Balance of the five elements of feng shui (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) and the use of the bagua map (an invis-

Clear the clutter. Clutter is the biggest issue my clients face, and the solution is creating adequate storage options throughout the house. This is especially important in the bedroom, kitchen, and living and family rooms.

2 3

Face the door from the right angle. The most auspicious location for a bed is against a solid wall with a view out the door, but not directly facing the door. The power position for an office is sitting so you are facing the door on a diagonal.

Choose appropriate artwork. I often say that “you are what you see,” which means you need to choose artwork and décor that activates the areas of the feng shui bagua. No matter how expensive a piece of art, if it doesn’t send the right feng shui message for the room, it isn’t going to transform your life. For example, the room in the upper left hand corner of the home is the wealth area, and it should include at least some objects or works of art that are red, purple, or orange and that feel wealthy and abundant to the homeowner.

4

Avoid straight lines. In the natural world everything curves and flows, and nothing is angular, so good feng shui design involves avoiding harsh angles and points whenever possible. We’re lucky that our Southwestern décor favors rounded corners and smooth vigas instead of sharp beams.

5

Simulate wind and water. The translation of the words feng shui is “wind and water,” and it refers to the gentle, meandering flow of energy throughout a space. Good feng shui design supports the slow flow of chi from the front door, called the Mouth of Chi, throughout all the rooms.

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Before

case study: feng shui in action

AFTER The fireplace and candle created an excess of fire in this “self-knowledge area,” and there was too much metal because of the screen, tools, and wall décor. “In feng shui, fire burns up wood and metal chops down wood, which means both elements were harming this area,” says Elisa Macomber. She removed the extra candle and most of the metal, cleaned up the clutter, and added a healthy jade plant in a blue pot (the color symbolizes water), along with books and a smiling Buddha (not pictured)—all self-knowledge symbols. The basket with its hints of blue also softens the space.

ible grid superimposed over a house’s floor plan) is important to follow when applying feng shui to your home and life,” she explains. “When one or more elements are excessively utilized or missing, the energy of a home can be affected. Feng shui can help to bring that positive feeling back.”

For both Olmstead and Macomber, clutter is a common issue with many of their clients. “Holding onto unnecessary stuff can affect a person’s well-being and what they truly want to achieve, because transitions in our lives happen over the years,” Macomber says. “The things we hold onto are symbolic of our subconscious; our homes are truly a visual representation of our minds. A Band-Aid cannot be applied to a wound that won’t heal. The wound must be cleaned out for healing to occur.”

Both Olmstead and Macomber practice a Western approach specifically adapted to the environs of the Southwest. For example, says Olmstead, “Vigas in the bedroom can represent a heavy weight overhead, which can have a negative effect on a marriage unless a few feng shui adjustments are made.”

Similarly, she says, open kiva fireplaces

could be letting vital energy escape, irregular-shaped lots might make holding onto money difficult, and cacti and thorny plants near the front door may discourage friendships.

Fortunately, many professionals in the Southwest are attuned to the nuances of the ancient practice. “Good design is good feng shui,” says Olmstead, noting that she regularly works with building and design professionals in New Mexico who support the practice. “Interior designers can use feng shui to help clients select colors and finishes that activate the various areas of the bagua. Architects can use feng shui principles in correcting for the shape of a plot, siting the house in the appropriate spot, and designing a home that allows for a smooth flow of energy around the house.”

Feng shui as a general practice is a positive way to improve the energy flow of your current home, but according to Olmstead, it’s also very important to make feng shui adjustments “when moving into a new home, when there has been a major life change, or anytime it feels like the energy is stuck.”

It’s a good practice when selling a home, too. At little expense, feng shui

“Good design is good feng shui.”

—Carol Olmstead

Elisa Macomber

can make a home on the market considerably more appealing, according to Mary Layne, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Trails West Realty and a veteran feng shui facilitator. “When a buyer enters a home that ‘feels right,’ the home has good feng shui for them, no matter if they call it that,” she says. “The rules and tools of feng shui, without fail, make a home feel better, and often the changes made are subtle and not expensive.”

Layne adds, “The place doesn’t have to be [fancy]. A sporting man cave has its own very potent and effective feng shui!”

Water is an element of this “career area,” represented by the glass of the window and the color blue. An extra lamp lightens up the space.

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green and grounded

by Amy Gross

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Photographs by Chris Corrie

Walled on all sides and with another house sharing the same lot, the home is “as infill as it gets,” say the homeowners.

Just off the entryway in the reading room is an 8-foot walnut bench (opposite) made by Gries from wood he cut down himself.

A Santa Fe homebuilder dug deep when building his ultra-green home—and the awards started pouring in.

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esse Gries didn’t blink when he heard a professional’s quote to remove a dying tree on Palace Avenue in downtown Santa Fe was more than $4,000. “I told them, ‘I’ll cut it down for free, but I get to keep the wood,’” he says. Before his wife could object, Gries had disappeared with climbing gear and a chainsaw, muttering something about a “70-footer.” He appeared later that day, limbs intact, with an impressive stack of walnut in tow—wood which became an integral part of the home he was building for himself.

No doubt about it: Gries is a hands-on kind of guy. As principal of Green Star Builders, a design/build firm specializing in green and eco-friendly homes, he takes no chances when it comes to details and quality, snapping all lines and doing much of the installation work himself. When he and his wife, teacher Karla Helland, decided to build their own home, they bought a lot a couple of doors down from where they were living on Cordova Road. Tucked behind a short wall among similarly styled, nondescript adobes, Gries and Helland’s home is the very definition of infill. It’s easy to miss on the busy street—which is just fine with the owners.

“The best way to be hidden is to be right in the middle,” Gries says. “We have the best of both worlds: The lots are more affordable in this area, which allowed us to take advantage of the central location.” It was a tight fit, however, so to make the most of the one-tenth of an acre the home occupies, Gries and Helland got creative.

“We didn’t want to go to two stories because it would change the neighborhood,” says Helland, “so we decided to go down.” A

Green Star Builders, greenstarsantafe.com

Heavy, curved steel gates grace the entry courtyard (left) and patio (above), which features a handmade light built of steel and greenhouse glass to brighten the outdoor space.

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Her eyes as green as the hydroponic wall behind her, Olive, an Abyssinian, checks out the visitors in her home.

basement suddenly made so much sense: It solved storage issues, created a place where daughter Leina and her teenage friends could hang out, and very affordably doubled the size of the house, from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. Built without insulation or sheetrock, the 12-inch-thick concrete walls come directly into contact with the ground to keep the basement a cool 68 degrees, on average, during the summer. A heat recovery ventilation system is set to recirculate, taking warm air from upstairs and putting it downstairs in winter, or taking it outside during warmer months.

As the build neared completion in the summer of 2012, Gries knew in his heart he had a special home. He entered 48

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Leina Gries, 12, wrangles Misschief, a blonde Buff Orpington hen, one of the family’s five pet chickens.

Gries rounded the sleek, stainless steel double railing above the stairwell and reworked it with modern corners.

Right: Helland and Gries in their awardwinning kitchen. Daniel Gries, Jesse’s father, made the natural bleached walnut cabinets.

his just-completed house in Haciendas— A Parade of Homes, competing against 15 other entries and, arguably, considerably more seasoned Santa Fe builders.

And knocked it out of the park.

Green Star Builders earned seven awards in that Parade, including the coveted top award, the Grand Hacienda, as well as the Su Casa Award for Best Design, the awards for best kitchen and best craftsmanship in its category, and three green awards for excellence in water efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality. The most meaningful to Gries: “Best craftsmanship,” he says without hesitation. “If you build a house well, that’s what makes it proud.”

His wife was gratified to win Best Kitchen. A former restaurant chef, Helland is currently a food educator for the nonprofit Cooking with Kids program at Turquoise Trail Charter School. A topnotch kitchen was the number one item on her list of must-haves, and like most chefs, she had clear opinions as to what truly makes up a great cooking space. “It had to be super-workable,” she says, noting the extra-wide counter space and the refrigerator wide enough to fit a full-size sheet pan. In Helland’s kitchen, the stove, sink, and most of the granite-covered

Number one on her list of must-haves, Helland’s kitchen had to be “super-workable,” she says.

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Jesse Gries, supervised here by Lucky, at the drafting table in his basement home office. Ivy thrives in the 6-foot light well behind him, while the frosted glass closet doors, he says, “glow beautifully at night.�

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“I think furniture design is a natural continuation of the creative process of a home,” says Gries.

He made the walnut and steel bed in the master (an antique sabino beam from Mexico hangs above it), as well as the dining room table (below).

prep areas are recessed to afford the cook plenty of space. The fridge, easily accessible toward the front of the room, allows guests to grab their own drinks while it gently corrals them out of the cook’s way.

Gries and Helland call their home a contemporary, but distinctly Southwestern influences abound in this green masterpiece: the walnut bench in the entryway/reading room, reclaimed Mexican sabino beams, a floating and cantilevered kiva fireplace, canales on the roof. “For me, real luxury is found in exquisitely crafted details which come together and make a home stand out,” says Gries. “And I love steel fabrication.” In his own shop, he produced the handsome steel entry and gate doors, the steel beam frame on the patio that Helland decorates with lights, and the curved railing of the stairwell, among other tasteful accents.

Combining steel with the walnut from his tree-felling venture, Gries also constructed the gorgeous bed in the master bedroom.

Then there are the features that reinforce the homebuilder’s green mission, such as the organic hydroponic green wall. Positioned strategically over the stairway leading to the basement, the wall waters itself three times a day and removes most of the envi-

Twenty-seven linear feet of bookshelves house Helland’s collection of cookbooks (right). Soft scroll lights add the perfect contemporary touch to the dining space.

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In the patio, one of two removable murals by photographer Anne Staveley adorns the north-facing wall. Helland calls this one the “yardbird” and the other the “guardbird.” Steel frame sculptures add form and visual interest to the relatively small space.

“Seeing treetops in such a tight little neighborhood makes such a difference,” says Helland of the clerestory windows in the living room. To the left, a comfortable Eames lounge chair and ottoman in the light-filled reading room.

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ronmental pollutants in the house and replaces them with oxygen. A wholehouse heat recovery ventilator/HEPA filtration system also helps to keep the air incredibly clean. Even without the benefit of solar or geothermal, the home initially earned Emerald status from Build Green New Mexico, but the recent addition of a full PV solar array now ensures the house produces more energy than it uses. Gries installed an electric heat pump that heats and cools continued on page 84

a green machine Green Star Builders utilized a slew of eco-friendly features and green building tactics in the design of the home. Here are just a few: • Initial Emerald rating;

currently exceeding Emerald • Build Green NM certified • Energy Star rated • Gray water system • 330-gallon rain catchment system • Natural cooling system in basement • Recycled tubs in bathrooms • Scrap granite in bathrooms • Light wells in basement • Heat recovery ventilation system • Small footprint (1,500 square feet sitting on .1 acre of land) • Antique Mexican sabino beams • Kiva door seals with magnetic latches • Hydroponic green wall • Furniture made from wood of dying walnut tree • Skylights and natural light throughout • Sereno stone in patio (poured concrete product with no waste) • Canales made of 1/4" powdercoated steel (Gries calls them “canales for life”) The self-watering hydroponic wall removes manmade pollutants from the home and replaces them with oxygen.

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a home

evolved

Two wine enthusiasts expand their storage space—in a big way

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by Rodney Gross

I

Photographs by Kirk Gittings

Ben Wash (left) and Steve Godwin on the deck of their home in Paa-Ko.

t’s a common problem for wine lovers: As their hobby grows, space shrinks. Wine racks suddenly seem laughably tiny, and under-counter chillers fill up too quickly, especially when favorite vintages are purchased by the case. For Steve Godwin and his husband, retired Colonel Benjamin Wash, USAF, their solution went a bit further than that of the average enthusiast.

To accommodate their growing collection of wines and champagnes, Godwin and Wash built a two-story addition to their Southwest-style home in Albuquerque’s Paa-Ko community. Increasing wine storage was a primary concern, but adding a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor solved another problem: It created extra guest space.

Upstairs, the snazzy bar boasts eye-popping views of the Sandia Mountains and is the perfect place to hang loose.

To the casual visitor, the concept might scream “party wing,” but Wash insists, “We actually don’t have that many parties. We love this space for entertaining ourselves.”

Ironically, the couple had deliberately scaled down the design of the original structure when they built it in 2002.

They were so impressed with their build team, Keystone Homes, that 10 years later they didn’t hesitate to ask Keystone owner Scott Hauquitz to help them realize their dream of a two-story extension. The builders, they say, were the ultimate professionals.

“When we were done and should have had a punch list, there was no punch list,” Godwin says of the original build.

“Everything was perfect.” And it’s worth noting that his father was a homebuilder; the guy knows what to look for.

A striking contrast to the more traditional Southwest-style main house, the decidedly contemporary addition includes a bedroom, bathroom, bar, and cleverly designed wine storage (opposite).

Keystone Homes, keystonecustom.com

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The homeowners sought out unusual lighting when planning the addition. An elegant Bocci chandelier lights the stairwell, while colored recessed lighting and blue pendants add a bit of fun to the bar upstairs.

Jason Hall was Keystone’s architect for the second phase.

“Steve and Ben were excellent to work with because they were so engaged,” he says. “They knew what they wanted and did their own research. It was truly a collaborative effort.”

A lot of what the homeowners wanted, it turned out, was inspired by hours spent perusing Houzz.com, particularly the more contemporary ideas featured on the popular design website. When asked how he and Godwin arrived at the idea of a decidedly contemporary add-on to their more traditional original building, Wash declares, “We evolved! We enjoyed watching how contemporary design has changed over the years. There’s a grace to it now, where in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s you had all the crazy looks and colors. We liked the idea that you could integrate [contemporary] aspects into something from the Southwest.”

Among those aspects are the striking stained oak open riser staircase with a handrail that floats over a series of tautly strung parallel wires; opulent pendant lighting, including what amounts to a custom Bocci chandelier the owners found online; smartly positioned and energy-efficient Kolbe picture windows; and a sleek gas fireplace from Mountain West Sales, set halfway up the barroom wall and framed by detailed tile work.

Floorscapes installed the rich Brazilian pecan flooring on the lower level and the off-white painted bamboo in the bar area.

An intriguing combination of geometric patterns defines the angular wine storage room (right), which holds 577 bottles at capacity.

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Upstairs, the snazzy bar boasts eye-popping views of the Sandia Mountains and is the perfect place to hang loose.

Above and far left: Primary reds and blues add pops of color in the bar, while a sleek, chest-height gas fireplace makes a dramatic impression against a mosaic-tiled wall.

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“We liked the idea that you could integrate [contemporary] aspects into something from the Southwest.”—Ben Wash

(Godwin and Wash note that they enforce a strict “no red wine upstairs” policy, just in case.) The Sonos wireless audio system, installed by Two Guys and Some Wire, pipes pristine-sounding music into all areas of the addition and the main house.

So what about the wine? It now has a room of its own, tucked cleverly under the stairwell and painted a vibrant brick red. The racks hold up to 577 bottles, and the room is cooled by a CellarPro industrial chilling unit discreetly hidden around the corner from the glass front panels. Godwin and Wash are quick to note, however, that the room is not airtight, making it conceivably vulnerable to slight shifts in temperature.

But that doesn’t matter to them; they don’t consider themselves collectors or investors.

Their wine is solely for enjoyment today, and now they have an entire wing of their home where they can do just that .

The masculine bathroom (left) is one facet of the addition, which was a 2013 Fall Homes of Enchantment Parade award-winner in the remodeling category.

Feel-good design.

Santa Fe, New Mexico www.samueldesigngroup.com 505.820.0239

sticking to the classics

Traditional Southwest style is a perfect fit for Placitas

by Ben Ikenson Photographs by Amadeus Leitner

S

et along the western foothills of the Sandia Mountains about 15 miles north of Albuquerque, the town of Placitas is easy to miss as you whip by on I-25.

But those who have discovered Placitas are in on its secret: Beyond the labyrinthine network of roads that winds through juniper and piñon-studded arroyos are panoramic, jaw-dropping views of the Sandia and Jemez mountains. The colors of the landscape rival those you might see in Abiquiú, the expansive blue skies are usually adorned with impossibly picturesque clouds, and the tasteful, browntoned custom homes that dot the rolling hills also blend in with them to preserve the majesty of the landscape.

Dave and Connie Babiak built their sprawling Pueblo-style home in Placitas’s Sundance Mesa community back in 2002 with the help of Marie (Betty) Blea of Homes

by Marie (now with Mesa Verde Homes), an award-winning custom designer-

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builder of Southwestern, Tuscan, and Craftsman-style homes.

The Babiaks selected a prime site, but Blea and Estancia-based architect Max Cabber had a few challenges to overcome before they could lay the framework. “The building pad was on a very narrow lot, with a 200-foot drop at the end of the building pad,” Blea recalls. To ensure the house’s stability on the lot, Blea and her team bolstered it extensively with retaining walls.

The next challenge was admittedly more fun: maximizing those views.

Views from the courtyard are stunning at any time of day. Opposite: Traditional Southwestern accents dot the home’s spacious interiors. Below: Brown-toned homes like the Babiaks’ allow the magnificence of the Placitas landscape to stand out.

Contact Marie (Betty) Blea at mesaverdehomes.net

“The home was designed for 180-degree views,” says Blea. “In fact, there are views out of every room.” Connie’s favorite spots to take in the landscape are the great room, with its views of the Sandias, and the front of the house, where she can see the Jemez Mountains. Dave especially enjoys the landscape from the serene central courtyard.

But lest it seem that these retirees spend all their time in New Mexico sitting around gazing at mountains, think again. The Babiaks split their time between New Mexico and Florida, and travel often besides. In planning their retirement space in Placitas, they were looking for a comfortable home that would cover a number of specific needs. Blea delivered.

“This place has everything we’ve ever wanted in a home and more. And we wanted a lot,” says Dave.

An unusual item on their must-have list: ample garage space. The Babiaks are classic car hobby62

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ists; they’ve won awards in car shows and have had their cars featured in several magazines.

“The more we discussed their lifestyle, hobbies, and what was important to them in a home, it became very apparent they needed much more than just the normal three-car garage,” says Blea.

She helped Dave and Connie design not one, but two oversized garages—his and hers, if you will— that flank either side of the home. Hers is a threecar space with areas for an additional refrigerator and freezer. His fits three-plus cars and features a 17-foot ceiling, a hydraulic car lift, plenty of space for shop tools, and even a bathroom that follows a classic car theme with black and white floor tile and touches of racetrack red trim. And it’s immaculate; as the saying goes, you could almost eat off the floor.

But why would you, when the rest of the home is so inviting? The impressive 5,000-square-foot structure (not including garage space) is shaped

Connie loves to entertain family and friends in her open and inviting kitchen.

A litany of top-of-the-line appliances makes it easy, including a built-in oven/ microwave combination, a warmer drawer, and a wine refrigerator tucked beneath the granite-topped island.

Nichos showcase Native-themed statues at the entrance to the Babiaks’ comfortable master suite. Below: The homeowners’ fondness for classic cars is evident in the wet bar in the living room.

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“The home was designed for 180-degree views. In fact, there are views out of every room.”—Betty Blea

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like a U, wrapped around a large courtyard with outdoor kitchen. At the bottom of the U is the front door, which opens onto wide, unhindered views of the West Mesa in the distance.

The living spaces—a comfortable master suite with spacious walk-in closet and exercise nook, plus a pair of en suite guest rooms—are separate from the public areas in a private wing to the left of the entry. “Connie and Dave anticipated many out-of-town guests visiting their new home, so separate guest suites were a must, each with its own kiva and private sitting area,” says Blea.

Connie’s collection of crystal figurines is housed in several built-in, glassed curios in the hallways, which connect a central dining and sitting room to the kitchen and great room in an east-facing wing. Classic South-

Spiral columns and other Southwestern accents are incorporated into the house’s exterior.

Above: Shelves built into several walls display Connie’s crystal figurine collection.

A 48-inch Viking stove means cooking for guests is never a problem, no matter how many mouths there are to feed. The island is multifunctional, with a small sink and extra storage built in.

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Little touches like arches in the master bathroom and diamond-finish plaster throughout give the entire home a polished and sumptuous feel.

western-style accents abound here and throughout the house: custom woodwork, gorgeous pink-hued diamond plaster walls, vigas, latillas, and soft corners. The feeling is decidedly homey, especially in Connie’s inviting, open kitchen that features a massive granite-topped island, a 48-inch Viking stove, a warming drawer beneath the built-in Advantage oven/microwave combo, a wine refrigerator, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. It’s a great place to prep a big meal and catch up with the friends and family members who come to visit.

Beyond the beauty and ideal climate of their adopted home state, New Mexico has proven an ideal setting for the Babiaks.

With its rich Route 66 history and convenient access to restoration projects and car shows, Albuquerque may have been custom-made for them. Good thing they thought to custom-build a home that perfectly suits their lifestyle.

“This place has everything we’ve ever wanted in a home and more.

And we wanted a lot.”—Dave Babiak

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Vigas, latillas, and a perfectly placed kiva fireplace are classically New Mexican features that fuse easily with the more modern aspects of the Babiaks’ home.

Mountain views are a head turn away.

Calling the Babiaks “car enthusiasts” doesn’t quite do them justice. They are car show regulars (and award winners), whose custom rides have been featured in magazines.

Naturally, the his-and-hers garages had to be built just right.

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Su Cocina

Más appeal Santa Fe Chef James Campbell Caruso unveils his newest restaurant in Albuquerque

by John Vollertsen

W

Photographs by Sergio Salvador

Cover reprinted with permission by Gibbs Smith, Inc.

hen a historic hotel teams up with a hotterthan-hot chef to create a new dining venue, food fans win. Chef James Campbell Caruso—who took the Santa Fe food scene by storm with his trendsetting La Boca, and more recently with the more casual Taberna La Boca—has spread his culinary wings and set up another tapas restaurant, Más, just off the lobby of the beautifully restored Hotel Andaluz in Downtown Albuquerque.

Caruso clearly has his finger on the gastronomic pulse: Both of his Santa Fe restaurants are hopping, and Taberna La Boca was recently voted Santa Fe’s Best New Restaurant in the 2013 Santa Fe Reporter’s annual Best of Santa Fe poll. A sampling of the small plates on offer at Más convinced me the Duke City will embrace him as well.

The hotel Caruso has moved into was the first one Conrad Hilton built in New Mexico, circa 1939. Hilton, a New Mexico native, regularly entertained celebrity friends there and even married wife number two, Zsa Zsa Gabor, on the property.

It’s had numerous owners and names since, but it was visionary developer Gary Goodman who purchased the building in 2005 and overhauled the architecture to reopen as Hotel Andaluz in 2008.

The dramatic makeover not only modernized the rooms and lobby but also transformed the once stately hotel into a chic and fashionable destination inn. The lobby motif is exotic Moroccan, with semiprivate areas called casbahs for lounging and cocktailing, divided by colorful tapestries. Caruso’s Spanish-themed menu is served throughout the public areas and in the main dining room; trendy nightclub Ibiza is just upstairs for post-tapas cocktails.

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“I really wanted to open up the room and make it less formal and more fun—which is what eating tapas is all about.”—Chef James Campbell Caruso

We will help you MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE for your home.

Almejas (clams) are a traditional Spanish tapa. Chef James prepares his with Manzanilla sherry and fennel seeds.

“Gary [Goodman] and I had talked about doing something together for years, but I didn’t just want to consult and set up a restaurant and then leave it.,” Caruso says. “So we finally decided I would become a partner in all the food and beverage outlets.” Caruso notes that Goodman spent $40 million “doing up the hotel,” and credits the developer’s crackerjack design team for Andaluz’s dynamic look.

But the new hotel restaurant needed its own new look. “Gary and I designed the interior together,” he says.

Caruso loves the multiple wine cabinets with glass doors that face the dining room and the glass wall partition with Spanish words etched into it in different fonts. “The columns have a leather treatment, while the room is open and incorporates the buzz from the kitchen,” he says.

The open kitchen encourages spectating, and two large bar-height community tables have been added to facilitate group chef dinners and wine events. “I can host tasting menus and be only steps from the kitchen, plus be able to interact with the guests easily,” the enthusiastic chef explains. “I really wanted to open up the room and make it

The obligatory paellas are on the menu, but it’s through sharing the eclectic selection of tapas that diners can really sample Chef James’s brilliance.

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Gambas Andaluz with a kicky pimentón agridulce

Gambas Andaluz with Pimentón Agridulce (Fried shrimp with a smoky, tangy dipping sauce) “Try this batter on any seafood, especially cod, oysters, and scallops,” says Chef James. “A mixed platter would be a great variation.”

Serves 6 For the shrimp: 24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 12 egg whites 2 cups flour Sea salt 4 cups olive oil for frying For the sauce: 2 yellow onions, diced 4 cloves garlic, sliced 1/4 cup sherry vinegar 4 tablespoons pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika) 1/4 cup Spanish extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons honey Salt to taste Prepare the sauce by sautéing the onions and garlic in half of the olive oil until soft. Add the vinegar and cook for 1 minute on medium heat. Remove from heat, then add the rest of the olive oil. Add all other ingredients and puree well. Makes 2 cups.

To make the shrimp, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Dip the shrimp, 3 at a time, into the egg white and then into the flour. Place directly into the hot oil, being careful not to splash. Cook until golden brown. Remove the shrimp from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels.

Sprinkle with sea salt, and serve with the dipping sauce while hot.

Look for other delicious Spanish-influenced recipes in James Campbell Caruso’s cookbook España: Exploring the Flavors of Spain (Gibbs Smith, 2012).

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Almejas (Clams steamed in a Manzanilla sherry, garlic, and fennel seed broth) Serves 6 as a tapa 1 1/2 pounds fresh clams 6 cloves garlic, slivered 1 tablespoon fennel seeds 2 cups fish stock 1 cup Manzanilla sherry 3 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Combine all ingredients. Place in a sauté pan and cook, covered, on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes or until clams pop open. Serve hot. Divide the clams and the juices into 6 small bowls.

It only takes about 10 minutes of sautéing in the stock for the clams to pop open. When they do, they’re done.

less formal and more fun—which is what eating tapas is all about. We got rid of the white tablecloths and enlarged the tiny closed-in bar so everyone in the room can see what’s happening in the kitchen.”

Caruso is thrilled to return to Albuquerque, where he got his start cooking in New Mexico upon arriving from the East Coast. “I worked across the street at the long-gone 2nd Street Grill and worked at Scalo way back in 1990,” he recalls. “My wife Leslie and I had our first date right around the corner, and we’ve been married 21 years now. I’ve always loved this city. I’m excited to be back here, helping develop a new concept in this beautiful hotel.”

The Hotel Andaluz is the proud recipient of the 2011 Earth-Minded Award for its contribution to advancing sustainable design in the hospitality industry. It’s also recognized as the first green renovation of a historic hotel in the United States, and a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification gives Andaluz special bragging rights: It’s the first historic hotel in the Southwest to receive this distinction and only the second in the entire United States. “Gary is very proud of these [green] honors, and we are following the same mantra here in the restaurant,” says Caruso.

As for the menu, the creative chef continues to explore the wealth of distinctive flavors and ingredients associated with Spanish tapas and Mediterranean cuisines. The obligatory paellas are on the menu, but it’s through sharing the eclectic selection of tapas that diners can really sample the chef’s brilliance. Be sure to try the sweet clams in their herbaceous garlic and sherry bath (recipe above); plump dates wrapped in Serrano ham and grilled; crisp-fried shrimp served with a pimentón agridulce (recipe opposite); nacho-like crispy wontons layered with smoked salmon slices; and my favorite: thin rounds of grilled eggplant topped with Manchego cheese, broiled and drizzled with saffron honey. Delish.

Más is a restaurant that couldn’t be more aptly named. More great James Campbell Caruso food, more provocative atmosphere, and more great wines and sherries. There’s no holding back here. At Más, más is más!

Más at Hotel Andaluz, hotelandaluz.com

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The wine cooler–equipped wet bar beneath the stairs is just one of many appealing features in this amenity-filled Tuscan-style home in Bernalillo.

Diamond plaster walls, hickory detailing, travertine flooring, decorative tiled arch in the chef’s kitchen, and massive iron chandeliers speak to its elegance, but the home is also eminently livable with nearly 3,000 well-designed square feet of living space including three bedrooms and three bathrooms. A cantera stone fireplace, 25-foot barrel ceilings, and two-and-a-halfinch-thick granite countertops are the type of highend finishes that make the price point an incredible value. Located in the gated community of C de Baca Villas, the house is perched over the Rio Grande for a dynamic view. Enjoy it all from your balcony, covered patio, courtyard, or hot tub.

List price: $535,000 Contact: Rori Wherley, Coldwell Banker Legacy, 505-449-7736, coldwellbankerlegacy.com

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over the river

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on the market

living large Soaring ceilings, stunning mountain and cityscape views, and an innovative design make this bold, bright contemporary in Albuquerque’s foothills a dream home. Inside, the over-the-top amenities include travertine floors, a chef’s kitchen with Wolf appliances and double Sub-Zero refrigerator, a home theater, two huge living areas, a breakfast nook, three fireplaces, and an in-law suite. But the outdoor living is easy, too, with another kitchen, a hot tub, a balcony, and a covered patio looking out to the grass yard. With four bedrooms and five bathrooms, this house boasts an impressive, distinctive look and every amenity a family could need.

List price: $1.595 million Contact: Sean Remington Properties of Keller Williams Realty, 505-307-4006

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Su Cocina

Candied Acorn Squash Crème Brûlée

get cookin’

From Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm comes this delectable dessert recipe. It takes a bit of finessing—not to mention, a kitchen torch—but it’s a real showstopper. Chef Jonathan Perno recommends paying attention to the brûlée’s “giggle” (or wobble). “Check it about five minutes before it’s done, and if it has a nice giggle to it, pull it out,” Perno says.

by Phil Parker

The Grove and Los Poblanos share their favorite egg-based dishes

Serves 6 Crème brûlée: 1 quart + 1/4 cup heavy cream 6 egg yolks 1/2 cup sugar 3 vanilla beans, seeds only Candied acorn squash: 1 large acorn squash, washed, stems removed 3 cups sugar 3 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon grey sea salt for garnish

Sergio Salvador

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. To prepare the crème brûlée, mix egg, vanilla, and sugar together, stir into cream, and strain through a conical strainer. Fill ramekins and place in a 2" baking dish, then fill baking dish halfway with hot water.

Cover pan with foil and carefully place in oven.

After 45 minutes, remove foil, rotate pan, and cook for another 15 to 30 minutes until set on the sides but still fairly wobbly in the middle. Remove from oven and allow to cool in water bath.

To prepare the acorn squash, halve the squash pole to pole, remove the seeds, and cut into 12 total segments. Place in a 4-quart saucepan with water, sugar, and regular salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until soft, but not falling apart. Cut as desired and place on parchment. Save syrup for another use.

To plate, top crème brûlée with an even layer of sugar. Using a propane torch, melt and caramelize the sugar, rotating and tilting each brûlée to evenly distribute the caramel across the top.

Place a piece or two of candied squash on top and sprinkle with gray sea salt.

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Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm 4803 Rio Grande in Albuquerque lospoblanos.com

Organic Egg White Frittata The egg white frittata is fairly new to the menu at The Grove Cafe & Market in downtown Albuquerque, but it has quickly become a customer favorite. “It’s really a dish that’s packed with flavor, when egg whites by themselves can be somewhat on the bland side,” says chef/owner Jason Greene. “For people who are looking for a healthier alternative to whole eggs, this dish takes vegetables that have a lot of flavor and depth, like asparagus and mushrooms, and lets them shine.”

Serves 1–2 6 oz organic egg whites 4–5 cherry tomatoes 2 oz asparagus, roasted then sliced into 1/2" pieces 2 oz wild mushrooms, sliced in half and sautéed in butter 1 oz clarified butter 1 oz arugula 1 oz pecorino cheese, grated Salt and pepper to taste

The Grove Cafe & Market 600 Central SE in Albuquerque thegrovecafemarket.com

Amy Gross

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a nonstick omelet pan over medium heat. Add the vegetables; season with salt and pepper. When vegetables are hot, add the egg whites.

Over medium heat, cook the eggs slowly by bringing in the sides of the egg whites with a spatula, as you would cook an omelet. When the eggs set on the outside of the frittata, place in the oven for 3 minutes.

While the frittata is in the oven, toss the arugula with your favorite vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

When eggs are cooked all the way through, remove frittata from the oven and place on plate. Top with dressed arugula and sprinkle with grated cheese.

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continued from page 16

a whole lotta Lincolns

by Memphis Barbree

Our penny floor project began in early January 2013. It took a month to research the best way to adhere the pennies to the underlayment, demolish the old tile to prepare the kitchen floor, lay out the design, and sort pennies. I had to figure out how to attach the pennies and cover them, and decide whether to grout them or not. Once I began installing the pennies, I quickly realized why the penny floors I had seen in my research were randomly laid rather than containing any sort of repeating design: It’s very hard and time-consuming to achieve a linear pattern!

I had to be more exacting and meticulous than I ever imagined, and I’m a fine art photographer; we’re meticulous people. My best friends for the month (of 12-hour days) that I laid pennies were my laser square and my straight edge.

“I had to be more exacting and meticulous than I ever imagined, and I’m a fine art photographer; we’re meticulous people.”—Memphis Barbree

Pennies in the rosettes feature special dates that are both personally and historically significant.

Penny Floor Facts • Made of 37,088 pennies • Oldest penny is from 1909 • From research to completion: 2 months • 11 gallons of low-VOC, self-leveling bar top epoxy was used • Embedded in the floor are hidden rosettes of 1963 uncirculated pennies celebrating the year both Barbree and Saltzman were born

We got the pennies from Albuquerque and Santa Fe banks in $25 boxes, about four or five at a time, sorting through them for dates and for colors of pennies to make the design. The zinc and steel wartime (1943) pennies were purchased from coin collectors on eBay. The rosettes in the border are all special dates that we collected for birth years of family members and close friends.

Since I couldn’t help thinking a lot about Lincoln and civil rights while making the floor, I put in a civil rights rosette with the birth years of Martin Luther King, Jr., Congressman John Lewis, President Barack Obama, the year of the Civil Rights Act, the year of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, and so on.

When we found a really old penny, we’d wonder about the hands that penny had passed through, the work people had done to receive it, what it might have purchased, and how much more a penny meant at one time than it does now. It was such a great journey!

It took Barbree a month of laborious 12-hour days to place more than 37,000 pennies.

Sorted by date and color, all of the pennies are laid heads up except for the wheat pennies (above) and a row of 2009 special edition pennies that border the floor.

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

continued from page 35

ted $21,000 for their charity, Santa Fe–based Dollars4Schools.

Operating under the Santa Fe Community Foundation, Dollars4Schools funds specific projects requested by teachers. The foundation’s Andie Manzanares was amazed at the outpouring of support by the Santa Fe design community. “It was extraordinary how they brought this house to life and were able to make such a huge difference for these teachers,” she says.

Naylor and Ashton agree that the design collaboration was a success. Much the way the rooms flowed seamlessly into one another, the designers’ ideas and work processes also blended well in the short time period. “With just eight weeks to put our rooms together, no one had enough time to get too cerebral or insane,” says Naylor, adding with a wink, “Well, maybe a little.”

Inspired by the success of their first event, the designers are already on the hunt for their next Show House home, one with more rooms to decorate. Bigger is certainly better in this case; with so much design talent in Santa Fe, the organizers hope to encourage participation from others in the design community.

If this year’s event was any indicator, Show House Santa Fe is soon to become one of the city’s most eagerly anticipated annual affairs.

A serene and masculine guest bedroom designed by Michael Violante and Paul Rochford, inspired by Bruno Cucinelli.

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Su Libro

an eye for design Whether you’re decorating with French flair, repurposing old spaces, or whipping up a warm drink, the only tool you need is a little imagination

Jonny Valiant

The French delight in the combining of objects, an effect sometimes overwhelming to the tidy American sensibility.

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Jonny Valiant

T

hrow your personal design rule book out the window­—the French have arrived, with new ways of displaying art and objects. Well, new to us, anyway.

In her first book, French Accents: At Home With Parisian Objects and Details, set designer and interior and prop stylist Erin Swift shares her passion for the French way of decorating. There’s nothing hoity-toity about it; in fact, unlike contemporary or Southwestern aesthetics, which are informed by specific decorative elements, French design is about taking our own “stuff”—books, clocks, framed art and photographs, garage sale and antique store finds, and those shiny objects that have caught our eyes over the years—and not only finding ways to display it, but to bring it front and center. It’s the combining of objects the French delight in, an effect sometimes overwhelming to French Accents: At Home With the tidy American sensibility.

Parisian Objects and Details, by Erin Swift, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, “The French have a way of collecting and hardcover with jacket, $40.00 displaying their art and antiques that suggests effortlessness,” Swift says. “It seems as if each incredible item in their homes has been in the family for years, and on a whim they placed it against that wall, or by that window, with an intimidating mixture of stylish imprecision and familiarity with very fine things.”

In page after page of gorgeous photographs, the impossibly beautiful spaces in French Accents seem at first glance too perfect to believe. Under closer scrutiny, however, one notices that many of the displayed objects are simply random items, culled from drawers and basements and flea markets, that have found new life. A nonworking round clock hangs above a shabby chic mantel, flanked by old animal skulls. Mismatched pewter pieces and a melted candle rest on the mantel as well. With absolutely no regard for shape, color, or even usefulness, a clever eye has created a visually satisfying mélange of stuff. This is the French way.

Does this mean you must rush out to the closest antiques store and purchase fabulous finds, à la française, for your home? Heavens, no. If you have even a few books in your home, you’re well on your way to espousing French design. Again, forget your preconceived notions of a tidy library; the French use books to achieve all sorts of design effects. Remove some of the covers, or remove all of the covers, says Swift. Arrange some spine-forward alongside some with white-and-ivory pages facing out. Pile books on tables, on chairs, on the floor. No one will blink; what Americans call “clutter” (and possibly even “hoarding”), the French call décor.

Embrace it.

Swift also draws on her expertise as a set stylist to discuss the more practical elements of French decorating: paint color, art framing, textile patterns, carved wooden moldings, even a “Shopper’s History of French Interior Design.” (Can you tell your Late Neoclassic from your Art Nouveau?) But mostly what she suggests is to have fun with your decorating. Be bold.

Display things you love. Bring the outdoors in. Most importantly, per the French rule book, delight in beauty, and place it anywhere.—Amy Gross

C

Tara Striano

oming in from the cold is a fine feeling, but coming in from the cold to a cocktail is so much finer. María Del Mar Sacasa has harnessed the heating power of certain spirits for the only guide you need to wintertime refreshments. Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot “serves up the perfect antidote to any brisk day or Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks, by María Del Mar Sacasa, frosty evening,” she writes.

Quirk Books, hardcover, $22.95 “The heart of this book may be the recipes, but its soul is the spirit of conviviality that is encouraged in the making and sipping of these special drinks.” When taste plus atmosphere create actual warmth, you’ve mixed something special.

The book opens with smart guides to ingredients. Naturally you’ll want to stock your bar correctly (and amply), but don’t forget the extras, like dried edible flowers. Sacasa deftly explains bar tools and offers illustrated step-by-step explanations for making ice molds, caramel, and perfect little citrus garnishes.

Hot toddies and mulled drinks have been served for centuries, so this is a good place for the book to begin. Sacasa gives us several variations on the traditional toddy of honey, whiskey, hot water, and lemon. Her mulled wine is warm, made with red or white wine and spices, and with its satisfying taste and presentation the drink is guaranteed to get winter guests buzzing.

Staples like classic eggnog are included, of course, but there are twists as well, like pumpkin-bourbon eggnog and butterscotch eggnog. Hot chocolate, the classic winter warmer, is amped up in Winter Cocktails in recipes for Earl Grey lavender hot chocolate, winter whitehot chocolate, and salted caramel hot chocolate.

Feeling even bolder? The Rosy Cheek is a nutty combination of hot chocolate and eggnog; whole pink Snowy white Mexican wedding cakes pair perfectly with Rosy Cheeks.

Winter Cocktails includes recipes for both.

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Su Libro

Liquid Gold is a mulled pineapple drink with sweet and tart flavors. A recipe for the grilled pineapple garnish is included.

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Built-Ins Idea Book, by Joanne Kellar Bouknight, The Taunton Press, paperback, $19.95

B

uit-Ins Ideas Book is a guide for making your home more livable.

Architect and author Joanne Kellar Bouknight says the book “focuses primarily on built-ins that hold things, built-ins that are workhorses for a home: cabinets, shelves, seats, fireplace surrounds, closets.”

These shelves and cabinets look like they belong in these spots, even if you’ve never seen anything like them before.

With hundreds of color photographs and explanatory sidebars perfect for homerepair laymen, Built-Ins Ideas Book is a trove of clever space-savers and a helpful how-to.

What’s the right size for a breakfast nook?

How does one most efficiently store oddshaped sports equipment? Where should the flat-screen TV go for optimal viewing?

This is the pragmatic guide to answering space-saving questions.

Cabinets, drawers, and shelves get most of the ink in Bouknight’s tome, and all three are combined in the suggestions for entryway built-ins. Shelves, she says, can be rigged to slide out in certain parts of the house (under stairs, for example), to create hidden storage. Other out-ofthe-box ideas include a “multitasking hallway” with shelves and a foldout desk,

Built-in bookshelves, drawers, and seating boost this study’s functionality, while in the bathroom (above), built-in cabinetry is a practical addition for storage and seating.

Olson Photographic, LLC

Tara Striano

peppercorns give the drink its pop.

Some of these recipes aren’t just for braving cold weather; they’re for surviving cold season. Mama’s Remedy is a sweetened milk drink fortified with spirits. “My mother’s version is a better alternative to any cough syrup—just as soothing and soporific, but much easier on the way down,” writes Sacasa (with an understood wink).

The section of punches, including Bloody Good Punch and English Christmas Punch, gets you ready for wintertime party hosting—holidays optional. And while a “chilled winter cocktails” section may sound counterintuitive, it’s actually brilliant.

“Pack friends into your living room and serve golden pineapple juice braced with bacon-infused bourbon and a bonus snack of peppery candied bacon,” Sacasa advises.

Sold, right?

The snacks could sell this book by themselves. Learn to make nibbles from homemade marshmallows and candied bacon to grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, a party mix, and a variation of pigs in a blanket called “pigs on cushions” that will last about as long as it takes for guests to see them and react.

With deliciously detailed photographs

by Tara Striano and a weighty, satisfying hardcover feel, Winter Cocktails belongs among your cookbooks. It’s also the perfect gift for anyone whose winter parties could use some literal—and figurative—punch.—Phil Parker

Eric Roth

This townhouse staircase was converted into bookshelves that slide out for additional hidden storage space.

and a built-in seat and bookshelves within a stairway switchback. Indeed, the reader learns, almost any corner in a home can be converted into sitting space. The ingenuity continually startles as you flip through the pages of this book, but so does the seamlessness—these shelves and cabinets look like they belong in these spots, even if you’ve never seen anything like them before.

And then there’s the kitchen. “Of all the rooms in your house, the kitchen is the prime space for built-ins,” Bouknight writes. Building space for garbage and recycling is covered, as are island options and instructions on how to hide appliances without compromising accessibility. Handy tables explain exactly what dimensions to mind when making space for refrigerators, dishwashers, sinks, microwaves, etc. Also included are smart suggestions for task, ambient, and accent lighting.

Built-Ins Ideas Book bursts with great ideas, and flipping through its pages is guaranteed to fire up any homeowner’s imagination.

These are accessible suggestions for saving space, creating more storage, and soothing the cluttered mind.—PP

Statement of Ownership 1.Publication Title: Su Casa. 2.Publication No.: 23618. 3.Filing Date: 10/03/13. 4.Issue Frequency: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn.

5.No. of Issues Published Annually: 4. 6.Annual Subscription Price: $9.95. 7.Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not Printer): 4100 Wolcott Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-4572. Contact Person: Bruce Adams, 505-690-5904. 8.Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not Printer): 4100 Wolcott Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. 9.Full Names and Complete Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Bruce Adams, 215 W. San Francisco, Suite 300, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Editor: Amy Gross, 4100 Wolcott Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. 10.Owner: Bella Media, 215 W. San Francisco, Suite 300, Santa Fe, NM 87501. 11.Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12.Tax Status: For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months. 13.Publication Title: Su Casa. 14.Issue Date for circulation data below: Autumn 2013, 15.Extent and nature of circulation: A.Total no. copies (Net Press Run): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 24,200. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 25,000. B.Paid and/or requested circulation: 1.Paid/requested outside-county mail subscriptions stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 9,000. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 9,000. 2.Paid in-county subscriptions stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 0. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 0. 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 9,000. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 9,000. 4.Other classes mailed through the USPS: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 0. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 0. C.Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 18,000. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 18,000. D. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, complimentary, and other free): 1.Outside county as stated on Form 3541: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 0. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 0. 2.In-county as stated on form 3541: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 0. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 0. 3.Other classes mailed through the USPS: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 0. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 0.

4.Free distribution outside the mail (carriers or other means): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 6,100. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 6,900. E.Total free distribution (Sum of 15D): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 6,100. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 6,900. F.Total distribution (Sum of 15C and 15E): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 24,100. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 24,900. G.Copies not distributed: Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 100. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 100. H.Total (Sum of 15F and 15G): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 24,200. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 25,000. I.Percent paid and/or requested circulation (15C divided by 15F, times 100): Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 74.6%. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 72.3%. 16.This statement of ownership will be printed in the Winter 2013–14 issue of this publication.17.

I certify that all information stated above is true and complete: Bruce Adams, Publisher, October 3, 2013.

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Winter 2014 Advertisers Adobe Bungalow.....................................................................70 Albuquerque Home & Garden Show...............................81 Albuquerque Home & Remodeling Show....................83 Albuquerque Sound & Vac..................................................87 Ameriplex Mortgage.............................................................10 Annex General Contracting & Design............................82 Architectural Surfaces, Inc...................................................81 Associa/Canyon Gate Real Estate.....................................86 Beautiful Windows................................................................86 Bespoke Woodwork..............................................................41 Boulevard Homes...................................................................72 Build Green New Mexico/GBC.......................................39 California Closets........................ ..........................................87 Constellation Home Electronics.....................................29 Contemporary Southwest Furniture..............................87 Custom Builders Council...................................................77 DAHL Kitchen & Bath Studio...........................................3 David Naylor Interiors.............................................................7 Decorating Den.......................................................................39 Diamond Tail Ranch.............................................................77 Enchantment Carpet Co. Inc............................................79 Ernest Thompson Custom Cabinets & Furniture..back cover

Fabu-WALL-ous Solutions................................................45 Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery..................33 Fiesta Furnishings..................................................................23 First National Bank of Santa Fe........................................72 General Electric.........................................................................9 Golden Eagle Design.........................................................4–5 Groff Lumber Company Inc.............................................86 Habitat for Humanity...........................................................82 Harder Custom Builders....................................................70 Hermanson Construction, Inc..........................................12 J.C. Anderson Construction...............................................11 JCH/Joseph Custom Homes............................................24 Keller Williams Realty.........................................................17 Keystone Homes Ltd. Co...................................................29 Kirtland Federal Credit Union.........................................21 Las Ventanas Homes.............................................................31 McMillan’s Furniture...........................................................86 Mesa Verde Homes.............................inside front cover Mexican Tile Designs..........................................................40 Mountain West Sales.............................................................31 New Haven Homes...............................................................44 New Mexico Bank & Trust.................................................25 Panorama Homes......................................inside back cover Pella Window & Door.............................................................1 Piñon Window & Door, Inc.................................................33 Positive Energy Solar.............................................................87 Pro Source............................... ................................................58 Raby Co./Flooring Direct......................................................13 Samuel Design Group..........................................................59 Sierra Pacific Windows.........................................................15 Sol Luna Solar.........................................................................73 Statements in Tile/Lighting/Kitchens/Flooring............24 Summertree Homes..............................................................79 Sun Mountain Construction............................................40 There’s No Place Like Home...............................................71 U.S. New Mexico Federal Credit Union.............................2 Union Savings Bank..............................................................27 Villanueva Granite Inc.........................................................45 Wagner Mechanical..............................................................69 Warrick Custom Homes......................................................73 Western Building Supply.....................................................19 Wholesale Timber & Viga...................................................82 82

S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

Southwestern homes

inspiration ideas resources

going

Southwestern homes

green

in ABQ

®

inspiration ideas resources

this old Santa Fe house

Steve Thomas remodels an eastside adobe

rammed earth

takes on the elements in Taos

two households,

one goal:

sustainability Vol. 19 no. 1 WINTER 2013

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Southwestern homes

Tour New Mexico homes in the 2013 spring

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parade

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it’s all about the architecture in Corrales

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Tijeras mountain retreat VOL. 19 NO. 2 SPRING 2013

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No space is wasted in either the house or the compact infill lot.

Here, a walled corner proves the perfect spot for a peaceful water feature and xeric plants.

Casual yet cosmopolitan, the basement TV room is the family hangout.

Leina and Karla share the neat-as-a-pin collection of guitars. An iconic cowhide LC4 Chaise Longue chair designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand, is in the foreground.

A basement made so much sense: It solved storage issues, created a teen hangout place, and very affordably doubled the size of the house.

continued from page 53

the house directly from the energy produced by the solar panels.

“Jesse built a really tight house,” Helland says proudly. “He’s a really laid-back guy, but when it comes to his work, he’s super-picky and demanding.”

And Gries’s home is proof that “ecofriendly” doesn’t have to mean “boring.”

A model of uncompromising green design it is indeed, but it’s the many distinctive, thoughtful touches throughout the home that make this Santa Fe award-winner what it was intended to be: a comfortable family retreat.

Left: The tools of the trade. At his underlit drafting table, Gries mocks out ideas for his next building and steel fabrication projects.

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Beautiful Windows

Add expression to your home with custom window coverings from Hunter Douglas and Beautiful Windows.

From subtle to striking we offer endless possibilities to transform your windows into the spectacualar. And Hunter Douglas is simply the best! Let’s get started – call today to schedule your complementary design consultation.

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For over 25 years Albuquerque Sound & Vac has been your low voltage contractor for Central Vacuum Systems, DIRECTV, Home Theater Solutions, Intercom Systems, Network and Structured Wiring and Security & Surveillance Systems. We offer many of the premier brands including Beam, Yamaha, SpeakerCraft and many others. Our professional experienced team is ready to work with you on your home or business.

Custom Storage Solutions Serving the entire state of New Mexico, California Closets creates custom designs for every room in the home, utilizing only the finest materials and suppliers available. Find out what California Closets can do for you. Call us today.

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87

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fleeting beauty Kate Russell

Channeling the clean minimalism of fashion icon Calvin Klein, interior designer Lisa Samuel of Samuel Design Group briefly transformed a traditional Southwest-style guest bedroom into a smart, modern home office for Show House Santa Fe (see “Fashionable Spaces,” page 34). If the room itself was ephemeral, its look was anything but. “I chose Calvin Klein as my fashion inspiration because I love clean lines that embody sophistication, simplicity, and timeless design,” Samuel says. Porcelain platters by Heidi Loewen and a painting by Stephen Auger complement the calming, neutral palette and overlook vintage chairs covered in Mongolian lamb. “Any space should make the occupant feel good,” says Samuel. “With this design, I was going for peaceful, understated elegance.”

Lisa Samuel, ASID, IIDA, Samuel Design Group, samueldesigngroup.com

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S U C A S A W I N T E R 2014

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