Antler 3

This house contains 2150 heated square feet and is located on 2 acres in the Alto Golf and Country Club. The property has a severe grade that rises sharply from the road below. However, the drastic change in elevation also allowed for the possibility of an enormous panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and mountains. In order to prevent high foundation costs, I designed the house to run along the hillside so as to minimize the difference of height from the front to the back of the house. We were able to utilize the space under the house in the crawlspace to locate the HVAC equipment. Also, we located the garage at the same level of the main floor in order to maintain a level entry and minimize steps from the garage into the house.

This house was built on a cinderblock foundation with a beam & pier floor system. In mountain environments, this method of construction is the most cost-effective. We installed fiberglass exterior doors throughout that could be gel-stained to appear like stained wood in order to maintain the mountain cabin style. Fiberglass doors are a good product and were chosen because of their ability to withstand the extreme temperature changes you find in New Mexico where snow can be followed by warm sunshine frequently with the additional benefit of requiring very little maintenance. Jeldwen vinyl windows, synthetic stucco, and metal roofing complete the outside finishes and also require low maintenance which was a must for these homeowners. This home was built as investment property and second home. It was not a full-time residence and therefore needed to maintain itself when the owners were absent.

The layout of the house allows for the bedrooms to have privacy from the main living areas. The center of the house is an open area with vaulted ceilings that combines the living room, kitchen, and dining area making entertaining for this couple easy while also creating a naturally lit and spacious home. The vaulted ceilings are finished with stained and lacquered wood and the floor is red oak hardwood finished with a high gloss coat. These floors were chosen to eliminate stains or allergens often found with carpet flooring and are also very easy to keep clean. A wood burning fireplace is located to one end of the living room with river rock installed from the floor to the wood ceiling, which provides additional heat in the winter and an incredible ambiance in the evenings. The high gloss finish on both the floor and the ceiling allow the fire to create a shimmering glow that envelopes the living room. Also, custom touches, like wooden window sills, were also added, again fostering the cabin feel. The kitchen counters are 3 cm. granite with maple cabinetry that has been finished with a custom stain and glaze.

The bedrooms are separated from one another by the living room, each located in a corner of the house. The master bedroom commands a nice view of the surrounding valleys and mountains and contains a spacious sitting area for reading or conversation. An exterior door was installed in this area for the couple to have access to the covered redwood deck directly from this private sitting area in their bedroom. It allows for convenient early morning sunset viewing or an impromptu evening meeting on the deck for the two. Each bedroom has its own bath and spacious closets. The bathrooms all have Delta plumbing fixtures, porcelain drop-in sinks, and elongated commodes. The master bathroom has a custom tile shower and a Jacuzzi tub complete with windows for viewing the trees and evening stars at night.

In addition to the covered Redwood deck, another large concrete partially-covered patio, enclosed by a synthetic stucco courtyard wall, was added for this couple to enhance their lifestyle of entertaining friends and family. This area has been finished with a meandering rock creek, flowers, and shrubs to create a serene environment and topped off with a full size hot tub for soaking, a fire pit for warmth and an evening glow, and plenty of seating for guests. This addition has proven to be one of this home's best features. This home was built for comfort, entertaining, an immense view, and to flow with the natural lay of the land.