Toltec Custom Homes orchestrates masterpieces for beautiful living. Whether you own land to be built upon or you are looking for the perfect homesite to build your masterpiece, make Toltec Custom Homes part of your decision-making process. For more information, call 480.244.6347 or visit www.tolteccustomhomes.com.
Greg Hammond, President Toltec Custom Homes _________ Monica Hammond, CEO Toltec Custom Homes Owner/Agent
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
A Little About “Toltec”
The Toltec were an ancient civilization of Mexico. The name in Nahuatl means “master builders.” Influenced by Teotihuacán and the Olmec culture, they were masters in the arts and architecture. The Toltec civilization was materially far advanced. They smelted metals and their stonework was highly developed. The Toltec were artists, architects and engineers far ahead of their time. Later, the Aztec people used the term “Toltec” to refer to a person who was the embodiment of great knowledge and wisdom.
A Little About Toltec Custom Homes
Greg Hammond, President and Owner of Toltec Custom Homes, has over twenty years of experience in the Arizona building industry. He has assembled an outstanding team of extraordinary professionals to deliver the pinnacle in quality, material, workmanship and service to meet and exceed clients’ expectations in the custom homebuilding experience. Toltec Custom Homes prides itself in utilizing leading edge technology to expedite and enhance the building process. In the field, Toltec Custom Homes has all information concerning each project on hand through the Build Links technology; plans, blueprints, schedules, projections, progress photos, contracts, contacts etc. are all accessible through a password protected webbased management and communication system. Since Toltec Custom Homes’ field personnel are armed with wireless PC technology, this allows access to important information at all times to keep the projects moving; any time, anywhere. It is both art and science in the building of a home that is both aesthetically beautiful and functionally practical, and Toltec Custom Homes embraces both aspects.
A Little About How Toltec’s Knowledge Can Help You…
Not only can Toltec Custom Homes create the home of your dreams, but their extensive knowledge of land/lots in affluent areas, and their real estate expertise is at your disposal. Monica Hammond, CEO of Toltec Custom Homes and a licensed Realtor®, can aid you in locating and purchasing your ideal home site. With years of experience in the custom home building industry, there’s added value in utilizing their services in your land acquisition endeavor…value that can save you a lot of time, frustration, and money. With an eye towards the final product in mind, Toltec Custom Homes can address many important issues often not considered during the lot selection process. While views and vegetation are important, there are many other issues that can impact the home building process such as zoning (Environmentally Sensitive Land Ordinances, height restrictions, etc.), topography (washes cfs, elevation changes, etc.), soil condition (expansive soils, hard rock, etc.), site engineering (compaction, grading, drainage, etc.), lot/site preparation (excavation, retaining walls, etc.), and Home Owners Associations (CC&Rs, Architectural Committees, Design Review, etc) all of which can impact (1) the design/orientation of the house, (2) the landscape design and species of vegetation allowed, and ultimately (3) your cost for the homebuilding project. Before launching your search for the perfect home site, contact Monica Hammond at 480-244-6347. Simplify your search and save time, frustration, and money. It doesn’t cost you a penny to access this specialized service.
Resort-Style Living
DISCOVER TOLTEC CUSTOM HOMES
It’s Swim Season
FUN FACTS ABOUT POOLS
Perfection On The Grill
GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Summer Snowball Market Street at DC Ranch, Aug. 18th. 480.342.7178 or www.beonmarketstreet.com. Finally! A genuine snowball fight can be had during a hot, Valley summer! Tons of snow will be blown into the park, guaranteeing laughter and smiles all around. This fourth-annual event is a fundraiser for Homeward Bound, a transitional housing program for families with young children who are homeless or in need of a safe shelter. Bring your mittens and boots and perhaps a carrot for your snowman’s nose! Mamma Mia ASU Gammage, Aug. 21st-26th. 480.784.4444 or www.asugammage.com. If you are a child of the 70s, or simply a fan of ABBA’s timeless music, you must experience the magic of this award-winning musical production. Follow along as your favorite ABBA music winds its way through a funny and poignant tale of lost love, long-standing friendships and the discoveries of a daughter about her mother. You are sure to leave the performance with a smile in your heart and a beat in your step. Flashlight Discovery Tours Desert Botanical Garden, through Aug. 30th. 480.941.3510 or www.dbg.org. The desert holds many wonders, especially at night. Come see, hear and smell the sights and sounds of our Sonoran Desert at night. Howling coyotes, ever-watchful owls and night-blooming flowers may be your next discovery as you embark upon your flashlight tour through the garden. Phoenix Cooks! Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Sept. 1st. 602.374.6210 or www.phoenixchildrens.com. Savor, sip, shop and explore. This culinary event attracts foodies from all over the Valley and is a benefit for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Watch Arizona’s best chefs in action, savor delicious foods, attend a cooking demonstration in the “Food Forum”, enjoy wines and spirits from all over the globe and discover the latest in cooking products and kitchen gadgetry. Grand Opening Celebration Tempe Center for the Arts, Sept. 9th. 480.350.2882 or www.tempe.gov/tca. Join in the daytime celebration of this new Valley venue’s opening. There will be a variety of family-friendly events including short performances by Childsplay and Arizona Wind Ensemble. Be sure to enjoy the crafts, costumes, instruments, food and beverages that will be on hand and perhaps discover a new performing arts company that you’ll want to see more of. Conversations With... Hilton Scottsdale Resort, September 25th. 480.481.2002 or www.blacktie-arizona.com. With the release of the film The Nanny Diaries this month, authors of the bestselling novel Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin will be on hand at this special event and book signing. Hosted by Fox 10’s Cory McClosky, the VIP reception includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the authors. Include this selection in your book club and bring all the girls down for a great evening you won’t soon forget!
Swimming Pool Trivia
Titanic was the first ocean liner to have a swimming pool and a gym. The turbo pump on the Space Shuttle main engine is so powerful it could drain an average family-sized swimming pool in 25 seconds. Esther Williams did not win any Olympic medals for swimming or for diving. The year she was to compete (1940), the Olympics were suspended due to WWII. Benjamin Franklin invented swim fins. The Romans built the first swimming pools in the first century BC. An Olympic swimming pool has eight lanes. In a single year, one leaky toilet can waste enough water to fill a backyard swimming pool. The world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool is in Balmorhea State Park in Texas with a 62,000 square-foot (that’s almost 1.5 acres) surface. The scene in It’s a Wonderful Life where Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are dancing at a high school prom when a hidden swimming pool beneath them slides open and the dancers fall into the water, was filmed at Beverly Hills High. Several scenes in Jaws were filmed in a production editor’s backyard swimming pool. FDR is said to have modernized the White House by adding a pool that he used for physical therapy. Recording artist Stevie Nicks and Nashville musician Webb Pierce both had backyard pools shaped like a guitar. Over 42,000 gallons of water (enough to fill a 30 x 50 foot swimming pool) are needed to grow and prepare the food for a typical Thanksgiving dinner for eight. It is against the law to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool in Baldwin Park, California. In 1985, the swimming pool at the University of Arizona lost water from sloshing caused by the 8.1 earthquake in Michoacan, Mexico 1240 miles away.
Grilled Chicken Breast Stuffed with Goat Cheese 8 oz. soft goat cheese
salt & freshly-ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped nicoise olives
4 large boneless chicken breasts pounded thin
1 red pepper - roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh thyme - finely chopped
toothpicks
Preheat grill. In a small bowl, mix together goat cheese, olives, red pepper and thyme and season with salt & pepper to taste. Lay each breast out flat and fill with the cheese mixture. Brush the breasts with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Secure with toothpicks. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Toltec Custom Homes President and Owner Greg Hammond has a passion for creating — creating culinary masterpieces as well as architectural masterpieces! His savory hobby has him sampling recipes from the complex and exotic to the simple and traditional. This creation was on Greg’s menu this year for his annual family BBQ. It seems perfect to share in this issue as we’re highlighting the pleasures of outdoor living.
Before building the model home and pool pictured on the cover, the owners of Toltec Custom Homes took a trip to the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas for their ultimate paradise vacation. They decided to bring back a little bit of paradise to the desert in the design and creation of this resort style living space. One of the most enchanting parts of their vacation was the shallow warm water that extended for an eternity into the ocean, allowing them to sit in the warm water with waves gently swelling up all around. To emulate this, Toltec Custom Homes designed and created a reverse infinity edge beach entry stretching the entire length of the patio. With the waterfall features spilling water into the opposite side of the pool, it creates a gentle lapping effect on the beach. While the baby powder soft white sand beaches in the Bahamas were heavenly, sand on the patio would have been impractical. So instead, another impressive feature from the resort at which they stayed made its way to this resort style patio: white shell stone instead of cool decking or travertine pavers. The natural stone has a smooth non-slippery surface with fossilized shells embedded throughout. It so effectively deflects the suns heat, that it stays cooler than either cool decking or travertine. As previously mentioned, opposite the beach entry are mortar washed stone columns with sheer
descent waterfalls spilling from under the cantera stone caps. Sitting atop the caps are hand carved natural cantera stone pots, giving the pool an elegant feel. The ten person spa also has an infinity edge spilling into the main pool with a hand-carved cantera stone fire pot on one corner. Both the pool and the spa have an intricate lighting system that allows a myriad of combinations of colors to either dance throughout the pool and spa, or to subtly enhance the ambiance. The outdoor living space and indoor living space (and floors) seamlessly meld together with the four 12’x10’ disappearing glass sliding doors that open an entire wall of the family room to the tranquil resort beauty in the backyard. The patio space itself is not only beautiful, but functional. A gourmet barbeque center with side burners and a granite countertop make it a pleasure to cook entire meals outdoors. Since the house is oriented such that the backyard is in the shade in the afternoon, the misting system that spans the entire length of the patio makes for a cool outdoor retreat, even in the middle of summer. There’s also a cozy lounge space with chaises and a fireplace with a flat screen plasma TV above. With a decorative glass door closet tucked away in a corner for pool toys, it’s easy to keep this ‘paradise’ resort style backyard picture perfect.
Summer Snowball Market Street at DC Ranch, Aug. 18th. 480.342.7178 or www.beonmarketstreet.com. Finally! A genuine snowball fight can be had during a hot, Valley summer! Tons of snow will be blown into the park, guaranteeing laughter and smiles all around. This fourth-annual event is a fundraiser for Homeward Bound, a transitional housing program for families with young children who are homeless or in need of a safe shelter. Bring your mittens and boots and perhaps a carrot for your snowman’s nose! Mamma Mia ASU Gammage, Aug. 21st-26th. 480.784.4444 or www.asugammage.com. If you are a child of the 70s, or simply a fan of ABBA’s timeless music, you must experience the magic of this award-winning musical production. Follow along as your favorite ABBA music winds its way through a funny and poignant tale of lost love, long-standing friendships and the discoveries of a daughter about her mother. You are sure to leave the performance with a smile in your heart and a beat in your step. Flashlight Discovery Tours Desert Botanical Garden, through Aug. 30th. 480.941.3510 or www.dbg.org. The desert holds many wonders, especially at night. Come see, hear and smell the sights and sounds of our Sonoran Desert at night. Howling coyotes, ever-watchful owls and night-blooming flowers may be your next discovery as you embark upon your flashlight tour through the garden. Phoenix Cooks! Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Sept. 1st. 602.374.6210 or www.phoenixchildrens.com. Savor, sip, shop and explore. This culinary event attracts foodies from all over the Valley and is a benefit for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Watch Arizona’s best chefs in action, savor delicious foods, attend a cooking demonstration in the “Food Forum”, enjoy wines and spirits from all over the globe and discover the latest in cooking products and kitchen gadgetry. Grand Opening Celebration Tempe Center for the Arts, Sept. 9th. 480.350.2882 or www.tempe.gov/tca. Join in the daytime celebration of this new Valley venue’s opening. There will be a variety of family-friendly events including short performances by Childsplay and Arizona Wind Ensemble. Be sure to enjoy the crafts, costumes, instruments, food and beverages that will be on hand and perhaps discover a new performing arts company that you’ll want to see more of. Conversations With... Hilton Scottsdale Resort, September 25th. 480.481.2002 or www.blacktie-arizona.com. With the release of the film The Nanny Diaries this month, authors of the bestselling novel Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin will be on hand at this special event and book signing. Hosted by Fox 10’s Cory McClosky, the VIP reception includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the authors. Include this selection in your book club and bring all the girls down for a great evening you won’t soon forget!
Swimming Pool Trivia
Titanic was the first ocean liner to have a swimming pool and a gym. The turbo pump on the Space Shuttle main engine is so powerful it could drain an average family-sized swimming pool in 25 seconds. Esther Williams did not win any Olympic medals for swimming or for diving. The year she was to compete (1940), the Olympics were suspended due to WWII. Benjamin Franklin invented swim fins. The Romans built the first swimming pools in the first century BC. An Olympic swimming pool has eight lanes. In a single year, one leaky toilet can waste enough water to fill a backyard swimming pool. The world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool is in Balmorhea State Park in Texas with a 62,000 square-foot (that’s almost 1.5 acres) surface. The scene in It’s a Wonderful Life where Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are dancing at a high school prom when a hidden swimming pool beneath them slides open and the dancers fall into the water, was filmed at Beverly Hills High. Several scenes in Jaws were filmed in a production editor’s backyard swimming pool. FDR is said to have modernized the White House by adding a pool that he used for physical therapy. Recording artist Stevie Nicks and Nashville musician Webb Pierce both had backyard pools shaped like a guitar. Over 42,000 gallons of water (enough to fill a 30 x 50 foot swimming pool) are needed to grow and prepare the food for a typical Thanksgiving dinner for eight. It is against the law to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool in Baldwin Park, California. In 1985, the swimming pool at the University of Arizona lost water from sloshing caused by the 8.1 earthquake in Michoacan, Mexico 1240 miles away.
Grilled Chicken Breast Stuffed with Goat Cheese 8 oz. soft goat cheese
salt & freshly-ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped nicoise olives
4 large boneless chicken breasts pounded thin
1 red pepper - roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh thyme - finely chopped
toothpicks
Preheat grill. In a small bowl, mix together goat cheese, olives, red pepper and thyme and season with salt & pepper to taste. Lay each breast out flat and fill with the cheese mixture. Brush the breasts with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Secure with toothpicks. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Toltec Custom Homes President and Owner Greg Hammond has a passion for creating — creating culinary masterpieces as well as architectural masterpieces! His savory hobby has him sampling recipes from the complex and exotic to the simple and traditional. This creation was on Greg’s menu this year for his annual family BBQ. It seems perfect to share in this issue as we’re highlighting the pleasures of outdoor living.
Before building the model home and pool pictured on the cover, the owners of Toltec Custom Homes took a trip to the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas for their ultimate paradise vacation. They decided to bring back a little bit of paradise to the desert in the design and creation of this resort style living space. One of the most enchanting parts of their vacation was the shallow warm water that extended for an eternity into the ocean, allowing them to sit in the warm water with waves gently swelling up all around. To emulate this, Toltec Custom Homes designed and created a reverse infinity edge beach entry stretching the entire length of the patio. With the waterfall features spilling water into the opposite side of the pool, it creates a gentle lapping effect on the beach. While the baby powder soft white sand beaches in the Bahamas were heavenly, sand on the patio would have been impractical. So instead, another impressive feature from the resort at which they stayed made its way to this resort style patio: white shell stone instead of cool decking or travertine pavers. The natural stone has a smooth non-slippery surface with fossilized shells embedded throughout. It so effectively deflects the suns heat, that it stays cooler than either cool decking or travertine. As previously mentioned, opposite the beach entry are mortar washed stone columns with sheer
descent waterfalls spilling from under the cantera stone caps. Sitting atop the caps are hand carved natural cantera stone pots, giving the pool an elegant feel. The ten person spa also has an infinity edge spilling into the main pool with a hand-carved cantera stone fire pot on one corner. Both the pool and the spa have an intricate lighting system that allows a myriad of combinations of colors to either dance throughout the pool and spa, or to subtly enhance the ambiance. The outdoor living space and indoor living space (and floors) seamlessly meld together with the four 12’x10’ disappearing glass sliding doors that open an entire wall of the family room to the tranquil resort beauty in the backyard. The patio space itself is not only beautiful, but functional. A gourmet barbeque center with side burners and a granite countertop make it a pleasure to cook entire meals outdoors. Since the house is oriented such that the backyard is in the shade in the afternoon, the misting system that spans the entire length of the patio makes for a cool outdoor retreat, even in the middle of summer. There’s also a cozy lounge space with chaises and a fireplace with a flat screen plasma TV above. With a decorative glass door closet tucked away in a corner for pool toys, it’s easy to keep this ‘paradise’ resort style backyard picture perfect.
Toltec Custom Homes orchestrates masterpieces for beautiful living. Whether you own land to be built upon or you are looking for the perfect homesite to build your masterpiece, make Toltec Custom Homes part of your decision-making process. For more information, call 480.244.6347 or visit www.tolteccustomhomes.com.
Greg Hammond, President Toltec Custom Homes _________ Monica Hammond, CEO Toltec Custom Homes Owner/Agent
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2007
A Little About “Toltec”
The Toltec were an ancient civilization of Mexico. The name in Nahuatl means “master builders.” Influenced by Teotihuacán and the Olmec culture, they were masters in the arts and architecture. The Toltec civilization was materially far advanced. They smelted metals and their stonework was highly developed. The Toltec were artists, architects and engineers far ahead of their time. Later, the Aztec people used the term “Toltec” to refer to a person who was the embodiment of great knowledge and wisdom.
A Little About Toltec Custom Homes
Greg Hammond, President and Owner of Toltec Custom Homes, has over twenty years of experience in the Arizona building industry. He has assembled an outstanding team of extraordinary professionals to deliver the pinnacle in quality, material, workmanship and service to meet and exceed clients’ expectations in the custom homebuilding experience. Toltec Custom Homes prides itself in utilizing leading edge technology to expedite and enhance the building process. In the field, Toltec Custom Homes has all information concerning each project on hand through the Build Links technology; plans, blueprints, schedules, projections, progress photos, contracts, contacts etc. are all accessible through a password protected webbased management and communication system. Since Toltec Custom Homes’ field personnel are armed with wireless PC technology, this allows access to important information at all times to keep the projects moving; any time, anywhere. It is both art and science in the building of a home that is both aesthetically beautiful and functionally practical, and Toltec Custom Homes embraces both aspects.
A Little About How Toltec’s Knowledge Can Help You…
Not only can Toltec Custom Homes create the home of your dreams, but their extensive knowledge of land/lots in affluent areas, and their real estate expertise is at your disposal. Monica Hammond, CEO of Toltec Custom Homes and a licensed Realtor®, can aid you in locating and purchasing your ideal home site. With years of experience in the custom home building industry, there’s added value in utilizing their services in your land acquisition endeavor…value that can save you a lot of time, frustration, and money. With an eye towards the final product in mind, Toltec Custom Homes can address many important issues often not considered during the lot selection process. While views and vegetation are important, there are many other issues that can impact the home building process such as zoning (Environmentally Sensitive Land Ordinances, height restrictions, etc.), topography (washes cfs, elevation changes, etc.), soil condition (expansive soils, hard rock, etc.), site engineering (compaction, grading, drainage, etc.), lot/site preparation (excavation, retaining walls, etc.), and Home Owners Associations (CC&Rs, Architectural Committees, Design Review, etc) all of which can impact (1) the design/orientation of the house, (2) the landscape design and species of vegetation allowed, and ultimately (3) your cost for the homebuilding project. Before launching your search for the perfect home site, contact Monica Hammond at 480-244-6347. Simplify your search and save time, frustration, and money. It doesn’t cost you a penny to access this specialized service.
Resort-Style Living
DISCOVER TOLTEC CUSTOM HOMES
It’s Swim Season
FUN FACTS ABOUT POOLS
Perfection On The Grill
GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.