Su Casa Southwest Homes Summer 2016 Digital Edition by sucasaabqsf

15+ Meetups

Northern New Mexico

to get you “out there”

inspiration ideas resources

adventure of a lifetime label-defying Tesuque home

cool kitchens outdoor living

Nob Hill Japanese retreat VOL. 22 NO. 3 SUMMER 2016

SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

Mesa Verde Homes in collaboration with Reliance Construction

with Marie

Award winning builder,

mesa verde homes with marie, is proud to announce collaboration with Kay Beason/Reliance Construction, a known and respected custom home builder. This partnership offers our clients over 55 years of combined experience and the strongest custom building team available. Whether your project is large or small we are enthusiastic about creating the home of your dreams. Specializing in unique high quality custom home designs and construction.

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SHOP THE LOOK: Pella® Impervia® fiberglass single-hung and fixed windows.

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Pella® windows and doors offer your home more than just exquisite beauty. Our energy-efficient products are made to withstand the Southwest climate and stay looking great for years. And it’s all backed by professional service from beginning to end. Call your local Pella Window and Door Showroom today to start with a free quote. Then see how your project can be completed in as little as a day.

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NEVER WORRY ABOUT YOUR ROOF AGAIN! Fix My Roof is a state-wide roof restoration specialist company located in Santa Fe. When roofs reach the end of their normal life, rather than waste money to tear off the old roof, we advise home owners to take the National Roof Council’s advice: “85% of old roofs can be restored” using liquid silicone, which never breaks down from exposure to UV rays.

“The entire Fix My Roof team was friendly, reliable, and professional. Their attention to detail, timeliness in getting the job done, and overall customer service was superior and truly appreciated.”

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Golden Eagle Design Golden Eagle Design is New Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier luxury kitchen and bath showroom.

Our expert staff will help you design the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams. With three locations to serve you, Golden Eagle Design is your best choice for your kitchen and bath needs. ALBUQUERQUE, NM 505.888.9457 2601 Vassar DR NE Albuquerque, NM 87107 SANTA FE, NM 505.473.5177 3935 San Felipe RD Santa Fe, NM 87507 TAOS, NM 575.758.7987 65 Upper Las Colinas RD El Prado, NM 87529

Northern New Mexico

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30 SOUTHWESTERN

HOMES 30 work of art

An elegant and livable Corrales home is a trove of collected treasures and a celebration of New Mexican art and culture.

38 adventure of a lifetime

An eclectic Tesuque home and its world-traveling owners defy labels and convention.

48 laying down the Law

A custom renovation allows one homeowner to personalize his spaces just the way he likes.

SPECIAL SECTIONS 58 OU TDOOR L I VI NG

In Nob Hill, a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asian aesthetic is extended into the backyard as a serene Japanese garden.

66 KI TCH EN S

A quartet of innovative kitchens designed for families and foodies.

Chris Corrie

inspiration ideas resources

Choose two

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Destiny Allison, To Understand, metal triptych, each piece 60 x 20"

14 Inside Su Casa

16 Life+Style Southwest A thoughtfully renovated Santa Fe kitchen; Steve Thomas on his preference for engineered building materials; and a roundup of red, white, and blue home items to celebrate Independence Day.

On the cover: Filled with lighting, furniture, and décor acquired during the owners’ world travels, a contemporary hilltop home is truly one of a kind. Read more on page 38. Photograph by Chris Corrie.

Visit SuCasaMagazine.com Mark L. Watson

IN EVERY ISSUE

Bill Stengel

24 Design Studio Local masters of metal art open up about their craft.

28 Enchanted Spaces

Is your guesthouse or casita sitting vacant? Moll Anderson offers tips on turning those empty rooms into lucrative rental space.

76 Su Cocina

Green Jeans Farmery brings together locally owned businesses in a hip, urban setting; and James Selby shares a few of his favorite wine accessories.

82 Vida Buena Good times roll all year long in New Orleans; Meetups in Albuquerque and Santa Fe bring the like-minded together, the old-fashioned way; and Tom Smylie waxes poetic about the goldfinch, one of Northern New Mexico’s favorite summer visitors.

88 Su Libro

Two new books will give you the confidence to choose the right utensil at a fancy dinner and the right chile pepper to season your enchiladas.

96 What’s Happening? Concerts, live performances, and festivals happening around Albuquerque and Santa Fe from July through August.

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inspiration ideas resources

Published by Bella Media, LLC

Publisher Bruce Adams

Associate Publisher B.Y. Cooper

Editor Amy Gross

Editorial Assistant Stephanie Love

Contributors

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO FIT EVERY NEED! Whether you’re buying your dream home or need help building it, you can count on me to provide you with customized financing solutions to fit every need! Our One Time Close™ Construction loan program is just one program that can help you build your dream home. It’s a construction loan and permanent financing all rolled into one. Your interest rate is locked in at the start of construction so that you don’t have to worry about interest rates. No inconvenience of two closing or duplicate costs. Includes Jumbo loan amounts too! Give me a call today so that I can help you own your dream home of a lifetime!

Catherine Adams, Moll Anderson Jessa Cast, Ben Ikenson, Anne Maclachlan Cassie McClure Cristina Olds, James Selby Tom Smylie, Steve Thomas Sarah Wolbach

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Su Casa Northern New Mexico (ISSN 1094-4562 & USPS # 2-3618) Volume 22, Number 3, Summer 2016. Su Casa Northern New Mexico is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by Bella Media, LLC at Pacheco Park, 1512 Pacheco St, Ste D-105, Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA, Phone (505) 983-1444. © Copyright 2016 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 $5.95. 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, sucasamagazine.com

Enjoy TV like never before

Chopped and Property Brothers available on the XFINITY TV app

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Call 1-800-XFINITY, click xfinity.com or visit the XFINITY Store at 4800 Cutler Ave. NE, Suite 25, Albuquerque, NM 87110 Not available in Rio Rancho

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

President: Jamie Rayne First Vice President: Scott Ashcraft Second Vice President: Mike Fietz Immediate Past President: Brian McCarthy Associate Vice President: Lora Vassar Secretary/Treasurer: Connor Payne Associate-at-Large: Joe Rogillio Custom Builders Council, Chair: Norm Schreifels Education Committee, Chair: Diana Lucero Green Build Council, Chair: Brooke Nutting Home Builders Care, Chair: Bill Reynolds Membership Committee, Chair: David Newell Parade Committee, Chair: Ron Sisneros Production Builders Council, Chair: Kevin Patton Remodelers Council, Chair: Rob Hughes Sales & Marketing Council, Chair: Kerry Lujan Advisory Members: Bain Cochran, Scott Grady, Rick Lackey, Garret Price Honorary Member: Bruce Adams H om e Bu il d e 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: John Garcia Vice President of Operations: Lana McClure Communication & Membership Specialist: Damian Abeita Events & Education Specialist: Jill Martinez

presidential award

Copyright ÂŠ 2016 by Bella Media, LLC. Bella Media, LLC Pacheco Park 1512 Pacheco St, Ste D-105 Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-983-1444 sucasamagazine.com Please direct editorial queries to amygross@sucasamagazine.com. Su Casaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

Home sweet Om.

Live in a place where ‘getting away from it all’ is as simple as stepping through your own back door. Nestled within 3,000 acres of serene New Mexican wildlife, homes in Mariposa are designed to fit your unique needs and style with custom floor plans from a wide range of builders and seemingly endless features. Hike or bike our miles of trails, take a yoga class at our fitness center or relax poolside with a good book, and you’ll find more than the perfect blend of lifestyle and luxury here. You’ll discover a part of yourself.

Find your natural habitat.

LiveInMariposa.com

Inside Su Casa

laws of attraction

Publisher

Right: Gleaming contemporary finishes and midcentury furnishings bring a 1940s–built Albuquerque kitchen gracefully into the present day. Read about this remodeled kitchen and four others on pages 16 and 66.

Chris Corrie

Bruce Adams

DAVID ROBIN

ike many, I love summer in Northern New Mexico. The temperate climate allows for so many wonderful outdoor activities, not to mention outdoor living. I am especially drawn to the outdoors by the beautiful aromas that drift off the native vegetation. It’s an intoxicating fragrance unique to New Mexico. The only fragrance I like more is the smell of the desert after it rains—as it will surely do this summer. This unique fragrance is so alluring that I’m encouraged to spend my summer right here where I can soak it all up. Another favorite aroma is the French roast coffee brewing in my coffee maker, which draws me similarly to my kitchen. We all know how important the kitchen is to the home and for the personalities who live in that home. In this issue of Su Casa Northern New Mexico we present several beautiful and interesting versions of the modern kitchen. In each case, the owner has had the builder or kitchen designer create a kitchen that isn’t a cookie cutter repeat of every house in the neighborhood. Instead, the homeowners have tapped into their unique personalities and tastes to create kitchens that reflect their needs and desires. While our kitchens play a huge role in our day-to-day lives, they are also given more allowance for functionality and our personal dietary ingredients. A cluster of items may make a bedroom look messy or cluttered, but in the kitchen it adds to the personality of the space—a strong reflection of the primary cook. Today’s kitchens are not like Grandma’s. Entertainment centers, computer niches, and casual dining nooks are just a few of the latest developments. Appliances have incorporated technology that makes cooking an easier process with just about everything being programmable. Many appliances incorporate the same materials as other parts of the kitchen, allowing for a cohesive look. One thing all the technological advances in our homes can’t change is the mouthwatering aromas that lure us to the point of origin. It may be for this reason that the kitchen remains the most popular room in the house and why it’s the one space in the home worthy of the investment. Our feature homes as well as the kitchen feature will inspire you with many ideas, all of which will be alluring to your family and friends.

Life+Style Southwest Erica Ortiz, owner of NeuBleu Interior Design of Santa Fe, had the opportunity to work with “a wonderful couple who wanted a bit of contemporary, and yet a Santa Fe vibe.” Teaming up with True North Builders, Ortiz renovated an old space into this sleek, stylish kitchen that’s decidedly “Santa Fe,” but a firm departure from the turquoises, pinks, and hand-painted tiles that typically define the style. Vigas, refinished wood floors, and other warm, historic elements were balanced against trendy metal lighting fixtures, stainless steel appliances, and a custom line of slate-colored cabinetry called Cuisine Idéale, available through NeuBleu. The addition of white floating shelves and a new butler’s pantry give the kitchen ample storage, while a skylight and gleaming White Macaubas quartzite countertops brighten the room. An all-over feeling of spaciousness pervades this lovely kitchen, which welcomes guests with a sophisticated Southwest charm. NeuBleu Interior Design, neubleu.com

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Kate Russell

refined rustic

Milgard Essence Series . Wood Windows. Re-imagined. ®

A durable fiberglass exterior and a solid wood interior mean a better wood window: • Elegant wood interiors add warmth to your home. • Fiberglass structural core and exterior make Essence Series® windows strong, durable and easy to maintain in any climate. • Full Lifetime Warranty including glass breakage coverage, including parts and labor. • Available in 16 powder coat exterior frame colors.

Pacific Mutual Window And Door 4601 Paseo del Norte NE Albuquerque, NM 87113 (505) 823-2505 Pamudo.com

Mobile Screen and Glass 8650 Indian School Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 (505) 294-0542 Mobilescreenandglass.com

Chaparral Building Materials 4220 Stanley Drive NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144 (505) 771-7755 Chaparralmaterials.com

Life+Style Southwest

by Steve Thomas

no more Mr. Natural

today’s engineered materials are durable, well-made, and great-looking

or years I was quite doctrinaire about building materials: If it looked like wood, it should be wood; stone should be stone, and so on. Manmade materials that tried to mimic some natural material were faux, and, in my opinion, not worth using. That’s all different now. Today’s extensive and increasingly superior quality engineered materials are sometimes superior to their natural counterparts. On your home’s exterior, in place of wood trim for fascia, corner boards, window surrounds, gable end rake boards, and decorative wood molding, consider products made from cellular PVC. These components used to have the look and feel of, well, plastic, but now there are manufacturers producing exact replicas of those elements. Cost is often premium, but the cellular PVC does not rot. For columns and other structural components once made only of wood, manufacturers are now using various glass fiber–reinforced polymers that are both structural and nonrotting. Relatively new to the market is a suite of materials made from blending fly ash from coal-burning power plants in a polymer matrix, thus turning a waste product into something useful and durable. For porches and decking I’ve been using a cellular PVC product with a photo-realistic top sheet that looks like wood—so much so

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Courtesy Royal Building Products

Today’s extensive and increasingly superior quality engineered materials are sometimes superior to their natural counterparts. Inside the house I’ve also found myself gravitating toward engineered options: quartz countertops in the kitchen (durable, easy to clean, non-staining); a new, super-tough vitreous material for the hearth and the bathroom vanity tops called Dekton; and an Italian porcelain body tile for the bath and shower that offers the look of marble at a third the cost— and it won’t stain. Even the shower pan under the tile is synthetic, a high-density Styrofoam clad in a waterproof membrane. Now available in virtually every category— kitchen and bath, flooring, roofing, siding, decks, Durable and heat-resistant, Dekton by Cosentino is gaining popularity as a countertop material.

Chris Corrie

Steve Thomas

Douglas Merriam

that people stop and ask what kind of wood it is. “Plastic wood,” I answer. This choice would have been unthinkable to me 10 years ago, but the product looks great, needs no painting or sealing—either when first installed or ongoing—and does not splinter, rot, or deteriorate. Same for deck and porch railings and newell posts. I’ve been using railing systems made from cellular PVC reinforced with aluminum. It looks like wood, requires no paint, and will hold up in the tough climates of coastal Maine and the arid Southwest.

It looks uncannily like natural wood, but durable, manmade Zuri decking by Royal Building Products withstands all types of environments.

railings, trim—there are dozens if not hundreds of synthetic options. So how do you choose? Well, not necessarily by initial price, since many material choices cost the same as their wood or stone counterparts. I try to look at the whole life cycle of the item in question: the purchase price, plus the cost to install, plus the cost to maintain, plus the longevity. Then I factor in the material’s practicality or user-friendliness, and its aesthetics and overall appropriateness to the build or renovation. Once you’ve chosen your high-quality engineered materials, invest in a good designer or architect, and a good builder, renovator, or subcontractor to make the most of them. As with the materials themselves, you’ll pay more for quality expertise, but in the long run your build or renovation will be the better for it, with the long-term assurance that your building partners will stand behind their work. Steve Thomas is a home renovation expert and the spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity International.

wo o dS

de sign | bu i l der s

Consistently the best

photography by Wendy McEahern

Designing and building the finest homes in Santa Fe for over thirty-eight years

302 Catron Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

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505.988.2413

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woodsbuilders.com

Life+Style Southwest

by Stephanie Love

red, white + stylish At Home Offset Red Outdoor Umbrella As you’re celebrating Independence Day with family and friends, don’t let the sun’s harsh rays stop you from enjoying the holiday. This red outdoor umbrella offers protection from harmful UV rays; an offset stand upgrades typical umbrella functionality. At a generous 10 feet in diameter, it can be shared with plenty of company.

patriotic home décor Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountains may appear more watermelon-colored than “purple mountains majesty,” but here in Northern New Mexico, we’re a patriotic bunch. As celebrations of our country’s birthday usher in the warmest months of summer, these cool trends will help freshen up homes while keeping things festive. Without the hassle of temporary ornamentations, our pick of red, white, and blue furniture pieces and products offers a timeless way to express both your independent style and freedom to decorate!

$80, At Home, athome.com

Tech Lighting Devin Pendant Inventively reimagined from the classic table lamp silhouette, the Devin pendant light employs a hand-blown frosted glass shade to create a soft glow. With an emphasis on clean lines, this pendant is not only great for a red, white, and blue theme, but also for year-round use. Available in white (pictured), black, and metal finishes (polished nickel or satin gold), this elegant light illuminates any room with modern design. $600, Bright Ideas Inc., lightingfordesign.com 20

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Napoleon Travel Q Portable Grill Offered in both red and blue, this transportable, scissor-style grill will help with one of America’s favorite summertime traditions: barbecuing. Perfect for cooking out while camping, tailgating, or on the patio at home, it features 285 inches of grilling space (for up to 18 burgers!), a cart with side shelves for food preparation, and holders for towels and tools. $449, The Firebird, thefirebird.com

YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE FOR THE VIEW. LET IT IN.

At Marvin® Windows and Doors, we’re committed to creating distinctive, beautiful products that continually elevate the standard of quality and innovation. Our scenic doors embody this spirit and help you to discover new possibilities in home design. Connecting open, spacious interiors with open, spacious exteriors, 85 Marvin Lift andwySlide and Bi-Fold Doors take our Built around you ® philosophy to a new level of inspiration.

Ce rril lo

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14 599

Navy Blue Leather Armchair Luxuriously upholstered with navy blue leather, this armchair takes traditional design to the next level. It pairs a sleek, sloping form with nail head accents for a unique Southwestern style that also allows accent colors to pop. The 18 x 18–inch red and white patterned pillow also shown here encourages comfort and festivity for the Fourth of July and all year long. $1,250 chair, $63 pillow, Designer Warehouse, designerwarehousenm.com

American Leather Nash Sofa American Leather recruited the expertise of acclaimed upholstery designer John Mascheroni to collaborate on the design of this elegant sofa. With a frame constructed completely from hardwood, its sleek seating area appears to float on gracefully shaped natural gray ash or walnut legs. Mascheroni designs focus on comfort, and this sofa—perfect for relaxing at home for the holiday—is a classic example. $2,990, TEMA Contemporary Furniture, temafurniture.com

Foreign Accents Arcade Rug Designed by the acclaimed Albuquerque-based rug company Foreign Accents, this stunning red, white, and blue rug offers a punch of patriotic color to any den, office, or home entertaining space. Designed by Carmen Huluba and crafted with durable, flame retardant, and environmentally friendly materials, the Arcade rug mixes classic American colors with a sophisticated geometric design. $500, TEMA Contemporary Furniture, temafurniture.com

Pottery Barn Swirl Melamine Dinnerware Resembling hand-painted porcelain but entirely unbreakable, melamine is used in this colorful collection of dishware, perfect for dining outside. Available in blue, turquoise, pink, orange, and white, each item in the BPAfree collection—11-inch dinner plates, 9-inch salad plates, and bowls that hold up to 23 ounces—is sold in sets of four. With its vibrant indigo glow, the blue set brings festivity to outdoor dining. $30–$42, Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com 22

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Tierra Concepts is honored to have won an unprecedented 5 Grand Hacienda Awards get inspired :

TierraConceptsSantaFe.com

Design Studio

by Sarah Wolbach

metal masters

Left: “I enjoy playing with shadow and light, as well as creating movement by using dissimilar metals and textures,” says Diego Velázquez, who created this sculptural light sconce using copper and zinc with mica inserts. Kate Russell

artists who are forging paths in the fine art world

he Land of Enchantment is blessed with an abundance of artistic talent, including a wealth of metalworkers whose fine art pieces—ranging from wall art to freestanding sculptures—grace homes, gardens, and public spaces in Northern New Mexico and around the country. Much of Christopher Thomson’s metal art is indoor/outdoor, including Spiral Bloom Roses #2 in Yellow (right).

Kurt Merkel, Intuition / 4, acrylic, aluminum, and resin on birch veneer, 48 x 36", kurtmerkel.com

creative partnership

Cubed (left) and Patchwork (above) represent the freestanding and wall-mount 3-D art of Cindy and Joe McDonnell of Artscapes. 24

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Tom Murray

urt

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Courtesy Artscapes

Metal artists Cindy and Joe McDonnell share a background in graphic design, and Joe is an accomplished painter. In 2002, Cindy took a year of welding classes at Central New Mexico Community College, and she was hooked. At first she worked with copper, but these days she prefers to work with steel. She and Joe collaborate on wall art and freestanding sculptures at Artscapes (artscapesbycindy.com), the in-home studio and gallery in Rio Rancho where they do a number of commissions for clients. A vendor in Los Angeles has also purchased several of their designs for mass production. The designs usually originate with Joe, and Cindy does most of the production. “Sometimes,” Cindy says, “Joe will look at something I’ve made and say, ‘that’s not what I drew.’” Laughing, she continues, “That’s the risk of creative collaboration.”

iron man

Christopher Thomson Studio

Christopher Thomson Ironworks (christopherthomsonironworks .com) is located in rural New Mexico, about 40 miles southeast of Santa Fe. The business is a family affair; Christopher Thomson’s wife is the creative director, and their twin daughters help out as blacksmith and administrative assistant. In addition to hand-forging furniture, lighting, fireplace tools, and other pieces of home décor, sometimes in collaboration with clients requesting custom work, Thomson forges sculptures with design elements reflecting his experiences kayaking and hiking solo throughout the Southwest, which he has done for many years. “Some particularly beautiful meanders of the Pecos River have become a part of my sculptures,” he says, “and I won’t necessarily notice the inspiration until months or even years later.” Many of Thomson’s sculptures, including the whimsical “Bloom” series, are equally suited for indoor or outdoor display. He Christopher is represented by Jane Hamilton Fine Art Thomson, Green in Tucson, and one of his sculptures was Baby Bloom recently accepted into the 2016–2017 Chicago Sculpture Exhibit. 26

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Douglas Merriam

Kate Russell

Diego Velázquez, owner of Santa Fe Metal Design (santafemetal.com), does high-end metal work for homebuilders in Santa Fe, as well as contemporary sculpture and wall art. He is especially sought after for his strong and sensual lighting designs. Velázquez’s work is stimulated by close and constant observations of the natural world. “There are some forms in nature that are symmetrical,” he says, “like seeds that have a functional purpose. Crystals contain the geometry of nature. I like to design and create forms that have really clean lines juxtaposed with forms that flow and undulate.” Velázquez, who will exhibit some of his work this summer in the Contemporary Hispanic Market, works with many kinds of metal, including copper, bronze, and steel. He loves the warmth of copper and the malleability of bronze. Recently, he has been experimenting sculpting with wire Diego Velázquez, Lost in Thought, mesh. His extensive toolbox of techwire mesh on niques includes etching, blacksmithing, hand-brushed embossing, repoussé, and punch work. zinc, 30 x 40 x 5". Over the years, he has learned new techniques from various fields of metalwork, such as aviation sheet metal work, auto restoration, and jewelry making. “I never stop learning,” he says.

&A Mark White Mark White’s hand-crafted copper and steel kinetic wind sculptures can be seen in residential yards and public areas around Santa Fe, but the best place to view them is in the breezy courtyard of Mark White Fine Art on Canyon Road, where the sculptor and painter is often at the gallery visiting with clients and discussing his work. Made of ultradurable copper and high-quality stainless steel, these hand-crafted works of art come in a range of sizes and colors, and are built to last. What sparked your interest in kinetic metal sculpture? How did you develop the techniques you use today? My son is a professional dancer, and my daughter studied dance for many years. Some of my earliest kinetic work with copper was creating human forms that “danced” in the wind. I developed the techniques I use today after years of experimentation and hard work. I love learning and am always exploring my artistic boundaries. Your work is widely admired, and customers around the world collect your pieces. Why do you think people are drawn to your kinetic wind sculptures? My clients are attracted by the sculptures’ mesmerizing, relaxation-inducing movement. Clients have compared the experience to watching the soothing motion of fish in an aquarium, or dancing flames. How do you help customers choose the best style of kinetic sculpture for their yard or landscape? I recommend the designs and colors that best fit their vision and the landscape they describe. Also, it’s possible to get an exact idea of how a particular piece will look once installed. We can digitally insert any of our artworks into a high-resolution image of a customer’s desired installation area. Mark White Fine Art, markwhitefineart.com

Left: The leaves of the Iris 3 bud-top kinetic sculpture (shown here in purple verdigris) appear to softly float around the metal stem.

Iris McLister

elemental design

Introducing the NEW 5-door refrigerator!

a fresh idea from

Open Daily for Inspiration! You’ll love what you see! KitchenAid’s amazing new 5-door refrigerator gives you a place for everything with its French doors on top, two drawers in the middle and a three-tiered freezer drawer. You’ll refrigerate smarter, store fresher and ﬁnd everything faster! See this and all the inspiring innovations by KitchenAid at New Mexico’s appliance leader… Builders Source Appliance Gallery.

SERVING THE SOUTHWEST SINCE 1993

Check us out. Discover your choices. You’ll never go anywhere else!

ABQ: 308 Menaul NE . 505.889.3001 . info@builderssource.com . builderssource.com ALBUQUERQUE . SANTA FE . LAS CRUCES . EL PASO

We’ll inspire, surprise and amaze you!

Enchanted Spaces

by Moll Anderson

revamp, refresh, remodel ... rent! with a little updating, you can put your empty guest spaces to work Above: Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living adds value to even small guest spaces.

This time of year, everyone loves to be outside, so your best payoff might be an outdoor remodel. In the Santa Fe casita update, we carried the inside living spaces outside with French doors that open up to an amazing, resort-like backyard. Think about how you live indoors and take that functionality outside, creating gathering places, an outdoor dining area, and a cozy place to lounge.

Grace Berge

Furniture slipcovers are a great option in rental spaces as they can be easily washed and affordably replaced if needed.

The key to maximizing any usable space is to plan how to use it in advance. When tiny spaces are well designed, it’s amazing just how much living space you can pack into small quarters.

ummer is upon us, the perfect time to take note of your home, your guesthouse, and your outdoor living spaces. Summer fun happens all season long, so be ready for weekend staycations and friends and family traveling your way—or, instead of letting that extra space go unused this summer, consider turning it into a rental. The future rental income would more than cover what you put into updating your guesthouse or casita, and you can really have some fun while still staying within a reasonable budget. Decide what feeling you would like to infuse into your space, and with a little work you can create a welcoming getaway for guests. A guest bedroom or guesthouse doesn’t have to be spacious to be amazing; it’s all about making the most of the space you have. In this 850-square-foot Santa Fe casita, we refreshed the inside and included all the essentials: a gourmet kitchen, a luxurious hotel vibe in the bedroom, an ample closet, a bathroom with a shower, and a seductive place to dine that’s part of a warm and inviting living area. When choosing furnishings for your rental look for versatile pieces with simple, clean lines in durable, serviceable fabrics. Add personality to your space with art and accessories that will set your home apart and bring out the WOW factor. 28

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Decide what feeling you would like to infuse into your rental space, and with a little work you can create a welcoming getaway for guests.

Appoint bedrooms with comfortable mattresses, luxurious bedding, and all the trappings of a luxury hotel.

creating a home away from home When creating a place for company, and especially a potential rental property, remember that guests want the same comforts and amenities they are accustomed to at home, so creating a “home away from home” is the goal. Think clean, current, and comfortable!

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Hire a cleaning service to thoroughly clean your home between rentals. Hang artwork or photographs on the walls to add personality to your space. Accessorize with pillows and throws on the couch, and bring in ambience with candles, a sound system, and vases for flowers. Add accent rugs to soften the space. They should be easy to clean and dark enough to hide the dirt. Stock the kitchen well with basic cookware and utensils, spices, and cooking essentials; place settings for 10–12; a coffee maker; wine glasses; basic barware; and cleaning supplies. Provide plenty of storage space in the bedroom for belongings; closets with coat hangers; and nice-looking, comfortable bedding, including an extra set of bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels. Keep visitors entertained with books, magazines, games and cards, and of course all the modern amenities—internet, cable TV, and a DVD player. Provide a binder with information about your home. Include important phone numbers, local shopping and dining options, and area attractions.

Mark DeLong Photography

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Moll Anderson Life stylist and philanthropist Moll Anderson is an Emmy Award–winning television personality and the best-selling author of four books, including The Seductive Home.

Right: When the antique blue doors to the office are pulled closed, a cut-out allows them to open back, leaving an intriguingly shaped archway. Equally colorful are paintings by John Nieto (Plains Warrior, center) and Romanian artist Luminita Gliga (on right).

work of art an elegant and livable Corrales home is a trove of collected treasures

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by Ben Ikenson

photographs by Chris Corrie

n the 16 years they’ve been together, Joe Romero and John Keelin have traveled the world, stamping their passports in such exotic locations as Turkey, Peru, Iceland, and, most recently, South Africa. The couple still enjoys adventuring abroad, but now, upon returning, they get to settle into their personally designed, 3,900-square-foot home in Corrales, where they’re raising their 7-year-old son Archer. Set on nearly two acres facing east, the contemporary Southwest Pueblo– style residence, completed last spring, showcases dramatic views from large living room windows and the outdoor kitchen and patio. “The Sandia Mountains are breathtaking and take on a different look and feel depending on the sun and how it spills over them,” says Romero, a financial advisor. “When we all get home from a long day, it’s so comforting to see the mountains light up as the sun sets for the night.”

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With beams, brick floors, and a roaring kiva fireplace, the tranquil living room embraces Southwestern style and comfort.

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Above: In the award-winning kitchen, varying cabinet heights give fluidity to the space and add visual interest. Below: Archer takes advantage of durable, kid-resistant brick flooring to run through the hallway joining the entry and dining room (foreground).

The scenery throughout the home is likewise inspired, a magnificent study in contrasts: the rustic appeal of a luxurious Northern New Mexico hacienda coupled with modern conveniences and appointments. Juxtaposing the clean lines of the great room’s floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly frame the vista beyond, a kiva fireplace slopes in one corner against natural-finished walls. Sleek, modern fans hang from rough-hewn Douglas fir ceilings spanned by beams of varying sizes. Except for a few rooms with elegant, chiseled-edged travertine lava flooring, traditional

“These things we’ve picked up along the way really personalize the home for us and remind us of our travels.”—John Keelin Above: Colorful pieces of art and decór stand out against white gallery walls and wooden furniture. “We’re passionate about our state and its culture—the Spanish and Native American influences,” notes Romero.

brick dominates underfoot, another nod to classic hacienda style. Though rich with an abundance of dark, knotty alder cabinetry, the kitchen features every contemporary appliance and ingenious contemporary storage options, including a hidden pop-up stand for a KitchenAid mixer. “It’s a chef’s dream kitchen,” says Keelin, a kindergarten teacher. “And since I love to cook, I can’t complain.” In fact, the kitchen scored top honors for its builder, SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

David K. Langham, owner of Home Construction & Consulting Services, in the Spring 2015 Albuquerque Homes of Enchantment Parade. Named Best Kitchen in its category, the spacious cooking area is well appointed with high-end appliances, plenty of hidden storage and recessed spice drawers, granite countertops, and, centered above the six-burner stovetop, a Walker Zanger mosaic accent that pops dramatically against neutral crema travertine brick tile. The cabinetry is a point of pride for Langham, an awardwinning custom homebuilder in Albuquerque. “The cabinets aren’t uniform, which presents various reliefs to create visual interest and spatial effect,” he says. “Design strategies like this are important in making a room feel right, and I tried to employ them throughout the home.” Below: Homeowners Joe Romero (on left), John Keelin, and their son Archer. In the style of his dads’ master suite, Archer also enjoys a bedroom that comprises a sleeping area (cool bunk beds!), a sitting area for game-playing, and an en suite bathroom.

The home’s interior scenery is a magnificent study in contrasts: the rustic appeal of a luxurious Northern New Mexico hacienda coupled with modern conveniences and appointments. One of Langham’s signatures is evident directly upon entering the front door: a circular skylight with a crossbeam set within it, from which a dramatic, double-layered chandelier hangs. The combination of geometrics and natural light “creates a visual illusion of height that draws the eye upward,” he says. The formal dining features another chandelier—this one a rectangular array of faux candles in the hacienda style—hanging from that same crossbeam-within-a-skylight frame. In addition to their fondness for entertaining (or just hanging out with their son in the smaller, enclosed family room), Romero and Keelin also enjoy their eclectic and ever-growing array of antiques and art, which inspires a great deal of the home’s interior aesthetics. For example, large antique doors, arabesque and roughly painted light blue, create a dramatic entry to an art-filled and equally colorful study. Across the hall, another set of antique doors, these made of mesquite with old iron clavo hinges, open to the powder room. A true showpiece and a nod to the homeowners’ travels in Asia and South America, this guest bath features a stone vessel sink (another previous acquisition) perched atop a black distressed alder vanity set against a wall of gorgeous turquoise blue Arto brick tile. “These things we’ve picked up along the way really personalize the home for us and remind us of our travels,” says Keelin.

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Set off slightly from the master bedroom, a sitting area (left) with a kiva and a wet bar is a nice place to unwind after a long day.

With classic Southwestern wood beams and columns, brick floors, and low-key furnishings, the master bedroom is the picture of rustic simplicity.

Right: Patterns and textures in the decorative tile, travertine flooring, and granite countertops play well together in the warm, masculine master bathroom.

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Of their extensive collection of New Mexican devotional art and Dia de los Muertos figures, Romero says, “It’s so decorative and beautiful to look at, and it brings in the culture of our state.”

Above: German shorthair pointer Frida (as in Kahlo) shows her best side for the photo shoot.

Romero and Keelin took a leap of faith that they would be able to find a way to use the two sets of antique Mexican doors they purchased in Carrizozo, New Mexico, long before the house was built. One set went into the office (see page 30), while the other graces the powder room, a chic, rustic counterpoint to contemporary Arto wall tile, new cabinetry, and a stone vessel sink. The toucan is a piece by ceramicist Ken Edwards. 36

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If the home itself is artful, paintings by renowned Western and New Mexican artists such as William Lumpkins, Alfred Morang, John Nieto, Richard D. Thomas, and Edward Gonzales make it more so. Adjustable drop-down projection frame lights allow the homeowners to spotlight and illuminate one painting at a time. Romero observes, “At night in a dark room, the painting is the only thing lit in the room, and it appears to be glowing; it’s really an amazing effect.” Scattered throughout throughout Romero and Keelin’s home are other collected treasures, but there are a few blank spots on the walls, too—spaces that are just “waiting for the perfect piece of art,” says Romero. “We have very specific tastes, but we’re pretty much down-to-earth people.” A peek inside the master bathroom may attest to the claim, considering it includes a rather uncommon feature for a private residence. The reverse side of the antique Mexican doors of the powder room. “We wanted a urinal. We’re guys, so we figured what the heck, and thought it would be fun,” says Joe, adding that the sleek receptacle is “actually very efficient; it’s completely waterless. And it’s actually really, really sanitary. Anyone with a young son will know what I mean.” Archer, in fact, has his own bathroom in an enormous suite decked out with bunk beds and a sitting area for watching TV and playing games, guaranteeing he’ll never be wanting for friends to visit. And, with two charming guest bedrooms, neither will his dads. One of the couple’s favorite spots in the house is the sitting room in their master suite, where they’ve placed comfortable chairs, a kiva, and a wet bar. Though a pair of half-height walls offers separation from the bedroom, there’s a clear sense that this area is part of the owners’ personal retreat. “It’s such a warm, relaxing space,” says Keelin. “It’s the perfect place to read or just unwind and let go of the day.”

Above: Classic New Mexican in every way (except for the lack of adobe, say the owners), the Corrales home captures grand Sandia views.

resources Builder Home Construction & Consulting Services, LLC abqbuilder.com Appliances GE Monogram from Builders Source Appliance Gallery builderssource.com Brick Kinney Brick Cabinetry & Front Door Rio Rancho Custom Woods Countertops Strahle Tile & Granite strahletilegranite.com Fireplaces Adobelite adobelite.com Gates Marquez Iron Works Lighting Kiva Lighting Restoration Hardware Metal Fabrication Say Iron Works Tile (Wall & Flooring) Architectural Surfaces, Inc. Vigas & Beams ProBuild Windows & Window Coverings Pella Windows & Doors pellasw.com

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8509 Calle Alameda NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

adventure

of a lifetime

an eclectic home and its world-traveling owners defy labels and convention

Accented with eye-catching pops of fuchsia and red, the open spaces of the living room, dining room, and kitchen exude warmth and visual appeal, even as they retain their clean, contemporary lines and modern finishes. High ceilings allow the homeowners to show off the eclectic lighting fixtures collected during their extensive travels. 38

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by Amy Gross

wenty years of world travel came down to a 40-foot shipping container packed with an eclectic trove of treasures ranging from antique lighting fixtures and painted movie billboards to old barstools and handmade marionettes. And even though the house they would eventually build in New Mexico hadn’t even broken ground yet—heck, the lot hadn’t even been chosen—the owners of those pieces, internationally renowned shoe designers Dennis and Lynne Comeau, knew exactly how every one was going to fit.

photographs by Chris Corrie

The Comeaus were returning to the States from Italy, where they had grown their shoe design business, raised two children, and designed the home they would eventually build in New Mexico. In 2001 their shipping container was delayed in customs for several months following 9/11, and then another month due to, ironically, the shoe bomber. The container finally made its way to New Mexico, where the couple alternately rented and owned in Tesuque not far from where they live now. Eventually they purchased a steep lot overlooking the Tesuque Valley, and got to work putting a house on it. SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

“The kitchen is the house,” says Lynne, an avid cook. Old factory lights illuminate the nonporous Neolith countertops, which have a live herb garden built right into them.

Left: Lynne whips up drinks in her neat-asa-pin chef’s kitchen, which boasts a FiveStar commercial double oven and sleek, built-in pantry space.

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To say Dennis and Lynne travel extensively is an understatement; she’s at home just eight months of the year around trips to New York and Brazil, and he’s only here three months of 12. Thus, says Dennis, “The most important thing to us in designing our house was that we would feel like we were on vacation when we’re at home. We want to feel relaxed when we’re here, drawing inspiration from the 360-degree views.” They built the home around the concepts of architect, sandal designer, and all-around Renaissance man Bernard Rudofsky, who believed in blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living. To that end, an enormous window wall opens the interior living spaces to the rear patio, bringing the breathtaking Tesuque Valley views straight into the house. Combining different elements—hard and soft textures, old and new pieces, and so on—was also important to the couple. “We have eclectic tastes,” notes Lynne. “We wanted to blend the house into the environment and be contemporary, but not harsh.”

The homeowners delight in pairing the serious with the silly, as in their “shrine” to alcohol (above). The bar piece was discovered at an antiques market in France.

Above: “We wanted red in the kitchen somehow, like Paris,” says Lynne of the lone hanging lucite cabinet that stores their glassware. Flat-front stainless steel drawers are an interesting horizontal contrast to the vertical cabinetry.

“We wanted to blend the house into the environment and be contemporary, but not harsh.”—Lynne Comeau Working with a design by architect Richard Strang, veteran homebuilder Deborah Short of Vineyard Homes LLC worked with the Comeaus to build their dream home, making the 90-minute round-trip commute daily from Albuquerque and overcoming a series of challenges at every step. Permitting and zoning were the first, taking almost as long as the build itself. “The City of Santa Fe was hesitant about access,” says Short of the unnervingly steep and winding driveway. “And we had to remove about 8 to 10 feet of land from the top of the hill to get the house to fit on the lot.” Finding delivery vans and vehicles with 4WD to make the ascent—usually fully loaded, as with the commercial FiveStar stove—was another ongoing challenge in the brutal Santa Fe winter.

Above: Organization plus. These drawers aren’t deep, but they’re wide enough to easily store utensils, bakeware, and more.

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Above: The home is filled with unusual collected pieces, like these handmade marionettes from Austria.

Above: Shoe designers Dennis and Lynne Comeau, with Rhodesian ridgeback Boia (â&#x20AC;&#x153;reaperâ&#x20AC;? in Italian), relaxing in the living room of their eclectic Tesuque home.

Left, in niche: A friend in Florence, Italy, collects pieces from old altars and churches and makes them into candlestick holders. Left, on wall: A one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass sculpture from the 1960s.

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Antiques and feminine accents reminiscent of the French countryside soften the contemporary features of a guest bedroom.

Above: A guest bathroom combines the old (a handcarved sandstone sink from France, a Mexican wedding chest pedestal, and an old light from Paris) with the new (Italian tile and contemporary wall-mounted fixtures).

“We worked with the Comeaus on so many special things. Every item they ordered was unique—nothing was standard,” says Short, who was excited to be able to use certain design materials—steel I-beams, Neolith countertops, waterproof Variance plaster—for the first time. “And then Lynne kept pulling out these lights,” she laughs. Indeed, lighting is a big deal here, and every piece has a story. Lynne made the tiny “winged” solo lightbulbs scattered around the house, as well as her favorite piece, a pendant crafted of crow’s feathers and found wood from Amsterdam. There are the huge gray industrial lights over the bar that came from a factory in Poland. The guest bedroom chandelier made of Pepsi bottles. The massive crystal chandelier in the living room, from Venice, that took two days just to assemble. And yet, every piece of lighting—like every piece of their furniture, art, or décor—has found the perfect, thoughtful place in the Comeaus’ home. There are so many vibrant pops of color against the gray Variance-finished walls and concrete floors that it’s a surprise when you realize that, unadorned, the home is really quite neutral and industrial. As the owners had intended, their lovingly curated treasures add a warmth and whimsy to the spaces, which could easily have gone the chilly, sterile direction of many contemporaries. Walking around their house is like taking a trip around the world. Dennis and Lynne know the provenance of every piece they own, or at least remember exactly where they acquired it—usually flea markets and

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The master bedroom is sited to capture views on three sides, including from the sculptural freestanding tub (not shown). The owners found the mirrored bed during travels in Provence, France.

Above: A typical vignette places antiques against polished concrete flooring and other modern finishes.

shops around Europe. They designed their entire kitchen, with its dark gray Neolith and stainless steel countertops, rustic stone backsplash, and kicky clear red lucite hanging cabinet, around a hand-painted advertising poster from 1940s Italy. Dennis built a Guinness keg into the cabinetry; his collection of quirky taps and Lynne’s live herb garden add color to the counters. Between the kitchen and the rustic dining table and its chic aluminum Phillipe Starck chairs is a shrine of sorts, a cheeky celebration of alcohol and religion atop a bar piece acquired at an antiques market in France.

Walking around the Comeaus’ house is like taking a trip around the world.

The master bath mixes new pieces with collected antiques, including a lighting fixture from 1940s Paris. There’s a shower, a toilet, and a bidet. The tub, however, is located squarely in the master bedroom a few steps away.

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In the living room, with its soaring 20-foot ceilings and eyegrabbing fuchsia sofa, a hand-painted poster for the Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini film Stromboli (1950) takes up much of a wall, part of a tableau containing a couple of guitars, an amp, and a spotlight from an Italian film studio. Interesting enough, but then you hear the story behind it. “We hiked for hours up the side,” Dennis says of Stromboli, the active volcanic island in southern Italy. “Pieces of molten lava look like they’re going to touch you. We get to the top, and it’s raining—and really cold. We look around and find a hut with two sleeping bags, so we just slept there.” In the morning they awoke to beautiful weather, and, finding no way to easily descend the way

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Keller Williams Realty Academy 6703 Academy Boulevard NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 505-271-8200

Keller Williams Realty Riverside 6240 Riverside Plaza NW, Suite 100 Albuquerque, NM 87120 505-897-1100

Keller Williams Realty Rio Grande 901 Rio Grande Blvd NE, Suite C-172 Albuquerque, NM 87102 505-271-8200

The Comeaus’ compact, 2,400-squarefoot contemporary home fits snugly on a hilltop lot that was shortened to accommodate the floor plan.

T H E F I N E S T O F N O B H I L L AT YO U R D O O R S T E P

LUXURY CONDOS NOW SELLING REMAX ELITE KENNY HINKES O.505.798.1000 C.505.615.8613 KENHINKES@GMAIL.COM W W W . T H E C A R L I S L E . N E T

Above: A large covered patio overlooks neverending views of the Tesuque Valley.

came up, slid back down in just 20 minutes. Dennis adds, almost unnecesarily, “It was the most amazing and exciting adventure of our lives.” And this couple has likely had quite a few. In their extraordinary and singular residence, Dennis and Lynne have created an architectural chronicle of their travels and memories. They have brought together in aesthetic harmony things that don’t always work: old and new, hard and soft, even sublime and ridiculous. Like its owners, this is home that defies labeling and just says no to the conventional.

resources Builder & Interior Designer Vineyard Homes Builder: Deborah Short Interior Design: Christy Cain vineyardhomesnm.com Architect Strang Design Group Appliances Builders Source Appliance Gallery builderssource.com Concrete Flooring Pyramid Concrete High Desert Painting Fireplaces Mountain West Sales mountainwestsales.net Front Door, Garage Door, Sliding Door & Windows Western Building Supply westernbuildingsupply.com Kitchen Cabinetry High Mountain Cabinets Kitchen Countertops & Sink Strahle Tile & Granite strahletilegranite.com Kitchen Stone Backsplash Stonewood Flooring stonewoodflooringllc.com Variance Finishes Bent Tree

All-Inclusive Countertop Packages

laying down the Law a custom renovation allows one homeowner to personalize his spaces just the way he likes

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

by Jessa Cast

photographs by Amadeus Leitner

legant and serene, with the calming view of a golf course outside, Jim Law’s remodeled 2,400-square-foot home represents a personal turning point. After his beloved wife passed, Law, a retired professional with an array of artistic talents and a passion for travel, decided to forge a new path and create a new, custom-fitted space for himself. In the process of writing this germinal chapter of his life, Law embarked upon a real estate search that led him

to an interesting house on a golf course in Albuquerque. Walking through it, he realized with some shock it was the exact same floor plan as the home he and his wife had lived in for years. “That threw me for an emotional loop,” he admits. The house needed updating, but the coincidence couldn’t be ignored—and the fit was ideal. Introduced through a friend, Law hired Merri Jean (“MJ”) Jones of Studio J Interiors Inc. to mastermind the comprehensive remodel. The house

Warm, masculine, and exquisitely furnished, Jim Law’s golf course home represents a thoughtful updating, a blend of traditional style with modern elements. Some of the homeowner’s own artworks, such as Jam, the bronze clarinet player at right, are found throughout the home. SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

Above: Interior designer Merri Jean Jones worked with her client to balance a palette of coppers, pumpkins, and rich chocolates with his colorful art collection. Removing dated Tuscan columns from the foyer allowed room for a piano, the first thing you see when coming through the new and thoroughly modern front doors.

Right: For her musical client, Jones designed a special accent: metal railings reminiscent of musical clefs. They wind up the staircase and overlook the first-floor living spaces.

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carried a tired torch for the old Tuscan style, replete with columns, arches, and other unnecessary flourishes. Jones’s goal was to abandon that style, inside and out, and move the home in a fresh direction. Dated arched doorways were replaced with more modern openings, and gorgeous, clean-lined double doors were put in place to create a contemporary entry experience. A little expansion was in order, too: Jones pushed out the kitchen wall four feet and moved the HVAC and water heater into the garage, allowing their former location—just off the kitchen—to be repurposed as a casual yet refined powder room with masculine gray subway tile that glimmers faintly under cool acrylic lights. Law jokes about Jones’s insistence on including the powder room. “What do I need a powder room for?” he had asked. But he readily acknowledges she made wise, informed choices that worked for him. “I just let MJ do what she wanted,” he says.

Jones designed the home in a way that captures the best aspects of her client’s charming personality—his warmth, artful nature, and playful sense of humor.

Left: A man of many creative talents, homeowner Jim Law owns—and regularly plays—a collection of ukuleles. He also plays the French horn, sings, and creates bronze sculptures.

Removing several awkwardly placed columns from the foyer opened up space for a polished ebony baby grand piano. Law, who has sung in barbershop quartets, plays the French horn and, interestingly, the ukulele. “I play for my own amazement,” he jokes. (A small room on the second floor makes an excellent ukulele practice space.) To reflect his playful nature and his love of music, Jones designed a very special feature for her client. “The railing upstairs is an abstraction of a musical clef,” she says. Standing right in front of it you can’t quite see it, but from a few steps back or from the first floor the reference is clear, especially as the railing winds up the stairwell with lovely motion and fluidity. Jones designed the home in a way that captures the best aspects of her client’s charming personality—his warmth, artful nature, and playful sense of humor. Toasty tones, metals that add a touch of sparkle, fabulous and innovative contemporary lighting, and a handsome display of seriously beautiful (and often playful) art all offer a peek into Law’s soul. Some of the artwork displayed is by Law himself, as sincere as it is beguiling. His bronze sculptures are bright examples of profound talent highlighted against the subtle shades of the transitional furnishings. “We created a wonderful background to show off these pieces,” says Jones of SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

Below: Innovative modern lighting is one of the hallmarks of this home. In the dining room a starburst chandelier illuminates paintings on the wall as well as the beautiful table.

Here and above: The kitchen was expanded and restructured for more functionality, and updated with stainless steel appliances and a stainless farmhouse sink, custom cabinetry, a center island, and metallic mosaic tile. 52

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Above: An HVAC room off the kitchen was converted into a chic powder room with richly hued walls and fun, futuristic sconces. Below: Jones knew this wall décor would appeal to Law, who appreciates art that’s quirky and fun.

the artwork on display throughout the house. The living room, full of lustrous finishes tamed by black lampshades and a velvet couch, centers on a quartzite fireplace wall with bands of aged copper. Originally planned as a TV wall, the television was deemed unnecessary, leaving the fireplace gloriously visible and largely unadorned. Cream carpeting lightens things up, allowing the darker décor to stand out without overpowering the room. Carrying this rich, mellow atmosphere into the kitchen is a soft black wall (in Sherwin Williams’s luxurious and aptly named Black Fox). Law, desiring a more ample kitchen—the kind that inspires cooking and offers room for guests—put in a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Wolf oven and range. “We didn’t move spaces, particularly, but we made the kitchen more generous,” says Jones. The bar, outfitted with a wine fridge and icemaker, serves as a social hot spot for entertaining without interrupting the host’s workspace. A very subtle feature, but one worth noticing, is the custom cherry stain on the cabinetry, toned down with a gray overlay. SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

In the master suite, the soft gray palette includes a textural wallcovering behind the headboard.

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• conventional, including 5/5 ARM and 15/15 products • Va (100% financing) • Fha (Kirtland FCU pays the 1.75% Upfront MIP) – Jumbo (up to 95% financing) – home equity / heLOc – On-site loan servicing Our membership is more inclusive than you think. Visit KirtlandFCU.org, call 505.254.4369 or stop by any of our branch locations to learn how you can become a member.

Here and below: The master bath mixes many types, sizes, and shapes of tile. Far from appearing overdone, however, the space is the epitome of refined elegance.

Welcome Home The zebra painting over the bar is as hilarious as it is masterful, cheekily titled Stripe Tease. The first-floor master suite is a delightful surprise, completely masculine with its gray hues, angular tile, and glossy, dark cabinetry. But Jones’s interior designer’s touch is also evident in the bedroom’s faintly metallic wallpaper, elegant bed linens, and brass starburst light fixture, as well as the freestanding tub and layout of the master bath. It’s an enticing space, at once practical and sumptuous, designed to ease the pressures of the homeowner’s day or to help him purposefully prepare for it.

Photo by MarkWilliamPhotography.com©

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The master suite is an enticing space, at once practical and sumptuous, designed to ease the pressures of Law’s day or to help him purposefully prepare for it. When he’s not traveling to his favorite destination in Mexico and collecting more art, Law enjoys the warm, calming, and intensely personal environment he and Jones designed together. Whether relaxing, practicing music, or admiring his well-curated art collection, this creative soul is well placed to celebrate the next chapter.

When you choose Vineyard Homes, you are choosing an award winning builder with an unwavering commit�ent to qualit� and customer ser�ice. We take pride in creating homes that are not only beautif�l to look at but comfor�able to live in. Contact Vineyard Homes about building your dream home today! deb@vineyardhomes.com • 505-235-5225

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resources Home Designer & Interior Decorator Merri Jean Jones, Studio J Interiors, Inc. Builder B.R. Gordon Construction Appliances Builders Source Appliance Gallery builderssource.com Balcony & Stair Railing Pascetti Steel Design Art Framing Village Framecrafters Countertops Guest Bath: Rocky Mountain Stone rmstone.com Kitchen: Arizona Tile

Above: A compact but comfortably appointed rear patio, accessible from the dining room and master bedroom, affords lovely golf course views.

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tranquility base

a Nob Hill homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asian aesthetic extends outdoors to a serene Japanese garden

Gathered around a massive stone pit (which does double duty as a coffee table), homeowner Judy Bexfield and her guests enjoy a clean, uncluttered living space just off the outdoor dining area.

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

by Cristina Olds photographs by Jill Brown

raditional Japanese gardens offer tranquil serenity amid a pleasing natural environment meticulously designed with stone paths, water features, and manicured greenery. Although there’s not a lot of this style seen in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill neighborhood, Judy Bexfield knew her 1920s-era Craftsman home and surrounding yards were a perfect canvas for an Asian aesthetic. “The Asian feel of this house was very appropriate,” Bexfield says. “It was built during the arts and crafts period in 1923 when there was a lot of Japanese influence.” Bexfield decorated the home with rosewood furniture from Vietnam, as well as rugs, artwork, and other Asian-themed pieces collected during her world travels. Having done that, she felt it was imperative to extend the home’s Asian aesthetic into the double-lot yard with a Southwest version of a Japanese garden. Having designed the original master plan for the ABQ BioPark Japanese Garden while she was employed by Sites Southwest, landscape architect Jill Brown was a perfect fit for the Bexfields’ project. A landscape coach who provides direction for homeowners who enjoy participating in their own projects, Brown sampled from traditional Japanese concepts for the space, while adding native New Mexican plants and natural elements.

Right: Simplicity itself, a petrified wood fountain trickles onto a base of carefully chosen river rocks.

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TK Word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word Above: Paths of crusher fines contrast with flagstones and boulders, some that were existing and some that landscape architect Jill Brown added to the yard.

The team adorned the outdoor spaces with classic symbols of Japanese design: a bamboo fountain with a wabi base (above), outdoor shoji lanterns (top), and a rustic slab stone meditation bench (right).

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Finish Materials Provided By:

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“It just made sense to follow the Asian influences in Judy’s home,” says Brown. “It also suited her personality and functional needs—she wanted outdoor areas to entertain guests, as well as meditative, hidden spaces throughout the garden.” Working closely with architect Kris Callori of EDI Integrative Consulting and contractor Martín Romero of M-Art Building Company, Brown and Bexfield carefully chose elegant elements to unite the existing trees, ironwork, and patio with the overlying Japanese theme. “Every detail in a Japanese garden is planned to create an experience, from the materials you’re walking or sitting on, to the transitions between areas of the yard, to the views from different vantage points,” explains Brown. “We were cognizant of the size and shape of each flagstone we chose. The space really pays homage to the traditional Japanese garden.” A stylized iron trellis was conceived by Callori, inspired by some similar work the team spotted in Santa Fe’s Plaza environs. It tied in nicely with the existing railings and window box planters, as well as some new aged bronze lanterns. “We were playing with what to do with the dining area and looked at a lot of structures for ideas,” Bexfield says. “I love all the patterns the light and the shadows make with the clean lines of the steel structure Kris came up with.” Bexfield furnished the patio with a contemporary collection of ipe heartwood furniture, chosen for the same elegant yet low maintenance benefit as the steel trellis. She chose the chairs for their convenient height and removed a brick patio with steps so the house and pathways would be level with the poured concrete patio.

The xeric landscaping, fed with a drip system and natural runoff, is easy to maintain. According to Brown, much of the vegetation remains green year-round with minimal flowering plants, another traditional Japanese concept. “We kept the existing weeping willow and added an herb garden and a lot of interesting green ground covers and a red twig dogwood for color,” she says.

“The yard and gardens have a number of areas where you can sit, you can think, you can just enjoy.” —Judy Bexfield Citing Frank Lloyd Wright influences, Bexfield and her team made a point of opening the indoor areas with views into the yards via several French doors and large picture windows. From the master bedroom, a petrified wood fountain provides a pleasing focal point as well as a sooth-

Water pouring from a bamboo fountain onto a stone base adds pleasing sound to the backyard.

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the special details that make it yours with a beautiful custom storage solution built just for you and the way you live. Call us today or visit us online to be inspired and arrange for your free in-home design consultation.

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“In traditional Japanese gardens, each stone represents mountains,” says Brown. “You stand on a stone or surface, and you contemplate nature and life.”

ing background soundscape. While seated on an impressive and authentic stone slab bench, visitors to the garden can gaze at a wabi basin fountain with a bamboo spout. “The yard and gardens have a number of areas where you can sit, you can think, you can just enjoy,” says Bexfield. “And it’s also a great community space to share a meal or to enjoy time with company around the fire pit.”

“Every detail in a Japanese garden is planned to create an experience, from the materials . . . to the transitions . . . to the views from different vantage points.”—Jill Brown

BUILDING QUALITY HOMES FOR TWO GENERATIONS. For two generations the Wade Family has been building QUALITY HOMES all across New Mexico. Thomas Wade, the Owner of Palo Duro Homes Inc. is carrying on the family tradition by offering high quality, high performance green homes that New Mexicans can be proud of. Pioneers of Green Home Building in New Mexico, Palo Duro Homes Inc. is excited to offer their best homes ever. We look forward to building you a high performance green house that you can call HOME.

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A soothing combination of natural materials and wood tones, this Albuquerque kitchen looks like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the scenery outside. Designed around a center island, the space now boasts two sinks, multiple seating options, and mountain viewâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;capturing windows.

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

by Jessa Cast

fab four a quartet of innovative kitchens designed for families and foodies

Amadeus Leitner

sk anyone about their kitchen, and they’ll probably tell you they either love it or hate it. As critical as it is to the home—as not only the cooking area but the de facto gathering spot for family and visitors— the kitchen may be the room that benefits most from considered design. The fanciest appliances aren’t helpful, for example, if not arranged in a functional way. Those pristine white cabinets you’ve always longed for? They might not be the best choice for your rambunctious family of young children. Read on to see how several homeowners married their aesthetic preferences and practical needs to create magazine-worthy kitchens.

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a new view

Amadeus Leitner

To live surrounded by the foothills, with the Sandia Mountains at the door and forever views of the sparkling city to the west was how one Albuquerque family wanted to wake up every morning. Five years after buying a home in their dream location, they decided it was time to make the indoors match the magnificence of their natural surroundings. The interiors of the home, from the 1980s Southwestern kitsch era, were crying out for an update. “We were keeping the cabinets together with Velcro and duct tape, and we finally decided to redo the kitchen and baths,” the homeowners explain. On the recommendation from some neighbors, the family hired Diego M. Ruiz of Diego Handcrafted Homes. They knew great changes were afoot the day Ruiz sat in their old kitchen looking at the wall, outstretched his arms and exclaimed, “Windows!” Interior designer Laura Myers, who frequently partners with Ruiz and came to work on this project, also saw Ruiz’s vision. Taking advantage of the scenery meant sacrificing upper cabinets, but the wall of glass was well worth it. “We used very warm, organic materials against a contemporary canvas,” Myers says of the design. Toasty woods, employed ceiling to floor, are lightened by the historic Anasazi feel of the dry-stacked stone and the modernity of the sleek stone banquette. A copper hood and live edge wood countertop add a subtly rustic note. Still Southwestern, but imbued with a sense of organic modernism, the new kitchen draws the foothills in, bringing a family’s dream to life. Left: Every member of the family, including the four-legged one, appreciates the breakfast nook with its built-in bench seating. Corner picture windows now offer 180-degree views of the Sandias.

resources Designer/Builder Diego Handcrafted Homes diegohandcraftedhomes.com Interior Designer Laura Myers Interiors Appliances Builders Source Appliance Gallery builderssource.com Cabinetry Woodlife Custom Cabinetry Granite Countertops Santa Fe Granite Metal Fabrication More Than Gates Sink & Fixtures Ferguson Bath, Lighting & Kitchen Gallery ferguson.com Windows Pella Window & Door pellasw.com 68

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Materials in the kitchen such as the stacked stone walls were duplicated in the living room (seen straight through) and other spaces that were part of a larger remodel.

Chris Corrie

compact cooking

resources Cabinets, Counters & Built-in Furniture Kathy Jackson, Marc Coan Designs Flooring & Tile Supplier The Tile Shop Remodeler Ben Nothrop, B.Y.N. Design Table & Chairs El Paso Imports of Albuquerque Table Lighting Creative Lighting of Albuquerque Tile Installation Sheri Crider, SCA, LLC

Above: Not one square inch is wasted in Maureen Horton’s tiny kitchen, which uses white lower cabinetry and translucent upper cabinets to give the illusion of extra space. A swath of lime green Caesarstone gives the kitchen its fun kick.

Chris Corrie

“I saw this space online,” Maureen Horton says with a grin. “It was straight-up 1960s with low ceilings. It was a disaster.” Naturally, she had to have it. The 875-square-foot Albuquerque condo she and her husband, Joe Bentley, purchased two years ago—sight unseen—was a diamond in the rough. Planning their relocation from Texas, Horton and Bentley bought the condo and handled the details from Dallas, barely visiting the site between closing on the deal and moving in. Undertaking a remodel from afar didn’t worry them, though. They had two aces in their pocket: a Dallas-based contractor who flew to Albuquerque to act as his clients’ liaison (Horton did most of the design), and Albuquerquebased Marc Coan Designs, the kitchen design/build firm that executed the plan. “Maureen had a vision of what she wanted as soon as she bought the place,” says Kathy Jackson of Marc Coan Designs, adding, “I would call it ‘New Mexico funk’ because it’s so different!” Horton thinks of her kitchen as “modern eclectic.” Every space in the new kitchen is completely functional—hyper-functional, in fact. “You have to be smart about space when there is less of it,” says Horton, who is an avid chef. The flat stovetop doubles as extra counter space, deep toe kicks visually float the cabinets, and a small undercounter refrigerator uses little space while encouraging fresh, almost daily, shopping. A cleverly hidden, multipurpose pantry neatly hides a wide array of cooking necessities and the laundry appliances. Gorgeous lime green Cesarstone countertops pop against the white cabinets and black, white, and gray glass tile mosaic backsplash, adding to the cheerfulness of the compact space. Horton, who originally hails from Santa Clara, New Mexico, wasn’t shy about using bright Southwestern colors and pairing recycled wood furniture against a thoroughly modern gallery of artwork. Durable porcelain tile mimics a wood floor, while a shiny hood amps up the modernity of the space. Of her petite and peppy home, Horton says, “This is what I dreamed of as a little girl.”

Right: Softening shiny surfaces and contemporary finishes is a rustic dining table surrounded by Southwestern chairs and benches. Colorful pendant lighting draws the eye upward for appreciation of the space as a whole.

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wholly unique The color and pattern choices in the kitchen are arresting and powerful. The mango orange of the soffit and island grabs the eye first, but is quickly subdued by the striking movement in the granite backsplash. “We like contemporary, but not sterile,” says Neil. “We wanted something bright. Indeed, the wavy, three-dimensionally machined medium-density fiberboard (MDF) in the barstool area, also painted orange, brings fire and texture to floor level. Unable to source existing products to match his vision, Neil custom-made the bamboo cabinetry and pantry doors himself. In keeping with the clean, flat surfaces, he elected to give the upper cabinet a single, oversized door, which swings up. Oven stacks on either side of the fridge serve as seven-foot-tall pillars, finished with black glass. “I’m really pleased to have put the team together that was able to meet Neil’s requirements,” says Lowe. “The home is unparalleled.”

Builder Panorama Homes panoramahomes.com Appliances & Fixtures Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery ferguson.com Countertops Supplier: Arizona Tile Fabrication & Installation: Strahle Tile & Granite strahletilegranite.com Granite Backsplash Strahle Tile & Granite strahletilegranite.com

Neil and Sue Davie’s one-of-a-kind kitchen is a mesmerizing combination of patterns, textures, and materials: stainless steel and dark glass appliances, bamboo cabinetry, and highly patterned granite, pulled together with citrus tones in the drop ceiling and 3-D fiberboard.

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

What do you get when you cross a detailed, do-ityourself engineer with a perfectionist homebuilder? An incomparable kitchen with intrigue in every detail. That’s what homeowners Neil and Susan Davie achieved in partnership with local homebuilding legend John Lowe of Panorama Homes. Formerly residents of the East Mountains, the Davies wanted to move closer to Albuquerque without giving up the quietude of the Sandias. Sandia Heights proved a splendid compromise. The perfect lot, however, happened not to have the perfect house, so they razed it and started over. Of particular note in the new build is the stunning kitchen, painstakingly designed by Neil and expertly crafted by Panorama. “Sometimes when we get with a customer, they start off with no idea what they want,” says Lowe. Not the case here. Neil had clear plans for his kitchen and was intimately involved throughout the project, even installing the aluminum reveals at the bases of the walls himself.

resources

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ALBUQUERQUE 12521 MONTGOMERY BOULEVARD NE AT TRAMWAY 505.291.9494 SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

past and present After living in their outdated, undersized 1940s home for eight years, Cathann and Daniel Dragone-Gutierrez needed more space. With two growing daughters—Mia, 10, and Kadiah, 8— their claustrophobic kitchen presented daily challenges with keeping the space organized and usable. The figured they’d just move, but 18 months into their search for a new home it became clear they loved their neighborhood too much to leave. Daniel propsed a remodel. “He basically said, whatever you need to do, let’s just stay here,” says Cathann. She contacted Adwelling Design to draw up plans, and promptly connected them with Doug Velhagen of Construction Zone/Velhagen Homes, who had been referred to her by a friend. “Doug can problem-solve anything,” says Cathann. “If there’s a problem he’s already thought of three ways to deal with it.” “The key component was to open the kitchen up,” says Velhagen, who added 180 square feet to the floorplan, but also created an array of skylights and open shelving to keep the room visually light. The added square footage gave the family an eating area, a walk-in pantry, and ample counter space. Original oak woven into the new floor creates flow, making the addition seamless. continued on page 75

Chris Corrie

Below: One of the biggest challenges with older homes is a lack of natural lighting. Doug Velhagen added skylights during the remodel to remedy that problem. The kitchen now abounds with natural light, which plays beautifully off the white countertops, light gray cabinetry, light wood flooring, and open metal shelving. Ample storage keeps appliances and “stuff” off the counters for a clean, unfussy look.

Above, top: Retro gym lockers keep backpacks and kids’ stuff in one tidy place, while a metal table and chair “set” adds to the gently industrial vibe. Above: Ample counters offer space for prepping food or doing homework. 72

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

3700 Rutledge Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 505.938.3125 www.stonewoodflooringllc.com

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From the Front Door to the Backyard, and Beyond… We’ve Got It All! THE

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Transform your home and community! By shopping, donating and volunteering at Habitat ReStore, you become part of a movement dedicated to ensuring everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat ReStore’s ever-changing merchandise and one-of-a-kind finds give you the opportunity to be creative. Visit Habitat ReStore!

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S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Chris Corrie

continued from page 72

Above: A striking chandelier above the dining table made of simple, clear bulbs is in keeping with the vintage theme.

The clutter and school day chaos Cathann had struggled with is gone, thanks to ample storage space. Mornings of backpack-hunting are over, as everything is neatly stowed in a row of lockers that adds to the vintage industrial touch. The subway tile, custom bare-bulb light fixtures, and gas stove nod to the vintage era of the home, while the open shelves and sleek countertops represent the present. “I like how we mixed different materials,” Cathann says of the blend of glass, metal, stone, and wood. In a beautiful kitchen that ties one era to another, this family has room to grow.

Extra dinary

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Homes & Remodels

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Cabinetry Martha Stewart from Home Depot

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Su Cocina

cooperatively

contained Green Jeans Farmery brings together locally owned businesses in a hip, urban setting

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by Ben Ikenson photographs by Sergio Salvador Epiphany Espresso (right) adds a caffeinated kick to the complex with its hand-crafted gourmet coffee beverages.

S With names like The Sacred, Divine Intervention, and Day of the Dead, the burgers at Rustic On The Green (left) are likely to inspire the taste buds.

hipping containers have been packing more than just overseas cargo in recent years, having adopted a prominent role around the world as centerpieces in modular housing, retail developments, and architectural projects such as a large concert hall in Switzerland. The first commercial container project in Albuquerque—Grean Jeans Farmery— made its debut in February to resounding success and is now home to a dozen small, local businesses. The compact, 10,000-square-foot marketplace houses within its two stories a handful of excellent eateries, a coffee shop, a gym, the Santa Fe Brewing taproom, and an athletic clothing retailer, among other businesses. Most of the facilities offer open-air seating with deck and patio areas (great spots for catching live music events hosted by the facility), and a communal central plaza is situated around a large fire table and partially enclosed by the recycled containers.

“This place is all about celebrating and nurturing local businesses and fostering a homegrown community.” —Roy Solomon Located just off I-40 near Carlisle in midtown Albuquerque, Green Jeans Farmery has really taken off. A Broken Trail Brewery & Distillery bartender reports, “It can really get hopping, especially when the weather is nice.” (In New Mexico, that means usually.) And the businesses selected for the location are appreciating the fruits of this small, selfcontained urban oasis. “Being here has definitely enabled us to grow,” says Tony Lopez, co-owner of Epiphany Espresso, which specializes in certified fair trade and organic coffee. “Business has been really consistent since we opened, and we’re planning to launch a second location soon in Nob Hill.” Rhonda Amador, who dutifully helps her son Gabriel run Amore Neapolitan Pizzeria, posits that the development has been a really popular draw “because it’s in a really central location, and it’s a fun, quirky concept that brings people in. Once they’re here, they really warm to the idea of having a lot of local options to choose from.” SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

Having expanded south from Santa Fe and Eldorado, Santa Fe Brewing Company at Green Jeans Farmery serves more than 25 brews on tap.

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Beat the summer heat with one of Chillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handcrafted, organic ice creams.

Above: From green chile burgers to pizza and tacos, the food served at Green Jeans Farmery is low-key, casual fare. Left: The slow-roasted sandwiches Chef Marie made famous at Bocadillos in the North Valley are now available at Green Jeans. 78

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Rooftop seating areas provide great vantage points for dining and people watching.

one big happy family As a cooperative, the 12 businesses at Green Jeans Farmery, which currently include 10 dining and drinking establishments, a gym, and a fashion retailer, eagerly promote one another’s offerings and services. Come meet them for yourself.

Amore Neapolitan Pizzeria 505-554-1967 Authentic, hand-crafted, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and coffee beverages. Bocadillos 505-200-0053 Burritos and slow-roasted sandwiches from the shop that started in Albuquerque’s North Valley.

That certainly rings true for Sylvia Alvarez, who, on a bright, sunny Albuquerque afternoon is enjoying some handcrafted, organic peppermint chocolate ice cream from Chill’N, while her husband Minor is enthralled by a green chile cheeseburger dubbed “The Sacred” from Rustic On The Green, which grew out of a local food truck. “We’re not always in the mood for the same food. He’s a little impossible,” Sylvia says, smirking. “This is a nice way to compromise and still get to eat what we want, together.”

“We’re not always in the mood for the same food. This is a nice way to compromise and still get to eat what we want, together.” —Sylvia Alvarez Minor, his gaze transfixed on the rapidly disappearing sandwich in his hands, adds, “And it’s a heckuva lot better than a food court at the mall.” In fact, that statement conveys one of developer Roy Solomon’s founding principles. “This place is all about celebrating and nurturing local businesses and fostering a homegrown community,” he says. “I wanted to make sure the tenants would be on board with this co-op type of model, where it’s not just an aggregation of standalone businesses. I was really mindful of getting people with quality and passion.” Solomon selected the site because of the location, and notes it was “kind of a blank spot that was too difficult for others to navigate some of the problematic zoning issues, so while there were some challenges, I saw it as a good

Above: Green Jeans Farmery developer Roy Solomon with a Moscow mule from Broken Trail Brewery & Distillery.

opportunity.” His instincts were solid; Solomon reports the colorful facility is 100 percent occupied. As Albuquerque’s first shipping container development, the Green Jeans Farmery project was also a first for McClain + Yu Architecture and Design, offering not only a sense of gratification but some valuable lessons for the firm. “There are definitely some sustainability aspects involved like the repurposing of shipping containers, but there are also challenges associated with these projects, namely getting them to comply with existing building, energy, and accessibility codes,” says Raimund McClain, AIA, a firm principal. “But from an architectural standpoint, the modularity of shipping containers is very appealing. They’re basically like giant Legos, and there’s a real compatibility of proportion between the shipping container module and the human body.” Indeed, compatibility is a key theme for Green Jeans Farmery, where, partially by virtue of their tight proximity to one another, the business owners become family. “They all share, use, and promote each other’s products and services in a cooperative setting,” notes Solomon. “Their passion—and compassion—for each other is a major asset to the function of our community here.” Green Jeans Farmery, 3600 Cutler NE in Albuquerque, greenjeansfarmery.com

Chill’N 505-219-3166 Organic, hand-crafted ice creams. Chumlys Southwestern 505-401-5827 Homemade Southwestern-style soups, gourmet hotdogs, and quesadillas. Co-op Fitness 505-401-1000 The cooperative’s training gym with kettlebells, spin bikes, yoga, and more. Broken Trail Brewery & Distillery 505-221-6281 Formerly Distillery 365, a local spirits tasting room. Epiphany Espresso 505-200-9476 European-style coffeehouse serving organic coffee and espresso and the finest loose leaf tea. Fashion Locker 505-503-6724 Retailer of “athleisure” apparel, specializing in unique and hard-to-find lines of clothing. Rockin’ Taco 505-261-7541 Made-to-order gourmet street tacos. Rustic On The Green 505-944-5849 A new-American burger and fries joint and home of The Rustic burger. Santa Fe Brewing Company 505-881-0887 Taproom of New Mexico’s first and largest microbrewery, now in Albuquerque. Zeus’ Juice & Nutrition 505-508-2123 All-natural and organic juices and smoothies, along with high-quality brands of vitamins and supplements.

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¡Salud!

AMY MATTHEWS TV Host and Licensed General Contractor

TV host and Licensed General Contractor Amy Matthews has built and remodeled lots of homes over the years. As an expert, she knows

Courtesy Wine Enthusiast

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products from the finest bath, kitchen and lighting brands in the world, so you can take pride in your home – on every level. Set up your appointment with Ferguson today, and let us show you the possibilities for your next project. Visit FergusonShowrooms.com and request your appointment today.

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he wine accessory business is bullish, offering an array of accoutrement, utensils, and sundry widgets ranging from gimmicky to innovative. Much of the paraphernalia we can live without, but there is useful and noteworthy merchandise out there. Matching the right gadget to the function—or wine drinker—should be the guiding principle. And as with wine itself, one can spend a lot, or very little. Here are a few of my favorite accessories. Why would you need a leather, three-bottle wine bag? Because it’s nerve-racking to carry bottles home from a wine shop or to a dinner party knowing they’re fighting their way out of a paper bag or rolling around in the trunk of your car. Wine professionals use specifically designed bags, so why shouldn’t you? This one from Wine Enthusiast has a shoulder strap and a handle, a corkscrew pocket, and plush dividers to protect against clinking before you’re ready to make a toast ($200). It can also be personalized—a nice gift. Less luxe but just as handy is BUILT New York’s durable, two-bottle neoprene (wetsuit material) tote. It’s washable, insulates well, comes in solid colors or stylish patterns, stores flat, and is a safe way to pack bottles in checked luggage ($18).

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Gizmos to preserve wine after opening are numerous, but all require extracting the cork first, which exposes the wine to oxygen and thus compromises its longevity. The Coravin system, invented by an oenophile in the medical device industry, is a must-have ($350). A surgical-grade needle pierces the cork and then pressurizes the bottle with argon gas from a small, replaceable canister. Wine flows up the needle and into a glass. Remove the contraption and natural cork seals itself. Estimates suggest the wine remaining in the bottle will hold indefinitely. Plan to open a wine tonight and finish it in a day or two? Try Private Preserve, a hairspray-sized can of magic that delivers the same inert gas into the bottle with a WD-40â&#x20AC;&#x201C;like tube ($10). Then, put a cork in it.

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James Selby James Selby has directed wine programs in New York, Portland, and Santa Fe, where he lives and works as a wine consultant and writer.

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Vida Buena

by Cassie McClure, with Anne Maclachlan

New Orleans the good times roll all year long in the Big Easy

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Held annually since 1970, Jazz Fest highlights the best in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, and Afro-Caribbean music.

Cheryl Gerber

New Orleans never needs an excuse to party. Milling crowds take in the nightlife in the French Quarter every night of the week.

Courtesy New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau

f the United States is a melting pot, then New Orleans is the spice in the dish. A city rich in history, the Big Easy is a blending of cultures, a highly influential music scene, and a unique local cuisine. The French Quarter, founded in 1718, is recognized as being the oldest part of the city. A designated National Historic Landmark, the iconic area runs along the Mississippi River. Within its renowned neighborhoods, you’ll discover lively, boozy, and energetic Bourbon Street; Creole-style townhomes with their fancy iron-enclosed balconies; Preservation Hall and its three-times-nightly jazz shows; and Jackson Square, where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in The Cabildo, New Orleans’ old city hall. Most sights are easily seen on foot (determined sightseers with limited time can traverse the French Quarter in about three hours), via horse-drawn carriage, or by streetcar. “The St. Charles streetcar takes you down through the Garden District, which itself is both beautiful and historic, lined with mansions, schools, and churches well over a century old,” says Greg Gross, a New Orleans–born travel agent and owner of Trips by Greg (tripsbygreg.com). “It’s also one of the principal Mardi Gras parade routes, so for almost its entire length, you’ll see trees festooned with beads that missed their marks.” Gross adds another tip: “Ask your streetcar driver if he knows any good spots for po’boys or gumbo or anything else along his route. It’s a good bet he will.”

Left: The Garden District, with its stately Greek Revival, Italianate, and Craftsman-style architecture, exemplifies the old South.

Gross knows of what he speaks; food is a big deal here. It has been copied around the world, but New Orleans–style cuisine is best appreciated right where it originated. You can find great eats—traditional Cajun and Creole dishes like etouffee, jambalaya, and hearty seafood gumbo—at any number of small holes-in-the wall, or at Arnaud’s or Commander’s Palace for upscale versions of the same. Bars are ubiquitous in New Orleans, particularly in the French Quarter, with hurricanes and Sazeracs on almost every cocktail menu. The snowball—fine ground ice drenched in syrup or condensed milk—is a curious confection. “Any time, it’s a treat, but in summer, it’s a survival tool!” says Gross, who says people line up for hours at Pandora’s Snowballs on North Carrollton Avenue. Another New Orleans must-have dessert: the hot, sugar-dusted beignets at Café du Monde, washed down with strong chicory coffee. The café

Fresh seafood and shellfish star in Lousiana favorites like gumbo (above), crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and po’boy sandwiches. Below: Sample a bourbon cocktail at any number of establishments.

Courtesy New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Big Easy calls to—and repeatedly brings back—visitors from around the country and the world. closes only on Christmas day and, it claims, “when an occasional hurricane passes too close.” Indeed, though only minimally damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans institution closed for two months in 2005. Its reopening signaled a sense of recovery and rebirth for the city as a whole. The natural environment has shaped New Orleans distinctly in many ways, most recently by Katrina, but also for centuries by its soft soil and propensity for flooding. Above-ground cemeteries like the three Roman Catholic St. Louis Cemeteries have been necessary since the city’s earliest years, a startling and haunting sight for those unaccustomed. Speaking of which, at St. Louis Cathedral you can hear the Holtkamp pipe organ, or you might run into one of its two resident spirits: Père Antoine, a former priest who is said to take morning strolls in the alley named after him; and Père Dagobert, a monk who sings “Kyrie” on rainy days. Kooky-spooky New Orleans ghost tours can be picked up almost anywhere—a testament to the city’s often mysterious and haunted past. New Orleans loves to party—not even Katrina could postpone the worldfamous Mardi Gras celebration, during which parades with wildly decorated floats process through the streets filled with throngs of people milling shoulder to shoulder. For those not keen on mega crowds and happier to experience live music, the renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is just the ticket. Held annually since 1970, Jazz Fest highlights the best in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, and Afro-Caribbean music, along with some folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, and even bluegrass. Resilient, magical, and always up for a good time, New Orleans welcomes you with wide open arms, a stiff drink, and a whole lotta soul.

Below: The Endymion, Bacchus, Rex, and Zulu parades are among the most popular during Mardi Gras.

SUCASAMAGAZINE.COM

Vida Buena

by Catherine Adams

up close

and personal

The Santa Fe Birdbrains get together once or twice a month to enjoy birding in town and on field trips around Northern New Mexico, such as a recent excursion to the Las Vegas Wildlife Refuge.

Brittney Beauregard

Meetups bring the like-minded together—the old-fashioned way

ot long after 9/11, Meetup CEO Scott Heiferman stepped out of his home near Ground Zero and watched strangers turn into neighbors overnight. “A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring people together in a lasting way,” says Heiferman on his blog. “So the idea for Meetup was born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet—and grow local communities?” Nine months later he launched meetup.com as a way to connect real people, in real time, around real things they share in common. It has since exploded into an offline sensation. Today, Meetup has approximately 25 million members in 241,826 groups in 180 countries. In Albuquerque and Santa Fe alone, more than 525 Meetup groups exist, representing interests both conventional and zany, but that’s what makes Meetup work. There’s something for everyone, from the mainstream Albuquerque Hiking and Outdoor Meetup with over 3,500 “enthusiasts,” to the alternative Albuquerque Ancient Aliens with 150 “theorists.” Santa Fe has The Kickball Crew with 190 “ballers,” Mindful Somatics with 285 “explorers,” and Santa Fe Young Professionals with 110, well, “young professionals.” Finding a Meetup group starts with opening a Meetup account at meetup.com, or through Facebook or Google. Create a quick profile, upload an optional photo, and start searching by topic and/or location under categories that interest you, such as Arts & Culture, Cars & Motorcycles, Movements & Politics, Food & Drink, Religion & Beliefs, and more. The three largest categories worldwide are Outdoors 84

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

& Adventure, Career & Business, and Parents & Family. The fastest-growing category is Tech Meetups. (Wrap your head around this: Meetup gets people off technology, then people form groups around technology.) Diane Fisher, a Santa Fe creative life coach in her 60s, is considering joining a Meetup group as a way to get mild exercise. “I’m not looking to win the Senior Olympics,” she says. “I just need a group of fun people to motivate me—hold me accountable.” She is also starting a group called Getting Unstuck

Holly Grimm

@ Midlife. “It’s for middle-aged people who are stuck creatively, who maybe put their creative selves on hold, but still have a book or painting inside them.” To users and joiners, the service is free. If you can’t find a group you like, you can always start one, but this makes you a lead organizer and subject to a monthly fee that starts around $15 and increases with the size of your group’s membership. Groups are self-govern-

Meetup helps you find your own people, your tribe, those who do what you do.

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Left: The Santa Fe Figure Drawing Group offers artists an opportunity to draw live models. Artist and member Holly Grimm drew this sketch of a recent Meetup.

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Left: Santa Fe Gamers meet at Big Adventure Comics every Monday night for “The Game Thing.” According to organizer Stephen Bohannon, “The strategy games range from casual to complex, and there’s always someone eager to teach anyone willing to give it a try.”

ing, however, and may elect to cover the cost of meetings and activities through dues or other means. How and when groups meet is also up to members. Generally, groups list upcoming events on the Meetup site, and each member RSVPs whether or not they’re participating. Interestingly, in this age of iPhones and texting, the whole Meetup movement seems to appeal to extroverts and introverts alike. In

the words of consummate introvert Groucho Marx, “I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” But introverts seem more drawn to a Meetup group than your average social club. Probably because Meetup helps you find your own people, your tribe, those who do what you do—even if that means quietly reading a book or playing chess. If there’s an app for that, there’s probably a Meetup, too.

face-to-face fun Here is just a sampling of the many Meetup groups in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Visit meetup.com for hundreds more!

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S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

ABQ Twisted Stitchers Over 365 members Enjoy conversation, companionship, coffee, and even dinner with other knitters and crocheters. Newcomers feel right at home in this “close-knit” group. Albuquerque Singles Meetup Group Over 1,890 singles Join others who share the single life in common, yet whose ages and interests vary widely. Activities diverge from Vegas to bowling, country dancing to classic movies.

Albuquerque Songwriting Meetup Group Over 100 members Share your passion for music, exchange knowledge, and encourage others who are interested in pursuing songwriting as a career. New Mexico Conscious Movies Over 490 members View movies that heighten awareness and consciousness, then join a short facilitated discussion hosted by Santa Fe’s Center of Light. Santa Fe Birdbrains Over 80 members Enjoy light hiking, birdwatching, and fellowship with all levels of birders interested in learning more about the birds of Northern New Mexico.

Greater Albuquerque/Santa Fe Kayak Community Over 1,000 members Float where roads dare not tread on kayaking trips promoting environmental awareness and an active, outdoor lifestyle.

Santa Fe Philosophical Society Over 235 members Discuss philosophical topics with experienced philosophers or people simply interested in thinking deeply about the world.

Lean Startup Entrepreneurs of New Mexico 309 members Engage with other entrepreneurs and innovators who accomplish startup objectives with minimal waste, while inspiring each other to greatness.

Santa Fe Veg Over 575 members Have fun and connect with others who are vegan, vegetarian, or just curious about their health, the earth, and other species.

Summer 2016 Advertisers Adobelite..............................................................................................85 Albuquerque Sound & Vac..................................................................94 Albuquerque Home Remodeling & Lifestyle Show.................74 Always Green NM...................................................................................87 Budget Blinds.............................................................................................89 Builders Source Appliance Gallery...................................................27 California Closets.....................................................................................63 David C. Peterson Construction......................................................94 Designer Warehouse................................................................................75 Diamond Tail Ranch.................................................................................9 Diego Handcrafted Homes..................................................................75 ECOTerra Development & Construction...................................64 Ethan Allen Home Furnishings.........................................................71 Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.................................80 First Mortgage Company.......................................................................10 Fix My Roof Inc..........................................................................................2 Frank Frost Photography........................................................................61 General Electric............................................................................................7 Golden Eagle Design...........................................................................4–5 Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors...........................91 Habitat for Humanity.............................................................................74 Hermanson Construction, Inc...........................................................12 Home Construction & Consulting Services...............................61 Homes by Joe Boyden............................................................................63 Joseph Custom Homes...........................................................................71 Keller Williams..........................................................................................45 Kirtland Federal Credit Union.........................................................54 Kurt Merkel Fine Art & Design.........................................................65 Las Ventanas Homes.................................................................................3 Lee-Sure Pools, Inc...................................................................................37 LifeWater, LLC.........................................................................................94 Lotus Glass Baths.....................................................................................94 Mariposa..............................................................................................13 Marvin Design Gallery............................................................................21 Mesa Verde Homes with Marie........................inside front cover Milgard Windows & Doors................................................................17 Mountain West Sales..............................................................................73 Murray Drilling Company....................................................................95 Osuna Nursery...........................................................................................93 Palo Duro Homes Inc.............................................................................65 Panorama Homes.....................................................................back cover Pella Windows & Doors...........................................................................1 Piñon Window and Door, Inc...........................................................87 ProSource Wholesale Flooring............................................................81 Renaissance Man Construction.........................................................89 Rocky Mountain Stone..........................................................................47 Ron Hanks Design..................................................................................85 Rutherford Design & Construction................................................86 Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.................................90 Sierra Pacific Windows...........................................................................15 Stonewood Flooring, LLC.....................................................................73 Strahle Tile & Granite............................................................................91 Sun Mountain Construction.................................................................57 TC Building & Realty Inc...................................................................29 The Carlisle................................................................................................46 The Home Construction Doctor, LLC..........................................95 The Lamp Shop.........................................................................................95 Tierra Concepts.........................................................................................23 U.S. Eagle.......................................................................inside back cover United Business Bank.............................................................................56 Villanueva Granite....................................................................................57 Vineyard Homes, LLC............................................................................55 Western Building Supply.......................................................................25 Wholesale Timber & Viga....................................................................89 Woods Design Builders..........................................................................19 Xfinity/Comcast........................................................................................11

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Su Libro

guiding lights two new books inspire confidence in the dining room and the garden

nyone who’s ever been nervous about hosting a dinner party or attending a swanky, food- or drink-based event will rejoice at this comprehensive manual. Ideal for beginners as well as proficient entertainers, Which Fork Do I Use?: Confident and Comfortable Dining offers essential information and helpful tips on how to graciously welcome and impress guests, and by default, also how to be a good guest. Trained and certified by The Protocol School of Washington in Washington, D.C., authors Rosemarie Burns and Linda Reed share their valuable entertaining advice acquired through education and personal experiences. Burns writes, “Our goal is for hosts at any level of experience to be encouraged, inspired, and confident enough to entertain and entertain well.” This inclusive guide comprises every essential detail for an unforgettable dinner 88

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Below: The authors illustrate a traditional place setting for what they call a “five-course sophisticated affair, set Continental style.”

Manners Simply

Which Fork Do I Use?: Confident and Comfortable Dining, by Rosemarie Burns and Linda Reed, Manners Simply, spiral bound, $25

party, including useful diagrams and instructions for table and place settings; sequences of dishes from one to six courses; and ideas for invitations, place cards, menus, and thank you notes. With suggestions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner parties ranging from casual to formal, the authors of Which Fork Do I Use? maintain that parties of all styles deserve proper protocol. “The art of dining etiquette, manners, and setting the table is based on skills which can be learned,” says Burns. These abilities, outlined in this book, become even more accessible with the authors’ informative explanations—common guest and host mistakes; histories of particular dishware pieces, foods, and manners; and other miscellaneous dining tips, such as how to master difficultto-eat foods. Tied in with these formal instructions and facts are fun, personal anecdotes. “Linda and I share a passion for entertaining—we enjoy the entire experience,” says Burns. Their enthusiasm for hosting becomes even more apparent through these brief stories, which tackle the spontaneous salvaging of unforeseen issues—unpredictable weather, early and late guests, and even how to recover when the family pet sneaks off with the main entrée. Complete with diagrams of utensils, flatware, glassware, and dishes, this guide helps hosts avoid the stresses of entertaining, which is its ultimate goal. As Burns asserts, “A well-planned dinner party offers a good time and respite from the stresses of everyday life for guests.” There’s no doubt—this enlightening book deserves a proper toast! —Stephanie Love

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Janie Lamson

hen you’ve been tagged with sobriquets like “the Pope of Peppers” and “the Chile Goddess,” it’s probably a good bet you have a serious thing for capsicums, those colorful veggies known as chile peppers. Food and travel writer Dave DeWitt and nursery owner Janie Lamson live in New Mexico and New Jersey, respectively, but a mutual love affair (with chiles) inspired them to collaborate on the writing of The Field Guide to Peppers. In short: He knows ’em; she grows ’em.

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P A R A D E

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AUGUST 12-14 & 19-21, 2016 11 AM - 6 PM. Tickets are only $15. Don’t miss the Free Twilight Tour on Friday, August 19th from 4 PM to 9 PM for select homes. For ticket information visit sfahba.com.

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AN EDITION OF THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL

PAINT AND DECORATING

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505.883.2623 strahletilegranite.com 3409 Stanford NE Albuquerque

Janie Lamson

Having traveled around the world and experienced chile peppers from Australia, South Africa, India, and other countries, DeWitt’s knowledge of the subject is encyclopedic. Lamson’s focus is growing, shipping, and photographing peppers; each of the 400 varieties found in the book is grown at her Cross Country Nurseries and includes a closeup photo taken by Lamson herself. Relatively easy to grow, especially in hot climates, chiles have long been a favorite among gardeners, who cultivate them not only for their flavor and culinary uses, but for decorative and ornamental purposes as well. Just don’t get the two confused, as with the Chiltepín Tarahumara, a deceptively adorable Mexican piquín pepper that packs a wallop. As an identification tool, The Field Guide to Peppers will keep you on the straight and narrow—and possibly out of the emergency room. Each pepper includes a color photo, the chile’s Latin and common name, its geographic origin, a description, planting and harvesting notes, its uses, and of course, its heat level. Seven gradations of heat, ranging from sweet (nonpungent) varieties to super hot (900,000 or more Scoville Heat Units, or SHUs), are depicted by the colored frame around each listing. The book is divided into five sections. Capsicum annuum, the first and largest section, includes the most common (and, one might argue, the most edible) varieties of pepper—bells, jalapeños, and the New Mexican chiles that have put the Land of Enchantment of the culinary map. The other sections include heat monsters—habanero-type peppers, tabasco chiles, ajís, and others that are not for the faint of heart. DeWitt, who has authored almost 40 books on chile peppers and spicy foods, is clearly a fan of many varieties, but at heart he’s an Albuquerque boy. “I’ve fallen for every cuisine I’ve tasted,” he says, “but I’ve always remained loyal to the New Mexican cuisine that got me started with this obsession.”—Amy Gross

Big Jim (above) is one of the pod-type, medium heat peppers used most often in New Mexican cooking. Chiltepín Tarahumara (below) is a tiny, piquín-type pepper that packs lots of heat.

Janie Lamson

A better way to search for New Mexico Homes Follow us for advice and inspiration on all things New Mexico home.

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on the market

safety and

serenity

a move toward This contemporary home makes the most of modern style with pristine right angle walls and custom clerestory windows manufactured with low-e glass to encourage the transmission of light, rather than the heat, from the sun. This gem has more than energy efficiency, however. As a part of the Tanoan Country Club—with the kitchen’s extended island and Carrara marble countertops, closets designed by California Closets, and three en suite bedrooms—this haven also presents lavish amenities. An enclosed backyard makes the most of the property’s outdoor area, while 3,034 square feet of indoor space include new wood floors, a fireplace, and views of stunning New Mexico sunsets from the upstairs loft and bedrooms. List Price: $699,900 Contact: CJ Ciddio, Coldwell Banker Legacy, 505-280-5555, coldwellbankerlegacy.com/ cj.ciddio

With over 4,600 expansive square feet, this modern high desert home offers three en suite bedrooms with two additional offices; the master suite includes separate his-and-her baths and closets. Finished in September 2015, this residence favors progressive commodities such as a spa room, built-in fireplaces, six skylights, 97 percent LED lighting throughout the home, and glass walls engineered to withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour. Other features, such as single floor elevation for handicap access; a smart-house design with an automated alarm, cameras, mailbox, garage doors, and heat; and princely mountain views provide both secure and luxurious living. List Price: $1.925 million Susie Fairchild, Encore Ventures, LLC, 505-250-2470, knowingalbuquerque homes.com

Courtesy Style Tours Photography

modern

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Just Winging Through

Mark L. Watson

Dan Williams, NM Dept. of Game & Fish

by Tom Smylie

shining like

the sun

goldfinches are a joyous summertime sight

here are three species of goldfinches found in New Mexico—the American goldfinch, the lesser goldfinch, and the Lawrence’s goldfinch. In a state that hosts a large number of “little brown birds,” the goldfinch is a showy specimen and a treat to behold. Only the lesser is common to our state. Small but beautiful, its bright colors and roller coaster flight pattern will likely catch your attention —and if not those things, its call, an apt “Look at me, look at me!” surely will. During spring and summer you’ll instantly notice the brilliant black and gold males. The lesser is identified from other goldfinches by its black back and head, with the trademark golden-yellow body. The females, by contrast, are pale yellow and have an overall gray-shade appearance. It may seem that the lessers disappear after summer, but they’re still here; the males just change their feather coloring and begin resembling the females. They’ll stay until the onset of winter, then flock up and head south, appearing again in April. In the summer, goldfinches can be found throughout the state from the low Above: Always busy in the wild, lesser elevations of Carlsbad to about 7,000 goldfinches are often seen delving feet in the mountain valleys. They survive into flower heads for seeds. Top: A almost exclusively on seeds—a rarity male American goldfinch. among songbirds—with a particular preference for thistle seeds. Purchase an inexpensive mesh bag of thistle seeds at the store and hang it in your yard; you’ll likely attract goldfinches as well as other thistle eaters like pine siskins, house finches, and Cassin’s finches. Lesser goldfinches are late summer nesters, usually not building their nests until mid-July or August. This late nesting allows them to incorporate fibrous seeds and spider silk into their nests. They’ll lay four or five bluish-white eggs, which hatch in 12 to 14 days, and will feed their young exclusively on thistle seeds until they leave the nest. There’s gold in the mountains of New Mexico: in the fall colors of aspens and in the sunrises and sunsets of our skies, but not least in the beautiful golden flight of the goldfinch. In the turquoise sky he’ll be singing, “Look at me, look at me!”

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homes in the 2016 spring

coffee house

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inspiration ideas resources

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a home for the next chapter

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in Corrales New Mexican

marble: timeless + trending VOL. 22 NO. 2 SPRING 2016

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

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WHAT’S ISOTOPES HOME GAMES July 4–6, 14–21, 26–29, and August 3–10, 20–28, various times Isotopes Park 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE, ABQ $7–$25 The Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Albuquerque Isotopes compete on their home field against El Paso (twice), Memphis, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Fresno during July and August. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t342

Dave Holland plays jazz bass at the New Mexico Jazz Festival.

showcase the 11th annual New Mexico Jazz Festival, with music from acclaimed local and international jazz masters. newmexicojazzfestival.org THE PIANO GUYS August 3, 7:30 pm Kiva Auditorium 401 2nd St NW, ABQ $50–$125

Freedom 4th

FREEDOM 4th July 4, 3–10 pm Balloon Fiesta Park 5000 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, ABQ Free This year’s Freedom 4th celebration features headlining country group Lonestar, over 25 food vendors, a microbrew garden, a car show, and one of the largest firework shows in New Mexico. cabq.gov/events

Courtesy The Piano Guys

Eric Williams

The Piano Guys

Performing their famous cello and piano renditions of pop songs and classical arrangements, American musical group The Piano Guys—with Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek—play their best songs. thepianoguys.com/events GREAT SOUTHWESTERN ANTIQUE SHOW August 6–7, Saturday 9 am–5 pm, Sunday 10 am–4 pm EXPO New Mexico 300 San Pedro NE, ABQ $12 one day, $20 two days The 18th Annual Great Southwestern Antique Show highlights over 200 antiques dealers from across the country to educate collectors on investing in tribal and Native American artworks, fine art, vintage guitars, rare books, estate jewelry, and more. gswevents.com

NEW MEXICO JAZZ FESTIVAL July 15–31, various times Various locations in Santa Fe and Albuquerque Free (Lensic events $20–$50) Albuquerque’s Outpost Performance Space partners with the Lensic Performing Arts Center to 96

S U C A S A S U M M E R 2016

Victoria Roberts

BOSQUE MOONLIGHT HIKE July 12 and August 23, 6:30–8:30 pm Tingley Beach, 1800 Tingley SW, ABQ $15, children and seniors $10 This guided tour escorts a small group through the woods—exploring the nightlife in nature like bats, owls, and other nocturnal desert animals—to the Bosque wetlands. Bring your flashlight and meet at the Tingley Café Train Station by the doors facing Tingley Drive. cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark/events

Great Southwestern Antique Show

Carnival rides are a popular attraction at the New Mexico State Fair.

78TH ANNUAL NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR September 8–18 EXPO New Mexico 300 San Pedro NE, ABQ Adults (12–64) $10, seniors and children $7, kids 5 and under free The New Mexico State Fair—with agriculture, animals, art, entertainment, food, carnival rides, and shopping—is one of the largest fairs in the nation. Incorporating PRCA rodeo and nationally known country recording stars, this 10-day event has something for everyone. exponm.com 12TH ANNUAL OLD TOWN SALSA FIESTA September 10, 12–7 PM Historic Old Town, ABQ Rio Grande Blvd NE & Central Ave NW Free, $5 to taste and vote in salsa contest This fiesta celebrates the Southwest with salsa. With kids’ activities, crafts, and bands and dancers at the gazebo, this festival also highlights the Best Homemade Salsa contest, where over 20 competitors make their salsa recipes for attendees to sample before casting their votes for winners. cabq.gov/culturalservices/historic-old-town/salsa-fiesta DEF LEPPARD WITH REO SPEEDWAGON September 19, 7 pm Isleta Amphitheater 5601 University Blvd SE, ABQ Tickets start at $19 Pour some sugar on this! English rock band Def Leppard visits Albuquerque on their tour with American rockers REO Speedwagon. defleppard.com

Def Leppard

Courtesy Donovan Public Relations

July through September

Courtesy Outpost Productions

HAPPENING?

Moji Photography

PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO WITH MELISSA ETHERIDGE August 15, 7 pm Sandia Resort and Casino 30 Rainbow, ABQ $25–$275 Singer-songwriter and four-time Grammy Award winner Pat Benatar hits Duke City with her best shot this summer, performing an evening of music entertainment with her husband Neil Giraldo and special guest Melissa Etheridge. benatargiraldo.com

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ABQ Real Estate Photography

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