We live in a territorial style house. The outside walls are covered in pinkish-brown stucco the color of the rocks on the surrounding hills. The roof lies flat, hidden behind walls that rise slightly above the roof line. There are no gutters, only channels that drain what little rainwater falls into rain barrels or the rocky ground. Inside the walls are supported by massive raw logs of pine with decorative cornices at each end. The floors are covered in Saltillo tiles, reddish brown glazed tiles with thick stripes of reddish brown grout between them. Many of the rooms have skylights that brighten the interior in addition to windows, and the living room and study have French doors that lead outside to patios. We generally throw open all the doors to the cool morning air and close them late morning to conserve the coolness if it’s a warm day.
The décor is very different from an eastern house as well. Tiles with southwestern motifs are set into the walls in some places, and the doors are painted a bright turquoise green. Little arched niches in the walls now hold Jake’s kachina collection and some pottery. The living room has a rounded kiva fireplace with a strip of turquoise tiles along the mantel.
Outside fences called coyote fences provide privacy from the neighbors. The coyote fences are just 2-3” logs still with bark on them wired together. The first plant you notice arriving at the house is the grey-blue leaved chemisa, a native shrub that bears yellow flowers. Chemisa lines the roadsides around here, and it is a lovely plant for landscaping. Our house has quite a few trees planted. Aspens with their white bark contrast nicely with some dark green spruce trees and with the stucco color of the house. Another small tree with silvery colored foliage common around the house is unfortunately the invasive Russian olive. There are also many sprouts of Siberian elm that I will have to try to dig out.
The backyard is irrigated and, a taste of home, a wisteria vine winds its way up a corner of the porch and along the porch roof. Even here wisteria needs severe pruning and a pile of cut vines now resides between a shed and the coyote fence waiting to be bundled for trash pickup. A spiny Pyracantha covers another wall. The beds along the house and stone retaining wall contain a few flowers - daylilies, beardtongue, bearded iris, Russian sage and some hollyhocks. A coyote fence by the hottub is covered in a huge silver lace vine that I have not gotten a chance to cut back yet and it is growing into a neighboring pine tree.
To the north of the house a tall hill rises and includes a little more backyard, but with no irrigation. Up there are cedar and pine trees and two kinds of cacti, a type of prickly pear and a cholla cactus. The cholla have beautiful purple flowers at the ends of their stubby branches during part of the year.
Within the historic district of Santa Fe, which ends just a few blocks from our road, all the houses and buildings have to be stucco, and it does lend a charming appearance to the town. Apparently downtown Santa Fe used to have quite a few regular “American” or old west looking buildings but some government officials decided it would be better for tourism to go with stucco.
Last night we visited a brand new house built on the hills overlooking town. The couple that owns it designed it. The kitchen featured a large island covered in dark blue tiles with side countertops sheathed in copper. The ceilings were paneled in different woods in every room – cedar planks in one and maybe birch or small cherry with the bark still on in another. The outdoor area was divided into three “rooms” all with beautiful views over the mountains and town. But overall the style was still territorial with adobe colored walls, a flat roof and wood beams.
The décor is very different from an eastern house as well. Tiles with southwestern motifs are set into the walls in some places, and the doors are painted a bright turquoise green. Little arched niches in the walls now hold Jake’s kachina collection and some pottery. The living room has a rounded kiva fireplace with a strip of turquoise tiles along the mantel.
Outside fences called coyote fences provide privacy from the neighbors. The coyote fences are just 2-3” logs still with bark on them wired together. The first plant you notice arriving at the house is the grey-blue leaved chemisa, a native shrub that bears yellow flowers. Chemisa lines the roadsides around here, and it is a lovely plant for landscaping. Our house has quite a few trees planted. Aspens with their white bark contrast nicely with some dark green spruce trees and with the stucco color of the house. Another small tree with silvery colored foliage common around the house is unfortunately the invasive Russian olive. There are also many sprouts of Siberian elm that I will have to try to dig out.
The backyard is irrigated and, a taste of home, a wisteria vine winds its way up a corner of the porch and along the porch roof. Even here wisteria needs severe pruning and a pile of cut vines now resides between a shed and the coyote fence waiting to be bundled for trash pickup. A spiny Pyracantha covers another wall. The beds along the house and stone retaining wall contain a few flowers - daylilies, beardtongue, bearded iris, Russian sage and some hollyhocks. A coyote fence by the hottub is covered in a huge silver lace vine that I have not gotten a chance to cut back yet and it is growing into a neighboring pine tree.
To the north of the house a tall hill rises and includes a little more backyard, but with no irrigation. Up there are cedar and pine trees and two kinds of cacti, a type of prickly pear and a cholla cactus. The cholla have beautiful purple flowers at the ends of their stubby branches during part of the year.
Within the historic district of Santa Fe, which ends just a few blocks from our road, all the houses and buildings have to be stucco, and it does lend a charming appearance to the town. Apparently downtown Santa Fe used to have quite a few regular “American” or old west looking buildings but some government officials decided it would be better for tourism to go with stucco.
Last night we visited a brand new house built on the hills overlooking town. The couple that owns it designed it. The kitchen featured a large island covered in dark blue tiles with side countertops sheathed in copper. The ceilings were paneled in different woods in every room – cedar planks in one and maybe birch or small cherry with the bark still on in another. The outdoor area was divided into three “rooms” all with beautiful views over the mountains and town. But overall the style was still territorial with adobe colored walls, a flat roof and wood beams.
1 comment:
Sylvan and Jake -- Today on the Chesapeake Bay, the sky and bay are "white" and I can barely see Kent Island across Eastern Bay from our house. Big storms came through last night just as fireworks displays were starting, but everyone postponed and went on with the show. Otherwise, it's hazy/hot/humid -- envy you the cool evening or shady air. The plants you describe sound so interesting. Short of pruning, they sound low maintenance. Docents will meet on 7/9 and look at a CD of the symposium. On the 15th, ten of us will go on a trip to Monticello and surrounding sights - Maureen will join us -- our first "overnight". Hope we behave! Best to you two, LL
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