Having come from a long, successful career in the Solar industry we planned for our home to be large enough to support a multi-function, eco-designed and green-built retreat center.
Much more than just a single-family residence, the overall structure is carefully situated within a large, pristine alpine forest located at the northeast corner of the Angel Fire Resort, in Angel Fire, New Mexico. Before breaking ground, the forest and the skies were studied for three years, mapping the trees, plotting the path of the sun in all four seasons, and making sure that as few trees were cut for the home’s footprint.
After many wonderful years of construction, living and sharing the place and its surroundings with family, friends and many guests, we have decided to sell Heavenly Retreat and pass the torch to new like-minded owners for the second generation to make their improvements and continue to enjoy the many attributes and wonders of Heavenly Retreat.
Heavenly Retreat – the early years
After acquiring the original lot, the first several years saw careful planning and development of the west half of the overall home and structure. The first floor studio casita, the atrium greenhouse and hot tub space, and the living room were built by a few chosen local artisans and their construction crew, under Joel’s hands-on direction. Locally-sourced adobe, brick, wood beams, and latilla herringbone ceilings were featured.
As shown in the video above, half of the home was completed, and then our focus turned to acquiring multiple contiguous lots to form a much larger land preserve. We prioritized this aquisition to completely secure and protect the 6-acre open grass meadow and the mountain stream that runs through it, feeding the CS Ranch below, and preserving the land access for the many animals that have called this area home for centuries.
Mike Tafoya, Black Lake expert adobe mason, brick and tile layer, stucco artist preparing a wall for stucco plaster.
Tom and John building the third floor kiva fireplace in the Taos Pueblo style.
Tom Sandoval, Taos plaster master, applying the Red Top Diamond finish coat to the third floor kiva fireplace.
Mike and Tom, along with award-winning Taos wood carver Paul Martinez, building the north, outdoor heavy-beam staircase.
Paul Martinez, award-winning Taos furniture and cabinet maker finishing the studio bathroom cabinets.
We have so much gratitude for the local master artisans who made Heavenly Retreat the extremely special place, it is.
All of the craftsmen you see in the photos above were allowed to take their time, and truly practice their craft as art throughout the home. They had a wonderful, exciting experience working their special way. With each wall, floor, ceiling and every detailed feature, they took great pride in making the entire home a work of art.
The hand-carved front door signals there are more one-of-a-kind artisan delights to come. Stepping inside, you’re immediately drawn to the clerestory grand windows in the living room framing broad, panoramic views, from Wheeler Peak to the west, sweeping north up the Moreno Valley to Eagle Nest Lake. The 2-story, natural stone wall of the fireplace radiates warmth from the new Jotul wood stove, up to the media room and great room on the third floor above. This central wall feature, like other stunning appointments in this green-designed home, was hand-built by area stonemasons using locally-harvested materials.
Your attention is then drawn to the vaulted Douglas fir tongue and groove ceilings that reflect beauty with ceiling to floor dramatic lighting. There is a state-of-the-art 7-channel theater audio system, set up for recording music in the living room with enhanced acoustics.
When you continue down the steps through the atrium greenhouse and hot tub space, you enter the attached private studio guest casita. This is a charming, traditional Southwest style suite, finished with authentic, thick adobe walls, locally-sourced timber ceiling beams, artisan-crafted plaster walls and traditional, award-winning New Mexican cabinetry and tilework throughout, including in the bathroom. Thick adobe walls keep this space warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The studio space features the home’s full second kitchen, bathroom, large bedroom, sitting or dining area, walk-in closet, newly-remodeled large laundry room and dry goods storage pantry with freezer.