Tired of Tuscan? Sick of Southwestern? Put off by Pueblo style? Contemporary is the new word in home design, with a purely modern sensibility.
"People are rethinking their lifestyles and realizing that they can do away with superfluous decoration and things that are associated with so-called traditional architecture and get something that better fits how they live," said Alexander Dzurec, principal of Autotroph, a Santa Fe architecture, planning and sustainable design consulting firm. "(They like) the wide-open spaces, concrete floors and the expression of the materials that are used to build the house, rather than using fake vigas and fake corbels and things that are just tacked on."
But don't think of modern design as stark and cold. Styles within contemporary houses range from organic to minimalist and combinations of those styles.
"There is a lot of variety in what people think of as modern design," Dzurec says. "Certain architects, like Bart Prince of Albuquerque, are classified as organic. There are other modern styles that are functional and minimal, where you just build whatever is necessary and don't try to hide it behind other things. A lot of architects work in between, with elements of both those styles."
Steel mesh and cobblestone columns at the Dwell Inc. house in Albuquerque's High Desert announce Jennifer Lopez's amalgamation of organic and minimalist design.
"I was really looking for more of a unique feature for the exterior that you don't typically see," says Lopez, owner of Dwell, the builder and designer of the modern, 5,046-square-foot house (she also co-owns Jenco Homes). "I wanted something that was very natural, to make a bold statement on the outside. They're like giant cages."
The cages, grid-pattern landscaping and strong, linear lines add up to a contemporary style that would look at home in Southern California, yet juxtaposes well with the rugged, textured New Mexico desert. For outof-state transplants and modernminded locals, contemporary is consummately cool.
Most of the square footage has bamboo flooring laid out to help the eye travel in a straight line from doorways to window walls. Wood cabinets and other built-ins throughout are made of white oak veneer, set on the horizontal to continue the linear theme. Gridlike tile mosaics by local artisan Erin Adams are the backgrounds to the fireplaces.
The only curve Lopez throws in is the 4-foot-high arc of the low wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the great room. The wooden divider is not meant to be a breakfast bar; it hides counter clutter. Not that there will be much clutter in this kitchen: Lopez provides a stainless steel rail system on which to hang shelves and gadgets. Appliance garages, wide drawers to store large crockery and cookware, and a slide-out, glass-andsteel pantry hide even the most frequently used items.
The asking price for this house is just under $2.2 million.
The entry includes a covered driveway leading to a three-car garage with workout room.
Art designed for the house hangs in the foyer. "Another characteristic of modern design, developed in the early 20th century, was the integration of art," said Dzurec. "There wasn't a separation of the artwork and the building itself. The two should speak to each other."
The house has a master suite, two guest suites and a one-bedroom studio that can be entered from the garage, affording privacy for guests and the homeowners. Each of the 41/2 baths has a different design.
Ron Bustos' modern house in Oxbow North is a rare modern design among the Tuscan- and Pueblo-style houses there. The 4,353-square- foot, stuccoand-glass contemporary is the builder's first project under the name Bustos Custom Homes and Development LLC. It is listed for $1.1 million.
The home is designed for art and party lovers. The over-wide entry hall "gallery" extends around the corner past the bedrooms, the porcelain-tile floor set off by contrasting 24-inch tiles that outline a path past lighted paintings and sculpture. From the steps leading down to the sunken great room, the view of the mountains and bosque is framed by picture windows that make the scenery a work of art.
"You could entertain inside and feel like you were outside," says Bustos.
Landscaping is already completed in accordance with the subdivision's covenants. An open entry courtyard is wired for an optional gate to be controlled from inside the front door, with security cameras.
The possibilities for partying are evident in the expansive kitchen, outfitted with matte-finish appliances and an enormous, granite island that serves as a bar and prep area. Burnished tile on the backsplash adds a touch of jewelry to the contemporary space. A nearby dining room preserves the view from the kitchen window for guests.
An unusual feature for entertaining is the basement theater room, decorated with art deco sconces, with a wet bar and fridge just outside the door. A bathroom makes this an optional fourth bedroom.
The house has two master suites and another bedroom or study. The ceiling of each bedroom (and of the great room) is a curvilinear, custom-painted focal point, set off by rope accent lighting.
The Bustos house is wired for programmable functions, such as turning on lights from your car, and is fully alarmed. A garage hook- up accommodates a chargeable car. The garage doors have a powder- coated, copper look. The third bay is lengthened to hold a pickup.
Proving that modern style can be had at many prices, the house built by Koana Custom Homes Inc. at 2169 Chihuahua NE in Rio Rancho is listed for $539,000.
"There are different levels of contemporary," says Jo Ann Briggs, Koana's owner. "What we have is a warm contemporary. There are more people who like the warm contemporary over the stark industrial. It's still open and clean, but softer."
Briggs points out that the clean lines, open spaces and many large windows of this house place it firmly in the modern mode, as does the angular exterior. A stacked slate accent wall in the entry is illuminated by a sliver of a skylight. There is a dark, blue- gray tile mosaic on the kitchen backsplash and floating vanities in the spa-like master bath.
The Koana house has three bedrooms and a study that can be an extra bedroom, along with 21/2 baths. The kitchen has ample cabinets and a pantry. At 2,740 square feet, the house is smaller than the other two but eminently comfortable for a family or a couple.
"It seems that all ages like contemporary," said Briggs. "It seems to be catching on a lot more around here."
(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.