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3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 heated attached car garage 1.0 acres

Far and away the best value in El Salto, this Pueblo style home has incredible vistas and welcoming spaces that simply must be seen! Better yet, it’s close in, easily accessible year-round—convenient to skiing and hiking as well as to town—and yet a world apart. Renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe, whose beloved Pedernal is part of the view, called Northern New Mexico “the faraway nearby.” Looking toward O’Keeffe country from this beautiful property, it’s easy to appreciate what she must have felt.

Created with help from a skillful architect and one of the area’s best custom builders, the home artfully combines traditional southwestern design elements with soaring spaces that complement its unique location and emphasize the 300-degree views. From sunrises and moonlit skies to walking rain and five-alarm sunsets, you’ll experience what makes Taos magical.

Onsite, the magic begins as you approach the home via an undulating flagstone pathway, alongside a burbling dry-wash water feature. The mature, easy-care perennial beds have been planned with three seasons in mind, starting with spring bulbs and ending with glorious fall colors. Much of the land has been left natural, attracting meadowlarks as well as the ubiquitous magpies for which the house was named.

On the main floor, the inviting greatroom/kitchen is big enough for parties, yet intimate enough for everyday living. There is also a double-high formal living room. Both rooms have gas fireplaces, with handcrafted plaster surrounds, for instant warmth without the hassle and pollution of wood-burning. You access these spaces through a gathering room that adjoins the charming faux-finished entranceway. Antique doors and dark-stained vigas distinguish the initial approach—and then the home opens up to light and those amazing views.

At the east end of the greatroom, the chef’s kitchen features a Viking cooktop, GE Profile convection oven and warming drawer, other stainless steel appliances, a large island and two walls of floor-to-ceiling cabinets, built by a local craftsman who brought his skills and love of cooking to ensure both style and functionality. From the bay window above the sink, you’ll watch the moon rise over Taos Mountain—and from the trio of tall windows in the sitting/dining area across the room, you’ll enjoy picture-perfect blue skies and year-round sunsets. The main level also includes an oversized attached two-car garage and a full bath.

Upstairs, the oversized master bedroom offers you a relaxing sanctuary, complete with sitting area, large walk-in closet and en-suite bath. A delightful little “bed-and-breakfast” fireplace provides toasty comfort—perfect for enjoying morning coffee in bed on a snowy winter morning! Two smaller rooms could function as home offices or could easily accommodate guests. Both have balconies, one with mountain views and the other overlooking the entire western horizon. This level also features a gallery with skylights, built-in bookshelves, display space, an enclosed laundry area and extra storage closets—plus an overlook that captures a thrilling view of the Truchas Peaks and the Rio Grande gorge.

The home started out in 1995 as a 24-by-24-foot adobe “sheepherder’s cottage.” The present owners bought the house in 1996 and completed an extensive addition/renovation in 2004. In collaboration with architect Brad Reed and contractor Barry Cook, they kept the original adobe core and designed expansive new spaces to take advantage of the site. Special finishes abound: straw-flecked plaster, exposed adobe, old doors, Mexican tile, pine floorboards, copper sinks, oil-rubbed bronze and brushed nickel hardware, chip-carved baseboards and newel posts, Javanese stone in the master bath shower, even a gold-leaf ceiling in the entranceway. Yet nothing overwhelms the view—and there’s ample space designed for displaying cherished possessions.

Outside, a flagstone patio stretches across the south side of the house, accessible through french doors in the living room. Covered portals punctuate the other three sides. There are two fully fenced areas for dogs and even a small orchard with heirloom apple trees. All plantings are on a drip irrigation system with zoned auto-timers.

One of the best qualities is the quiet. Talented landscape designer Rosalie Grace planted two little aspen groves on either side of the entrance, so you can enjoy the rustle of leaves along with the splash of the dry-wash water feature she built. Many days, the loudest sound you’ll hear will be horses whinnying in the neighbor’s pasture. And especially on moonlit nights, you may be lucky enough to hear coyotes howling.

Taos is famous for light, for cultural convergence, for magnificent views, for outdoor adventure and for the artists who have created pottery, paintings and devotional carvings here for generations. If that’s what attracted you to Northern New Mexico, this may well be the place for you. Welcome home!

Area: North
Price: $634,500.00
MLS No.: 88154
Listing Status: active

CONTACT
Agent: Joel Schantz
email: jschantz@newmex.com