living the dream
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The cozy porch pairs a redwood deck and walls made of antique barn wood with teakwood furnishings from Smith & Hawken. Because the
house is located at an altitude of about 9,800 feet, and there’s a lack of bugs, screens aren’t a necessity. “I guess they can’t fly this high and the ones that do aren’t fast enough!” jokes Mark. |
It Takes Two
by Cynthia Ward Vesey / Photography by Living Images Photography
A TALENTED COUPLE COMBINES THEIR HOME-BUILDING SKILLS TO
CREATE A STRIKING HOUSE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO.
Mark and Courtney Saldivar approach some of life’s decisions the
same way they approach a Rocky Mountain ski slope: quickly and with abandon.
Such was the case when they decided to move from Texas to
Breckenridge, Colo.
“We had been skiing in Breckenridge for 10 years and visited one summer and then
had to return to 108 degrees in Houston,” recalls Courtney. “When we got home, we
made the decision to move. We sold our house and headed to Colorado—all within six
weeks.”
Once settled in Breckenridge, they made another important decision: They’d serve as
the home’s design and building team. Courtney is a licensed architect, and Mark has
been in the construction business for nearly 20 years.
For five years, the Saldivars rented a historic home in downtown Breckenridge before
moving into their timber home. They purchased the land in April of 2004 and broke
ground in September the same year. Two years later, they moved in.
Room to Spare
Mark and Courtney drew from their extensive homebuilding experience
when designing their house. Courtney, who works for Allen-
Guerra Design-Build, Inc., in Breckenridge, designs mainly log- and
timber-accent homes. Mark has built two timber homes in
Breckenridge, and he’s been involved with many other building projects
over the years.
They wanted to create a warm home with a vintage feel, so they
opted for antique barn wood for the home’s exterior. The interior
trim, doors, and windows are made of knotty pine, the floors are
made of oak, and the beams and columns feature Douglas fir.
The inviting home has an interior with more than 4,500 square
feet, plus an 800-square-foot outdoor living space. Since they share
the home with their newborn daughter, Isabella, and two dogs, Kona
and Hilo, and frequently entertain, they made sure to incorporate
plenty of gathering areas in the layout. In fact, Courtney created
three separate living areas in the home: a main living room, a sitting
room off of the master bedroom, and a media room.
“I wanted a livable floor plan with spaces comfortable for one person
or a big group,” explains Courtney. “We frequently entertain
family and friends, either just for dinner or for weeks at a time.”
The porch, which offers breathtaking views of the aspen grove and
Tenmile Mountain Range, is also used for entertaining, especially in
the afternoons. “My favorite feature is listening to the sound of the
stream, which wraps around the porch,” notes Mark. “We chose this
lot for its views and the porch takes advantage of them.”
When asked about their favorite part of their new home, Mark and
Courtney have a hard time coming to a mutual decision. While Mark
enjoys spending time in the kitchen, with its easy flow and eating bar,
Courtney’s favorite space is the master bedroom, where she enjoys
waking up every morning to views of the sun-lit mountain peaks. But
if there’s one thing they can agree on, it’s their love for the personalized
design they now call home.
On the porch, the soaring fireplace features red moss rock from
New Mexico and is graced by a Douglas fir mantel made from one of
the truss material remnants. The fireplace creates an intimate atmosphere,
day or night. “The outside fireplace is comfortable and cozy in
the evenings and the winter months,” notes Mark.
Special thanks to our sister publication, Timber Home Living, for help
with this article.
For more photos of this home, visit our Web Exclusive section
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