San Cristobal Solar Adobe Home and Artist's Studio - $340,000

This solar home matches artistic touches,  incredible mountainside views and sustainable living in a comfortable two bedroom/ 1 bathroom home.  It nestles perfectly into its setting at the forest's edge.  With 3.33 acres, the home features lots of space and privacy.  A detached art studio makes this a wonderful artists retreat - or possible future conversion to a guest house.

The following video tour and still pictures will introduce you to this beautiful home and studio.

The Setting

Only near San Cristobal do the summits Sangre de Cristo Mountains rise a couple of miles away from the Rio Grande River Gorge.  This home lies on the slope between the two and as a result features dramatic views up to the nearby ridges, and incredible sunset views across the Rio Grande to distant mountains beyond.  The lower portion features lush grasslands dotted with gamble oak while ponderosa pines mark the top.  The picture above shows the house on the left and the art studio on the right as seen looking towards the Rio Grande Gorge and the mountains on the other side of it. 

The Home

The main door lies on the west side of the house.  Here a combination of adobe and stucco covered walls give the home a very organic and natural feel.  The inviting flagstone entryway provides a welcoming feel.

The front door opens to this beautiful kitchen.  Here custom cherry wood cabinets, tiled counter top, adobe walls, brick floors, and soaring cathedral ceilings combine to create an elegant space.  The home features a low-energy-use Sun Frost refrigerator, designed to take its power directly from the solar panels and backup batteries.  The range/oven uses propane.

This hall leads from the kitchen to a bedroom at the back of the house with the bathroom and electrical and water systems room to the left along it.  The living room lies to the right.   Note the high ceilings with clearstory windows that fill the hall with light filtered through the ends of the vigas.  Adobe blocks lightly plastered over with a mud plaster beautifully texture the walls. 

The spacious south-facing windows fill the home with light, bring the spectacular views inside, and provide the passive solar design that keeps the home comfortable and warm.  Sunlight heats the brick floor which then radiates the heat back to warm the house.   A wood burning stove and in-floor radiant heat supplement the natural solar heat on cloudy days.

Another pair of windows on the west side capture the western sunset views.

The bathroom features an attractive tiled sink and shower/tub combination.  The combination of the window and light through overhead interior windows fill this room with light.

The larger bedroom features this beautiful adobe archway and nichos in the wall.  An eastern window brings in morning sunshine.

The second bedroom sits adjacent to the living room.  An interior arched window opens along with the plastered adobe walls give it old world charm. It features south facing windows.

This beautiful back door leads to the path to the studio.  This room features a rustic flagstone floor that aesthetically contrasts with the brick floors found throughout the rest of the home.

The Studio

As an artist, the seller wanted a separate place to create his work in peace away from the house so he built this studio.  A plank walk connects this studio to the back door of the home.  A Trombe wall on the south side of the studio collects heat from sunlight to heat this space (though there is a separate space heater as well).  Here you also see the solar panels that provide the homes power.

The high ceiling with consistent north light make this an ideal artist workspace.  All other windows have been blocked off, but could be easily opened for more light.  A new owner may choose to remodel this space to be a guesthouse as well.

Systems Information

• Electric Power Source:  8 BP solar panels each producing 90 watts.

• Electric Storage:  6 Rolls Royce batteries providing a 750 amp hour bank.

• Electric Conversion:  Trace 24 inverter

• Water:  Cached in plastic cisterns.  Total cistern capacity 3,000 gallons

The seller has made every effort to keep the home free of toxic chemicals including volitle organic compounds.  Those with chemical sensitiveness should find both the home's location and its construction very comfortable.

Property Details

• Area:  San Cristobal - about 15 minutes northwest of Taos, NM. This home sits on the forest road between San Cristobal and Lama.

• Bedrooms: 2

• Bathrooms: 1

• Schools:  Elementary - Arroyos del Norte, Middle School - Taos, High School - Taos.

• Year Built: 1999

• Builder:  Owner

• Approximate square footage:  1265

• Approximate studio square footage:  400

• Acres 3.33

• Heating:  Wood stove, solar passive, in-floor radiant heat

• Construction:  Adobe and Frame 2x6

• Water Heater:  Propane

• Roof:  Propanel

• Stories:  One

• Floors:  Brick and flagstone

• Driveway:  Bladed, Gravel

• Windows:  Thermopane, skylights

• Patio

• Landscaping:  Xeriscape and trees

• Exterior:  Mud and stucco

• Utilities:  Off Grid.  Home has cell phone coverage

• Sewer:  Septic

• Water:  Cistern

• Appliances:  Washer, gas oven, gas range, refrigerator, water filter

• Ceiling:  Vaulted, vigas, tongue-and-groove

• Lot description:  Horse property, view, gentle slope.

This property would make an excellent primarily residence, second home, or artist's getaway. Please let me know if you have any questions or wish to schedule a showing.