Feature Story

From the finish of the plaster to the entry door, everything in this grand European-style mansion was handpicked. Thick walls, arches, and highly decorated hallways reinforce the sense of grandeur.

European Classic

Decorating and designing for timeless elegance

STORY Barry Gaines
PHOTOGRAPHY Jack Kotz

Continued from the Su Casa's home page...

Moses recalls, “We wanted it to be a classic European house—not ‘old world’—just a classic European house. We tried to be as authentic as we could, to make this house feel like it has been here forever.” Yet the materials and furnishings selected for the house are virtually all new.

There were many challenges in constructing and decorating this timeless home. While the house contains 8,000 square feet of living area, it never overwhelms. It was the wish of the wife that “every room had to be livable. I wanted anyone to walk in and feel as if they could put their feet up.” The owners had lived in the mountains, but she began to feel isolated and desired a sense of community. She remembers, “I wanted to try to get for my kids what I had as a child—a neighborhood you could feel safe riding your bike in. Where you could play tag or go visit on a whim.”
From the chandelier to the richly appointed bed, everything in this grand Albuquerque home suggests classic elegance. Silk, cotton, and velvet create a balance among textures.

If you wish to read the printed Su Casa magazine, you can buy it at a newsstand near you or click here to subscribe. Su Casa magazine is published quarterly by Hacienda Press, a division of the Home Builder Association of Central New Mexico, 5931 Office Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Phone: (505) 344-1783 or toll-free 866-256-4925; Fax: (505) 345-3795. Direct your editorial inquiries, other questions, and comments to Charles Poling, editor and associate publisher.