You know a house named “Thistle Star” has got to be unusual. Named for his Scottish and her Texas roots, the residence of Albert and Elizabeth Kidd is a study in harmonious eclecticism. The exterior is traditional Pueblo Revival, a series of artfully arranged 1- and 1 1/2-story cubes that unfold horizontally at a pace that’s not too fast, not too slow, but just right. Neither does the front of the house rush out to greet you, but rather invites you in slowly as it rises gracefully from behind a walled courtyard. The warm brick pathway, which echoes the red brickwork atop the parapets and contrasts well with the home’s mocha stucco finish, ambles up to the recessed front portal. The effect is at once welcoming and pleasantly mysterious. You get the sense you’re in for a surprise.

Indeed you are. Though it resonates perfectly with its Contemporary Southwest–style neighbors in the Las Campanas district outside Santa Fe, this Pueblo-Territorial reveals its distinction subtly, first in the cathedral-esque, 14-light windows (so named for the number of panes) on either side of the front door. The windows and precision trim at the front door—itself a masterpiece of design—together hint at what’s inside: stately, dark-stained woodwork everywhere, coffered ceilings, exquisite built-ins, generous fenestration, natural building materials, and an open floor plan that encourages family interaction as it balances private and public spaces. All are signature features of the authentic Craftsman style the Kidds desired for their interior.

Led by Santa Fe home builder Jim Hays of Hays Associates, Inc., dozens of people worked together to build this house. There were architects, designers, stone wizards, tilers, furniture makers, finish