environmentally sound

by Jessa Cast
photographs by Amadeus Leitner

this custom home with dual personalities was built to take advantage of scenic views of the Sandia Mountains and the space all around

Albuquerque natives Melissa and Zach Adkins wanted a home custom built just for them, with a big yard for their two young sons to enjoy as they grow. Ardent fans of Albuquerque’s beauty, they sought a lot that would visually celebrate it. They found the perfect spot, on a 0.72-acre lot in the city’s northeast quadrant, with a satisfyingly unspoiled sightline to the Sandia Mountains.

They snapped up the lot, excited about their lucky find, and then paused. “We knew we’d want to have the lot for a year before we started anything,” says Melissa of the time they spent mulling over their desires for a custom home. Pinterest and Houzz, online resources for visual brainstorming, provided the couple many hours of inspirational research. Gradually, they outlined their separate styles. After a year, armed with ideas and a list of desired features, they went in search of a builder.

“That’s a challenge that I always love: a split personality in design. My goal was to bring those two together in a way they could never imagine.”
— Diego Ruiz

Flipping through a copy of Su Casa Magazine, they espied photos of homes by Diego Ruiz of Diego Handcrafted Homes, an award-winning builder with more than 18 years in business and Ruiz’s even longer experience in architecture and design. The Adkins were able to visit Ruiz’s work during a Parade of Homes, where they met him in person. He impressed them with his enthusiasm, expertise and craftsmanship. “Diego builds a house with the environment in mind,” says Zach. Of his finesse with capturing views, Melissa adds, “he’s great at framing views from every angle.” That cinched it. Confident in his artistic eye and skill, the Adkins asked Ruiz to design their home.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the exterior is the way in which a series of pitched roof sections mirror the angles of the Sandia Mountains in the background.

Right away Ruiz understood a requisite of the project would be a harmonious blending of aesthetic preferences: Melissa loves sleek, modern lines and neutral colors on a clean visual plane, while Zach prefers a more rustic look with wood and rock finishes. Balancing two different genres didn’t faze Ruiz. “That’s a challenge that I always love,” says Ruiz, “a split personality in design. My goal was to bring those two together in a way they could never imagine.” In addition to a dual-themed design, Zach and Melissa also desired their home to be fully functional for guests and two growing boys.

The outcome is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom modern farmhouse with an attached casita in 4,500 artfully executed square feet. “I’m glad that they trusted me and let me push the envelope on the design,” says Ruiz. “It’s whimsical, but classic and timeless at the same time.”

At first sight, perhaps the most striking aspect of the exterior is the way in which a series of pitched roof sections mirror the angles of the Sandia Mountains in the background. Even the color of the metal roof echoes the natural shades at the crest line. The classic farmhouse outline, with stepped facades and rooflines, is modernized with vast swaths of glass and a playfully tilted clerestory entry. “It’s a modernized take on the traditional entry, and also allows a flood of light,” says Ruiz.

Substantial stonework carries through the main hallway and into other areas of the home — a raw, rustic feature to anchor Zach’s style. Brick walls in the kitchen, wood beam ceilings and hickory wood floors add textural layers to that farmhouse aspect. In fulfillment of Melissa’s taste, the open spaces are constructed of sharp, clean lines.  Glossy countertops, light hues and a plethora of natural light round out the modern facets. The marriage of the Adkins’ styles is beautifully reflected in a single piece: the kitchen island. The base, complete with a wine rack and ample storage, was laboriously hewed and aged by Woodlife Custom Craft to look like a historic heirloom, and then topped with a contemporary, light-reflective quartz countertop. Rustic and modern, all in one.

Though still very young, the Adkins’ sons benefit from some of the features as well. While there are laundry machines in the owner’s suite, there is also a laundry room just for the boys, so they can learn to do their own washing. They share a Jack and Jill (in this case a “Jack and Jack”) bathroom, have lots of room to roam outdoors, and can spend hot days enjoying the backyard pool. Even the sliding, glass pocket door to the backyard was specially chosen for its easy operability by little hands.

“We don’t want people to worry about breaking anything, we just want them to feel at home. Your kids can be set loose in this house. It’s beautiful, but not untouchable.” — Melissa Adkins

Visitors to the home would never suspect that the built-in cabinet in the living room is actually a doorway into a “hidden” game room. Well-equipped for entertaining and watching Lobo games on TV, this room sports a full bar, pool table and sitting area. Wood shutters and a trestle ceiling make this, Zach’s play space, fully rustic.

“Working with Diego was exciting,” says Melissa. “He’s artistic, knowledgeable.” Zach adds, “he likes to teach about things, too, so we learned a lot as well.” The whole home is functional, as desired. The casita, attached but intentionally separate, is useful for guests now, or for grandkids later on.

“Diego was able to bring our styles together seamlessly,” says Melissa. It’s a modern take on a classic with a comfortable feel. “We don’t want people to worry about breaking anything, we just want them to feel at home. Your kids can be set loose in this house. It’s beautiful, but not untouchable.”

Ruiz’ design was a hit, and not just with the Adkins. In the Fall 2019 Parade of Homes, it won the Premier Green, Best Kitchen, Best Bath, Most Innovative, and People’s Choice awards.

resources

Builder/Home Designer
Diego Handcrafted Homes
diegohandcraftedhomes.com

Appliances
Builders Source Appliance Gallery
builderssource.com

Artwork
Owen Contemporary Gallery

Audio/Visual System & Smart Home System
Albuquerque Sound and Vac

Bathroom Tubs, Sinks, Fixtures
Ferguson

Beams/Vigas/Rafters
Wholesale Timber and Viga
wholesaletimber.net

Cabinetry
Woodlife Custom Craft

Fireplaces
Mountain West Sales
mountainwestsales.net

Flooring
Stonewood Flooring
stonewoodnm.com

Gates
ADE Wrought Iron LLC

Granite/Marble
United Stoneworks
unitedstoneworks.net

Interior Doors
Moore Doors

Kitchen /Bathroom Tile
Stonewood Flooring

Landscaping
Agua Dulce

Lighting
Turn On Lighting

Outdoor Furniture
Ethan Allen

Pool
Leesure Pools, Inc.
leesurepools.com

Sliding Window Wall
Builders FirstSource/LaCantina
bldrnewmexico.com

Windows
Pella Window & Door
pellaofalbuquerque.com