a sky’s eye view

by Vicki Martinez
photographs by Wendy McEahern

a grueling beginning ends with delicately complex and intricate craftsmanship

When first-time home builders Mike and Betsy Frame purchased a lot in Santa Fe’s Sierra del Norte community, they knew it would take a team with innovative vision to transform the steep sloping section of the Sangre de Cristos into their dream home.

After interviewing five architects and four builders, the Frames decided to work with Lorn Tryk Architects and Woods Design Builders in Santa Fe. “We were living in a Woods home,” says Mike, “so we knew the quality we were going to get. Their brand is very strong in Santa Fe.” Betsy says she felt an immediate connection with Tryk because of his exceptional experience and lack of ego. “We were in good hands with Lorn.”

location, location … excavation
Only six minutes from The Plaza, with the Dale Ball Trails in their backyard, the Frame property sits in an area “notorious for poor soil—and a lot of rock,” says Rob Woods of Woods Design Builders.

“There’s no doubt it was a stunning lot with unbelievable views of the city lights, perched up so high it felt like you were on top of the world,” he says, “but it was going to take the right kind of client and team to tackle it.”

Woods explained to the Frames that until excavation begins, there’s no telling what lurks below the surface—Volkswagen-size boulders or rock the size of softballs. It was the latter. When drilled, the rock crumbled into even smaller chunks. “It’s excruciating to watch,” says Woods. “It makes watching paint dry exciting,” he laughs. At one point, three of the largest backhoe/rock-splitters chipped, split and dug for 12-hour days. Of the total construction time from June 2018 to December 2019, the excavation alone took seven months.

But the Frame’s patience paid off. The distinct set of challenges presented by the property led to a unique set of opportunities.

an unrivaled unveiling
Aptly nicknamed “The Sky House” by the Frames’ landscape architect Solange Serquis, guests develop an idea of what’s in store as they ascend the 300-foot driveway to an elevation of 7,584 feet. Yet, upon entering the home, the anticipation only builds. Met with a massive wall of moss rock to the left, the eight-foot-wide, 40-foot-long hallway feels alive. If not for the 400-pound glass-and-steel pivot door opening to the home, you’re not sure you’ve transitioned indoors.

The elegant entryway is illuminated by skylight-lured natural light during the day and set aglow with recessed floor lighting in the evening. Handwoven Southwestern-style runners lead the way to an enormous six-foot-tall basalt water fountain sitting behind glass at the end of the hallway, offering a peek into the east courtyard.

“There’s no doubt it was a stunning lot with unbelievable views of the city lights, perched up so high it felt like you were on top of the world …”
–Rob Woods

“In every house we build, there’s what we call the ‘sweet spot,’” Woods says, “where you get a sense of the whole house and its intention.” The sweet spot of the Frame’s house awaits at the end of the entryway. After a slight left, a luxurious living area unfolds. But what really catches the eye, what renders guests dazed and amazed, is the view. An uninterrupted expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors wrapped in slender steel frame an inimitable view, revealing the beauty and majesty that is Santa Fe. “We love the reaction when people go around that corner,” says Mike. “They’re speechless.” With more than 50 feet of glass, the west-facing side of the house offers a 200-degree view: from Albuquerque to the Badlands and Black Mesa, all the way to Mount San Antonio near the Colorado border. “The view is the artwork in this home,” muses Betsy. “The view is our painting.” An exclusive, forever-changing art installation.

Once the masterpiece is revealed, and the shock-and-awe subsides, the entirety of the Frame home manifests in demure yet dramatic complexity.

soft contemporary
From north to south, the living room, bar, kitchen and family room flow seamlessly in an open, airy floor plan, creating the exact vibe the Frames envisioned. With subtle taupe tones and charcoal gray veins, quartz countertops offset the kitchen’s chic walnut cabinetry.

With a nod to the homeowners’ Missouri roots, cowhide-backed bar chairs add texture and serve as anchors to the cowhide rugs laying subtly atop the 10-inch-wide white oak floors throughout the home. “I think it’s the farm girl coming out in me,” says Betsy who grew up on a cattle and pig farm. “And I like the rustic look with the bling.” As evidenced by the many objets de sparkle enlivening each room such as the living room chandelier with crystal globes that crown each arm of the eight-branched design.

Woods defines the home’s style as soft contemporary. Sharp angles, squared-off corners, huge expanses of glass and the introduction of materials like steel and quartz give the home a contemporary feel. Yet traditional elements—hand plastered walls, stained wood beams, moss rock and natural wood floors—infuse each room with an undeniable Southwestern style. The mix and mingle of the individual elements “give it a really cool inbetween transitional style,” says Woods.

superbly, impeccably bespoke
The Woods style of building maintains a heavy emphasis on handmade, hand-installed items.

A custom-mixed bright white diamond plaster was hand-applied throughout the home. Gleaming beeswax finishes further dress the walls and ceilings with a silky sheen, enhancing the home’s natural lighting with its glass-like reflective quality.

Every room features a dramatic contrast against the bright walls and ceiling with exposed beams of Douglas fir. A dark stain highlights the rugged indentations from detailed hand-scorping, indicative of the intricate craftsmanship included in every Woods home.

“We love talking about our house; we love talking about how easy the process was, especially being first-time home builders.” –Betsy Frame

Custom-built steelwork from Rippel Steel in Santa Fe punctuates the modern aesthetic both inside and outside the home.

Columns of hand-chiseled indigenous moss rock from the Pecos Mountains— which made its arresting appearance in the grand entryway—stand sentinel along the stretch of outdoor living spaces that span the entirety of the home’s west side.

The east side is no less amazing. Remember that extreme excavation? Despite the difficult work, the rock served a grand purpose. Cut from the mountain, a huge, natural rock face offers a one-of-akind backdrop for the east courtyard—a reminder of what the Frames’ went through to get their dream home.

“We love talking about our house; we love talking about how easy the process was, especially being first-time home builders,” says Betsy. “It was fun to collaborate with the entire team. We’d build a house with them again in a second!”

resources

Architect
Lorn Tryk

Builder
Woods Design Builders, Inc.
woodsbuilders.com

Appliances
Ferguson

Bathroom/Kitchen Sinks and Fixtures
Santa Fe By Design

Beams
Helfrich Construction

Cabinetry
Ernest Thompson

Custom Painting
Southwest Finishes

Fireplaces
Atalaya Construction

Flooring
Stonewood Flooring (Tile)
stonewoodnm.com
Kinney Brick (Brick Supplier)
Buena Vista Masonry (Brick Installation)
RL Marek (Wood)

Front Door, Gates and Metal Fabrication
Rippel Metal

Granite
J. Harris Marble & Granite

Interior Doors
VML Woodworks

Landscaping
Serquis + Associates

Lighting
Bright Ideas Inc.
lightingfordesign.com

Wall Finish (Interior Plaster)
JMV Lath & Plaster

Water Feature
Stone Forest

Windows/Sliding Window Wall
Architectural Windows and Doors