Capturing a perfect sunset in Santa Fe, New Mexico

After two days of snow, Santa Fe was buried in over 12 inches of fresh powder. We had road closures, school closings, 2-hour delays… it was so much fun! That is if you enjoy winter weather, which I happen to. Yeah, there is the occasional incident where your 4×4 gets stuck in a 20 inch snow drift (doesn’t 4×4 mean you can drive through anything?) OK, so there are some drawbacks to all the snow. But overall, I absolutely love the winter and the heavy snows that come with it. Besides skiing, building snowmen, having an occasional snow ball fight with the kids and drinking hot cocoa next to the fire, there are not too many things that I love more during winter then watching a sunset.

The Sangre de Cristo mountain range had been hidden underneath the thick winter clouds for almost three days straight. It was around 4:00pm when I noticed the clouds beginning to break apart. When the mountain peaks finally started to show through the cloud cover, I was amazed at how much snow they got, the mountains were glowing! I knew that mother nature had something spectacular planned. The stage was set, and I was rushing off to Monte Sereno for a front row seat where I intended to take it all in.

It didn’t take me more then ten minutes to get from downtown Santa Fe and into Monte Sereno. Each minute I drove, the mountains seemed to get brighter. The sun reflecting off the mountain side was hypnotizing,  I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them. I took the Tesuque exit near the Santa Fe Opera house, and drove into the subdivision. I found myself a spot on the side of the road, pulled out my Nikon and started shooting.

Memories of burning orange sunsets reflecting on the snow capped mountains started to fill my head… oh yeah, this time I was ready to capture it! As I watched the color in the sky change from blue, to pink, to orange and blood reds, I was not prepared for how terrific this sunset was going to be.

Sitting on top of the world alone in my 4Runner, I was so excited to see what was unfolding in front of me. The clouds hiding the mountains seemed to roll over the summit just in time. And the sun, which was also being covered by the departing storm in the west, broke through the clouds like a spotlight; lighting up the star of the show on center stage.  I didn’t stop shooting, not until after the last bit of blood reds faded away and only after I filled a 2GB memory card. Truly an amazing experience, and one I will not soon forget.

Ok, Its time to show you what I captured, and I am excited to be able to share it with you. Here is a small set of photos that show the incredible beauty Santa Fe has to offer. With views like these, who wouldn’t want to live here?

I hope you enjoy the sunset…

The stage is set, I hope the clouds don't get in the way!

I love it up here...

The ridge lines cast shadows as the sun light hits them.

The clouds are covering the sun and the mountains... oh come on, move please!

YES!! Its SHOW TIME!

Glowing orange!!! Burn baby burn!

I was hoping for good, but I got exceptional.

Sunsets in Santa Fe. The only way this could be any better is if you were seeing it in person....from the back porch of your new home!

This Santa Fe Home with Views is scheduled for completion February 2009, only a month away!

If you are interested in purchasing this home,  give me a call  or email me and I will be happy to show it to you.

Brian Tercero
(505) 930-9586

The exterior color of the walls turned out fantastic. We used the color “suede” by Sto, the synthetic stucco system. The contrast between the green-tea leaf colored window trim, and the acorn stained wood turned out even better then I imagined.

Click any of the images below to start the slideshow.

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This luxury home is no exception, and we made as much use of the outdoor space as possible. When you have a unique building site like this one in Monte Sereno, it would be tragic not to take advantage of the views.

What we did was build a view portal that wraps around the entire back side of the home, and installed the biggest windows we could get our hands on to maximize the view lines. And to put the finishing touches, we added the sculpted kiva fireplace to enjoy the warmth on a cold winter evening. Now where did I put my eggnog?

Santa Fe Homes

Santa Fe homes are as unique as Santa Fe itself. Here are some highlights of what you’re likely to encounter—or not encounter—in your quest for that perfect Santa Fe home.

Adobe: Santa Fe homes were traditionally constructed of adobe brick, a mixture of sun-dried clay bricks, mixed with grasses for strength, and mortared with mud. Adobe is an excellent insulator; and adobe homes stay warm in winter and cool in summer. You won’t see sharp edges or corners in home built of adobe bricks; part of the material’s charm is soft, rounded corners. While some new Santa Fe homes are still built of adobe—most achieve the “look” of an adobe-style home through frame construction and the artful use of stucco.

Color palette: Simple: it’s tans and browns. Santa Fe homes blend in to the landscape around them. You won’t see a range of colors. Even multi-million dollar mansions are discretely tucked into the hills. Dirt roads: Some of the most expensive real estate in town is located on dirt roads. And nobody’s anxious to pave. It’s part of Santa Fe’s charm—and very much in keeping with the “blend in with the landscape” philosophy.

Fireplaces: It’s hard to find a Santa Fe home without one. And many homes have multiple fireplaces, including one outside, on the portal. A curved fireplace, placed in a corner, is called a kiva fireplace. There’s nothing cozier than piñon logs burning in the fireplace on a snowy Santa Fe evening.

Nichos: The nicho is Santa Fe’s answer to a showcase. It’s a small, recessed area of a wall—the perfect place to display a piece of sculpture or, for the traditionalists, the carved santo that you got at Spanish Market.

The front door: It says “Santa Fe” before you even enter the house. It’s often heavy, carved, antique, or antique-looking—and the door hardware is just as distinctive, whether it’s hand-wrought or just looks like it.

Courtyard: Outdoor living is a feature of life in Santa Fe, and many homes have courtyards—often as part of the entryway. They’re inviting outdoor spaces, often featuring a fountain or sculpture, and lush container plantings.

Portal: Another popular feature of Santa Fe homes, the portal is a covered patio, ideal for dining, entertaining, or just enjoying those fabulous Santa Fe sunsets.

Carpeting: You won’t see much of the wall-to-wall variety in Santa Fe homes. Brick, stone and tile floors are more Santa Fe style. But look for area rugs to soften and add color to a room’s décor.

Vigas: Santa Fe ceilings are anything but plain. Look up and you’ll often see vigas, long beams that support the roof. Latillas are the wood strips between the vigas. On the house’s exterior, you’ll see the ends of the vigas. Canales channel water from the roof, where water-wise Santa Feans often place a rain barrel.

Bancos: Picture an adobe wall that bumps out and becomes a bench. That bench is a banco. But you don’t have to use it for seating; it’s a good display area too.

Progress is moving very quickly now!

Vigas are huge trees chopped down and cut to size. They serve as support in both ceilings and can be stood upright and used as columns.

Latillas are smaller versions of vigas, they are the branches, hand peeled, and usually are cris-crossed on top of vigas for decorative purposes.

Because these beams are so massive and are extremely heavy, a crane had to be rented to pick up each viga and set it in place. Its a long tedious process and requires the framers to pay really close attention to what they are doing. Dunno about you, but I would hate to have one of those dropped on my foot!

Oh yeah! Its all coming together!

First years snow blankets the Sangre de Cristos, you can still see the golden tint of the aspen trees... beautiful.

The house has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and is 3065 heated square feet with 1034 square feet of covered portals and an additional 795 square feet of storage for a grand total of 4894 square feet.

Some of the best architects in Santa Fe designed this custom home to sit hidden by the native pinon trees and junipers on a 2.387 acre lot. The home was pinned in precisely to take advantage of the premium views, while maintaining privacy. You will be in awe of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, and with huge windows in every room, the views will follow you throughout the house.

Imagine yourself cooking dinner in the spacious gourmet kitchen, or relaxing in the authentic Santa Fe style living room, soaking in the hot tub in the master bathroom, or enjoying the kiva fireplaces located in any of these rooms. All the while you will be captivated by the stunning beauty that only Santa Fe has to offer.

Are the views drawing you in? Then step outside onto the curving, view veranda that wraps around the backside of the house, and take a deep breathe of the crisp mountain air, enjoying the warmth of the outdoor, sculpted fireplace. Enjoy one of Santa Fe’s famous sunsets, as the light paints the mountains red… ahhhh… only in Santa Fe!

They dont call them the "Sangre de Cristos" for nothing. Translated from Spanish it means "The Blood of Christ", and they live up to their name.

Construction is under way!

Construction will be complete in late November, its the perfect time to watch the aspens change color, and watch them get their first dusting of mountain snow.

This home is located in the highly coveted Monte Sereno subdivision. It is a master planned luxury community situated on the rolling hills in north east Santa Fe, neighboring the internationally acclaimed Santa Fe Opera House.

Literally five minutes from the Opera, and no more then ten minutes from the historic downtown plaza. Monte Sereno is located perfectly for those who want the the feeling of living out under the stars free from light pollution, but yet are still conveniently located close to all of Santa Fe’s amenities. It just does not get any better than this.

The leaves are turning, fall is upon us!

Check out some more of the views.

Mountain views for as far as the eyes can see!