Hot Tips & Cool Ideas for Design

Good architecture is a wise investment
Having a house planned specifically for your lot and properly designed for light, heat, shade, wind, views, room functions and your lifestyle is well worth the cost of a good architect. The value that good architects bring to a building is a wise investment, since "mistakes" or miscalculations by inexperienced designers or builders are very expensive to fix. Given the overall cost of a custom home, it is smart to use the expertise of a good architect to ensure that every aspect of your new home works well, looks and feels right.

Classic New Mexico architectural styles
"Santa Fe Style" is a nice way to describe the comfortable, soft, organic-feeling aesthetic of the "Pueblo Revival" style so common in New Mexico architecture. While the flat-roofed Pueblo "adobe look" seems to be the most popular architectural style in New Mexico, other common styles include the "Northern New Mexico pitched roof" found in many rural communities, and the "Territorial Style" that emerged in the late 1800’s when the railroad brought new materials to the area. Good architects and designers can show you examples of these styles – and more – as you explore which style works best for you and your project.

Modern architecture in NM
Another delightful architectural style to consider is "New Mexico Modern" – a contemporary style that uses modern forms and a variety of materials to create comfortable, warm living spaces that embrace the environment and work with nature. Many New Mexicans are incorporating modern design elements into more traditional styles for a hybrid architecture that works for our lifestyles in the 21st century. Clever ways of dealing with solar issues, capturing views, and creating fabulous indoor-outdoor spaces are hallmarks of this modern, hybrid style.