Do you embrace "New Mexico Style"? (Santa Fe, Gallup: house, buying)

[joqua]

As with ANY style, it's all a matter of "taste" and even some so-called design professionals lack good taste/judgement at times. Where I live, in the Ruidoso area, there is a wide variation in architectural styles. Everything from Italianate to stuccoed straw bales.

I personally have a "split personality" when it comes to all things "southwestern." As a visual artist, I have lived with southwestern art all of my long life and dislike being forced to produce it in my own work just for the sake of having a salable product. But it's hard to sell "contemporary" art in this region - especially AFFORDABLE contemporary art. Whereas I learned many years ago that sticking a windmill in any landscape scene virtually guarantees saleability! Or putting a few pieces of turquoise jewelry on the model.

That having been said, I love the New Mexico genre of southwestern style when it comes to architecture and home furnishings. More specifically, I like the style of architecture referred to as "territorial" - usually meaning a large covered veranda, sometimes going around more than one side of a home. Kiva fireplaces CAN offer a practical, heat saving alternative to more conventional heatalator fireplaces when properly built to conserve on fuel and maximize the release of heat to the room.

As for the house I live in - well - what can I say. I guess I'd call it contemporary fixer-upper style!

[aries63]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

If I were teleported into a house that was 100% filled with 'Southwestern motif' decorations, I would bet the farm it was a recent (and well meanining, I am sure) immigrant to this great state.

Or it can just creep up on you. I know a couple who are native Anglos (of NM and TX) who have an appreciation for Native American pottery and other crafts, and Hispanic religious art. I don't think they intended for their house to turn into a museum but they have become accidental collectors. They don't have much money but they do enjoy going to Indian Market, Spanish Market, and various trading posts and finding good deals, and getting to know local artisans, so that now, 20 years later, it has taken over their house.

Another reason I think the local crafts don't get "old" for me is because the Native pottery and weaving are pretty timeless, if you have even one nice pot from one of the Pueblos it is always a joy to look at. It is not like some contemporary art or furnishings which tend to go out of style. I admire the pottery and rugs a lot but don't buy because it would look out of place next to my junk. Someday, maybe...

[bongo]

When my family came to NM to visit I took them down to Santa Fe where my young nephew, while walking around to the shops on the plaza asked "Why don't they just build a mall?"!!! He went on to announce he was not impressed with "mud buildings".

[bongo]

We have a collection of navajo rugs, jewlery & wedding baskets. We taught out on the reservation & my kids' parents and grandparents brought their crafts by to sell all the time. We also poured an adobe floor with La Bajada clay in our cottage and built niches in our walls.

[GregW]

Bongo - Tell you nephew to live in any suburb of his choice. Somewhere else.

PS: How did you accomodate the shrinkage in the poured clay floor?

[Gearhound]

I look like Yoda in a Cowboy hat and boots.....nuff said.

Steve

[Dancingearth]

Fashion - rate a 1 unless you count when I go to a rendezvous or volunteer at Golondrinas then I'm a 10. I have one summer skirt that looks southwest that I bought for contra dancing and a few turquoise pieces but mostly I dress casually for comfort--jeans mostly. However when I go east a friend tells me he can tell I'm not from there. No idea why but when I lived there for 30 years I was always asked where I was from. I assume it must be the influence on my personality from my midwestern family and not necessarily the way I dress unless it's the outdoorsy casual look--not fussy. When I use to do C&W dancing I wore my cowboy boots more and I have a cowboy hat I don't wear but it hangs on a hat rack along with my hat collection. I enjoy seeing the different ways people dress here--much more interesting people watching.

The architecture of my house is affordable southwestern style -a viga inside and some southwest accents--shapes of ceiling going thru halls have a cutout, high ceilings, adobe colored stucco, part flat roof (hate it because of leaks but looks nice) and pitched red roof. I like it since it gives some uniqueness to an affordable home that would be cracker box plain in the east at the price I paid. Plus the floor plan is open so it doesn't feel closed in for a small house.

Furniture - rate a 3-4 - SW affordable. I bought a rustic cabinet from El Paseo Imports for my tv and replaced the glass doors with punched tin that I made. Also got a big rustic coffee table from El Paseo because it's great for playing games on. Wicker chair and rocking chair came with me from the east. Country style eastern dining chairs are from an auction in PA and table is an antique drop leaf I got at Stephen's Consigment shop sale this year along with a very southwestern style rustic bench. I also have other rustic cabinets since I don't have many closets and it gives me more storage and looks nice.

Decorative - A friend makes southwest style wall pieces from clay and I have many of her pieces. She has a wonderful home full of her pottery, rugs, art collections. She grew up in Santa Fe and is an artist and it definitely is like going to a museum except it's very comfortable. I have buckskin dresses that I made for rendezvous along with my bow, quiver, and arrows hanging on the walls (they get used.) Original artwork from my son (not southwestern but do have bold colors that work well with SW style.) Old heirloom family quilts hang on bedroom walls. I like to decorate with things made by me or my friends and family and collected and added over time. It's all eclectic but works good together for a cozy feeling. I think of it as East/Midwest meets Southwest. and I forgot the PNW - a tin hanging lamp I made with a salmon and NW style art punched on it that is in the guest bedroom.

I think the only time a style would get boring is if you didn't collect it yourself. Typically it evolves and changes when you do it yourself. I find houses done by interior decorators boring. There might be a few interesting and beautiful pieces but what do they say about the person living in the space? Just like book collections are interesting to see how they reflect the person who has collected them.

This is a fun thread to read!

[Gearhound]

Actually, my wife does pretty well at finding old rustic furniture at local flea markets and yard sales.
If some are....er.....well, 'too rustic'?
Then that's MY job.
She once found an old standing cabinet, that was entirely made out of Mesquite, but that someone had painted over.
I sanded the old paint off, and the old girl's looking pretty good now, IMHO.

Some observations...................................... .................

If you walk into a store, and you hear Native American music playing.....RUN.....'cause you cannot afford anything they're selling.

In general, the farther away from downtown Santa Fe you travel, the cheaper everything becomes.

What little surface water there is in New Mexico is precious.
Too many people think nothing of tossing beer bottles, potato chip bags, and other garbage all over the place.
Sad.

New Mexico is a unique experience, whether you live here or just visiting.
We only live one short lifetime, so whatever lifestyle you embrace.....it's ALL good!!

Steve

[bongo]

Originally Posted by GregW

Bongo - Tell you nephew to live in any suburb of his choice. Somewhere else.

PS: How did you accomodate the shrinkage in the poured clay floor?

It's been many years & neither of us remember the exact formula we obtained. However, we used wheat paste in with the adobe mix & linseed oil as a sealant.

We do have a few cracks LOL

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by bongo

It's been many years & neither of us remember the exact formula we obtained. However, we used wheat paste in with the adobe mix & linseed oil as a sealant.

We do have a few cracks LOL

I've got cracks in my cement floor and I know it's not as pretty as your adobe.