magazine - Amazon Web Services...and delights in the culinary wonders cooked up by this couple....

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shelter magazine TELLURIDE’S HOME & LIVING ON THE ROAD WITH Shasta PAGE 24 INSIDE: TOMBOY HIDEAWAY MY MAHJ GARDEN SPACE YOUR TOXIC BEDROOM A COMFORT FOOD FEAST PREFAB FABULOUS MYSHELTERMAG.COM SUMMER 2009 A Watch Newspapers publication

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sheltermagazineT e l l u r i d e ’ s H o m e & l i v i n g

on THe road wiTH

Shastapage 24

inside: Tomboy Hideaway my maHj garden space your Toxic bedroom a comforT food feasT prefab fabulous

mysheltermag.com

summer 2009

A Watch Newspapers publication

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• Over 20,000 square feet of living space (17,300+ indoor, 3000+ deck/patio)• 10 Bedrooms, 5 additional flex rooms to accommodate additional sleeping• 2 seamless ski-in/ski-out access points with complete ski room amenities• The estates 3 connected, but private spaces allow for smaller rentals of 8,7,5 and 3 bedrooms• State of the art movie house seats 30 and includes 2300+ free on demand movies, Wii and Xbox 360• 2300+ free on demand movies, NFL package, XM radio and ipod are available on 11 big screen TV’s• Game room with championship pool table, tournament poker table, dart board and 60” plasma• Indoor hot springs, outdoor whirlpool and bonfire pit

• World-class cooking facilities and spectacular views throughout the estate

Undeniably Telluride’s Largest & Most Extraordinary Ski-In/Ski-Out Private Rental Home

Come Discover Castlewood www.telluride-castlewood.com | 1.877.74.castle | mail to: 113 Autumn Lane | Telluride, Colorado 81435

Game Room Hot Springs Grand Lodge Movie House

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departmentsProductsLove ObjectsBy Anne ReeserPage 8

GreenhouseThe Toxic Bedroom UncoveredBy Kara TatonePage 14

Food and WineA Melting Pot of Comfort Food: Aemono at HomeBy Gus JarvisPage 34

My shelterGoing HomeBy Elizabeth CovingtonPage 43

on the web:Good things at Shelter don’t end with the print version.

Go online to mysheltermag.com for more, including information about how to “build” your very own prefab, Marta Tarbell’s whimsical “All Consuming” column, virtual tours of the homes featured in the magazine, and our online edition with searchable content and listings.

featuresthe neW PreFab

Building the Dream for Less in Ilium ValleyBy Emily Brendler Shoff

Page 18

toMboy road’s hidden havenBy Deb Dion

Page 28

shastas on the road… aGainBy Martinique Davis

Page 24

hoW i Got My “Mahj” onBy Sue Hobby

Page 40

Kristin undhjeM By Kandee DeGraw

Page 10

contents

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PublisherSeth Cagin

editorElizabeth Covington

CoPy editorsJosie Jay, Jessica Newens, Marta Tarbell

Creative direCtorAnne Reeser

senior designerCasey Nay

Photo editorBrett Schreckengost

ContributorsMartinique Davis, Kandee DeGraw, Deb Dion, Sue Hobby, Gus

Jarvis, Anne Reeser, Emily Brendler Shoff, Kara Tatone

advertising direCtorPatrick Nicklaus

aCCount Manager, tellurideCasey Nay

ouray & Montrose Counties salesPeggy Kiniston

CirCulationScott Nuechterlein

on the CoverA Shasta trailer makes car camping all that much easier, especially

one (in the photo) tricked out with solar panels that power a satellite radio, a shower and an LCD screen and DVD player.

Story, page 24.

Shelter is published twice a year by Watch Newspapers, a publication of The Slope, LLC, P.O. Box 2042, Telluride, Colorado 81435. Reproduction

in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. To advertise in Shelter, call 970.728.4496 ext. 31. For editorial inquiries,

please email [email protected].

offiCes: 125 West Pacific Ave., Suite 2B in the Diamondtooth Building,

Telluride, Colorado171 North Cora, Ridgway, Colorado

masthead

151 South P ine Street | telluride , Co 81435 | 970 .728 .1345

SChilling studio

gallery- an env ironmentally reSPonSible gallery gallery -

w w w . S C h i l l i n g S t u d i o g a l l e r y . C o m

in a world of diSorder,

truSt in artiStiC eXCellenCe

and beauty.

phot

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shelter

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Turning Concrete into a Work of ArtTurning Concrete into a Work of Art

Finishes Inc.Distinctive Concrete

ChrIs BolaneRidgway, Colorado

970.318.1803www.dcf-online.com

+ Concrete Countertops+ Epoxy Floor Systems

+ Acid Staining+ Vessel Sinks+ Resurfacing

Independently distributed by: Majestic Peaks Custom Homes & Sunrooms Winners of Lindal’s ‘Excellence in Customer Service Award’

66530 Solar Road • Montrose, CO 81403 • 970-240-9250 • 866-970-9663 • www.majesticpeaks.com • [email protected] hoMe located 3 Miles south of Montrose at hwy 550 and solar road

Naturally ‘Green’

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from the editorThe staff of Shelter has been looking for some time for a prefabricated house that would make a good story. Though we knew that prefab houses were being built in the area, until we met Frannie and Eric Aura we had not found the right house. The Auras were looking at condominiums in town when they dis-covered a beautiful piece of property in Ilium Valley. As Frannie tells it, when they purchased the land they were very excited, but had no idea how they would be able to afford building the house. That was when Frannie started look-ing into prefabricated houses, and the doors that route might open. And open doors it did. Their house was built at a factory in Nebraska, and a year ago in March the two halves of the house arrived on the back of a tractor-trailer. By June the couple was living in their new home. On a visit this winter Shelter writer Emily Shoff wasn’t sure what to expect. Certainly the orange shag rugs of yesteryear were out. But what did prefab in the 21st century mean? Story, page 18.

While prefab construction has only just broken ground in the Tel-luride area, its close cousin, green building, has for several years been the newest code of conduct. While that term has many meanings, homeown-er and builder Grant McCargo took the term to heart when building his three-tiered house that is tucked into the hillside below Tomboy Road. From the recycled wood floors to the way the house is backed into the hillside (a strategy that preserved the view corridor from above and gave the back of the house an R-value that money can’t buy) to the passive solar gain through the windows on the south side of the house, McCargo built a modest house that is energy efficient. Writer Deb Dion toured the house to find out just how he did all this and more. Story, page 28.

From prefab and green building, this summer’s issue of Shelter wan-ders, while staying close to the themes of how we design, build and live. In one corner of the magazine, Janie Goldberg and friends gather once a month to play Mah Jongg, an ancient Chinese game that has become popular in this country. Sue Hobby stops in to learn how to play and indulge in a margarita or two. Story, page 40. In another corner, Kandee DeGraw visits Kristin Undhjem at her Lawson Hill-based gardenstore, a retail space full of plants and all things garden that delights the senses. Undhjem, a landscape architect by training, talks about her love of plants and the lived-in landscape. Story, page 10. In a third corner, Ouray County Watch editor Gus Jarvis travels over the mountains to Rico where Aemono owners Mike Guskea and Sophia Kyriakakis live. There Jarvis samples and delights in the culinary wonders cooked up by this couple. Story, page 34. And finally in a fourth corner, Telluride writer Kara Tatone looks at what it means to sleep in a non-toxic bedroom. What you ask? My bed-room is not toxic! Well, guess again. From the formaldehyde in the bedside table to cleaners stored in the under sink cabinet in a nearby bathroom, there may be toxic chemicals lurking in your bedroom. Story, page 15.

Enjoy….

Editor,Elizabeth Covington

CHRISTOPHERTHOMSON

800-726-0145

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Martinique DavisWhile Martinique Davis is perhaps best known as a staff reporter for the Telluride Watch, she also serves as interior decorator of her and husband Craig’s 1964 Shasta camp trailer. When they, daughter Elodie and dog Eddy hit the road, she’s also Chief Navigator and Master Map Reader. Story, page 24.

Gus JarvisFacing the death of newspaper journalism, Ouray County Watch edi-tor Gus Jarvis is coping by search-ing out the region’s best comfort foods. In this issue of Shelter, he finds that some of the most com-forting foods are those cooked by a personal chef. Here Gus travels over the mountains from his home in Montrose to Rico to have dinner cooked by local chef and caterer Mike Guskea. Story, page 34.

KanDee DeGrawRepatriated Utah resident Kandee DeGraw has spent many years in and out of Colorado, writing, working and hanging out. She has been writing for the Telluride Watch in various capacities since the 90s, but her primary interests include honing her vitriolic wit and read-ing other people’s books. Currently she resides in Moab, Utah, with her family and two cats. Here, Kandee pays a visit to Kristin Undhjem in her Lawson Hill-based gardenstore, where Kristin shares her love of the plant world. Story, page 10.

Brett schrecKenGostTelluride resident since 1992, Brett Schreckengost has been staff pho-tographer for Shelter since its pre-miere issue in summer 2003. With his wife Corinne and 30-pound cat Leo, Brett lives in a minimally re-stored, 800-square-foot, 19th cen-tury miner’s cabin situated at 9,600 feet in Ophir. This issue features his 1972 Shasta compact travel trailer that provides him with an additional 82 square feet of shel-ter when needed. Story, page 24. When he’s not behind the camera, Brett enjoys outdoor table tennis and falling asleep in hammocks.

DeB DionLocal writer Deb Dion spends a lot of time running and hiking up Tomboy Road and has long appre-ciated the fact that, from the road, she can’t see the house she wrote about for this issue. Nevertheless she couldn’t wait to get a peek in-side, and see how the architect and builders managed to put a struc-ture in such steep environs without impeding others’ views.

“I was surprised at the grace and elegance of the house,” she said. Story, page 28.

eMily BrenDler shoffGiven her husband’s current ob-session with remodeling his own house thanks to the magazine This Old House, Emily Brendler Shoff has no desire to design and build her own home. She wouldn’t mind, however, living in a prefab home like that of Frannie and Eric Aura. While she can’t live there, Emily did some vicarious living while touring the house for, “The New Prefab: Building the Dream for Less in Ilium Valley.” Story, page 18.

Emily writes a weekly column for the Telluride Daily Planet and is a Colorado Voices columnist for The Denver Post. She is grateful for the solid construction that houses her and her own family.

sue hoBByBetter known as a fabric artist and social mingler, Watch writer Sue Hobby enjoys any kind of gather-ing that involves the clattering of tiles, bubbes and pischkes. Last sum-mer, while attending Telluride’s notorious Geek Fest, she won the prize of an evening of Mah Jongg, margaritas and munchies at the Elks, hosted by Mah Jongg Maven Janie Goldberg. A quick study, Sue is now a card carrying member of the National Mah Jongg League. Story, page 40

Kara tatoneBefore writing “The Toxic Bed-room Uncovered,” (Story, page 14) Kara Tatone didn’t know that dust bunnies were toxic. Now rethink-ing the materials that make up the bedroom, she’s seeking out organic alternatives. After all, we do spend about a third of our lives sleeping.

Since her move here in 1999, she has written for the Telluride Dai-ly Planet and a handful of regional publications. Pursuing nontoxic outdoor recreation continues to be her passion.

contributors

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Lunch in London. dinner in MuMbai?Can’t afford to jet across the pond to dine? Settle for serving up your meals on a map of your fa-vorite metropolis with these porcelain city plates from notNeutral. Each plate comes with a map key and can be purchased separately or in col-lections of four. Serve up the world on City Plates. retail: $50Find it: notneutral.com; Composition, Lakewood, Colo. buy it: notneutral.com; shopcomposition.com or 303/894-0025

outdoor nestingWoven, all-weather, tear-resistant, soft-to-the-touch wicker, stretched over a powder coated aluminum frame –“The Nest” from Gloster’s Scoop Collection lets you lounge in style. Enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your nest. retail: $7,630 (includes cushions) Find it: Christy Sports buy it: 119 Lost Creek Lane, Mountain Village; 970/369-4727

the Package is the ProductKnoend’s Lite2Go needs no package. In fact, the package is the shade of the light. Assemble this clever design in minutes and be illuminated by a pendant light or table lamp – your choice. Lite2Go comes in clear, as well as a rainbow of colors. The best part? An energy-efficient light bulb is included. retail: $65Find it: knoend.combuy it: knoend.com

Mio WorM coMPosterIt’s green. It’s adorable. It composts! The MIO Worm Composter makes composting look sleek, while increasing your smug quotient. Created for Target by sustainable-living-centered, home product design firm MIO, the Worm Composter can be used indoors or out.retail: $99.99Find it: target.com (available online only)buy it: target.com

love objects

By ANNE REESER

If you simply can’t indulge in a $7,630 outdoor sofa (or even if you can), a bar of the perfect chocolate (oh so beautifully wrapped) or a hand-carved Brazilian peace frog might lift your spirits during these murky economic times.

products

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Customs HouseKeep Calm and Carry On. Hang this poster in your office, your bedroom, anywhere that you need to be reminded of the one British mantra that we all can periodically use. Comes in pink, red, silver and gold. Retail: $30, without frame Find it: Customs HouseBuy it: 135 W. Pacific Ave.,Telluride, Colo.; 970/369-5003

GaRden LiGHtChristopher Thomson Ironworks Studio’s newly forged steel garden sconce will cast dramatic lighting on a garden path, while at the same time meeting Night Sky Code requirements for outdoor lighting. Retail: $1,600Find it: www.ctiron.comBuy it: 800/726-0145

mast BRotHeRs CHoCoLate “Bean to bar chocolate”What better way to pull yourself out of the economic doldrums – if only temporarily – than by biting into a bar of Mast Brothers Chocolate? Bearded brothers Rick and Michael Mast (check out their home page) start with cacao sourced from small family farms and coops in Madagascar, Venezuela and Ecuador, and hand craft these beautifully packaged chocolate bars in Brooklyn, NY. Retail: $8.50/barFind it: www.mastbrotherschocolate.com; Composition, Lakewood, Colo. Buy it: [email protected];303/894-0025 or www.shopcomposition.com

BRaziLian PeaCe FRoGsMade by the Coboclos Tribe who live along the Rio Negro in the Amazon Basin, these crude necklaces connect the wearer with the maker “across time, culture and borders,” according to Schilling Studio Gallery owner Amy Schilling. The pendants are made from scrap wood leftover from boat building and logging companies. For each peace frog that is sold, a tree sapling is planted in the Amazon.Retail: three different sizes, $20, $28 & $34Find it: Schilling Studio Gallery Buy it: 151 S. Pine St, Telluride; 970/729-1345

ConveRsionsAs populations grow, where and how we live is a major concern. This book shows that with a bit of imagination all sorts of buildings can be converted into homes. Retail: $40, hardback; $30, paperbackFind it: Between the CoversBuy it: 224 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride; 970/728-4504

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personal space

Kristin Undhjem By kandee degraw photos By Brett schreckengost

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laugh. “Your approach all depends on where you went to school. Some schools have their department within the division of forestry or agriculture, or in the division of environmental studies. There are fewer schools where design is the primary focus [– a strength of RISD].

“Each approach to the discipline forms the designer’s outlook in very different ways,” she continues. “I learned it as a cross-discipline with architecture, deeply driven by design, which has allowed me to treat the landscape and the plants as the medium. It is very broad urban planning in your backyard garden.”

To truly achieve total design on a project, Undhjem says the entire team – architect, land-scape architect, interior designer, contractor, etc. – would ideally be hired at the same time, making it easier to attain a cohesive vision. “It is wonderful to see a detail outside in its own iteration feature some of the concepts from the inside and vice versa,” she says of a home and its surrounding landscape. “It is much easier to fully marry [a client’s] entire

And with 20 years experience in horticul-ture, gardening, and garden and outdoor liv-ing design (hard to believe as she is blessed with one of those enduringly young faces; in-deed, she likes to get a rise out of people by telling them, inaccurately, that she is 52.), her appropriately named gardenstore is a natural extension of her skills and sensibilities.

“I am a designer by trade, but a horticultur-alist by life experience,” she says. She counts working in a nursery in Rhode Island for four years and work at Faraway Ranch High Alti-tude Garden for three summers as part of her education in plants.

After first trying out nursing (her father was not willing to pay for an art degree), Undhjem took matters into her own hands and as an undergraduate and graduate stu-dent studied landscape architecture at Rhode Island School of Design. She earned her mas-ter’s degree in 1998.

“Landscape architecture is a funny disci-pline,” she says with a quiet, self-deprecating

ardenstore is a wonderland. No matter the actual season holding forth outside, Kristin Undhjem’s Lawson Hill space

is filled with the sights and scents of spring. During a visit one not-very-spring-like day, the store was a wild profusion of plant life. Bud-ding azaleas and gardenias competed for top billing. And yet, among the riot of organic matter, and even with textures ranging from petal-soft to cactus-dangerous, there was a feeling of serenity and comfort. Indeed, it felt more like a room in a home than a retail shop, a place where a visitor would want to sit and stay a while.

That feeling – one of being at home – is the design aesthetic Undhjem brings to her land-scaping projects.

“I make really cool outside spaces, party pads and spaces for grandchildren, medita-tion spaces, occupyable art pieces,” she says – places that draw you in, places that feel like home. “With design in the out-of-doors, it is limitless.”

>>>

g

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unlike those she designs for her clients. Call it a plant addiction.

“It is a plant lover’s garden,” she says of her own. “Many varieties, many different styles. Sometimes you see a plant and you just have to have it in your garden. Each new plant helps you to push the boundaries of the art form.”

Exposure to new plants also expands her design capabilities.

“To be a great designer you have to know all about the plants. There are some design-ers who work with such an edited palette, 15 plants or so, but I enjoy having a huge range to choose from,” she says.

This winter Shelter visited with Undhjem to find out what plants inspire her.

space when you are all starting at the same time with the same design in mind. There is a wonderful merger that occurs.

“A visitor to the space might not conscious-ly notice, but the space has a feel of being complete because you are able to blur those boundaries with the outside and inside.”

Erasing those lines isn’t always easy at a site turned upside down by excavation work and heavy machinery, but it’s a task at which Undhjem thrives, just like her gardens.

“One of the important things that I help people do is re-ground their house,” she says. “When new construction happens there is a bit of mess at the end of that process. I try to make it look like it has been here a long time.”

Her personal gardens, she says, are very >>>

Soren inspects a wetland designed by his mother, landscape designer Kristin Undhjem.

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Best place for a horticulturist to visit: It’s all amazing. The more you look, the more you see. If you like plant history, China takes the cake. So many of the plants we commonly know in the garden today are of Asian gene-alogy. Places where glaciers didn’t cover the earth in China hold ancient plants virtually un-changed since, well, before the Ice Age. I find that enormously intriguing. Any plant with me-dicinal powers is extraordinary in my book.

Best place for a horticulturist to live: Well, hard to say best, but I suppose Antarctica might not be too exciting, if it’s plants you seek for happiness. The frozen north though, wow, what happens during the summer, that hurried grow, bloom, pollinate, seed, go dormant cycle is mind boggling. I think anyone interested in plants would have to find that pace thrilling. Did I say thrilling? OK, geek.

If I ran the world the first to go would be: Injustice – the root of all evil.

Career moment that changed my life: Realizing I actually had a career.

When alone my thoughts always drift to: Self-improvement. Not that I actually do any-thing about that but I am thinking about it.

Worst part of the day: Middle of the night.

Best part of the day: Daybreak.

Last book: Eat Pray Love

Last film: Space Buddies. We have a 4-year-old.

Last live music event: Van Morrison at the Hollywood Bowl. Third row. OMG! Literally the soundtrack of my life.

I’ve always wanted someone to ask me: I generally don’t wait to be asked. No budget and laws of physics to con-strain me and I would create: A world free of fossil fuel burning engines.

Always found in my work: RISD – process, process, process.

Q&A

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1- bedding

2 - furniture

3 - paint

4 - carpet

5 - flooring

6 - electric

7 - bathroom

8 - mattress

greenhouse

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Approximately one-third of your life is spent sleeping. But just how healthy is the room where you spend all this time? Tucked away in various parts of the bedroom – the bed, the sheets, the paint on the wall, the cleaners in the nearby bathroom cabinet – are a host of chemicals with names end-ing in -zene, -lene, -anol, -ane, -hyde, and -ide. (If you have to sound out the word on the label, chances are it’s not a good thing.) Fortunately, there are simple solutions to the toxic bedroom. With careful attention and a little extra effort you won’t lose any sleep knowing your bedroom is a healthy haven.

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bed, bath and beware!By kara tatone photo By Brett schreckengost

the toxic bedroom uncovered

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7. BATHROOMBathroom cleaners are perhaps the biggest tox-ic offenders. Topping the list are toilet cleaners with hydrochloric acid and ammonium chlo-ride (eye, nose and throat irritants); sink and tile cleaners with ammonia, bleach and phosphoric acid (eyes, skin and respiratory irritants); de-odorizers that contain carcinogenic chemicals; and mold and mildew cleaners containing kero-sene (eye and skin irritant, and a possible neuro-toxin), formaldehyde (hello!), chlorine, and phe-nols (very toxic and a suspected carcinogen).

Even stashed under the sink behind a closed door, chemicals can seep into the air and into the body.

Then there are the toxins applied directly to oneself. A number of beauty products pose their own dangers, including fingernail polish and remover (phthalates, which are banned in Europe, and acetone, an irritant that may sup-press the central nervous system), hairspray and styling products (DEA, MEA and TEA), baby powder (talc is a carcinogen), and hair colorants (formaldehyde and ammonia).

New eco- and human-friendly cleaning and beauty products crop up on the market daily. Take time to read the labels and avoid products with printed cautionary warnings. Make sure the bathroom fan is working well and keep the bathroom door closed and the bedroom win-dow open as much as possible. Replace vinyl shower curtains with cotton or hemp.

8. MATTRESSAfter ridding the bedroom of all the aforemen-tioned toxins, one might want to sink onto the bed and relax – but wait! The most common bed material, polyurethane foam, contains chemical byproducts, and the interior of a conventional bed may contain synthetic fibers, VOCs, formaldehyde, boric acid, toxic adhe-sives, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and artificial dyes.

Common fire-retardants like polybrominat-ed diphenyl ethers, PBDE, can impair develop-ment of the nervous system and have hormone disrupting effects. Unfortunately, these chemi-cals are required in order for the mattress to gain approval by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

What to do? Mattresses made of 95 percent latex or of organic cotton and wool are widely available (wool is known for its natural fire-re-tardant qualities). Now, rest easy.

damage. Also lurking in those cans of “choco-late suede” and “stormy sea” are texanol and propylene glycol, reported to cause severe ad-verse health effects, including contact dermati-tis, allergies and kidney and liver damage. Even after the paint has dried these chemicals off-gas. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Low- or no-VOC paints are widely available.

Even so, remember with any type of paint to keep the windows open during and after apply-ing a fresh coat for better ventilation.

4. CARPETWhile the installation is the most toxic part of having carpet in the bedroom (adhesive and seal-ants release VOCs), the carpet itself is not with-out problems. Some carpet material is made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers, like nylon and polyester. In addition, the carpet may be treated with fungicides and pesticides. Carpet pads also have toxic elements and the carpet backing may be made from synthetic rubber, polyurethane (a skin and eye irritant), polyvinyl chloride or eth-ylene vinyl acetate (both of which are irritating and sometimes carcinogenic).

The alternatives include natural fiber or wool carpets, recycled carpet tiles and nontoxic carpet pads, all of which are becoming increas-ingly available. Whatever your carpet choice, make sure to vacuum often.

5. FLOORINGWatch your step. Some wood flooring is made of toxic adhesives and contains formaldehyde (there it is again), and cleaners and waxes may contain nitrobenzene, a highly toxic compound that is readily absorbed through the skin.

Alternatives available include bamboo, re-claimed domestic wood and natural cork. For greener cleaning, combine equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil, rub on and buff off.

6. ELECTRIC The alarm clock’s buzzer may not be the only thing disrupting your sleep; its electromagnetic energy field may interrupt your natural electri-cal signals. Even low frequency electronics like lamps, televisions, remote controls, computers, and phones should be placed as far from your bed as possible so as not to disrupt your natural electromagnetic rhythms and chemical, hormonal and biological patterns. Electromagnetic fields can penetrate walls, so sleeping on the wall directly op-posite your living room TV is not recommended.

1. BEDDING/BED LINENSUnless bedding and linen is made of certified organic fibers and laundered in nontoxic, non-irritating, hypoallergenic, biodegradable de-tergent that is free of phosphates and optical brighteners, you may be sleeping with VOCs – volatile organic compounds that easily vaporize into the air and can cause allergic sensitization or asthmatic symptoms.

Formaldehyde – a known irritant, allergen, neurotoxin, and carcinogen – is used to make sheets soft. Bed linen fibers may be petroleum-based, grown with the use of pesticides, her-bicides and defoliants, or made with fire- and wrinkle-retardant chemicals.

The best bet for avoiding these chemicals is to purchase 100 percent organic cotton or bam-boo sheets.

Often overlooked is what goes into the wash with the bedding. Detergent, bleach, fab-ric softeners, and stain removers may contain any number of chemicals including surfactants to help water penetrate the fabric, like dietha-nolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA) and monoethanolamine (MEA) – all eye and skin ir-ritants that can be carcinogenic when they react with nitrates.

Instead of traditional fabric softeners, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your wash or 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

2. FURNITURENever mind your sleeping partner, is your night-stand off-gassing? Does your bed frame let off noxious fumes? Layered wood like particle-board and plywood requires adhesives that are often made with formaldehyde (an apparently all-purpose toxin). Protective and decorative coatings, like lacquers, veneers and wood stains, may add to the furniture’s toxicity.

Solid wood furniture with water-based fin-ishers (not oil-based stains) is the safest bet, but may be difficult to find at reasonable prices. Check the local thrift shop or antique store for recycled solid wood furniture – a double play for personal and planetary health.

3. PAINTOne of the largest contributors to chemicals in the bedroom is the seemingly benign paint on the walls. But conventional paint is comprised of irritating chemicals such as ethylene glycol and 2-butoxyethoxy ethanol, both of which can irritate mucous membranes and cause liver

“Approximately one-third of your life is spent sleeping. But just how healthy is the room where you spend all this time?”

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feature

An outdoor fire pit is the focal point of Eric and Frannie Auras’ outdoor living space, just steps from their prefab house in Ilium Valley.

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prefab work in Telluride. Matt Mitchell’s name popped up. Mitchell works with Timber Creek Homes, a company that builds prefabricated homes in Stratton, Neb. and ships them through-out the Midwest and West.

While Timber Creek Homes builds sev-eral different models, Frannie opted for a cus-tom design of her own creation – “modern barn,” she calls it. Her first limitation, price, dictated the size of the building. Transporta-tion from the factory, via tractor-trailer, dic-tated another design limitation – the pieces of the house could not be wider than the truck. At the beginning of the project the couple was quoted a price of $150 per square foot, but they were certain that the price would climb. So they asked Mitchell if he would place the order, but allow them to finish the house themselves. Mitch-ell agreed and the couple was on their way.

In March 2006, their new house arrived, in two pieces and complete with plumbing and wiring. The foundation, excavated the previous summer, was ready and waiting. They cleared the new snow and within one day Mitchell pieced the house together and sealed it from the elements. With the help of some builder friends, the Auras had finished the custom elements of the house – the stairs, built-ins and reclaimed

better,’” she said. Well, now she had the dirt, but no place to live.

“Prefab came to mind as a way to save money on home construction,” she said.

Prefabricated homes are residences made of components constructed off-site. The pieces usu-ally conform to standard sizes that make them easier to build and ship. Everything from floors to ceilings, sometimes even the wiring and plumb-ing, are cut and fit in a factory. The prefabricated components are then trucked to the home site for final assembly.

Typically, because the houses are pre-built in a factory, they’re more affordable than custom-built homes. By housing workers and materials under one roof, less time (and hence money) is wasted waiting for the right person or part to show up.

Prefab can also be more environmentally friendly than on-site custom building. When a factory makes the same model of house again and again, fewer mistakes are typically made. Fewer mistakes means fewer wasted parts. Scraps can be reused. Every step of the building process is condensed and hence, more efficient. Once on site, waste is minimized.

After deciding to consider prefab as an afford-able option, Frannie looked for someone who did

The word prefab may bring to mind a few imag-es. Generic white condos. Trophy McMansions that are difficult to tell apart. Post-World War II style aluminum barracks.

What may not come to mind is the 1,300-square-foot home built by Frannie and Eric Aura. Their Ilium prefab is anything but banal. Words that do come to mind? Simple. El-egant. Inspirational.

Situated on a 23-acre wooded plot directly across from the South Fork Nature Preserve, the Auras’ home, with its barn wood siding and big windows, melds perfectly with this forested set-ting. French doors on the south side of the build-ing lead out to a patio. A big window on the west side brings in views of aspen groves across the valley. Landscaping of flowers, bushes and native grasses flank the home on all sides.

“What I like best about this house is that I feel like I am outside wherever I am,” said Eric.

Four years ago after completing a tour of available condominiums in Telluride, Frannie thought there must be another option. Then she found a lot in Ilium, and though she was not quite sure how she would go about building a house, she bought the land.

“I looked at those run-down condos that were priced around $600,000 and thought, ‘I can do

the new prefabBy emily Brendler shoff photos By Brett schreckengost

Building the dream for less in ilium Valley

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Opposite page, windows in the living room overlook

a verdant Ilium Valley. In-side the Auras’ cat enjoys

a sunny spot. This page, Frannie Aura

finished the kitchen of her prefab home with stainless

appliances, a limestone countertop and espresso-

colored cabinets.

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At its two-story height the Auras’ living room feels spacious. Finishing touches, such as an Orien-tal rug, an antique chest with a rubbed turquoise blue stain, and a custom concrete hearth that doubles as the first step of the stairs, make the Auras’ house feel anything but prefabricated.

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solar panels to meeting neighborhood building codes. Contemporary prefabs, according to Jill Herbers of Prefab Modern, are emerging as “some of the most wonderful buildings happening in architecture today.”

Part of the poor reputation of prefab homes stems from design-insensitive homes built after World War II. The housing shortage that re-sulted from the baby boom that followed the war created the need for quick, affordable housing solutions. Not much thought was given to design. Moreover, with the end of the war, there was a surplus of steel, inspiring mail-order companies like Sears Aladdin to design kit homes made from steel. In the first half of the 20th century, Sears sold more than 100,000 prefab houses, barns, and apartment complexes. The prices ranged from $650-$2,500. On average, homes arrived in 30,000 pieces, and homeowners used a 75-page manual and the help of friends to assemble the structures.

Today, prefabs take the form of everything from mobile homes to geodesic domes to more creative and beautiful homes like that of Fran-nie and Eric’s. Indeed, there is no one way to think about prefab, and the only limitations are affordability and portability. Even these limita-tions, though, can become benefits. As Herbers writes in Prefab Modern, “it is from limitations that creativity often arises.” Transportation and cost restrictions have architects and builders turning to more imaginative materials like recycled wood and steel, Plyboo (a laminated bamboo product), and shipping containers.

And for one local family, prefab has made all the difference.

“Now I have big windows and a fireplace,” said Frannie. “These things would never have been possible in a condo in town.”

as the first step onto a stairway leading to the sec-ond floor loft. That space houses the master bed-room and bath, and a small office for Frannie’s bookkeeping business.

At the top of the stairs where a visitor might otherwise knock their head on the ceiling, they expanded the space up with a shed roof. The smart design allows the stairs to remain neatly tucked against one wall of the house rather than taking up useful space with a landing that turns inward. Located on one side of the loft is the master bedroom, anchored by a platform bed. On the other side is the master bath, its head-room created by another shed roof. There an espresso-colored cabinet (from Western Slope Building Supply) is topped by a custom stainless sink made by Welfelt Fabrication in Delta; it is wide enough to accommodate his and hers fau-cets. Above one faucet a window offers a view of evergreen and aspen; above the other sits an antique gold-colored mirror. Closet space in the bedroom is augmented by a metal armoire that Frannie found years ago.

A view into the downstairs living space from the loft reveals the full indoor-outdoor experi-ence of the house. Sunlight streams in through west- and south-facing glass, making the house feel airy and balanced. The sun also casts light on all of the personal touches the couple added, making the house feel decidedly un-prefab.

Many builders and buyers today are decid-ing to build prefab residences. Homes come pre-assembled with details such as sinks, faucets and plumbing, and can be shipped just a few weeks after ordering. Today’s prefab has become an af-fordable way to build a home without compro-mising design. Indeed, flip through any recent issue of Dwell, and you’ll find articles covering every aspect of prefab construction from using

wood floors – and two months later they were living in their new home. During the construc-tion process the couple emptied only two small dumpsters. And this waste was primarily gener-ated by the mudroom they added on after their prefab was assembled.

“That didn’t mean it was finished,” Eric joked, “but we were in.”

A visit revealed a home that is more than fin-ished, however it is warm and welcoming. The mudroom, which the couple added on to the factory-built pieces, provides an essential place to hang coats and stash wet and muddy shoes before walking inside. At the back of the mudroom is a giant pantry where the couple stores everything from extension cords to jars of peanut butter and paper towels.

Step inside the house from the mudroom and one would never guess the two-story great room and modern kitchen were constructed in a factory in Nebraska. The kitchen alone features limestone countertops, a stainless steel range and hood, and glass-paneled upper cabinets. An Ori-ental rug, antique chest, sofas from Crate and Barrel, and side table from Inside Inc. make the living room inviting.

A doorway off the kitchen leads to a guest room with its own bath. Clever but affordable touches, such as tongue-in-groove paneling painted a summery shade of blue and a made-for-the-outdoors wire grid light fixture, make the bathroom unique.

Back in the living area a large picture window and a pair of French doors look south over the Il-ium Valley, opening the room to the outside. Re-cycled hardwood flooring from Southern Wood Imports conveys a cozy feeling (no orange shag carpeting here), and a custom concrete hearth below a wood burning fireplace does double duty

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at home with

shastas on the road… againBy Martinique Davis photos By Brett schreckengost

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“Circle the wagons!”

A call once heard around the Old West is re-sounding in the mountains again, even if in more hospitable environs, say, at a music festi-val or the outdoor reception of a friend’s wed-ding. Indeed, the encampments of the New West find members armed with coolers instead of wooden trunks and bottles of beer instead of muzzleloaders. And the “wagons” are more inviting as well. Forget the hard wood planks of a Conestoga. Here travelers have a comfy seat on the couch (cum dining table cum bed) tucked into the side of a restored vintage travel trailer.

One such encampment sprung up at last summer’s Telluride Blues and Brews Festival, when a handful of Shastas, a Scamper and an El Rancho Rey circled to form an impromptu community.

The mismatched array of road-pocked aluminum, molded into teardrops or irregu-lar boxes, created a welcoming environment. Trailer owners and their friends relaxed in lounge chairs while a baby crawled across a piece of Astroturf placed under a sunshade. Older siblings scampered from one screen door to the next and a dog lolled happily be-neath a bumper, greeting newcomers with a dusty thump-thump of his tail.

This band of tin can travelers represented a growing trend – outdoor adventure with the bonus of convenience, style and affordability.

“It’s the idea of just hitting the open road, with the possibility of taking it anywhere,” said Telluride resident Craig Prohaska, who owns a 1964 Shasta.

Indeed, by the end of the weekend this bustling community of vintage camp trailers would pack up and move on, but not neces-sarily too far away. Following a larger trend, Telluride trailer owners have tugged their mo-bile homes to points as far away as the coast of California and Baja, Mexico, though many set up camp a short few hours drive from town, alongside a quiet trout stream or near a net-work of mountain bike trails.

Shasta seekers, too, will travel far to bring home a prized vehicle. Last summer Jim Greene drove more than 2,000 miles to pick up his 1962 Shasta Futurella (which he lovingly named Bar-barella). He found Babarella, and subsequently won her, on eBay. Originally in pursuit of an Airstream Bambi – by many accounts the king of vintage trailers – Greene happily settled for the more easily found Shasta.

“They’re affordable, and they have some kitsch to them,” he said of the Shasta, by far the most popular breed of trailer found in Tel-luride.

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paired the propane-fired refrigerator and heater; and replaced the exterior running lights. Finding wings has proven to be a bit more daunting, but his hopes remain high after contacting one “doc-tor” of vintage camp trailers, whose Sacramento warehouse may contain the perfect pair… some-where… up high… on the back of a shelf… in a box. Keep looking.

Brett Schreckengost, a member of the Telluride trailer craze, has updated his 1972 Shasta Compact (winged) with several luxu-ries often sacrificed when “camping out.” A 12-volt solar panel powers low voltage lighting and a stereo system complete with Sirius XM radio. And should the well-traveled life wear him down, he can kick back and relax with a

the interior’s gold-speckled linoleum counter-tops, silver diamond-plate kitchen backsplash and handmade mismatched curtains irresistible. Since the wings were missing, Prohaska was able to bargain $300 off the asking price, $200 of which he spent on new tires for the trailer before hitching up and hauling it home.

Of course finding a vintage travel trailer is just the first step in the sometimes maddening but often rewarding journey of trailer owner-ship. The required restoration work can become a part-time job, and a full-time obsession.

Prohaska ripped out the orange shag carpet in his trailer and replaced it with wood laminate flooring (proving restoring a trailer doesn’t mean remaining true to its most garish features); re-

Shastas were the best-selling trailers from the early 1950s through the 1980s and ignited the trailer camping trend in the U.S. They came in two styles: with wings and without. The “wings,” envied by the wingless, are metal flanges affixed to the rear of the trailer and sell online for as much as $300.

Greene’s Barbarella boasts extra-large wings. Prohaska’s, on the other hand, are missing, most likely removed and sold by an irreverent owner.

Prohaska located his trailer through an ad in the Thrifty Nickel that read: “Shasta camp trailer for sale, $1,000 OBO.” Having sat neglected in a backyard in Pueblo for at least twelve years, the Shastas windows were broken and its roof punctuated with a hole. Yet, Prohaska found

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he’ll tell you it was money well spent.The owners of these campers, like the camp-

ers themselves, are a breed apart. For them it is truly a labor of love to recover and reassemble original parts, or bring new life to an interior reminiscent of The Jeffersons’ living room. There is no lack of pride in a reconditioned camper, or of disdain for its contemporary counterpart.

“Compared to the new trailers, the old ones are way cooler,” said Greene. “Mine’s nearly 50 years old already, and it’s in great shape. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it. I’ll just continue to fix it up to the point that it’s a cherry.

“I imagine giving it to my kids some day, tell-ing them, ‘Here, have some fun with this.’”

And the road goes on forever.

DVD on his 15-inch LCD screen.While these substantial upgrades make for

one posh pad, what Schreckengost really pines for is an original Pyrex globe for the interior gas lantern.

The fact is, maintaining a certain element of the original (dare we say tawdry?) trailer décor is desirable. And in such a small living space, no detail is unimportant.

In Matt Steen’s 1969 Shasta, that detail is in the cushions. Perhaps overlooked as simply utili-tarian by the uninitiated, the chameleon quali-ties of the cushions are what make trailer living possible. With a few quick movements the cush-ions transform from sofa seating to dining com-fort to mattress duty, enabling up to six people to

comfortably eat, relax and sleep within the tight confines of less than a hundred square feet.

When the original cushions in Steen’s mobile home finally succumbed to the demands of trail-er life, he hired a Montrose seamstress to make a new set. A seemingly simple task, it turned into one of his biggest restoration challenges.

“The first lady made a few cuts and sewed a few corners but then called and told me she couldn’t do it,” he said. Not to be deterred, Steen called “another lady” whose son was an upholsterer. “He was eventually able to help her finish them.”

Steen’s new cushions – mustard colored, to match the curtains – cost nearly as much as the Shasta itself. Ask any vintage trailer owner and

Inside and outside one man’s Shasta. Opposite page, inside. “S” is for Shasta and “Surfer’s Journal,” a mag-azine to read en route to the next great surf spot. Yesterday’s stylish mustard-colored linoleum table and stove are today’s kitsch. This page, outside. Shasta and Rancho El Rae brands are making a comeback with adven-turers who want a bit of cush in their weekend camping. The Shasta’s coveted wings for as much as $300.

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Many houses in the Telluride region wear their glamour on their sleeves. Whether set high on a knoll, or built with stunning entryways and giant picture windows, these houses announce, sometimes loudly, that one has arrived.

A visitor to 488 Tomboy Road, however, may be forgiven for walking by many times and not even noticing the house, tucked as it is into the hillside. Most certainly, a visitor to 488 Tomboy Road will not say “wow” until he or she steps inside.

feature

tomboy road’s hidden havenBy DeB Dion Photos By Brett schreckengost

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Opposite page, top, low furniture in the living room hugs the floor and allows one’s eye unimpeded ac-cess to mountain views of Bear Creek. Bottom, a reclaimed walnut bar gracefully separates the kitchen from the living and dining spaces. This page, the house is tucked into the hillside below Tomboy Road and further hidden from view by a stand of aspen trees.

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windows on the front capture sunlight during the day, and at night the warmth is released back into the house.

“There’s a huge solar gain,” says McCargo. “The utility bills are next to nothing.”

Perhaps the true genius of the structure is the expansive feeling visitors get as they experience each level. Housing just an entryway and art stu-dio, the top tier of the house is modest in size. Be-tween skylights, massive windows and a jungle of plants, however, there is a sense of more to come.

Windows and light draw the visitor down the stairs to the second level to a thick block of glass, an elemental signal that this house is different. Above the glass block landing is a wall of stainless steel, down which streams sheets of water. Form follows function here: weighing in at 1,000 pounds, the glass allows light to pass through the second level to the third-level master bathroom. And, adding tranquil ambiance to the living area, the waterfall also serves as an indoor air purification system and humidifier.

Indeed, entering the second floor living area, one feels not just peace, but space. Generous, floor-to-ceiling windows open the south and east walls to stunning views, east from Ingram Falls to Bear Creek and west to the Telluride ski area and the valley floor.

“You get the first sun in the morning, and the last sun of the day,” says McCargo. “And the lights in town at night are spectacular.”

The open floor plan enhances the views and low-key interior pieces keep the line of sight open. A recycled walnut floor stretches from one side of the living area to the other, leading the eye across the room and out to the mountains. Low, armless side chairs and a sofa keep the room cozy with-out impeding one’s line of sight. Indeed, an un-derstated and elegantly curved reclaimed-walnut countertop is all that separates the kitchen from the living and dining areas and the great outdoors. The effect: light, particularly from the southwest windows, floods all four corners of the room. Even standing in the kitchen, opposite the windows, there is a sense of being able to reach out and touch the mountains.

Yet the room contains more than just border-less, free-for-all spaces. Tucked into the east wall, a gas fireplace, surrounded by painted white brick, reigns in the eye, making the expansive room feel cozy, especially on cold winter days. A custom slid-ing steel door with laser-cut circles by Ridgway artist Lisa Issenberg covers the fireplace. (The circle motif appears again in steel circles set in the railing, inset with black and white images of the mountains.)

Making the house unobtrusive and blending it with its surroundings is exactly as homeowner Grant McCargo intended.

When drawing up plans for the residence Mc-Cargo insisted that the house – perched above Telluride and adjacent to one of the region’s most popular hiking and jeeping routes – co-exist with its setting instead of competing with the mountain vistas surrounding it.

“We wanted to do what was best for the site, and figure out how to fit it into the landscape,” McCargo says.

So he sculpted his home into the hillside. The roofline peeks just above road level (you’d miss it, if you didn’t know where to look), and from there the house flows downhill in ever widening tiers; the small upper floor cascades down into a larger middle floor, increasing in size again as it spills into the ground–level floor, the largest of the three.

“The house wedding-cakes down. Every level gets bigger as you get lower,” says McCargo.

Even if one just notices the house tucked into the hillside, one might not consider its energy ef-ficiency, derived in part from that same hillside. With one side partially buried, the house boasts an R-value that money just can’t buy. The earth natu-rally insulates the back of the house, keeping its temperature constant. Large southwestern-facing

Left, framed in windows, the street-level entry leads visitors down to the second floor; above, light pours in from the windowed, first-floor entry, filters through a 1,000-pound glass block landing on the second floor (visible here as the ceiling to the shower and in left photo as a landing) to reach the master shower on the third, and lowest, floor.

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Opposite the fireplace, the comfortable kitchen features a large bay window above the sink that houses an herb garden. A butcher-block island with lots of cabinets below and a walk-in pantry maximize storage space. Slate countertops, maple cabinets and dark walnut floors contrast well with the white walls and the otherwise sparse look of the house.

Forgetting that you’re 14 feet “underground” and well be-low Tomboy Road, one travels down 16 more feet to the third level, where the bedrooms are located. Even at its lowest level, 30 feet underground, the house feels unconfined. Each of the three bedrooms has long windows and sliding glass doors, opening to a concrete patio. Balanced over the town of Telluride, the patio is a lofty roost where one can take in the panoramic views of the mountains.

Back inside in the master bathroom, which is set at the back of the house against the hillside, light emanates from the glass block landing that is now the ceiling above. The wall between the bedroom and bathroom stops a few feet short of the ceiling, fur-ther illuminating the bathroom with natural light. “Everywhere, the light sneaks in,” says McCargo. “From the tub you can see through the skylights in the roof. At night, you can see the stars.”

A walk-in closet next to the master bathroom is adorned with more of Issenberg’s work. There the artist stretched fabric im-printed with images of aspen trees across a steel frame door. The life-sized trees add to the impression of being outdoors.

From every corner of the house a visitor senses McCargo’s desire to let the outside in. From the imagery on the closet door and the photos of the mountains set in the stair railings, to the expanse of windows and the house’s placement in the hillside, his respect for the home’s delicate setting is apparent.

Working with architect Connie Giles, the two designed a house that is sophisticated in its layout and efficiency. The house relies on geothermal heat as well as passive solar gain through windows and skylights. Photovoltaic panels, placed out of sight, generate electricity.

And simple materials used throughout the house broaden the earth-friendly theme. Concrete floors on the lowest level absorb and store heat. Recycled wood finished in natural oil, rather than synthetic materials, keeps the indoor environment clean. Recycled plaster walls and recycled plastic bathroom vanities make new use of old materials. And the placement of a storage bunker under-neath the home’s concrete parking pad allows for maximum use of space while maintaining the structure’s modest, 3,000-square-foot footprint. The entire house is devoted to liveable space, while the toys that support a mountain lifestyle – skis, bikes, boats – are stashed away, keeping the house clean and clutter-free.

McCargo’s ecologically sensitive approach to his home is not just part of the current trend of green building – it’s a long-held ideal. His two firms, Bio-logical Capital and Urban Villages, are both rooted in an environmental philosophy. Bio-logical Capital makes land-based investments in programs for carbon credits, sustainable forest and agriculture, eco-tourism, and renewable energy. Urban Villages is a development company specializing in sustainable urban planning. Naturally, when McCargo built his dream home, he put these principles into practice.

“The whole goal with the house was something simple,” says McCargo. “To be minimalist and as light on the land as possible, to use natural and recycled materials, and to maximize the views and the daylight. Part of my job is to keep the planet as beautiful as I can.”

610 Clinton Street • Ridgway, Colorado970-626-2500 • palladin-design.com

Palladin

C lassic D esign. W estern S tyle.

Custom Home Furnishings.Handmade Rugs & Runners.

Fine Art, Antiques & Accesories.Interior Design & Renovation.

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food & wine

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A C o m f o r t f o o d f e A s t

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Aemono at Home

By gus jArvis photos By Brett sChreCkengost

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go-to starter for many skiers, local and not.And while working the sometimes dull

Mountain Village beat as a reporter, I often turned to Aemono’s mac and cheese for com-fort during town council meetings. In fact, when I was assigned to the Town of Telluride government beat, I wasn’t sure how I was go-ing to cope without an Aemono outlet nearby. That problem was settled when Guskea and Kyriakakis opened a Telluride location at 107 S. Davis, just a hop, skip and a jump away from The Watch headquarters.

I soon found I was eating there more often than my pocketbook and my pant-size could handle. But I simply didn’t, and still don’t, have the discipline to say “no” to their falamus (falafel and hummus for the uninitiated) pita or the loaded Italian sandwich or, in my opinion, the best lunch ever – their spicy tuna bowl with sticky sushi rice.

But why should I resist? Great food. Good price. Never boring.

So it goes without saying that I was ecstatic

lthough I had never met So-phia Kyriakakis and Mike Guskea, the creative wife and husband team behind Ae-mono Fine Foods and Cater-ing, my taste buds were famil-iar with their work.

In my three-plus years of living and bing-ing in Telluride, I was no stranger to the mouthwatering array of dishes in the display case at their Lawson Hill location or their for-mer location in the Mountain Village Market. Countless times I had satisfied my hunger with the seemingly endless variety of flavors and comfort dishes reliably served up at Aemono (ah-eh-MOH-noh).

When I tuned skis at night in Lawson Hill, it was rare that I started my shift without one of their sliced rib eye sandwiches with chipotle aioli – satisfying in every way. The next morn-ing, smelling like p-tex and bourbon, I would begin my day with their house-made granola and yogurt, a breakfast that has become the

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37

arrived and were enjoying a spread of colorful finger foods laid out on the kitchen bar.

Before I knew it, Kyriakakis, ever the host-ess, had tucked a perfectly sweetened mojito in one of my hands and a creamy spinach arti-choke dip-covered sesame cracker in the other. Breaking the ice, as good food and drink often do, Kyriakakis began to tell me about her his-tory of cooking with Guskea and their simpa-tico relationship with food.

Growing up in Las Vegas, Kyriakakis stud-ied finance and landed a real job, as she called it. She soon found out, however, that counting beans behind a desk was not her thing.

“I decided that I couldn’t see myself behind a desk the rest of my life,” she said, while filling my glass with a second mojito full of mint and citrus fruits. “I moved to Lake Tahoe, did some waiting and got into the kitchen, and decided I liked the whole food thing.”

Kyriakakis decided to take the next step and attended culinary school in Scottsdale, Ariz. – where she met Guskea.

(and with a slight foam at the mouth) to be in-vited to Guskea and Kyriakakis’s serene Rico home for an early spring dinner. If their ev-eryday take out fare blew me away, an evening in the kitchen with these two was sure to be unforgettable.

‘We Complement eaCh other’

On a cool spring evening, my best gal Torie and I pulled into Rico for the much anticipat-ed dinner party. At the door we were greeted by Kyriakakis, the cool sounds of falling water (the plant-filled entry features a fountain and lots of natural light.), and the smell of roasted garlic. The tone for the evening was set.

Kyriakakis ushered us into a smartly de-signed kitchen, dining, and living area, finished in clean white and punctuated by windows and unique artwork, including a “Thompson for Sheriff ” poster signed by the doctor of Gonzo journalism himself. Other guests had already

opposite page, chef Mike Guskea drizzles

chocolate over a delicate stack of tiramisu.

this page, right and clockwise, tiramisu – a

perfect ending to a perfect evening; a

guest samples one of Guskea’s gourmet pizzas,

featuring tarragon pesto topped with

fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, and stem-

on artichokes, roasted tomatoes and garlic;

furakaki-seared tuna on slices of cucumber.

>>>

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38

zas from the oven. (One, tarragon pesto topped with tomato and fresh mozzarella. The other, a white pizza with stem-on artichokes, roasted tomatoes and garlic. Both crusts were perfect-ly crisp with just the right amount of cheese. Mmmmmm. To die for.)

“It was really fun cooking for them and I decided then that I like doing this,” Guskea explained.

As the name Aemono (the Japanese term for “dressed foods”) suggests, Guskea has a love of Asian cuisine, but his Midwestern roots still influence his cooking.

“I love the cleanliness of Asian cooking. It’s simple and it’s good,” he said. “But I am not afraid to eat a good double burger. I come from a melting pot of Midwestern comfort food.”

As if to illustrate, he followed the pizzas with a tray of brightly colored furakaki-seared tuna on sliced cucumber. Clean. Simple. Per-fect.

Next came a dish of flank roulade – grilled jalapenos, cilantro and cream cheese rolled in-

squeezed a generous amount of lemon juice over the tender crustaceans that were roughly the size of Paul Bunyan’s index finger.

Seeing my predicament, Kyriakakis kindly excused me from our conversation so I could get my hands, or more importantly, my mouth, on the tasty looking shellfish.

Pad Thai Noodles, Masala dal, WieNer schNiTzel – ‘You NaMe iT’

Growing up in Pennsylvania with the ethnic comfort foods of Midwestern Italians and Germans, Guskea began his cooking career while attending college at Ohio State Univer-sity. His five roommates were on scholarships and money for food was sometimes scarce. To make the most of their limited budgets, each turned over his food allowance to Guskea.

“They gave me money, which I would take, stock the house full of food and then cook for them,” he said while pulling two gourmet piz-

After the two completed culinary school, they moved to the Telluride area where Guskea had landed a job as a personal chef for a sec-ond homeowner.

That was about 10 years ago, and in that time the now married couple has run the Lime Leaf at the historic Swede Finn Hall in Tel-luride, taken on a number of catering and personal chef jobs, opened Aemono in Law-son Hill, had a brief stint at the Market in Mountain Village, and most recently opened a Telluride location on the corner of Pacific and Davis.

Even though Kyriakakis is not always be-hind a desk, she said she hasn’t escaped han-dling the numbers completely.

“He really handles the food portion and I handle the business portion,” she said. “We complement each other very well.”

On cue, Guskea walked in from the porch carrying a tray full of sizzling prawns, fresh off the grill. He set the tray on the bar, next to the soy sauce and garlic sautéed edamame, and

Chef Mike Guskea slices a white pizza with stem-on artichokes, roasted tomatoes and garlic.

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39

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side a tender slice of grilled flank steak. It was the perfect mix of cheese, spice and meat. They went fast.

“Food can make people comfortable,” Guskea said. “I can cook anything you want to make you comfortable.”

When he works as a personal chef, Guskea creates a unique menu with the specific intention of making that par-ticular group or family happy and comfortable. Aemono will also cater events, said Guskea, like graduations, weddings and parties, but his forte is as a personal chef.

“People come here and plan a vacation and have 13 peo-ple staying at their place,” he said. “I will go and stock their fridge, cook their meals, pack their lunches. They get to come home to a home-cooked dinner. There are no reservations to handle. I take the guesswork out of everything.

“If you want something you tasted in India or Thailand, I will make it for you right in your house,” he continued, as he drizzled chocolate sauce over tall, rich slices of tiramisu. “I have cooked a lot of weird dishes for people in the past. One time I even cooked Wiener schnitzel. We will do anything. I just want to make people happy with my food.”

By the time I walked away from the bar, stuffed with the wonderful dishes prepared that evening, I had already calculated how many nights a week – better yet how many nights in a year – I could hire Guskea and Kyriakakis to cook for me. Using my meager writer’s salary as a baseline… not many. So I redoubled my efforts (and appetite) to enjoy this night as best I could.

I knew the food and company would be top notch that night, and I wasn’t disappointed. Kyriakakis and Guskea are fun, and their enthusiasm for creating unpretentious gourmet food is appreciated by everyone who tries it. Perhaps the only thing they love to do more than cook delicious, comforting food is to see the effect it has on those eating it. And they’re never disappointed.

To get more information on the personal chef or catering services of Aemono, call their Lawson Hill location at 970/728-2085 or Telluride location at 970/728-4748.

“No one strayed far from the kitchen for fear they might miss what would be

coming out of the oven next.”

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the rest of us.I walked into the Elks Club, our generous

sponsor for the space, on Friday the thirteenth ready to rumble and wearing my 80s-style, slashed-up Mah Jong MIT shirt. I had gotten a couple of Facebook posts that day indicating that I’d “better be ready to get my Mahj on.”

THE ‘SEMINAH’We quickly moved on to the margarita part of the prize and, after pleasantries, began our “seminah.”

That’s when I learned I’d spelled Mah Jong wrong. According to the Maven, American Mah Jongg, the style we were about to learn, is two words – the second with two Gs.

Mah Jongg is, in fact, a tile game of Chinese origin, similar to the card game Gin Rummy. Tiles are numbered in suits with great names – Bams, Dots and Kraks.

Combinations of these, plus honors tiles called Winds, Dragons and Flowers, come to-gether to create a Mah Jongg. The object of the game is to be the first to match a hand of

(the little purse containing coins to use for Mah Jongg gambling) for every time I heard, “My grandmother and her friends used to play.”

I have a friend whose grandmother’s Mahj set includes the highballs she used for vodka and tonic. “Double the lime, and make it so that I can taste the alcohol,” she’d say.

Another friend’s advice from her bubbe was: “Wear your best jewelry when you play.”

I was having so much fun telling people that I would be playing Mah Jongg and hearing sto-ries about nannas and Aunt Sarahs, I wondered if the game could ever compare.

My grandmother didn’t play – she did what are now commonly called “stitch and bitch” sessions with her friends. So instead of calling someone in the family to research their expe-rience with the game, I spent the afternoon decorating T-shirts for the affair with local art-ist Amy Jean Boebel – “Mah Jong Maven” for our hostess and teacher Janie Goldberg, “Mah Jong Mavenette” for Sorina Mocanu and Har-ley Brooke-Hitching, the lovely ladies helping, and “Mah Jong MIT” (Maven in Training) for

hen I got my hands on the prize of an eve-ning of Mah Jongg, margaritas and munchies at last summer’s Geek Fest, generously donated by Janie Goldberg, all I knew about the game was what I’d seen watching Driving Miss Daisy.

I had also heard that Mah Jongg night makes some players frisky. For obvious reasons, I was having a hard time wrapping my head around this game.

Googling produced too much information to plow through. I found everything from groups that use the game as an oracle, a band called Mahjongg, a Hong Kong study on Mahjong epilepsy syndrome, jewelry, guest soaps that look like game tiles, Mah Jongg frogs, and my personal favorite: Eddie Cantor’s song “Since Ma Is Playing Mah Jong.” (Note: There are hundreds of spellings, and just as many ways to play the game.)

I started asking around. My generation didn’t have much firsthand knowledge. Most people seemed to think of it as a Chinese game played by little old Jewish ladies (like Miss Daisy).

I wish I had a nickel to put in my pischke

how i got my “majh” on

living

By Sue HoBBy pHotoS By Brett ScHreckengoSt

w

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41

ity tales came rushing back, and I realized the real object of the game lies in the camaraderie among the players.

Or was it in being able to say those naughty sounding words? Pung!

This game quickly becomes a compulsion, so the only good thing about having to end the night was watching our ladies leave looking like gangsters carrying their Mahj sets around in diamond-sided aluminum cases.

At home, I immediately started looking at Mahj sets on the Internet – pink with glitter, gold on bone, before settling on the “jet set” with black tiles. Very Bond, and with free shipping!

I grabbed a bag that came with a pair of sunglasses to use as a pischke (the rule with pischke bags is that you have to get them for free), and then I busted into the piggy bank for five dollars in change. The story goes, begin with five dol-lars and when you count your pischke in 50 years, you will have won and lost your way back to that original amount.

A CARD-CARRYING MEMBERNext, I became a card-carrying member of the National Mah Jongg League (membership in the NMJL costs $7, which I think I mentioned before). For that, I got a standard-sized print copy ($8 for large type) of the Official Standard Hands and Rules Card for 2009, the right to participate in Mah Jongg cruises and a copy of the League’s Annual News Bulletin. The League is now available to me (and other members) to settle disputes over games (but not over grand-children’s potential scholarships).

We’ll know this summer if all the cocktail breaks created a case of altered state-dependent learning, as play begins for all levels with a local league. In the meantime, I’m studying a book recommended by Janie the Maven – A Beginner’s Guide to American Mah Jongg, by Elaine Sandberg, and getting ready for league games the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Telluride Elks (with instructional sessions before play for anyone who needs to freshen up). Play and instruction are free, with a small fee for munchies and cash bar that supports your local Elks.

It takes longer to set up Mah Jongg than it takes to play any other game. For the first step, those 152 glittering tiles have to be mixed up and turned face down, creating that “clattering sparrows” sound we had heard about. Then all four players build a “wall,” then they “break” the wall, draw the tiles, do the Charleston (no, no, not the dance, but a compulsory swap to the right, center and then left to get rid of unwant-ed tiles), and the game is ready to begin.

I realized that my friend’s bubbe was right. It is very important to wear your “better” jewelry, with all that trading and tile tossing.

Working clockwise from the hostess, a tile is drawn from the wall and racked. The player then discards one unwanted tile face up in the center of the table. Players have the opportu-nity to “call” for needed tiles, but the rules sur-rounding this are too complicated for now. Our table’s Mavenette very emphatically instructed us to “Rack it! Don’t look at it!” with each draw. I thought she was just being bossy, but finally it sunk in that as soon as you’ve racked your tile, the last play is officially over, so no calling for that discarded tile.

A player can declare Mah Jongg and win the game once one of the combinations of tiles printed on this year’s aforementioned National Mah Jongg League Official Hands and Rules Card is complete.

When our first winner declared, we learned a new term from our Maven: “This is what we refer to in the Mahj world as a gloater,” she said.

I was becoming frustrated. I wanted to yell “Mah Jongg!” After all, it was “Mah” party. Maybe it had been a bad idea to push the luck and play on Friday the thirteenth.

That’s when the Maven said: “If you find yourself frustrated, just say, ‘I hate this f---ing game,’ or get another cocktail or a brownie, whatever it takes to relax.”

So I took her advice, wondering if perhaps cocktail breaks were the object of the game, un-til I got distracted by a pischke dispute that grew into accusations of whose unborn grandchild would get the better college scholarship.

That’s when all the years of Disney moral-

14 tiles with one of the official winning hands published annually by the National Mah Jongg League. American Mah Jongg includes the use of Jokers in play to create these hands.

You also get to say fun little words that sound dirty, like Kong, Pung and Quint.

The name of the game translates to “clatter-ing sparrows,” for the sound the 152 tiles make when mixed at the start of the game. In its hey-day, this “game of a thousand intelligences” could only be played by male members of the Chinese aristocracy, as its side effect of increased mental acumen was not something the dynasty wanted either peasants or women to have.

It was comforting to know that we were to be exercising our grey cells, which hopefully would even out the effect of the margaritas.

In 1920 an oilman named Joseph Babcock, who had been working in China, brought the game back to the United States, published a handbook of rules and sold a Mah Jongg pat-ent to Parker Brothers. The game became an instant craze that actually grew throughout the Depression, because it offered an inexpensive way to remain social.

But the differences in styles of play had got-ten out of hand, so to speak, and in 1937, 32 Mah Jongg enthusiasts got together in New York to establish that everyone, forevermore, would play by the same rules, and the National Mah Jongg League was born. The League is the god of American Mahj.

Each year the NMJL changes the card of of-ficial winning hands, you pay a mere $7, they give the money to charity, and everyone goes back to being a novice at the table for a bit.

THE PLAYWe freshened our cocktails, as instructed, and pe-rused the munchies. Little pigs (in-a-blanket), as-paragus wrapped in prosciutto and deviled eggs! (I know, no one admits they like deviled eggs, but the egg plate always goes home empty.)

Then we chose places at tables for four play-ers each. I made a beeline to the one with silver-glitter-backed tiles in the center of four racks placed in a square, all on a piece of red felt.

“I realized the real object of the game lies in the camaraderie of the players. Or was it in being able to say those naughty sounding words? Pung!”

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43

One spring I planned a “visit” to my parents’ East Coast home – a two-week reprieve from the moun-tains’ April snow showers. When those weeks unex-pectedly turned into months, due to an infection that set in after a routine appendectomy, I learned what makes a house a home.

The extended stay might not have been so bad if it had just been me moving in. But it wasn’t. I brought along two small children, my husband and a babysit-ter. And perhaps the situation would have been more agreeable had it been planned in advance. But, a third surgery for what should have taken just one was, to put it mildly, unanticipated.

Imagine: You are a couple in your seventies, en-joying your home of thirty years, the last twenty of which you have spent by yourselves. You do what you want when you want. Golf in the afternoon. Dinner at eight. Life is quiet and orderly.

Now imagine that peaceful solitude is broken, invaded, in fact, by five people – two of whom have boundless energy and no ability to direct it in a pro-ductive manner. What is more, there is no clear indi-cation of when they will be leaving.

They are there when you wake for breakfast, and they are sitting around your dinner table at night. When you come home for lunch, the preschooler is likely as not in the middle of a screeching fit (cause unknown) and a baby is underfoot with toys strewn about.

Among other things, the nice placemats carefully stored in a corner cupboard have been removed and engaged in a game of airplane. The green-, turquoise- and beige-hued rock eggs thoughtfully arranged in a delicate bowl in the dining room are now chocolate and toast in a pretend game of tea. Moreover, small yet indelicate feet have trod through the flower garden, get-ting the better of the pansies and wild geraniums.

And still there is no exit strategy in sight.Within two days of our arrival at my parents’ home

one cool day in mid-April (still technically a “visit” at this point) I checked into the emergency room of a lo-cal hospital. An abscess that had already surfaced once after an appendectomy had shown up on a CT scan…again. Left to entertain my infant and preschooler were my parents and the babysitter, whom my mother had

met a mere 48 hours earlier. It wasn’t easy.Five days later, when I was finally released, things

got a bit smoother, but the reality set in that we wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. I was in no condition to travel and too weak to care for the youngsters.

To ease the burden I enrolled my oldest child in a preschool, but that just seemed to make our stay feel more permanent. My parents’ house became our home.

Certainly there were some strained moments in the house. The preschooler’s meltdowns received too much attention, as did the infant’s recurring diaper rash. Past mother-daughter tensions surfaced, and even the babysitter’s social life (which she desperately needed) received scrutiny after a late night out.

In an unplanned, extended stay these things might be expected to happen. But thankfully the “home” part happened as well. My parents extended a warm and lov-ing hand to us all. They repeatedly said we were welcome to stay as long as we needed, and they truly meant it.

My father picked up the preschooler, his oldest grandchild, from school and took him to the local drug-store lunch counter for a hot dog, French fries and choc-olate shake (an experience unavailable in lunch counter-free Telluride). My mother took him to the nursery to buy marigolds, which they planted together around the vegetable garden. She learned how to work with him; he learned how to dig a hole where instructed.

They even took on some of the less glamorous parenting duties. My father started to figure out how to deal with the preschooler’s meltdowns (diverting his attention is the best tactic), and my mother helped to ensure the child’s dinner was ready before six o’clock, even if the rest of us wouldn’t be eating until eight. (No, he couldn’t wait until later and sit down with the rest of the family.)

My mother continued to help in other ways, long after she needed to, by doing the grocery shopping or engaging the preschooler when I needed to rest. I never anticipated I would need their help in this way. I had assumed it would be the other way around, me helping them as they got older.

But the tables turned on this occasion, and, though we eventually did leave, for those two months my parents’ house became my home.

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“Home is the place where, when you have to go there,They have to take you in.”

– Robert Frost, The Death of the Hired Man

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