Private Vacation Home
Elegant solar home - Midway between Taos and Taos Ski Valley
El Prado, New Mexico, United States
Angel House is located on a quiet, paved road, with easy access midway between the Town of Taos and the Taos Ski Valley, about a 10-15 minute drive to either one. It's one bedroom with separate loft, one beautiful bath, and amazing views. If you are wondering whether it is possible to live lightly on the earth without giving up modern comfort and convenience, stay at this bright, beautiful, custom built, green home. brbrAngel House is a classic northern New Mexican territorial home, with metal roof, post and beam construction, interior adobe walls and thick plaster exterior walls with straw bale infill. It's sunny and bright, with wonderful details: flagstone bancos surrounding a beautiful kiva fireplace; exquisite tile work in the bath; hand plastered walls with bits of straw and mica gleaming from the depths. The house maximizes New Mexico’s abundant sunshine to effectively heat and cool the house – this is called passive solar design – with conventional systems providing backup. brbrThe kitchen is one of a kind: granite tile counter tops are inlaid with turquoise, and a genuine cast iron British cooker in chile-pepper-red. It’s fully equipped with everything from wineglasses to coffeemaker to microwave. brbrThe second story loft provides two "away" areas. The west side offers a rocker and comfortable overstuffed chaise for reading, a desk to set up your laptop (high speed WiFi), and a view of the amazing Taos sunsets. Cross the second story bridge to the east side to practice yoga as the sun rises over the sacred Taos Mountain, or just stretch out on the couch and watch TV or DVDs. brbrAngel House is "L" shaped and wraps snugly around a covered flagstone portal (porch) furnished with table, chairs, and gas grill for outdoor dining and relaxation. A pair of Taos blue Adirondack chairs let you bask in the New Mexico sunshine, while grown pinon and juniper trees give the patio area a feeling of peace and privacy. brbrAngel House is an ideal spot for a couple looking for a beautiful, romantic getaway as well as for two traveling companions who prefer separate sleeping areas (at least one guest must be an adult 25 or older). The bedroom has a queen bed with a view of Taos Mountain, a private entrance to the covered portal, and its own entrance to the dual-sink bath with whimsically tiled shower. The sofa upstairs pulls into a full-size bed, and the bath has a second door that opens to the hallway.brbrAnd YES, it’s green and sustainablebrAt Angel House you will experience true sustainable building that is also beautiful, gracious, welcoming, and comfortable. Angel House has all the amenities you are used to, but at a fraction of the carbon footprint. Our environmentally sustainable systems are explained throughout the house, and you can learn first-hand how this home keeps its occupants and the earth happy. You might leave with some great ideas to make your own home a little greener.brbrSo… why is it called Angel House? brWe think that angels watch over the house and linger there, especially when they need a little vacation from their duties. They feel at home, because the house and its peaceful environment is as close to heaven on earth that you will find.brbrNotes: brGuests will have the house to themselves, including the patio and private outdoor seating area. There are several locked rooms and cupboards in the house that are the owners' private space, and guests are not permitted to try to open these. brWe ask guests to park on the upper level, near the house, leaving the lower part of the driveway (near the detached garage) clear for any potential studio guests. Please do not enter their outdoor space behind the tall privacy fence.brbrThere is a separate studio rental, called Angels’ Retreat (VRBO #1271458), on the same 5-acre property. The two rentals remain fully private from each other: they are in separate buildings that are further apart than houses in most suburban subdivisions, with a split driveway and separate parking. A tall privacy fence separates the two spaces, and each has private outdoor seating areas. The windows have been carefully positioned to take advantage of the trees and slope of the land so that the two spaces remain visually private. It is possible to rent both Angel House and Angels’ Retreat together, as schedules permit.brbrAmenities:br• Custom built, green construction br• High speed internet br• Non-smoking homebr• Fully equipped kitchen with authentic British cast iron cooker (oven), full size refrigerator w/ice maker, blender, dishwasher, microwave, toaster oven, coffee makerbr• Kiva fireplace br• Flagstone patio with outdoor gas (propane) grill and dining area br• HDTV with Dish Network and DVD br• iSymphony with CD player and iPod docking br• All bedding and towels furnished br• Washer/dryer br• Hairdryer br• Local artbrbr* 1 Bedroom: queen bed w/ private bath entrancebr* 1 Bathroom: double sink vanity & walk in showerbr* Hosts maximum 2 guests including children, and at least one guest must be an adult over 25. br* "Away" sleep area: Pull out full sofa in upstairs loft. br* Hallway entrance to bathroombr* Square footage: 1700brbr
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