Our Dream
When we found this home, we were thrilled by how it brought us closer to the marvelous natural features of Pagosa Springs, with its energizing 320 days per year of sunshine, its proximity to inspiring mountain peaks & its soothing views of water. We considered all these things when creating the atmosphere within our home as you will find it.
The colors throughout the house are intended to epitomize our motto, "warmth & light" & enhance the radiant sunshine. From windows throughout the house, but especially the upper levels, you can enjoy spectacular mountain & lake views. You might discover the peaceful calm while watching steam rise from the lake on early autumn mornings. You may wake to the song of a meadowlark, or enjoy vibrant sunsets while relaxing on the 2-3 person swing on the back deck. If you are lucky enough to enjoy a brief summer thunderstorm, you may also catch a glimpse of a rainbow as you stroll around our neighborhood lake.
All these sights & sounds are treasures to us, so we feel it is our responsibility to do what we can to limit our impact on the environment & help keep nature beautiful for the future. We hope you will appreciate these efforts while noticing that we simultaneously created an atmosphere that is elegant, comfortable, and warm. Included in the interior design & landscaping of the home you will find:
- Non-toxic paint used to color the walls and create "warmth & light"
- Furniture obtained from small, local businesses & artists, using sustainably harvested woods grown and manufactured in the U.S. whenever possible
- Linens (sheets, duvets, towels, table adornments) selected from sustainable fabrics such as cotton, bamboo, hemp & silk, many of which were grown organically & colored without the use of bleaches or harmful dyes
- Throw blankets draped here and there, & a cozy assortment of fleece blankets, down comforters & quilts provided for all the beds and futons to keep you warm without having to turn the heat as high (though you may adjust the thermostat and/or light the woodstove to meet your comfort needs)
- Energy saving lightbulbs throughout the entire house
- Candles here and there for those times when you wish to turn the lights out and enjoy romantic flickering ambience
- Low-flow showerheads
- Energy-saving "on-demand" water heating (rather than the traditional tank)
- Recycled paper products for your hygiene needs
- Water-wise native wildflowers and grasses sown into the backyard meadow and supplemented with organic mulch
- A collection tureen for your vegetable scraps near the kitchen sink, which we can add to our compost system after your stay (notice the compost bin in the backyard)
- Biodegradable cleaning products to keep the home clean for your stay
- Recycling receptacles in the garage so you can help us achieve our goal of sutainability
- Carbon offsets purchased annually to balance any carbon-based energy used in the home, and then some.
We hope to continue with this effort in the next few years by re-fitting the home to generate all its own electricity through solar energy collected by photovoltaic panels on the roof. With the system we are planning, we even expect we will be putting renewable energy back onto the power grid!
In addition to trying to live in harmony with nature, we created this place to escape the daily ruts of home life. To allow more time to enjoy the natural surroundings, we have decided to leave the television behind (correct...there is no TV). However, we have instead left games, radio/CD players, and a small library for those times when you prefer to remain indoors.
If you have ideas for how we can improve our efficiency and lower our impact further, we welcome them! In addition, we welcome any comments you may have regarding your stay in our home and in Pagosa Springs.
Thank you for choosing to stay with us! Wynne & Mark