Arizona Mountain Style
Country's Best Log Homes - September 2004
In the ever-growing population shift to the Southwest, Americans
are drawn to the sunny climate and blue skies of Arizona, with the
largest numbers focused on the south-central resort areas.
But there's increasing recognition that the pine-covered mountains
farther north offer the same sunshine with a lot less summer
heat.
So
when Manny and Charlotte Cantu decided to build a retirement home,
they looked to the high-altitude vacation region where they'd spent
many pleasant summers.
"We'd lived in Yuma and Scottsdale, but in the summertime, we'd
go to the White Mountains," Manny recalls. "When we had a
time-share, we went four times a year."
The search took them to Navajo County where they found a scenic
site in a community that offers year-round attractions, indoors and
out. Its name, Torreon, translates from the Apache language
to "safe haven."
"We're both golfers," says Many, a retired utility executive,
"and there's a 27 hole course right there." More than that,
"Charlotte picked the perfect site," an irregular tract with a
ravine and a brook nearby and unobstructed views of the tree-filled
landscape.
Plans for their ideal year-round house began with a list of must
haves. "We'd always liked the look of log homes," says
Manny. "that was our first requirement," Second, the
house had to have plenty of room for family visits from three grown
sons and their expanding families.
Unlike the usual retirement house designs that place bedrooms on
the main level for convenience, the Cantus' ideal house would have
a master bedroom suite in its own upstairs domain, with a fireplace
and sitting room. In search of a workable design, the couple
consulted a number of professionals without being completely
satisfied. Then a home they had seen led them to an architect
and a builder who were able to meet all their expectations.
Since the builder, Dan Rotvold, as also a representative of a log
home producer, Expedition Log Homes, the project was soon well on
its way.
In its Wisconsin headquarters, Expedition's design team produced
the final three-level plan for the sloping site, with a walkout
basement level that's almost a dwelling in itself. By the
summer of 2003, with 14 months of dedicated work completed, the
Cantus moved into their 4,600-square-foot-home. "We both love
it," they say, giving particular praise to Bert Wagner, the job
supervisor, for the fine work done.
The rustic charm of 10-inch full-round logs and Swedish cope
joinery is exactly what the couple had in mind. To achieve
that look with conventional construction and insulation, Expedition
Log Homes first built 2-by-6 walls and filled them with high-grade
insulating material. Half-logs were fastened to the outside;
inside walls were covered with half-logs as well as drywall to
provide textural and color contrast. Rotvold says that the
2-by-6 construction eliminates settling and allows for easier
installation of electrical and plumbing systems.
A substantial cost savings was achieved by opting for
dual-glazed aluminum windows rather than aluminum-clad wood
casement windows. In this temperate climate, the difference
in energy savings was not deemed crucial, and Manny says he saved a
great deal of money. Pine jambs restore a wood element to the
windows.
At the main entry, a five-foot carved bear greets visitors with
a sign that says "The Cantus welcome you." And there's plenty
of welcome at hand, with an open living room that features tall
windows and a cozy fireplace. Doors opposite lead to a
covered deck that acts as an outdoor living room. With its
slate floors and wood-burning fireplace, this open-air retreat is
much used for most of the year. With all its decks and
porches, the house actually has about 6,500 square feet of usable
space. Of the five fireplaces, only the deck unit is wood
burning, while the others heat up at the flick of a switch.
At this high elevation (6,300 feet), temperatures can quickly
plummet and snow is not uncommon. Forced-air central heating
comes via two gas units. Alongside is a water heater fitted
with a circulating pump that assures speedy hot water delivery.
Off the living room, a formal dining space shares its fireplace
with the adjoining open kitchen. A breakfast nook in the bay
window gets its own outdoor view. Charlotte, a retired
registered nurse, can exercise her full culinary skills in the
well-equipped kitchen, with its large center island topped in dark
green granite. Handsome floors of random slate complement the
warm-toned knotty oak cabinets. A walk-in pantry and a
laundry room add to the housekeeping amenities. There's also
an office, a full bathroom, and a powder room on this main
level.
A stairway from the kitchen leads to the generously planned loft
level which houses two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an exercise
room with weights and other home gym gear. In the master
bedroom, a vaulted ceiling and tall windows lend a spacious
grandeur to its log furnishings. Double doors lead to a
roofed balcony. A fireplace open on three sides also serves
the adjacent loft space. There is no TV in this restful
sitting area, but music can be heard from a house-wired sound
system.
The unique master bedroom was designed in part to display a
treasured stained glass window made by Charlotte's brother.
Depicting large yellow roses (a memento of the couple's wedding),
it adds a special radiance to the light filled room. Manny
and Charlotte found many of their distinctive furnishings, such as
an elk-horn chandelier, at the Burly Bear, an emporium in nearby
Pinetop that features well-crafted home accessories.
Other pieces came via the skills of Eric Larson, a local
craftsman who carved decorative trees and animals as well as
hand-scribing the log stairs and railings.
On the lower level, reached by a living room stairway, a small
"apartment" offers hospitality to guests. Essentially, it's a
large family room with sofa beds, plus a handy kitchen and a full
bathroom. Manny's first deer hunting trophy is mounted above
the fireplace on a rock wall. An outside door opens to a
patio where a separate flight of steps connects to the main
upstairs deck.
To fully enjoy the outdoors, the Cantus made sure to have decks,
porches, and balconies readily accessible - off the kitchen, the
master bedroom, the living room, and the entry. A small dog
run was also set up as the private property of two pet Shih
Tzus. In warm weather, ceiling fans stir the breezes;
air-condition is rarely needed. With many lakes nearby and
opportunities for fishing and hiking, the surroundings are inviting
all year long. As for landscaping, the varied pine-filled
terrain is mainly left to take care of itself.
"We really designed this house to suit our individual
preferences," the couple agrees. And that includes not only
taking advantage of nature's allure, but also creating a welcoming
place for future family get-togethers. An imposing Ponderosa
pine, incorporated into the site plan, might be a symbol for a
house that successfully blends rustic elegance with solid
comfort.
