WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
INTERIOR DESIGN BY Robin Smith, Smith Design LLC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Wendy McEahern
So many great things can come from a chance meeting. That’s just what happened when interior designer Robin Smith met her client. Robin was designing a show house (formerly the Gerald Peters Estate) when her soon-to-be client stopped by for a tour. The client loved everything in the show house and even wanted to purchase some of the furniture immediately.
Robin suggested meeting at the client’s home which was in-progress after a move from Los Angeles to Santa Fe. Robin was hired onsite and worked on all the finishes and style direction.
Located in the historic Eastside of Santa Fe, the 2,800-square-foot home was built in 2016 and is designed for easy living and entertaining. The natural light-filled house is positioned perfectly to take advantage of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains view.
Robin says, “The home is traditional John Gaw Meem Pueblo Revival Style with a modern twist. We melded our vision of a timeless and classic space with the client’s love of mid-century modern furniture, clean New Mexican architectural lines and the need for an airy atmosphere.”
Stepping through the front door, a cream and coffee-colored geometric Navajo rug from Shiprock Santa Fe Gallery is a welcoming runway that sets a light neutral tone.
The living room and dining room are a delight and are moored by the custom-designed dining room table. The slightly angled, three-inch wood top was produced from one large slab of aged Sabino wood, paired with a metal base, and all handcrafted by a local Santa Fe artisan.
The dining room chairs are by Hans Wegner and include “Wishbone” side chairs and head/end “Fritz Hansen China” chairs. Vintage elements were found at First Dibs. “The effect is a lovely combination of modern edges and organic shapes,” says Robin. Playing off the mixture of lines and materials, David Groth wooden sculptures are displayed on the table and nearby. These sculptures are just part of the clients’ extensive art collection.
The clients love to entertain and host intimate family gatherings; guests often gravitate to the kitchen. By using a mélange of whites, the kitchen is light without being too bright. Both the island (Namibian white), and the backsplash (classic Calacatta Veneto) are marble slabs. The soapstone countertops blend beautifully.
Conrad shades provide texture to the kitchen windows and help define a space that could’ve easily been swallowed by the ceiling’s exposed beams. The hardware details are from Albright & Lockwood. This is a place you just want to be in. Robin says, “We allowed the light to play in the kitchen, and the warmth of the walnut tractor stools just makes it so inviting.”
Periwinkle please—the powder room’s tinted plaster walls were hand-troweled in periwinkle to reflect the light and highlight the texture. The custom stone vanity is cantilevered off the full-length mirror panel. The mirror’s frame was forged by a local blacksmith who also created custom mirrors in the master bathroom and the guestroom bathroom.
The home has two bedrooms, a master and guest. “In the master bedroom, we anchored the walnut platform bed against a floating custom-tinted plaster half wall,” explains Robin. “It breaks up the space in an exciting way.” The master also features a chair and ottoman by Holly Hunt positioned by the fire with a view to the east. A Southwestern modern rug gives structure to the space while maintaining a cozy atmosphere. The bedroom also includes French doors to access the outdoors via a covered portal.
As Robin concludes, “Santa Fe has a great climate—eight months out of the year you can enjoy being outdoors. But this home, with its porticoes on both the west and east sides, allows for almost year-round entertaining.” This timeless home, the product of a chance meeting, provides a warm and livable space for both family and guests.
MEET THE DESIGNER
The Smith Design creative team strives to engage and inspire clients by creating a sense of place influenced by luxury living. For more than 30 years designers Megan Smith, Robin Smith and Janen Korth (partners and sisters) have built lasting partnerships with clients in both residential design and international hospitality.
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