$8.5 Million Santa Fe Mansion Embodies the Beauty of New Mexico
Anybody got an extra $8.5 million laying around? If so, perhaps you’d like to snatch up an incredible Santa Fe mansion that might just be the most luxurious example of classic New Mexican architecture we’ve ever seen. Set in a gated neighborhood of large estates, the massive adobe house just hit the market last month.
When the real estate agents say it’s one of a kind, they aren’t kidding. The sprawling residence stretches out across the hilly landscape against a backdrop of blue-green mountains, gazing out at the city lights in the distance. Featuring numerous covered lanais and terraces, the home is surrounded by the splendor of Santa Fe nature, backing up to a national forest full of pine trees and rocky outcroppings.
The sheer size of this residence is remarkable enough in its own right. Measuring 11,450 square feet, the single-story home occupies a generous footprint on its 3.4-acre double lot. Private homes of that size can easily feel a little empty and impersonal, but the warmth of the traditional materials and intimate scale of each room make this adobe house downright cozy. It’s one of the largest single-level homes in its neighborhood, Santa Fe Summit, according to real estate agent Ginger Clarke of Barker Realty, and features four extra large bedrooms, six bathrooms, and an attached guest casita.
“The details and materials throughout are carefully crafted to highlight the combination of beautiful architecture and expansive views offered by this exceptional property,” reads the listing for 1432 Old Sunset Trail. Indeed, the home has just about everything you could ask for from an adobe structure: soft curving walls in pleasing neutral tones, giant wooden beams, beautiful brickwork, flagstone floors, no fewer than seven fireplaces, polished plaster walls, and latilla (slatted wood) ceilings.
Those experiencing the house in person enter through a gated forecourt hidden behind an adobe wall, followed by a central entry hall that opens to the dining room and living room. The standout feature of the living room is a large two-sided stone fireplace with a floating hearth. Overhead, the long “viga” wood beams enhance the sense of spaciousness, while the diagonal lines of the latilla wood draw the eye to the softly textured walls with built-in display niches.
The kitchen houses a large central island with bar-style seating, wooden cabinetry, high-end appliances, built-in wine storage, and windows overlooking an adjacent terrace. Many of the home’s six bathrooms are the size of a bedroom you’d find in a more average-sized home, and the walk-in closets are the stuff of dreams. Other amenities include an in-ground outdoor hot tub, a new elevator, and a separate exercise room with a SwimEx pool.
As of December 12th, 2022, the home is still available. One might imagine that the market for $8.5 million houses is fairly limited, but Clarke believes that this mansion’s location in a popular destination city will make it attractive to international buyers seeking beautiful vacation digs. The estimated monthly payment for a mortgage this size? A mere $47,694.
