An expansive 35-acre mountaintop estate built as a testament to love, life, and hope. Clients Todd and Hollie’s home is surrounded by unobstructed panoramic views, poignant timber geometry, and built of faith.
This year-round hybrid timber frame provides elevated viewing platforms of the San Juan mountains, an artisan port cochere, and is a representation of triumph over adversity, collaboration, and an enduring love between the homeowners. The custom timber home stands as a representation of Hollie’s victory over her health struggles as well as the Alexander’s love and support for each other. The project epitomizes everything that we hold dear as a company: family, beauty, and longevity.
Todd says, “We started thinking eight years ago about having a place in the mountains to escape the heat down here in South Texas. We wanted a place close enough that we could comfortably drive to it in a day. Hollie’s uncle had a place in Pagosa Springs [Colorado] for several years that they used as a base for winter snow skiing trips. That got us thinking about Pagosa, and how it is a great little town that is drivable for us in one day.”
“As we started thinking about a house to build up there, we thought we wanted a log home, being in the Colorado Mountains and all that. After talking to several people, we quickly determined that a log home was not the way to go. During that time when we had subscribed to a timber and log magazine. That’s how we learned about timber frame homes, and hybrid timber frame/stick built homes.
Todd continues, “In August of 2017 we ended up closing on the piece of property. Our thought was to hold on to it for a while, until we got closer to retirement age and then we would start building.
Well, fast forward a few years and Hollie was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer. So, we made the call at that time that ‘we're going to build this house now because we don't know how much time we have left on this earth’.”
The Alexander’s were presented with a diagnosis that would discourage most from any future plans. But they are not most, and in their case, it encouraged them to not waste another moment – to make their dreams a reality without delay.
“I took Holly up to the site for ten days. We went in the dead of winter, the day after Christmas, to see if Hollie could handle the cold because that was the factor that was going to determine whether this would be a summer home or if it would be available for us year-round. We went out in snowshoes to look at the site and everything else. Hollie decided that she could endure the cold. After that visit we said, ‘Okay, we want to build a generational family home that can be used year-round,’ and that was the driver for the design of the house.”
Todd continues, “We had stacks and stacks of plans from websites and stuff that we saved and looked at. We went through the magazines and came across advertisements for New Energy Works. Soon after we reached out to Drake at New Energy Works. That led to meetings with David Shirley, who was the architect on the project, and Jonathan [founder/CEO of New Energy Works] as well. Collaboratively we began the process of building something in the small mountain town in the middle of Covid while facing numerous challenges from supply to labor.
“I had found a plan on a website, from a different timber frame company that became the basis of the design and layout that we wanted. We sent that to David, and he used it as a springboard, and then we had several meetings where he was feeling us out to customize the design to meet what we wanted.”
The Alexander’s brought in a builder that they were familiar and comfortable with through Talamante Construction. Todd says, “He was involved in the design concept, which was perfect because he's built so many houses in that environment. He was able to help us as we worked through the design process.”
The collaboration between the Alexander’s, Talamante, and New Energy Works was both sympathetic and understanding of the goals that needed to be met. All three principals were aware of the time constraints and how important it was to meet them.
Hollie shared, “I remember going over to M.D. Anderson and at that time when Covid was at its peak. But what was really hard was that I had to go in alone; Todd could not go into the hospital with me. So, when I met with the oncologist, I must have had a little guardian angel because my daughter's mother-in-law was the nurse in that department of the hospital, so she was able to support me and join meetings with me. But it was really hard because when I sat down with oncology they told me that I had 3 to 5 years to live. And I said, ‘What are my odds of beating it?’ And they said, literally, ‘Maybe 3 to 5%.’
“So fast forward again and here I am. When I went back in this past November it was for my last scan and they kicked me out of M. D. Anderson. The doctor said, ‘You’re good to go’. But the first couple of years were really hard…the radiation almost did me in. I couldn’t eat anything since it was on my throat.
But, that whole time, Todd, bless his heart, just kept pushing because I had told him at one point when we were up at the build site and looking around when the house was starting…I had told him, ‘You know what? If I have to die, I want a cup of coffee and I want to be out on our deck, and I want to look at this view. And then I can go, I'll be happy’. We were putting in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears trying to get the house done, thinking that I wasn't going to be here when it was finished. I don't know why I'm here. But I am, and I feel very, very, blessed because we absolutely love the house.”
Hollie reflects on the parts of her home that she loves the most, “Oh, that's easy for me: the living room and the back porch because of the view that we have. We can see the whole San Juan mountain range and it’s absolutely gorgeous, it’s our go to happy place. You can sit in the living room or outside on the porch and be completely at peace with yourself.”
In a time of great uncertainty in the world and at home, the Alexander’s drew upon their internal strength and hopes to not only beat cancer but construct a home representative of their victory. Their house now stands as a tribute to their dreams, and a tangible memorial to their triumph over adversity.
Todd concludes, “From the time that we signed the contract with New Energy Works they were very attentive to our needs and they listened, especially David. Everything was seamless, especially with Covid and everything that was going on at the time. The entire experience with New Energy Works was just wonderful. I couldn’t ask for more and they stepped up to the plate during a hard time and delivered a phenomenal product.
