Chapter I
Thirty (plus) years in Santa Fe
As a resident of Santa Fe for more than three decades, perhaps there is a thing or two I've gleaned about living in this magnificent city, so rich in art, culture, history, and the natural outdoors. Over these decades I have had the great fortune to design and create many wonderful homes, hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and museums in Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque.
Check out Hotel Chaco, Hotel St. Francis, Hotel Chimayó, the Buffalo Thunder penthouse for the Chief, El Monte Sagrado up in Taos, the Eldorado Hotel's CAVA Lounge, the Museum of New Mexico retail experience, and Rancho Alegre, which stands as one of the largest adobe estates in New Mexico.
Santa Fe has a special uniqueness in its rich heritage of art, architecture, and cuisine, blending a plethora of influences seamlessly. Creatives from all over the world have always come here, seeking the light and the aura of creative spirit. We host the largest Native American market in the world every August, and the world's largest folk art market every July. We love that Georgia O'Keeffe made New Mexico her home: the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum pays homage to her, and an hour's trip up to Abiquiú takes you to her home and its epic landscape.
My love affair with travel takes me constantly around the world, and it's always a wonderful feeling to come home to Santa Fe. The sun always warms, the skies always create an abstract painting, and the mountains nurture and protect us. Through my looking glass, it's still a sleepy place, full of wonder and delight.
Chapter II
A sleeping beauty off the Old Santa Fe Trail
In 2019, I discovered this sleeping beauty of a property along the historic Old Santa Fe Trail. It's a very old homestead with a classic adobe home, but it was definitely long in the tooth, and very overgrown. The moment I saw it, it was love at first sight, and I knew I could give it the time and attention it so dearly deserved. I went to work renovating the existing adobes and adding Northern New Mexican farmhouses. The more love and attention I shared with the property, the more it unveiled its magic and rich history, which dates back to the Spanish settlement and even further, to ancient Puebloans living on the land.
One day in that first year, a large stack of papers was dropped off: no binding, no folder, just a bunch of papers. Not thinking anything of it, I pushed it to the side of my desk. Three months later, I finally picked up the papers and discovered a copy of a letter from the King of Spain, making this property and the surrounding land a Spanish Land Grant in 1745. Every deed since was included in the packet. It was almost like the mysterious story of the unknown carpenter who built the miraculous stairway at the Loretto Chapel. The letterhead revealed the original name of Santa Fe, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís. St. Francis, of course, is the patron saint of Santa Fe.
Chapter III
Sanctuary Living
Friends and colleagues started staying at the property and always remarked on its private yet wonderfully convenient location to all things Santa Fe: three minutes to Canyon Road, eight minutes to the downtown Plaza. They love the landscapes and the vistas, and they are always enamored with the curated interiors and collections. Most importantly, every guest is thankful for a quiet respite to come home to after a busy day of touring, hiking, eating, and shopping.
Our aim is just that: to provide the experience of Sanctuary Living while visiting Santa Fe. One that promotes a peaceful calm and the ability to relax, taking in the beauty both inside and out, an overall guest experience that inspires and elevates. We are very conscious with our amenities: no chemicals, organic when possible, and a stay full of tranquility and well-being. We even provide a sound bath experience in all of our homes, and every one of our sanctuaries has a yoga mat.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be an ambassador for Santa Fe, and we provide an Insiders Guide to help you navigate during your stay.
Chapter IV
Jungle life in Tulum
In 2024 we expanded to the Yucatán Peninsula: Tulum, Mexico. Our Jungle House is a garden home in a very prestigious boutique development, Aflora Tulum. Individuals and families have already made the sojourn down to experience life in the jungle and on the Caribbean, loving the sun, the jungle, the Caribbean waters, the Mayan ruins, the cenotes, and the international and holistic culture.
Chapter V
Our guests
We love hearing from our guests, who are generous with wonderful feedback; the best compliment is having them return over and over. Professionals from the medical and business worlds book monthly, the Santa Fe Opera books seasonally, and of course singles, couples, and small retreats come for a whirlwind around Santa Fe. In the winter months, we welcome extended stays.
Every home is adults only, with no pets, and a three-night minimum ensures the immersion quality of your stay with us. We look forward to seeing you soon in Santa Fe and Tulum.
Hasta luego! xo, Kris