New Mexico is hard on houses in ways that catalogs do not mention. The sun is relentless, the air is dry enough to move wood, the water leaves minerals on everything, and at Santa Fe and Placitas elevations the UV is stronger still. Standard Nº 5: if it will not survive New Mexico, it does not go in. Here is what that means in practice.
Wood
Humidity in the teens means wood shrinks. Solid wood doors can gap in winter and tighten in summer. We spec cabinet constructions and finishes that stay flat and tight, and we talk about where the sun hits before we choose a stain, because south and west facing wood ambers faster than you expect.
Stone
Hard water spots dark polished stone and dulls honed finishes. Lighter stone around sinks, sealing on a schedule, and a habit of wiping standing water solve almost all of it. Quartzite and quartz for working counters, marble where it can be itself.
Plumbing finishes
Cheap finishes pit and spot under mineral water. The brands on our floor are chosen partly for how their finishes hold up here, and we will tell you which finish families clean easiest in a hard water house.
Plaster
Dry air and strong light make plaster read beautifully in New Mexico. Hoods, fireplace walls and accent walls in plaster are a regional advantage, and they age better here than almost anywhere.
Wallpaper
Direct sun fades printed paper over years. We place the dramatic papers on ceilings, powder rooms and north walls, and choose UV stable papers for anything that sees afternoon light.
Fabric and rugs
Altitude UV fades fabric faster than sea level light. Solution dyed and performance fabrics near big windows, and the sofa placed with the sun in mind. Yes, we design for that.
The short version
Pale woods and UV stable finishes in the sun. Stone chosen for the water. Plaster wherever it fits. Fabrics placed with the light. And a studio that will tell you no when a beautiful thing will not survive here.