Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/417540
photography by renee ramge photography inside and out, on the people, energy, and environ- ments it encompasses. The project began in 2011, when the Shantays settled on a property in Carbondale next to the Roaring Fork River and near their children's school. (True Nature, also nearby, was under con- struction simultaneously.) "They think through everything," says Dennis Powell, of DK Architects in Basalt (dkarchitects. us.com), who worked with the Shantays on this and previous projects. "Eaden is very conscious about his footprint on everything. He is constantly consid- ering sustainability and how much energy his homes use." To help minimize environmental impact, Rubin Construction (rubinconstruction.com) utilized struc- turally insulated panels for exterior walls and roofs and board-form concrete for interior walls. Energy for hot water and lighting comes from solar panels, and the Shantays use a Finnish-designed Tula wood-burning fireplace to heat the home. Drinking water is sand-filtered and some of the family's food comes from the yard's edible garden and 250 - sqaure-foot chicken coop, which is home to approxi- mately a dozen hens and one noisy rooster. The Chante Pejuta residence—the name means "heart medicine" in Lakota-Sioux—is an extension of the earth and river on which it sits. This integra- tion is evident in the earth-inspired colors and materials, the native and edible landscaping, and the location of the home itself. Working with feng shui and electromagnetic field consultants Damon and Cathy Coyne of Intentional Environment in Minnesota (intentionalenvironment.com), the Shantays were able to determine the ideal position- ing for all the parts of their home. "When we are site planning you can see the dynamics of what is happening in the earth's magnetic field," explains Damon Coyne. "This is how we determine where the beds are positioned. Bedrooms are the most important rooms in the home. They are about intimacy and rejuvenation, and creating an optimal space for well-being." Placed out of the f lood plain path, the home has a rustic and aged feel, but is visibly designed with the clean lines of a contemporary vernacular. The first f loor houses the open kitchen and dining and living areas as well as the master suite. The second f loor hosts two children's bedrooms, a second fam- ily room, and a studio where Deva practices encaustic art (painting with hot, pigmented wax). With help from Nashville studio designer Carl Tatz, Eaden also built a recording studio on the ground level where he is able to practice and record his music. At the heart of the residence is the family. Everywhere you turn on the property is an invita- tion for exploration, contemplation, and fun, which makes it perfect for the couple's four children. For instance, adjacent to the residence is a 230 -foot cabin, designed for a property the Shantays owned near the Crystal River by architect Steve Novy and woodcraftsman David Rassmussen. Built from reclaimed wood, white pine, and cedar, this whim- sical, Hobbit-like cottage was once a tree house. Today it sits on the ground, where Deva holds pri- vate sessions for her energy work and yoga clients, while the kids use it for sleepovers, or just as a quiet reading space. "In every building there are natural materials [repeatedly used] to provide consistency through- out the structures on the property," explains Powell. "The main house has very modern lines, while the Hobbit house is traditional and the barn is a mix, but they all repeat materials. They feel like [they go] together." AP "if you gather the right people, building a home can become artistic in nature, and passion and creativity can lead the process." —eaden shantay Moroccan screens purchased in Santa Fe and retrofitted into sliding doors separate the media room from Deva's studio. A dining area inside Chante Pejuta is illuminated with the help of solar panels. Off of the kitchen and living area is a patio overlooking the property's pond and cottage. 196 aspenpeak-magazine.com haute property