Combining southwestern luxury and charm with a unique earth-friendly design, this 8-year old, 4,788 + sq. ft. straw-bale home is nestled on 35 acres above a evergreen canyon west of Trinidad Colorado. This custom Rocky Mountain homestead is situated in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains at 6,400 feet elevation. About 320 days a year the sun warms this neo-southwestern home with its 2-foot thick, R-55, straw-bale walls with tan stucco outside and European-style hand troweled plaster in. The energy-efficient passive solar design is supplemented by a totally quiet and efficient in-floor radiant heating system covered by Italian, terracotta ceramic tile and a massive kiva-style fireplace that can crank out over 76,000 BTUs. For more pictures and information go to southwesternmountainhome.com . The spacious design boasts vaulted 16 foot ceilings and two enclosed gardens. The floor plan is accented by round corners, sweeping curved walls and plenty of double-insulated casement windows which reveal a landscape that is home to native elk, deer, wild turkey, coyotes, jack rabbits, cottontails and too many birds to name. The entire 12-room home is handcrafted, with one-of-a-kind solid maple, mission-style doors with rain-glass lights, solid cherry kitchen cabinets and hand carved garden gates. The over 4,000 feet of living space includes a: Inviting 38 x 20 Living room perfect for entertaining Dining room with valley views Expansive master bedroom suite Large guest room suite Enclosed guest room garden with separate entrance 3 Full bathrooms 2 with shower-bath combinations, one with shower only Modern kitchen complete with new Bosch stainless steel appliances Office with garden view Media center area with large closet Private 2nd floor loft bedroom with balcony that overlooks the living room Oversized 2-car garage with space for small workshop 22 x 15 bonus room over garage a spare bedroom, studio, or exercise room Large soundproof pantry with refrigerator and laundry room Enclosed welcome garden-- seen as you enter the front door Maintenance-free deck that curves along the eastern side of the home Jacuzzi hot tub just off the deck with a gorgeous valley view Massive high-efficiency kiva-style fireplace that delivers 76,000 BTUs Ingenious underground, rain-water catchment system for home and garden Xeriscaped gardens among hand-stacked rock walls and beds that surround the home Well house and water well [well water not potable without RO system] Large parking area with stone and gravel pathway to the barrel-ceiling entryway This quiet and protected 35-acre property is completely fenced and has approximately 5 acres of pasture-land, 15 acres of ponderosa pine forest, and 15 acres of pion, cedar and oak brush. The parcel is part of a small enclave called River Ranch Longs Canyon that has about 30 home sites and easy going covenants designed to protect property value of the fine homes nearby yet allow complete freedom of design. This Longs Canyon home is 13 miles west of Trinidad Colorado which lays at the intersection of I-25 and Colorado Highway 12, about 14 miles north of the New Mexico border. For more information on the city of Trinidad go to trinidadco.com. This special home is currently a year around residence, but would also be idea for a vacation get-away, a bed & breakfast or even a shared two-family home. To see more pictures and a slide show on how this unique straw-bale home was built, check out southwesternmountainhome.com