So Many People Moved for Their Pets in the Past Year - Would You?

Here’s how to re-create it in whatever home you buy.

When you’re shopping around for a new home, you don’t just have to take your own likes and dislikes into consideration—your pet’s interests matter, too. We want our four-legged friends to be able to get around the house (or yard) with total ease, which can narrow down the options. According to a survey of 1,600 homeowners from Homes.com, 68 percent of people who weren’t already living in a pet-friendly place said they have moved for the sole purpose of accommodating their furry pals in the past year. And more than half of the respondents admitted they’ve dropped plans to purchase a property because it wasn’t a good fit for their companions. 

So what if you stumble across your dream house—top-notch range, walk-in closet, tiled shower—but it’s not necessarily 100 percent compatible with your dog or cat? Before you walk away in search of more square footage, hardwood floors, or a mudroom, remember that these small renovations can make everyone feel a little more at home.

The Discreet Doggie Door

Swap the usual plastic flap for a hand-welded steel door with one operable panel at the bottom. Designer Sherry Hart created this stylish option that features surface bolts that allow the owners to lock or unlock the door and leave it open so their pets can exit the wet bar–slash–laundry room and run out to the pool when they please.  

The Claw-Friendly Climbing Wall

In an effort to accommodate their Bengal cat Miss Cleo’s adventurous nature and love of heights, Caitlin Mociun and Tammer Hijazi constructed a system in their living room made from IKEA Lack shelves and sheepskin throws. Bonus: If she ever tires of climbing down the road, the platforms can be used for books.  

The Low-Maintenance Yard

You don’t need a palatial grass-covered backyard in order for your pups to enjoy being outdoors. Leave the greenery to the walls like Whitney Leigh Morris did at her tiny bungalow and embrace easy-to-hose-down gravel that’s urine-proof instead. Her lower-energy pooches spend their days lounging on the stain-resistant couch anyway.

Subscribe to Domino Magazine. Photos courtesy of Domino.

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Winter Park Area Real Estate Market Report from July 2021

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Vail Real Estate Market Report from July 2021

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Just Listed: Stunning Mountain Views in Rampart Highlands

This is the mountain paradise you have been waiting for!

Gorgeous home on a lush 5 acre lot in popular Rampart Highlands with stunning mountain views and a stream running through. You will be enchanted as you walk down the flagstone path through wild flowers and step into the charming tiled entryway. Gleaming hardwood floors greet you on the main level, as well as a wall of windows with those spectacular views. Light and bright open floor plan features a beautiful updated kitchen with cherrywood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile flooring, large walk in pantry and custom light fixtures. Large great room with dining area and multiple seating areas is perfect for entertaining or cozying up to the wood burning fireplace with a good book on cold winter nights. Continuing on the main level you will find a lovely updated bathroom and 2 bedrooms. Upstairs is a huge primary bedroom with seating area, a full bathroom and an additional large bedroom. The walkout basement takes advantage of the southern exposure with a bright sunroom perfect for growing all the plants. The spacious downstairs has plenty of room for an exercise room, media area, playroom....the options are endless. And that's just the inside of this wonderful property. Enjoy hosting a barbecue on your large trex decks. Imagine sipping a glass of wine, watching the sun set as hummingbirds flit through the trees and deer graze a few feet away. It is truly magical! One of the largest, prettiest, most secluded lots in the area, you will never want to leave.

Listed by Mark + Sue for West + Main Homes. Please contact Mark + Sue for current pricing + availability.

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Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(720) 903-2912
hello@westandmainhomes.com

Presented by:
Sue Perrault
(303) 667-6279
sue@westandmainhomes.com

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Meet the Maker: SaToro Tafura

Meet SaToro!

SaToro Tafura’s stone sculpture has received international acclaim and he has been recognized as one of the most promising stone sculptors of his generation. Tafura harnesses his unique artistic sensibility to speak to and listen to stone, resulting in distinctly powerful stone sculptures that transcend time and geographical space. Tafura’s stone sculpture affirms the values and wisdom of Shona culture and reflects themes that resonate universally. Tafura is the first Zimbabwean to cast his one-of-a-kind stone sculpture in bronze on a large scale. Tafura is based in Longmont, Colorado and enjoys returning to Zimbabwe each year, where he sculpts alongside his mother, renown stone sculptor, Agnes Nyanhongo. Tafura recently completed a 11.5 ton stone sculpture, a private commission, in South Denver. He’s also in the process of producing his first documentary film, delving into the complex origins of stone sculpture in Zimbabwe.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

The best piece of advice I’ve received is not from a particular person, but is a sentiment I’ve come across over and over that really resonates with me. “Know thyself” reminds me that despite all the distractions in life, there’s value in prioritizing things that help us know ourselves deeply. I’m not the same person I was even 5 or 10 years ago and as an artist, if I’m disconnected from my deep purpose in life or what I really value, my art is going to reflect that disconnect. When I think about what it means to know myself, I think about staying grounded in my culture, despite living in the U.S. That can be a huge challenge but I’m committed to learning more about my culture and finding relevance in my life today.

What are you working on right now?

I’ve been doing a lot of research on the origins of stone sculpture in Zimbabwe, and have been working on a documentary film that explores the connections to previous creative forms and also outside influences from colonization. I grew up with a widely accepted narrative that stone sculpture is a “traditional” art form, and then started piecing together information that caused me to question that and interrogate it further. It’s pretty uncomfortable to let go of a narrative that has been so closely tied to your professional work and a legacy within your family, but it’s incredibly important to me that I’m actively part of Zimbabweans and other Africans telling our history. My grandfather was known as one of the “first generation” stone sculptors in Zimbabwe. A few years ago, I started to think more about this label and the relationship to this so-called “traditional art form.” My grandfather started sculpting stone in the 50s, so how could he possible be one of the first stone sculptors if this was indeed part of our cultural roots? I had an opportunity to interview him before he passed away, and I was able to gather information about how he was introduced to stone sculpting, the connection to European art curators, and the relationship to his father’s craft as a blacksmith.

What do you like to do outside of work?

When the weather in Colorado is warm enough, I am in my garden as much as possible. This is one of the most basic ways I can connect with what is familiar to me, when living in such a different environment. Growing up in a village in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, we relied on subsistence farming. As a young boy, I herded cattle, created sculptures/toys out of clay from the land, tended the fields and vegetable gardens, and fetched firewood for my grandmothers. Some families had specific jobs for boys and others for girls, but my grandfather believed we should learn how to do everything, so I also cooked on the fire in our traditional kitchen as a young boy. Our connection to the land goes beyond meeting our basic needs, and is also related to our spiritual beliefs. These things created a strong connection to our natural world, and I try to maintain that connection through my gardening. Last summer I grew gourds and showed my two young kids which type we used for cups, bowls, and instruments.

What was the best day at work you've had in the past three months?

Last fall I completed a monumental stone sculpture, which was a commission, and the largest sculpture I’ve ever created. A couple months ago, I returned to visit the sculpture in south Denver and was surprised at how much it communicated to me, and how connected I was to the message I was able to tell through the stone. I got this commission when my daughter was born and she’s turning 5 years old this month! Most commissions don’t take nearly this long, but the stone was 16 tons when it was quarried, so you can imagine that it required a tremendous amount of time and effort just to acquire the raw stone and start sculpting. I returned twice to Zimbabwe during the quarrying process, and started the initial “sketching” process on the stone at my mother’s studio in Harare. After shipping it to Denver, I continued the work for a couple years until it was completed. It was an enriching process, and I enjoyed connecting with many people who regularly passed by as I was sculpting the piece on-site. I created some interactive elements with people sharing their reactions to the piece.

If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose?

Being far away from home in Zimbabwe, I think it’s obvious what I’d choose. Airfare is expensive!

Get in touch with SaToro

Instagram: @satoro_tafura

Website: https://satorotafura.com

Email: satoro@satorotafura.com

If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!