Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The long, complex process of building a home can result in frayed nerves for homeowners and contractors.

That was not the case for Erick and JoAnne Glanz, who worked with building contractor Joe Gillaspie to build their French country-style home in Strawberry Park.

Gillaspie stepped in when the couple's architect quit, offering ideas and suggestions for making their home everything they'd dreamed it would be, Erick Glanz said.

"The whole experience of building it was great," he said.

The good relationship between the two is evident in the comfortable, well-planned design, which includes high-end finishes, personal touches from local artisans and special lighting details.

Perhaps best of all, the home, which includes an apartment and is about 4,500 square feet, accommodates easy daily living without the need for a large cleaning and maintenance crew.

"I think it's hard to find a high-quality house in this area that's a manageable size," listing broker Joan Conroy said.

The Glanz home sits on about 6 1/2 acres off Routt County Road 38A at the base of Buffalo Pass. The road splits golden meadows in the valley and alpine forest and is the core of the family-friendly neighborhood, where people often ride horses and walk their dogs, Conroy said.

The neighborhood also is desirable because of its proximity to schools and downtown Steamboat Springs.

The Glanz home sits well above the road, where, from several patios, buyers will enjoy views of Strawberry Park and beyond.

The couple patterned their home after architectural designs common in the Beaver Creek area, Erick Glanz said.

The home's exterior is stucco, and varying rooflines feature an abundance of dark shingles, giving it a cottage look.

Glanz especially likes turrets and included two, with river rock exteriors, in his home. The rounded rooms that taper into cone-shaped ceilings provide a classic entryway, as well as a calming sunroom with large windows and a cascading water feature.

The home primarily is one level with vaulted, wood-paneled ceilings throughout.

The entryway opens into the custom kitchen and dining area and includes a large, granite-topped island as well as custom Hemlock cabinets by Rick Tucker.

He used an aging technique on the light-toned cabinets, and artist Joan Hoffman painted delicate flowers directly on the stove hood, giving the kitchen a distinctly provincial look.

A great room, with a dry-stacked stone fireplace, built-in cabinets and a wet bar, opens off the kitchen and is ideal for entertaining.

A step up from the great room and through a set of antique French glass doors is the office, complete with built-in shelves and desks.

The master suite, which occupies the south end of the home, has a private patio and large windows that frame the views. The suite includes a steam shower, jetted tub and his and her closets.

An additional bedroom and laundry area also occupy the main floor. A large covered patio sits off the back of the house.

Above the three-car garage is a separate living area appropriate for guests or as a private wing for children.

The roomy apartment includes a bedroom and bath, a living room and den area and a kitchen.

Outside, the property has been enhanced with an abundance of landscaping.

The property has a well and water rights, and there also is plenty of room for a horse and barn.

The home is being offered at $2.35 million. For more information, call Conroy at Steamboat Village Brokers at 879-7800.