Mark Twain’s famous words, “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore,” can also be said of structures from his time that are a valued building component today … old barns.
Both land and aged lumber apply at this mansion-sized mountain home in Telluride, Colorado. Set on 35 acres, the stone and wood house was built using three pre-Civil War barns that were disassembled and relocated from the Midwest.
The patina of timeworn wood gives the estate a rustic feel throughout the more than 11,700 square feet of interior space. The reclaimed timber is on full display in the two-story plus great room, where thick beams provide support for an upper level catwalk that leads to a study.
Brick is paired with wood in the open-plan kitchen, which has a center island and an informal dining area. The formal dining room has walls of glass that look out on the mountain range. A partial brick wall defines the space.
Stone and wood continue in the five bedrooms, some of which have fireplaces. Bedroom walls are clad in vintage wood. There are five bathrooms.
An expansive game room on the lower level has plenty of space for seating, a pool table and a shuffleboard table.
A distinctive stone rotunda – evoking at once a silo and a lighthouse—encloses the rounded staircase that connects the floors. Glass doors open to a circular deck at the top.
A high degree of attention was paid to the grounds, which are filled with boulder-lined streams, waterfalls and stone footpaths.
Several patios surround a stocked trout pond that features a wooden bridge. A cabana bar and tiled hot tub sit next to an outdoor lounging area with a fireplace.
The property, known as Catmando, takes in views of the San Juan Mountains, old growth forests and meadows.
Builder-developer Steve Catsman of Telluride Real Estate Corp. is the listing agent for 685 Wilson Way, Telluride, Colorado. The asking price is US $10.15 million.
The sprawling estate, part of the Gray Head community, is about 9 miles from downtown Telluride. The 885-acre development has hiking trails, tennis courts and a winter ice-skating rink.
Telluride Real Estate Corp. is a founding member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.