House Sampler —
Stahr Homes Shows What It Can Do
Pennsylvania native Ted Zmroczek began his career in the construction business as an adobe block salesman. "It was kind of a strange thing for somebody from Pennsylvania to do," he admitted. "I didn't last too long at that."
However, Zmroczek did quickly find his calling in the home-building business.
He started in the field in 1977 and gradually worked his way inside the offices at a large, local builder, where he eventually became president.
"I did a little bit of everything," Zmroczek said. "I learned the ropes."
So much so, that in 1998 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico.
"That's gratifying," he said. "I've built a lot of houses. Building homes is about working with people, staying in touch with the home buyer."
The idea, he said, is to make the process as easy and painless as possible.
"A lot of people don't have good experiences when they build a home," Zmroczek said. "But they should, and that's what we try and do."
Eventually, Zmroczek started doing some design work and decided it was time to put his experience to use for himself, so he started Stahr Homes several years ago, putting up custom homes.
"I see a lot of things that maybe other builders with less experience wouldn't see," he said. "I can eliminate a lot of mistakes and change orders."
To highlight what Stahr can bring to home building, the company has built a model house in Primrose Point that will stay off the market for the rest of the year. The house probably will be available at the beginning of next year at $524,900.
The 3,723-square-foot home with four bedrooms and a guest suite has many different floor and ceiling treatments so prospective customers can see some of the different things available.
"We want people to be able to see what's out there," he said. "We're calling this a show home."
Indeed, the home is showy, with interesting touches and unusual detail that will entice the most seasoned house shopper.
It starts right out front, where corbels are tucked under the gables rather than on the side of the house under the eaves. Copper plating with a floral design accents the look.
The front of the home also is enlivened by a circular planter lined with stacked flagstone, matching the cultured stone used as decoration around the foundation.
Inside, the lines are a mixture of hard and soft.
"We wanted rough and soft textures," Zmroczek said. "We wanted the Southwestern look but a little more refined."
The roughs-on vigas play nicely off the smooth, diamond-plaster finish of the walls. Rough corbels contrast with the sand-blasted, ashwood staircase.
The great room stretches to 20 feet, and one wall is adorned with a series of lighted, connected, stepped shadowboxes that can be used as display shelves or as a gallery.
"It's just a simple thing," he said. "But it's real pleasing to the eye."
In the kitchen, Zmroczek lights up.
"I cook," he explained. "So the kitchen is a perfect working kitchen. Three people can work in here, if they have to."
The prep area, covered in corian, is at the border of the great room and functions as a gathering area.
"People like to be around when you're prepping," Zmroczek said. "That's the way people live."
To take advantage of that, the area is also a breakfast bar with stools.
Many Stahr Homes aren't so fancy, he said, but they all have interesting details that make them unique.
"People don't have to opt for every one of these options," he said. "But you can show them different ideas and let them choose the ones that they really like.
