Feature: Basque in Telluride
A private residence club becomes home.
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ShareAugust 1, 2006
In the plainest of terms, it is a stone house in the mountains. But that spare description does not begin to convey the simple elegance of the Basque Retreat, a magnificent jewel box nestled in a wooded setting looking down over Colorado’s Telluride ski resort and spa.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();) |
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From the handmade Alaskan cedar inswing casement windows that de-fine its friendly facade to the custom wrought iron railings that ring the sundeck like a crown, every detail of the 5,300-square-foot mansion was designed to embrace all who enter.
And there are many to welcome, as the Basque Retreat has not one owner, but 42. The estate is one of seven luxury properties, plus a yacht, that belong to the members of Solstice, one of the best of the new breed of private destination clubs.
Solstice, which was established just over two years ago by
Graham Kos and his wife, Shay Austin Kos, caters to a select group whose members
long for all the amenities of spectacular vacation homes but none of the
responsibility of caring for exclusive properties. "What sets Solstice apart
is that it’s the perfect balance of luxury, exclusivity and availability,"
Graham Kos says. "It’s for people who ordinarily would buy two to four vacation
homes that are each $5 million or more. Each of our homes is exceptional
and is in the best part of the most desired locations. And because we allow
so few members, they can visit the home of their choice virtually whenever they
like."
Top photo: The library features a photograph of horses by Michael Eastman.
The house was built by architectural design firm Tony Martin, Inc. Bottom photo:
Guate-malan children’s chairs line a ladder that leads from a guest suite to a
loft. (Click images to enlarge) ; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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In addition to Telluride,
Solstice members—who pay fees of $505,000 to
$1.55 million and annual dues of
$24,500 to $62,000—have access to
homes in Cabo San Lucas, Paris, Napa
Valley, St. Bart’s, Aspen and
Tuscany. Solstice I, the club’s 90-foot yacht,
winters in the Caribbean
(making stops at the islands of Turks and Caicos),
summers off the
coast of Cape Cod and spends spring and autumn in the
Bahamas.
"Each home offers a different experience," says Shay Kos,
adding that they are all so beautiful that it is difficult to decide which one
to visit first. "I go more for the home than for the town it’s in."
The Koses, who, when they are not staying in a Solstice house,
live in an 1895 Mediterranean-style home in Belvedere, Calif., founded the club
because they were not making the best use of their own vacation home in Cabo San
Lucas. "We were only spending three or four weeks there, but our financial
commitment was 52 weeks a year," Graham Kos says. "With Solstice, there are
seven fabulous homes in incredible locations, and my investment is sized to how
much time I have to actually use them."
Ira Martin, Tony Martin, Inc.
830.685.3100, www.tonymartinbuilders.com
Solstice
800.505.7895
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