HILLSIDE HAVEN

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Story by Roland Sweet
Photos by Roger Wade
Styling by Debra Grahl

When Paul Milewski was growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado, he applied for a job with the Old West Ridge Fence Company, whose plant was just outside town. He fell in love with the land the plant was on. Years later, when the company went out of business, he continued to keep his eye on the property, watching as it became overgrown and the six abandoned steel buildings began looking dilapidated. "Basically it was an old lumber yard," Paul says. "But I could see beyond that. I used to come out here, just to relax, and I'd think how I'd love to have this place someday."

While Paul and Tania were clearing the land to reveal its natural beauty, they began discussing the type of home they wanted. Their first thought was a log home, since log construction is common in rural Colorado. Indeed their property had a small log building, built in the 1970's, that was the fence-post company's old office.

But they were thinking of something more along the lines of the log lodges that are typical of Colorado ski resorts. As they researched the different possibilities, they realized they preferred log post-and-beam and stucco, which still would give them what they term the "Colorado look" with an alpine flavor and steep-pitched roof.

After acquiring the land in 1997 and coming up with ideas for a home that suited them and their site, Paul learned he had leukemia. "It was a pretty severe diagnosis, and things looked pretty grim," Paul says. "We put the project on hold while I underwent treatment."

As the treatment proceeded, Paul's condition stabilized but didn't improve. "Eventually I realized the worst thing to do was to stop living," Paul says. "So we just decided to go on with our plans and our dreams. If nothing else it would take our minds off my condition."

Almost the instant the Milewskis resumed the project, Paul's cancer started getting better. "Today I'm in 100-percent remission," he says, adding, "Building our home was the best therapy possible."

Paul and Tania had been impressed by a log home near their property, whose architect, they learned, was David Morrow. They got in touch with him and discussed their ideas. He told them years ago he had drawn up something that sounded pretty close to what they were looking for. David showed Paul and Tania the plans, which were indeed suitable with only a few changes.

Their chief objective was to design a home that is homey and cozy rather than majestic. They wanted the rooms compartmentalized, rather than an open floor plan.

Because of the tremendous views, windows were a must. The main window in the living room provides an all-encompassing view and is itself a dramatic contribution to the home's appearance. In fact, the Milewskis even added a sunroom, which the orginal plans did not have. "We probably put more money into windows than the average home," Paul notes, "but it was worth it."

Because the home was a custom design, Paul and Tania strived to make every feature just the way they wanted. They had a particularly good time designing secret passages for their son's and daughters' bedrooms. "It was a great experience for the whole family, especially seeing the outcome of all our ideas," Paul notes.

The result of their efforts was a home with 2,200 square feet on the main level and another 800 square feet in the loft. They left they basement unfinished, although they placed the home in the hillside knowing they wanted a walkout basement. Their plan is to finish it with a Southwest theme.

The Milewskis asked David, who had built his own home, if he would build theirs, but he was too busy. He referred them to Brown and Stahmer of Fort Collins. They worked directly with Milt Brown.

To provide logs for the project, the Milewskis turned to Log Knowledge of LaPorte, Colorado, whom they knew by reputation. The handcrafter provided lodgepole pine logs that averaged 14 to 15 inches in diameter.

The most dramatic use of logs occurs on the exterior. Coming off the great room is a wide overhang for the roof, but once the couple saw the home being built they felt it needed some support, if not structurally then at least to satisfy the eye. They came up with the idea of adding three tall log columns, which echo the deck supporters and the log columns at the front entry. The tallest log is roughly 40 feet.

For the inside walls, the Milewskis sprayed on a heavy layer of plaster over the drywall, then trowled it down. For the exterior facing they chose stucco in a color called Concord.

To face the foundation, the Milewskis found a cultured stonework that blends especially well with the hillside moss rock around the home. They used the same stone for the fireplace and archway over the kitchen bar.

Because they have their own construction business, Sealco Asphalt in Fort Collins, the Milewskis were very involved in their home's construction, visiting the site almost every day. "People always say building your home can be stressful, but I found it just the opposite," Paul says. "It was wonderful therapy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

"What helped, too, is that we pretty much have the same taste, and we had a clear vision of what we wanted to do," Tania says. "We had no problems putting things together."

Construction took just under a year. The couple moved in Christmas Eve 1998. "We feel fortunate and blessed to have the different tradespeople involved in putting the house together," Paul notes. "Every one of them worked hard to make the home."

Decorating followed an outdoor theme, using major pieces that the Milewskis already had, then filling in with new items. "When we bought the property, knowing we would be building here, I tried to buy bits and pieces that would go in our home, like the log pieces," Tania says.

"I think that we completely achieved the log feel," Paul adds.

After the house was built, the Milewskis renovated the fence-post company log office, adding some plumbing and a kitchen, It now servers as a 1,200-square-foot guest house.

The Milewskis say they couldn't be happier with their home. "We walk the land all the time," Paul says. "Country living is the only way to go." --

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