My Houzz: German Prefab Home in the Colorado Mountains
This modern house was ordered from a website, but its clean-lined, elegant design belies its prefab origins
It took seven semi-trailer cartons to ship Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno's prefabricated home from Bad Saulgau, Germany, to the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. Truckers hauled the cartons over dirt roads to finally reach their mountainside plot of land. Meier says, "Ninety-five percent of the home came from my native country of Germany." Bruno adds, "The only items we had to purchase were the flooring, appliances, lighting and bathroom fixtures. ... And closets. I let Ralf choose the plans, forgetting that Europeans use wardrobes instead of closets!" The couple ordered their home from Platz. From planning to completion took just six months.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno and their two dogs, Teddy and Kona
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 4,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 office, 2.5 baths
That's interesting: The home arrived in seven semi-trailer cartons.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ralf Meier and Maryanne Bruno and their two dogs, Teddy and Kona
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Size: 4,500 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 1 office, 2.5 baths
That's interesting: The home arrived in seven semi-trailer cartons.
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by Leslie Bentson
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| Both Meier and Bruno love to entertain and share their "German house in a box" with friends and family. Meier says, "Hands down, the built-in Miele espresso maker was the best purchase in the kitchen. It has made thousands of cups of happiness." |
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by Leslie Bentson
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| Light cream and tan-strained granite countertops contrast with the dark cabinetry. Meier installed the stone tile that runs the entire height of the back wall. Above the cabinets is a collection of clay, metal and wood artwork picked up during the couple's travels. |
by Leslie Bentson
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All the black kitchen cabinetry came as part of the house package from Germany. Stainless steel appliances complete the modern kitchen design and include a GE refrigerator, Thermador stovetop, Bosch oven, Miele dishwasher and built-in coffee maker. Glass fronts on the lower hanging cabinets and island cabinets balance the heaviness of the black.
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by Leslie Bentson
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| Light beech wood beams and plank ceilings warm the open living space and contrast with the Patagonia Rosewood flooring. The same stone tile backsplash seen in the kitchen lines the wall behind the Skantherm fireplace. |
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by Leslie Bentson
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| Large windows frame views of the mountains, complementing the minimalist decor throughout the home. |
by Leslie Bentson
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The heating system is located in the walls. Copper pipes were installed and framed out, and thick particleboard is attached to the frame and Sheetrock in the final layer. An on-demand hot-water unit supplies the whole house with heat and hot water. The utility bill has never exceeded $90.
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by Leslie Bentson
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| From the main entry door, porcelain tile leads to a couch in the mudroom and laundry room area to the left, and solid beech-wood stairs on the right lead to the basement. |
by Leslie Bentson
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The surrounding hillsides reflect off the European glass shower wall in the spacious master bathroom.
by Leslie Bentson
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The master bathroom has a Japanese soaking tub with a stone facade, gray slate tiling and a wall-mounted Toto toilet. The walls are an inviting pumpkin color with a hand-applied Venetian marble finish.
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by Leslie Bentson
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| The basement includes a minibar and lounge area on one side, and a guest bed on the other. Guests enjoy views of wandering wildlife and a tree-covered ravine. |
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by Leslie Bentson
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| All the windows came with large exterior metal blinds that open and close via remote control. In the summer, closing the blinds is enough to keep the interior cool; the home has no air conditioning. |
by Leslie Bentson
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The home features many decks made of durable German metal grates. In the winter, snow falls through the holes and eliminates the need to shovel. The metal doesn't require painting, staining or sealing, making it a very appealing material to endure Colorado's severe climates.
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by Leslie Bentson
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| Just off the kitchen, a balcony seating area provides relaxing views of the Colorado mountains. Ever eager to start new projects, Meier and Bruno say they plan to downsize with their next house in a box, which will feature American additions like dormers in the bedroom and office areas. |
Ideabook published on April 9, 2012.
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I wonder, though, why Meier and Bruno chose to import their home. The shipping must have cost a fortune, and that money didn't add to the home's quality or value. It would be interesting to learn why they didn't hire a good architect and a reputable local builder.
Ralf actually has a business relationship with PLATZhaus, importing and building the homes.