The Salamander Co. LLC. has been building beautiful custom homes in the Taos area since 1998. We began specializing in Straw Bale building and have evolved to incorporate other technologies from Adobe to Frame, Pumice-Crete, SIPS panels and more. As we have grown in our experience, we have come to believe that building in a sustainable way is as much about the aesthetics of a home as it is the materials used.
By using regionally produced materials from straw bales and adobe bricks, to small scale forested Douglas Fir we are able to strike a healthy balance between sustainable building materials and mainstream building products. A natural curiosity and practical knowledge have helped us to discover techniques and procedures that yield homes that are warm and inviting, and also perform well.
Over the years we have expanded to include custom cabinetry, woodwork, and mosaic tile work. Rainwater roof catchment for domestic use and landscaping is becoming a growing need and we have partnered with Smart Water Systems LLC smartwatersystemsllc.com to design and install catchment systems on some of our projects.
By using regionally produced materials from straw bales and adobe bricks, to small scale forested Douglas Fir we are able to strike a healthy balance between sustainable building materials and mainstream building products. A natural curiosity and practical knowledge have helped us to discover techniques and procedures that yield homes that are warm and inviting, and also perform well.
Over the years we have expanded to include custom cabinetry, woodwork, and mosaic tile work. Rainwater roof catchment for domestic use and landscaping is becoming a growing need and we have partnered with Smart Water Systems LLC smartwatersystemsllc.com to design and install catchment systems on some of our projects.
Services
After striking out on his own he established a complimentary working relationship with a local architect and had the opportunity to take on more challenging projects. In the summer of 1995, with this experience and a handful of references, Patrick, his wife Lisa and young son Conner moved to Taos, NM.
Patrick and Ivy transformed our El Prado Home beautifully! They are both very easy to work with and we could easily defer to their ascetic and better judgement. They are truly collaborative. The end result is better than we had hoped, We highly recommend this talented team! Patrick and Ivy know only one way to do things-the right way.
This re-model was for an owner-built home that is being upgraded by the now grown children of the builder. A generational project we were pleased to be a part of. The original house design called for a creative use of passive solar technologies including solar hot water radiant powered by PV panels and Trombe Walls.
We were contacted by our client who was looking for a simple, warm house for her retirement life. She had a set of plans which she purchased online and after a few conversations we made some adjustments to the design which suited her style and went to work. One of the more significant changes we made to the plan is something never seen.
We were called into this project by the landscaper, Taos Landscaping, to remove the existing deck and rebuild a new one to compliment the new landscape plan and to help make the back yard more family friendly. We had some time between projects so the timing was good and we ended up really enjoying the whole process.
Reviews (7)
Bob Butterfield
Aug 14, 2019
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After moving here 2 years ago and getting acclimated, The Salamaner Company educated us as to why we need the advanced septic system that had been added when an additional bedroom and bath were added on the property. At first we were stunned by the additional cost for maintenance, but now understand this keeps us from having the problems that come with the conventional septic systems. They check it out to keep things from going wrong.
They are very pleasant to work with.
Robert Butterfield/Lynn Johnson Elliott
They are very pleasant to work with.
Robert Butterfield/Lynn Johnson Elliott
Kathy Herman
Nov 02, 2018
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I contracted with Patrick O'Brien's company, The Salamander Company to do a total redo my master bath, after talking to 2 other contractors in Taos. I wanted to change the Spanish small painted tile with large grout lines to something cleaner, smoother and softer. It meant a total overhaul, ripping everything out and refitting all the plumbing. That was done by Valverde/Bond plumbing and they did a great job too! Patrick's guys worked tirelessly. Just getting all the old fixtures out was a job. I decided to open the doorways to be handicap compliant for resale value as I have close family and friends
Richard Rubin
Oct 30, 2018
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Having experience building or renovating past houses, we hired the Salamander guys for interior improvements and room additions to our 24 year old Taos adobe retirement home three years ago. Patrick and Ivey were exceptionally skilled, good problem solvers, and congenial. They chose and managed subs well. Their work has had no problems since.
Lisa Goffman
Sep 28, 2018
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C. Van Berg
Aug 10, 2018
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Maria Mikhailas
Dec 10, 2017
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Salamander Company is the best. They build my house in two stages. The first stage was 10 years ago. They were just as easy to work with this year as the first stage. I highly recommend them if you want honest people you can count on to do a great job with high quality and good taste. I love Ivy and Patrick!
Shirley Murrell
Sep 14, 2017
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