Tu Revista Latina Magazine

Warm Functionality

Domonic and Kami both moved to Las Cruces about 13 years ago and both attended NMSU. Domonic is a lobbyist and works from home and Kami, formerly a social worker, stays home with their two young daughters while working on her Master’s degree through an online program, so the whole family spends a great deal of time together in their home. Because of this, the Silvas wanted their home to be a place they could enjoy as a family. Having a home that would be a place where Domonic could work was also important. To make this possible, he has a home office with its own separate patio entrance to the house. He is therefore able to have work meetings in the home and be undisturbed by whatever is going on in the rest of the house.

The Silvas also use their home to entertain as part of Domonic’s job. They host a number of events at their house, such as political fundraisers, like one they recently held for the Obama campaign. Because of this aspect of their lives, it was important for their home to have a large kitchen, formal dining and living rooms, and an outdoor entertaining area.

As you enter the 4,074 square foot home, which Kami decorated herself, you immediately experience the warmth of the home that is created through her color scheme and her unique style. The foyer has a contemporary Asian feel and features a wall hanging from Thailand that was a gift and a chic, modern chandelier.

From there, is a gallery lined with pillars and brightly lit with several skylights, that leads into the rest of the house. Continuing in the modern contemporary style, the gallery features artwork and sculpture that introduces a theme of geometric shapes that is carried throughout the artwork and design of the rest of the house.

To the left of the gallery is the formal dining room featuring a long rectangular table that leads the eye to large windows looking out onto the front patio which is dotted with flowers and native plants. The dining room also features one of their favorite art pieces, a beautiful tapestry wall hanging that was given to them by friend Philip Philippou.

Opposite the dining room is the kitchen, truly a cook’s dream, featuring stainless steel appliances, an abundance of cabinets, and a huge island down the center of the kitchen with plenty of space for slicing and dicing. The island leads to a breakfast nook with bay windows that look out onto the back patio and pool area. On the opposite end of the gallery is the formal living room. This room continues the color scheme with warm golds and reds. The room is one of the few in the house with no television, but instead features a fireplace and, perhaps the most unique piece of art in the home, an antique carousel horse. The horse was a gift to the girls from their grandfather. “We had originally planned to put it in their playroom, but after we thought about it, we decided we’d better put it in the living room instead,” Domonic said.

Just down the gallery from the living room is the girls’ area of the house, which includes two bedrooms, a playroom and a bathroom. Having some space for the girls to call their own was important. Regardless of what entertaining Domonic and Kami are doing, the girls can sleep or play undisturbed in their part of the house.

At the far end of the house is the master bedroom and bathroom, a retreat away from their busy lifestyles. The master bathroom has his and hers square stainless steel sinks and matching mirrors that blend with the couple’s unique style. However, the most distinctive aspect of the master bathroom is the granite soaking infinity tub in the center of the room that fills up and overflows like a waterfall into a basin below. “We didn’t want a Jacuzzi tub, because we already have the Jacuzzi outside,” said Kami. So, the couple looked around for a special tub and found this one on Ebay. The master bedroom is serene and peaceful, with candle wall sconces and Domonic and Kami’s wedding photo. With French doors that lead to the back patio, there is plenty of natural light and a lovely view of the picturesque back yard.

The patio is shaded all day long and includes an outdoor kitchen area which is ideal for entertaining. Beyond the patio is a large grassy area that is a great play area for the girls. Three steps lead up to a raised area with a beautiful in-ground pool and Jacuzzi. At the back of the yard is a gate with steps that lead out into a desert arroyo where the family is able to take walks and enjoy the desert wildlife. Adding even more charm to the back yard are a vegetable garden and some pet chicks that the girls received as Easter gifts.

The house also includes a home automation system that controls the lighting, temperature, water, security and media in the home. Each section of the home has its own heating and cooling system. Because the system is programmed to turn lighting, heating and cooling on and off automatically in each part of the home, the home is very energy efficient. The system has Cat5e wiring that is used throughout the home for high speed internet, telephone and satellite service. Touch pads are located throughout the home to control the system, including the garage door and the security system. In addition, the system controls all of the media in the home and includes iPod docking stations around the home and TV and audio distribution that makes the family’s entertainment a grand experience, whether it be watching movies, playing Xbox or listening to music.

Whether the Silvas are hosting a big event, or are just hanging out spending time with their girls, they have made their home the ideal place for it all. Through all of their hard work and planning, their home reflects the balance that they have achieved between work and family life.

Summer 2009