HGTV Dream Home 2010: Getting Started

Acclaimed builder Mark Roccaforte joined the Dream Team in March 2009 to construct HGTV’s first Southwest-style Dream Home. What does one do on the first day of work? "We started with four squares on a paper and started moving them around," explains Roccaforte of a house-plan brainstorming session that included house planner Jack Thomasson, designer Amy Coburn and interior designer Linda Woodrum. Roccaforte, who has dedicated the past eight years of his career to construction of Pueblo-style homes in the Santa Fe area, initially suggested an existing plan with traditional features such as vigas (log rafters) and adobe-style plaster walls. But the project demanded a more modern approach, which suits the builder just fine. "It was a very collaborative process," he explains. Designing a plan is one thing; siting the house on a lot that boasts 360-degree views is quite another. "Everywhere you look there’s another mountain," says Roccaforte, who, along with Amy, tackled the daunting task. "To know which one to capture from which room was really the biggest challenge of the whole project." Eco-friendly features were top of mind when designing this year’s Dream Home. Roccaforte indicates that foam insulation, low-E windows, radiant-heat flooring and under-slab insulation, and a solar system that could potentially pay back the homeowner are just a few of the green features due to be installed. As a final energy-saving precaution, a blower door test will be conducted upon completion of the home to assess the home’s airtightness. Issues will be identified and corrected at that time. "Even though it’s a fairly big house, the energy bills are going to be extremely reasonable," he points out. Roccaforte’s favorite spaces and home features? "Right now, my favorite room is the great room. The 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows are just amazing, and you walk in there and you are outside. It’s just a nice feel." Running a close second is a sitting area that will include outdoor fireplaces and custom tile. "I think that will be a really cool place to be," he adds. Hardwood flooring throughout the home lends a cozy feel Roccaforte finds refreshing: "I like the fact that although it’s modern, it’s still warm." Go back to Building the HGTV Dream Home 2010 Main Page