It Required 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 eventually reach their plot of land. Meier says, “Ninety-five percentage of the home came from my native state of Germany.” Bruno adds, “The only items we had to purchase were the flooring, appliances, lighting and bathroom fixtures. … And cabinets. I let Ralf choose the programs, forgetting that Europeans use wardrobes rather than cabinets!” The few ordered their home from Platz. Just six months from planning to completion took.
in 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 is interesting: The home arrived in seven semi-trailer cartons.
Leslie Bentson
The two Meier and Bruno like to entertain and discuss their “German home in a box” with friends and loved ones. Meier says, “Hands down, the built-in Miele espresso maker was the ideal purchase in kitchen. It’s made thousands of cups of happiness.”
Leslie Bentson
Light lotion and tan-strained granite countertops contrast with the dark cabinetry. Meier set up the stone tile which runs the whole height of the back wall. Above the cabinets is a collection of clay, wood and metal art picked up during the couple’s travels.
Leslie Bentson
All the kitchen cabinetry came as a portion of the home package from Germany. Stainless steel appliances complete the modern kitchen layout and comprise a GE refrigerator, Thermador stovetop, Bosch oven, Miele dishwasher and built in coffee maker. Glass fronts on the decrease hanging cabinets and island cabinets balance the heaviness of this black.
Leslie Bentson
Light beech wood beams and plank ceilings warm the spacious living space and contrast with the Patagonia Rosewood flooring. The same stone tile backsplash seen in the kitchen outlines the wall behind the Skantherm fireplace.
Leslie Bentson
Big windows frame views of the mountains, complementing the minimalist decoration throughout the home.
Leslie Bentson
The heating process is located in the walls. Copper pipes were installed and framed out, and thick particleboard is connected to the frame and Sheetrock at the final layer. An on-demand hot-water unit provides the entire home with heat and warm water. The utility bill has never surpassed $90.
Leslie Bentson
From the main entrance door, porcelain tile contributes to a sofa in the mudroom and laundry room area to the left, and solid beech-wood staircase on the right lead to the cellar.
Leslie Bentson
The surrounding hillsides reflect off the European glass shower wall at the spacious master bath.
Leslie Bentson
The master bath has a Japanese soaking tub with a stone facade, gray slate tiling and a wall-mounted Toto toilet. The walls are an inviting pumpkin colour with a hand-applied Venetian marble finish.
Leslie Bentson
The basement includes a minibar and lounge area on one side, and a guest bed on the other. Guests enjoy views of wandering wildlife along with a tree-covered ravine.
Leslie Bentson
All the windows came with big outdoor metal blinds that open and close via remote control. In the summertime, closing the blinds is sufficient to keep the interior cool; the home doesn’t have air conditioning.
Leslie Bentson
The home features lots of decks made of durable German metal grates. In the winter, snow falls through the pockets and eliminates the need to shovel. The metal doesn’t require painting, staining or sealing, making it a really appealing substance to survive Colorado’s severe climates.
Leslie Bentson
Just off the kitchen, a balcony seating area offers relaxing views of the Colorado mountains. Ever eager to start new projects, Meier and Bruno state they intend to grapple together with their next home in a box, which will comprise American additions like dormers in the bedroom and office locations.
