Ouray is a small town nestled in a box canyon, quite literally hugged by mountains on every side. Undeveloped land is sparse since the town itself is so geographically limited. But just 300’ from my first rental, tucked away on a rarely used alley, was a magical, parklike property with the most beautiful trees and the river running by. It felt as wild as you could imagine for being only a block and a half from the heart of town.

It was 2017. I had been living a mostly nomadic life for the past two years, and setting down physical roots felt incomprehensible. But something about this property resonated in my core. I put in an offer and didn’t get it. When the buyers later terminated their contract, I knew it was meant to be.

I spent months dreaming, sketching ideas on graph paper, and teaching myself SketchUp, determined to get every detail right. As my first solo project, I had hands on every aspect of the build, learning the ins and outs of what’s involved in each piece and how they all come together to create a home. From this, Adamah Design was born.