It doesn’t happen often, but I was feeling a little grumpy the day I headed over to Richard and Marlane Parra’s home for the first time.
When I arrived, and looked up to the contemporary home before me, my mood began to lift. When Marlane swung open the door, welcoming me in like an old friend, I started feeling pretty good. By the time I stepped into their home, I realized just how happy I really felt inside. If there was a bad-mood bone in my body, it completely disappeared the moment I set eyes on the wonderful place Richard and Marlane call home.
Richard – who brings his colorful personality to Las Cruces with ventures such as Spirit Winds Gift Source and Coffee Bar, E-Street Shopping Center and the newly opened LuLu: Elements for Living (which he co-owns with Matt Bleything) – designed and built his home with builder and friend Ralph Salas in 1990. Over the past 16 years, he and Marlane have created an art studio, a retreat, and above all else, a home.
“We’ve had a lot of fun over the years decorating together,” Marlane says as I look around, hundreds of fine details that make their home beautiful fighting for my attention.
Reds, yellows, blues, greens. Pictures, fabrics, lights, wood. Artist friends of Marlane and Richard created many of the art pieces hanging on walls and sitting on tables. Other pieces were lucky finds. “He has a great eye. He can spot something special and fantastic among a pile of junk. I’m good at making it all fit together.”
Richard has found treasures which end up fitting right into their home. In the formal living room sit two Bertoia chairs he bought from students who lived down the street from Spirit Winds. “They used them out on their patio, and every time I drove by I would want those chairs,” Richard says. After making an offer to the students, he drove away with the chairs, and called Marlane. “I couldn’t wait to tell her what I got.”
“That’s what makes our house unique. It’s not professionally decorated. Rather it’s our collection of pieces we’ve gathered together. This contemporary avant-garde style definitely reflects our personalities,” Marlane says.
Marlane, who is a speech and language pathologist with her own private practice, spends much of her time in the kitchen when she is home. An avid cook, she now experiments on a variety of dishes in her newly remodeled kitchen completed by Roger Atkins. Marlane designed the layout which opened up the kitchen, making it flow into the home – a perfect central place for Richard and Marlane, and the friends that visit. The visual design was a collaboration between Richard and Roger.
“No matter where people are hanging out, I can see them and be a part of the socializing,” Marlane says.
Hanging over the small table built into the island is a fascinating German chandelier of sorts designed by Rodi Graumans. Marlane received the gift – aptly named 85 Lights for the 85 light bulbs that come together through a mass of cords – from Richard.
Richard is enthusiastic about the kitchen, but he is partial to the lush and artistic space that wraps around the home, offering quiet places to sit around each corner, a grilling station and a fire pit. “This is where I get most of my work done when I am home,” Richard says as he sits in front of the fire pit. “This is my favorite place. It is relaxing and welcoming.”
And work he does. Motivated, talented and able to take on more than one project at a time, Richard has built a career and beautified the city at the same time.
“I don’t think we have enough public art in the city,” he says.
Eager to make a difference and bring more art to everyone, Richard partnered with Stephen Hansen to develop Art Stop, a bus stop art program. Drive by the E-Street Center on Espina Street or the Whataburger on University Avenue and you will find two creative bus stops dripping with artistic talent. For the University Avenue Art Stop, Richard held a design competition for NMSU students, then the winning student created the bus stop. Richard hopes the community will jump aboard, offering business or personal donations to fund future projects. Either way, Richard has promised the city at least one bus Art Stop a year.
Richard (who has two daughters Bree and Coree currently attending the University of Arizona) opened his first Spirit Winds shop in Mesilla in 1978, then a location on Lohman. For five years he had a shop in Ruidoso, and most recently partnered with friend Matt Bleything to create LuLu: Elements for Living. With the newly opened St. Clair Winery & Bistro next door, Richard and Matt plan to collaborate and bring even more events and opportunities to the area.
“I’m all over the board, and it works. I’ve always been self-employed. I’ve never had a boss, except for the one sitting across from me,” he says, laughing as he looks at Marlane.
It is that type of humor, and the zest for life they both have that makes everything Richard and Marlane do together work.
“We complement each other,” Marlane says.
And complement each other they do – in their art, businesses, community and home.
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