House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton

House & Garden Tour
Sun, Jan 20, Noon
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starting at 9am

First house. What was once a neglected, spider- and scorpion-infested house has been turned into an enchanting home. There is no indication as you stand before the iron entry door that you are about to encounter both a house and casita set within landscaping that exudes Mexican charm and serenity.

This sophisticated home in Colonia Atascadero blends traditional and contemporary Mexico. Most importantly, it expresses the owner’s heritage and life experiences. Born and raised in Mexico City, the owner has lived in Paris and traveled to many parts of the world. It is easy to pass through her home and miss its unique touches. The garden, for example, is the work of Soza Landscaping. Highlights include a traditional carreta covered in flowering vines and macetas filled with colorful flowers. The garden’s jewel is an exact replica of the fuente familiar to fans of the Café Santa Ana in the Biblioteca. The faroles of Moorish influence and large faience cachepots that bookend this fountain add sweetness to the settin
g. Follow the brick path to the casita, a one-bedroom hideaway lit by a crystal chandelier, with a bathroom in Talavera. Cutwork and unevenness indicate hand-worked, molded tile. The main house is cozy but deceptively spacious. Structurally, it features wood beams, stonework and cantera arches and columns. Wood paneling coupled with garden vistas give it deep warmth, great light and a feeling of being surrounded by nature. Two stone fireplaces enhance the richness and simplicity of design. The curved base of the living room fireplace matches the curvature of the fender, which was brought from California. Strong, warm Mexican wall colors are complemented by pillows in sunny touches of orange and hot pink, replicated in mercado flowers displayed in crystal vases. The dining room mirror deserves a close look. If it brings an old train whistle sound to mind, you are on the right track. Beyond the dining area, you will find a fully equipped kitchen, a large and sky-lit pantry closet and a utility and maid’s room that look upon bovedas of the historic Hotel Atascadero. Head upstairs and to the left into the master bedroom suite. It features a bed by the French design firm Roche Bobois that pays tribute to chinoiserie. A beautiful, antique German juwelkasten (jewel case) of silver is among the owner’s most treasured possessions. Notice the Talavera bathroom, with its skylights that connect this home to the outdoors. A guest suite overlooks the hills and offers a wonderful vantage point to watch San Miguel’s famous sunsets.

Second house. The architect/owner designed this spacious home for his wife and family in the early 2000s, making it appear as an ancient hacienda, using local Mexican craftsmen. You enter through a long arched and columned open passageway, facing a charming flower-filled patio and cantera-tiled fountain. Careful detailing includes ceilings painted in dark, rustic colors and richly stained wood beams. All the beautiful wood doors were designed and carved locally.

The first floor contains an office, a comfortable living room with a large fireplace, a spacious bright kitchen and an enormous comedor which seats 12. North-facing window ledges contain an impressive collection of African violets. All bedrooms and an entertainment room are on the second floor. The master bedroom incorporates a painted bóveda de Iglesia (church vaulted ceiling), a seating area in front of another cantera fireplace and a Jacuzzi in the light-filled bathroom. The staircase leading to the roof has a large hand-painted San Miguel framed in old wood. The rooftop garden is filled with flowers, plants and fruit trees as well as a barbecue and bar area for entertaining. 

Third house. Prior to moving to San Miguel, the owners lived in Saudi Arabia for nine years, so the townhouse reflects many Middle Eastern touches, including Kabul rugs. The dramatic carving in the entranceway was found in Apaseo de Alto. The living and dining areas are cunningly placed at different angles for separation and open to a small terrace with cantera fountain, plants and cozy seating area. Woodwork is mesquite carved by an artisan in Dolores Hidalgo.

Kitchen tiles are rich, dark blue. The tub in the green bathroom upstairs is interfaced with multicolored tile to add vibrancy and a sense of whimsy. The master bedroom, with its large bed under a concha carving in the wall, is romantic and cozy, and has its own intimate plant-filled outdoor patio which leads to a casita added in early 2003. Alfonso Alarcón designed its rounded grassed garden surrounded by vines and flowers. Inside tiles were handmade by local artist Lucinda Johnson. Like the original house, the casita contains soft, soothing colors, great folk art and items from all over the world.