Resurrected basement, Bedouin necklace, mesquite island
By Jennifer Hamilton August 22, 2008 San Miguel de Allende


House & Garden Tour 
Sun, Aug 24, noon
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starting at 9am



1. This property was resurrected a few years ago from a debris-filled basement found under the main dilapidated building. Nestled behind massive iron doors, the entrance patio contains a beautiful fountain and ancient palm trees. Casitas are painted in smashing colors and decorated with colorful folk art, paintings, knick-knacks and adornos from all over the world. Polished cement adds supplementary hues to colored countertops. The owner’s open living space is in light grays offset by the granite countertop in the kitchen. Huge windows with French doors on all sides, one leading to a large deck with 360° views, ensure an abundance of light.



2. This house has beautiful carved cantera stonework throughout. Prior to moving to San Miguel, the owners lived in Saudi Arabia and thus the house reflects many Middle Eastern touches. The living and dining areas, placed at different angles, seem two completely separate rooms leading out to a small terrace with cantera fountain, plants and seating area. Louvered wooden doors hide the computer and office in a guest bedroom off the living area. Woodwork is solid mesquite and rich, dark blue tiles highlight the kitchen. A dazzling Bedouin necklace is framed on one of the walls of the master bedroom whose large bed lies under a shell carving. An intimate plant-filled outdoor patio leads to a casita added in early 2003. Its grassed garden is surrounded by vines and flowers. The tiles were hand-made 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.



3. Mexican architect Luis Alberto Hernandez designed this remarkable home with bóvedas, lighted arches, rich colors and soft touches. Huge niches built into the 24-foot living room walls are softly lit and embellished by art-deco cantera trim and acid-etched beams. Across the terraza with a fireplace is the high-ceilinged, bright, spacious kitchen with a four- by nine-foot mesquite island. The owner placed two round tables seating six people each next to each other in the dining room for a more intimate dining experience. On the other side of the terraza is a sophisticated bedroom with a beautiful four-poster iron bed and mirrored pocket doors dividing the room on both sides. An open stairway leads to the lower level where a guest bedroom with a private patio is furnished in Moroccan style. The guest bath is a rich, chocolate brown. An adjacent media room has a large-screen TV, a tequila bar and a papier-mâché lion coffee table made in Guadalajara 30 years ago. A long tunnel lit with recessed lights and cover
ed with an intricate, hand-painted design leads to the wine cellar. At the end of the tunnel, softly curved stairs return to the entrance and on up to the second level. The cupola towers rise three stories. Views from the rooftop garden above the master suite are as beautiful as any in San Miguel.



San Miguel Interiors



Are you interested in building or remodeling your home? Or simply interested in the magnificent details of local architecture? This book shows the beauty and creativity of some of San Miguel’s finest homes.

This week buy San Miguel Interiors for the discounted price of only 198 pesos.

For interesting and inspiring books come to La Tienda, inside the Biblioteca Pública, Mon–Fri, 10am–2pm, 3–6pm, Sun 10am–noon, closed Sat. Tel: 152-0293.

 
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