House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton February 15, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

House & Garden Tour Sun, Feb 17, Noon Biblioteca Pública Insurgentes 25 US$15 or 150 pesos Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starting at 9am

First house. Fun, fun, fun…this describes the colorful and creative compound known as Casa Las Ranas, which was purchased by visionary artist Anado McLauchlin and art historian Richard Schultz in 2001. Upon entering the property, visitors are greeted by a blast of color. Murals, mosaics, a whimsical fountain, adorned found-object walls and a delightfully overgrown garden are only the beginnings.

While McLauchlin’s specialty is creating one-of-a-kind assemblages (usually boxes with “walls” and “floors” and filled with…well, everything) he is also a master colorist and designer. McLauchlin, along with his assistant Carlos Ramirez Galvan, has used a vibrant palette to create a unique visual experience both inside and out.

Upon stepping through the front door, you immediately see by bright mosaics, Buddhas, Day of the Dead objects, art assemblages and collages. The kitchen is a celebration of tile. In one corner is the bodega, a bordello-like alcove with its wonderful hanging mermaid and red light bulbs. Plates by Gorky Gonzalez adorn walls. Huge living room windows offer a bucolic view of gardens filled with local plants, flowers and vegetables (three vegetable gardens so far).

On either side of an altar behind the dining room table are two extraordinary assemblages by Anado known as “The Stations of the Groove.”

Rather than an ordinary stair rail, chain links were placed along the wall leading to the upstairs bedrooms—two adjoining for guests and the master bedroom. Containing a large bóveda ceiling, it too is filled with color, assemblages, Zapotec rugs, bric-a-brac and two assembled and adorned abuelitas by Carlos. A tiled Chichimeca calendar patio can be seen in one part of the gardens, which completely surround the house, as well as arched wooden arbors, walls filled with mosaics and mysterious hidden objects for the eye to discover. Even the garden utility building contains artistic touches both inside and out. To the west is an unprecedented view of the Guanajuato mountains.


Second house. It’s difficult to believe that the owner of this house has been able to construct this fantastic home and beautiful gardens over, under and around a former 40-year-old residence. With minor exceptions, everything new is pure Mexican, including materials, workmanship and furnishings. Five ponds with water cascading from one to the other over rocks and gardens appear to have been there forever. Seven rooms in this incredible house are available for rental as a luxurious bed and breakfast. The owners have their private quarters on the top floor.