House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton January 25, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

House & Garden Tour
Sun, Jan 27, Noon
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starting at 9am

First house. The owners asked local artist Michael Sudheer to furnish and paint this dazzling home in the Mexican style. Almost every wall, every piece of furniture is a different shade yet blends beautifully. Two collaged mirrors in the living room and stairwell were created by Anado McLaughlin, another local artist. An iguana-tiled fountain separates two outdoor ramadas.

A flood of flowers and a plethora of color complement furniture hand-painted in eye-catching hues including the equipale chairs and table. A Guatemalan huipil adorns one wall in the guest bedroom . The master suite’s bed was made locally to the pattern of two modern lamps (found in Guadalajara) at its side. A circle cut into the bóveda ceiling and fitted with glass provides extra light. A roof terrace rampant with flowers adds yet more color to this fun, comfortable home.

Second house. This home is an art-lover’s dream, with the owner’s bronzes on the patios and in her prolific gardens. She is most known for her “open-minded people” sculptures.

The small, colorfully tiled kitchen leads into the living room with its plush sofa and two pillow-filled seating areas. Artwork is by high-end San Miguel artists, and includes impressive works by Victor Cuevas de la Mora. A cozy guest bedroom and office is also on this first floor. Upstairs an inviting bedroom was built with a chandelier-shaped ceiling formed from tragaluces (glass bricks). A sizeable terrace with unsurpassed views is filled with plants and flowers, and has several seating areas and a fireplace. Downstairs is an enchanting guest casita with stone walls, more chandelier-shaped ceilings with tragaluces and a full kitchen. The garden is extraordinary, with trees, shrubs, flowers and real Eureka lemons (hard to find in Mexico) and a variety of vines hugging the high walls. The garden, in fact, recently won the “Golden Trowe l Award” in Garden Design magazine.

Third house. Purchased in 2002, this beautiful home has just been furnished it with the owners’ outstanding art and furniture from Atlanta, GA.

From the entranceway one looks down the stairs where a stunning painting of the owners’ daughter hangs on the tall wall, fronted by a grand piano. The master suite has a black and gold rounded wall, plants behind the bed and dazzling views overlooking Centro from its terrace.

One can look down from the entrance balcony into the spacious living and dining rooms with carved cantera fireplace, wood beams and leather chairs. The living room is separated into two areas by a black backless leather sofa. Original Rembrandt etchings are individually lit by low-voltage lights. Huge plate glass windows offer extraordinary views. The dining room’s glass-topped table seats 10. The spacious patio contains a grassy area, a carved cantera fountain and varieties of flowers, plants and trees, including bamboo. Stepping-stones lead across a charming lily pond to a pool area encircled by brilliantly hued bougainvillea. A separate, two-story casita is at the lower end of the garden.