House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton

Mysterious doors, a faceless woman, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera 

House & Garden Tour
Sun, Aug 30, tour departs at noon 
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starts at 9am

1. Nestled on a narrow street in this Mexican neighborhood, a big surprise lies hidden behind one of San Miguel’s mysterious doors. The narrow arched stairway at the entrance with its lighted nichos and unusual bóveda leads to the main floor with impressive cut glass and leaded doors. The large sala is filled with overstuffed seating areas; large French doors lead out to the patio with stepping stones, pond, eye-catching fountain and whimsical statuary.

Bathrooms are all spacious with walk-in closets, sinks of different designs and hand-painted stenciling on the arches or walls. The stairwell is lined with black and white photographs taken and printed by one of the owners. At the top, another sala leads to the book-filled den and an entertainment area. The master bedroom is romantic with its swathed wooden four-poster bed and countless pillows. Seating areas, rounded French doors covered with swags of long draperies and sheer curtains lead out to the private terrazza overlooking the garden.

2. Originally consisting of only two stories, the designer/owner added a third level to this clean-cut, light-filled modern home.

Walls and ceilings, bóvedas and walls are subtly accented by colorful artwork and softly hued furniture, sculpture and rugs. The intimate patio is dominated by a beautiful cantera fountain leading to a powder room and laundry behind old wood doors, and a cemento pulido sofa. An impressive ceramic “faceless woman” was found locally and placed in a corner of the living room with its cantera columns. The owner also designed a modern kitchen and its simplistic charm is offset by the smooth countertops and stainless steel appliances, with ollas (clay pots) and other accoutrements atop the cabinets. The master bedroom is delectably romantic with its carved iron bed swathed in yards and yards of white cotton and the bathroom contains a dazzling oval bathtub topped by a huge “rain” shower surrounded by candles and awesome lightly tinted stained glass windows with views over the town, hills
ides and church domes. A guest bedroom and small office are flooded with light and brightly colored bougainvillea adds a splash of light against the outside walls.

3. Our last house is an elegant and spacious home on the outskirts of Colonia San Antonio, yet still in Centro. Most of the artwork has been purchased from San Miguel artists.

Alongside the passageway are a guest bedroom and the master suite encompassing an office, entertainment area and an outdoor seating area offering additional shade and tranquility. The coat of arms above the headboard belonged to Spanish Admiral Don Ramon Bonifaz and on another wall is a parchment signed by Napoleon. The generous bathroom, with its copper tub from Santa Clara de Cobra, leads to a walk-in closet. All rooms face the lush outside patio. Whimsically flanking the fireplace in the living room are two chairs of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The room is rife with artwork and color. Stone arches separate it from the dining room, whose table base was created from the skeleton of a Guerrero pipe organ cactus. Outside seating areas are perfect for entertaining, with beautifully arched porticos on three sides thickly covered by vines and bougainvillea. The bar was originally a pulpit. On the far end of the patio is a smaller courtyard with an entertainment area, Jacuzzi and an enormous angel statue.